On today’s episode I speak with Nathan Wallis, a neuroscience educator on a mission to share the value of brain development in early childhood to the masses. In this discussion, Nathan challenges the concept of "readiness" and advocates for focussing on the present moment rather than preparing them for future academic demands. Earlier and faster isn’t better.

Nathan and I discuss:

🌸 Readiness and developmental needs.

🌸 The impact of cultural norms on education.

🌸 The role of play in early childhood.

🌸 Dangers of early academic pressure.

🌸 The value of dispositions over academic skills.

🌸 Balancing extracurricular activities and uninterrupted play.

Nathan Wallis is a father of three & foster parent with a professional background in child counselling, teaching and social service management. He has lectured in Human Development at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand and was also a board member and senior trainer with the national body responsible for the dissemination of neuroscientific research to professionals. He has developed a reputation as a lively and engaging speaker who uses humour and plain language to make this complex topic come to life.

Connect with Nathan:

💫 Find him on Instagram: @nathanwallis

💫 Visit his website: Nathan Wallis

Let's Connect!

Want to feel joy in your teaching again (and not like you're spending every moment putting out behaviour spot fires)? Join the waitlist for my course: The Behaviour Reset

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts

Join me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

On today's episode I speak with Nathan Wallis, a neuroscience educator on a mission to share the value of brain development in early childhood to the masses. In this discussion, Nathan challenges the concept of "readiness" and advocates for focussing on the present moment rather than preparing them for future academic demands. Earlier and faster isn't better.

Nathan and I discuss:

🌸Readiness and developmental needs.

🌸Sequential brain development.

🌸The impact of cultural norms on education.

🌸The role of play in early childhood.

🌸Dangers of early academic pressure.

🌸The value of dispositions over academic skills.

🌸Balancing extracurricular activities and uninterrupted play.

Nathan Wallis is a father of three & foster parent with a professional background in child counselling, teaching and social service management. He has lectured in Human Development at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand and was also a board member and senior trainer with the national body responsible for the dissemination of neuroscientific research to professionals. He has developed a reputation as a lively and engaging speaker who uses humour and plain language to make this complex topic come to life.

Nathan's presentations explore how the brain works and how neuroscience can better inform our day to day interactions with children and young people. Information about the human brain (and how it grows to reach full potential) has exploded into our awareness over the past twenty years. The 1990's were called the 'decade of the brain' and advances in scanning technologies allowed us to understand the workings of the brain like never before, showing us the huge significance of the early years and the critical role this period plays in defining later outcomes. These new findings often contradict many of the practices that parents, teachers, and other helping professionals have utilised in the belief that they are helping children. Nathan presents the practical implications of this research with a focus on how to use this knowledge to create better outcomes.

Connect with Nathan:

💫 Find him on Instagram: @nathanwallis

💫 Visit his website: Nathan Wallis

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫Send me an email: [email protected] 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

On today’s episode I speak with Andy Hayes - an accredited ADHD coach with an epic sense of humour. Andy is a dedicated Perth dad, teacher and educational leader with lived experience of ADHD who represents the ideal mentor for children and adults everywhere. 

Andy and I discuss:

🌸 The four pillars of ADHD and their impact on learning and behaviour. 

🌸 Executive functions and their role in daily life. 

🌸 The role of dopamine. 

🌸 How labels can act as roadblocks to true support. 

🌸 Cognitive load and how we can reduce it. 

🌸 Balancing the need for predictability and consistency with the need for novelty and fun. 

Word of caution - this episode contains very mild explicit language. 

Andy Hayes is an accredited ADHD Coach and educational leader with lived experience of ADHD. He combines his extensive educational experience with a deep understanding of the nuances of ADHD and uses this to support his clients in meaningful ways. 

With a background as Director of Teaching and Learning at an all-boys private school in Perth, Andy is an expert in boys’ education and neurodivergent learning strategies, empowering families, teachers, and newly diagnosed adults through tailored, evidence-based approaches.

Helpful links:

Read Andy’s article - Solving the ADHD Puzzle: Unveiling Little Known Strategies for Classroom Success

Connect with Andy:

💫 Find him on Instagram: @beyondthehazeadhd

💫 Find him on Facebook: Beyond the Haze ADHD Coaching

💫 Visit his website: Beyond the Haze

Let's Connect!

Want to feel joy in your teaching again (and not like you're spending every moment putting out behaviour spot fires)? Join the waitlist for my course: The Behaviour Reset

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts

Join me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

On today's episode I speak with Andy Hayes - an accredited ADHD coach with an epic sense of humour. Andy is a dedicated Perth dad, teacher and educational leader with lived experience of ADHD who represents the ideal mentor for children and adults everywhere.  

Andy and I discuss:

🌸 The four pillars of ADHD and their impact on learning and behaviour. 

🌸 Executive functions and their role in daily life. 

🌸 The role of dopamine. 

🌸 How labels can act as roadblocks to true support. 

🌸 Why emotional intelligence is critical. 

🌸 Cognitive load and how we can reduce it. 

🌸 Balancing the need for predictability and consistency with the need for novelty and fun. 

🌸 A tonne of tangible strategies for supporting children with ADHD!

Word of caution - this episode contains very mild explicit language. 

Please also note that I am someone who considers myself an ally for neurodivergent folk and I am constantly learning about how to action this. If any ND folk have feedback around the language I've used in this interview, please do reach out - constructive feedback is always welcomed. 

Andy Hayes is an accredited ADHD Coach and educational leader with lived experience of ADHD. He combines his extensive educational experience with a deep understanding of the nuances of ADHD and uses this to support his clients in meaningful ways. 

With a background as Director of Teaching and Learning at an all-boys private school in Perth, Andy is an expert in boys' education and neurodivergent learning strategies, empowering families, teachers, and newly diagnosed adults through tailored, evidence-based approaches.

Helpful links:

Read Andy's article - Solving the ADHD Puzzle: Unveiling Little Known Strategies for Classroom Success

Connect with Andy:

💫 Send him an email: [email protected]

💫 Find him on Instagram: @beyondthehazeadhd

💫 Find him on Facebook: Beyond the Haze ADHD Coaching

💫 Visit his website: Beyond the Haze

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: [email protected] 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

On today’s episode I speak with Dave Jereb - an OT and co-founder of Move About Therapy Services. Dave is a gem - he’s relatable, funny, personable and compassionate. He’s got a knack for seeing the bigger picture of behaviour and walks us through how he does this in out chat. 

Dave and I discuss:

🌸 What we mean when we use the term ‘challenging behaviour.’

🌸 The fundamental need for connection when working with challenging behaviours.

🌸 Ideas on ways to connect and the importance of micro-moments.

🌸 The role of unconditional positive regard.

🌸 Why educators and teachers need support.

🌸 Supporting behaviour with Dave’s framework ABC-IDEAS.

With over 20 years of experience as a paediatric occupational therapist, Dave Jereb has made a significant impact in the Allied Health field. As co-founder of MoveAbout Therapy Services with his wife Kathy, Dave’s vision is to create a world where all children lead meaningful lives and are valued within their communities. Dave’s guiding principle is to "support the people who support the kids," a philosophy that drives his commitment to both his team at MoveAbout and the broader Allied Health community.

Helpful links:

Kim’s Instagram - @creativityandbeyondot

Buy Dave’s book - Challenging The Story: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours

Challenging the Story of Behaviour Workshop

Dave’s ABC-IDEAS Worksheet download

Connect with Dave:

💫 Find him on Instagram: @davejereb_ot and @moveabout.ot

💫 Find him on Facebook: Move About OT

💫 Visit his website: Move About Therapy Services

Let's Connect!

Want to feel joy in your teaching again (and not like you're spending every moment putting out behaviour spot fires)? Join the waitlist for my course: The Behaviour Reset

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts

Join me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

On today's episode I speak with Dave Jereb - an OT and co-founder of Move About Therapy Services. Dave is a gem - he's relatable, funny, personable and compassionate. He's got a knack for seeing the bigger picture of behaviour and walks us through how he does this in out chat. 

Dave and I discuss:

🌸What we mean when we use the term 'challenging behaviour.'

🌸The fundamental need for connection when working with challenging behaviours.

🌸Ideas on ways to connect and the importance of micro-moments.

🌸Why we need to remain objective when we speak about challenging behaviour.

🌸The idea that there is no 'good' or 'bad' behaviour - behaviour is simply behaviour.

🌸The role of unconditional positive regard.

🌸Why educators and teachers need support (and unconditional positive regard!).

🌸Supporting behaviour with Dave's framework ABC-IDEAS.

With over 20 years of experience as a paediatric occupational therapist, Dave Jereb has made a significant impact in the Allied Health field. As co-founder of MoveAbout Therapy Services with his wife Kathy, Dave's vision is to create a world where all children lead meaningful lives and are valued within their communities.

A sought-after speaker and trainer, Dave offers expertise on regulation, resilience, beating burnout, and his innovative '3S Approach to Achieving Authentic Confidence as an Allied Health Professional'. He is the author of "Challenging The Story: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours," an Amazon international bestseller, and the creator and presenter of the 'Challenging the Story of Behaviour' workshop.

Dave's guiding principle is to "support the people who support the kids," a philosophy that drives his commitment to both his team at MoveAbout and the broader Allied Health community.

Helpful links:

Kim's Instagram - @creativityandbeyondot

Buy Dave's book - Challenging The Story: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours

Challenging the Story of Behaviour Workshop

Dave's ABC-IDEAS Worksheet pdf download

Connect with Dave:

💫 Send him an email: [email protected]

💫 Find him on Instagram: @davejereb_ot and @moveabout.ot

💫 Find him on Facebook: Move About OT

💫 Find him on LinkedIn: Dave Jereb

💫 Visit his website: Move About Therapy Services

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: [email protected] 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

On today’s episode I speak with Kathryn Hackman, founder of the Courageous Kids app. Kathryn is a doctor but, first and foremost, a mama to two children and knows firsthand the challenge in supporting children through anxiety. Her app, Courageous Kids, is a one-stop shop for both parents and educators alike to create individualised social stories - a proven method that supports children through those trickier times. 

Kathryn and I discuss:

🌸 The prevalence of anxiety for young children.

🌸 The distinction between anxiety + separation anxiety.

🌸 How caregivers and educators can come together to support children with anxiety (hint: the magic is in the communication + relationship!).

🌸 Why the approach of 'ripping the bandaid off' isn't always the most effective strategy for support.

🌸 The magic of utlising visuals.

🌸 Introducing social stories: What are they? How to use them with individuals and groups of children. What to include in a social story. 

Dr Kathryn Hackman is a medical doctor and the founder of Courageous Kids. With two worry-prone kids of her own, she takes a practical, positive approach to preparing children for change. Alongside providing practical, evidence-based resources for educators and parents, she’s also passionate about improving communication and collaboration between home and (pre)school. 

Connect with Kathryn:

💫 Find her on Instagram: @courageouskidsapp

Please note: Kathryn's app is no longer active, but you can still find her on Instagram

Let's Connect!

Want to feel joy in your teaching again (and not like you're spending every moment putting out behaviour spot fires)? Join the waitlist for my course: The Behaviour Reset

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts

Join me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

On today's episode I speak with Kathryn Hackman, founder of the Courageous Kids app. Kathryn is a doctor but, first and foremost, a mama to two children and knows firsthand the challenge in supporting children through anxiety. Her app, Courageous Kids, is a one-stop shop for both parents and educators alike to create individualised social stories - a proven method that supports children through those trickier times. 

Kathryn and I discuss:

🌸 The prevalence of anxiety for young children.

🌸 The distinction between anxiety + separation anxiety.

🌸 How caregivers and educators can come together to support children with anxiety (hint: the magic is in the communication + relationship!).

🌸 Why the approach of 'ripping the bandaid off' isn't always the most effective strategy for support.

🌸 The magic of utlising visuals.

🌸 Introducing social stories: What are they? How to use them with individuals and groups of children. What to include in a social story. 

Dr Kathryn Hackman is a medical doctor and the founder of Courageous Kids. With two worry-prone kids of her own, she takes a practical, positive approach to preparing children for change. Alongside providing practical, evidence-based resources for educators and parents, she's also passionate about improving communication and collaboration between home and (pre)school. 

The Courageous Kids app, created in collaboration with a child psychologist and OT, provides a library of fully customisable stories to prepare children for new experiences (including starting preschool and school) and visual plans to provide predictability and routine, and promote autonomy. It's a valuable time-saver for educators and parents alike.

Connect with Kathryn:

💫 Visit the Courageous Kids website

💫 Find her on Instagram: @courageouskidsapp

💫 Download her app Courageous Kids on Apple (please note - this is an affiliate link) or Android

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download my free (yep, free!) video series exploring emotional competence in early childhood. 

💫 Send me an email: [email protected] 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

On today’s episode, I speak with Cath Fitzhardinge, an OT who is a strong advocate of nature play and children spending time outdoors so much so that she is currently completing a Masters of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences) at Notre Dame University Australia where she is researching play opportunities and the utilization of an intentionally designed nature play space in a primary school to support children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

Cath and I discuss:

🌸 What nature play, messy play and sensory mean for children's well-being.

🌸 How nature play benefits sensory integration and regulation. 

🌸 Low-cost options for providing nature play experiences. 

🌸 Is there a difference in play quality on traditional playgrounds compared to nature play settings?

🌸 Moving past perceived constraints for getting outside and looking for those pockets of opportunity. 

🌸 Considering the critical role of accessibility for play spaces.

Here are the resources shared in our discussion: 

REmida WA

Educated by Nature

Take a peak at the amazing play space Cath has created in her front yard.

 Download her booklet - How Nature Play Spaces Promote Positive Child Development 

Cath is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working in rural, remote, and urban settings. She understands that meaningful access to nature is essential for humans to thrive and critical to health and well-being. Cath supports children, families, and organizations to embrace nature connection, health, and well-being through meaningful occupation (e.g. nature play) to foster resilience, confidence, curiosity, and kindness. Having grown up in small West Australian country towns, Cath deeply values the richness and connection that being, and playing outdoors brings to children, particularly to those living in busy urban environments. Cath shares this passion with her children, their friends, and all the children and families she works with, and is so grateful to be living, playing, and learning on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja (Perth, WA).

Connect with Cath:

💫 Find her on Instagram: @cathfitz_ot

💫 Visit her website: Cath Fitz OT

Let's Connect!

Want to feel joy in your teaching again (and not like you're spending every moment putting out behaviour spot fires)? Join the waitlist for my course: The Behaviour Reset

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts

Join me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

On today's episode, I speak with Cath Fitzhardinge, an OT who is a strong advocate of nature play and children spending time outdoors so much so that she is currently completing a Masters of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences) at Notre Dame University Australia where she is researching play opportunities and the utilization of an intentionally designed nature play space in a primary school to support children's health, wellbeing and learning.

Cath and I discuss:

🌸 What nature play, messy play and sensory mean for children's well-being.

🌸 How nature play benefits sensory integration and regulation. 

🌸 Low-cost options for providing nature play experiences. 

🌸 Is there a difference in play quality on traditional playgrounds compared to nature play settings?

🌸 Moving past perceived constraints for getting outside and looking for those pockets of opportunity. 

🌸 Considering the critical role of accessibility for play spaces.

Here are the resources shared in our discussion: 

REmida WA

Educated by Nature

Take a peak at the amazing play space Cath has created in her front yard.

 Download her booklet - How Nature Play Spaces Promote Positive Child Development 

Cath is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience working in rural, remote, and urban settings. She understands that meaningful access to nature is essential for humans to thrive and critical to health and well-being. Cath supports children, families, and organizations to embrace nature connection, health, and well-being through meaningful occupation (e.g. nature play) to foster resilience, confidence, curiosity, and kindness.

Having grown up in small West Australian country towns, Cath deeply values the richness and connection that being, and playing outdoors brings to children, particularly to those living in busy urban environments. Cath shares this passion with her children, their friends, and all the children and families she works with, and is so grateful to be living, playing, and learning on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja (Perth, WA).

Connect with Cath:

💫 Send her an email: [email protected]

💫 Find her on Instagram: @cathfitz_ot

💫 Visit her website: Cath Fitz OT

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download my free (yep, free!) video series exploring emotional competence in early childhood. 

💫 Send me an email: [email protected] 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy