The Lauren Edmunds Podcast

When a child loses control of their emotions, it’s easy to see it as bad behaviour. But as Lauren Edmunds explains, there’s a difference between a child acting out and a child who is simply overwhelmed. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) offers a useful way to understand emotional dysregulation and what children need when their feelings become too much to handle.

In this episode, Lauren explores the window of tolerance and how stress and sensory overload can affect a child’s ability to cope. She looks at the difference between a meltdown and behaviour aimed at getting a response, and shares practical ways to help children regulate their emotions, including breathing techniques, naming feelings and the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.

Lauren also explains the role of co-regulation, showing how a parent’s calm presence can help a child feel safe and gradually learn to manage difficult emotions independently. Omatas Learning Centre

We all want the best for our children, but what happens when our good intentions accidentally hold them back?

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores the concept of “learned helplessness” and how stepping in too quickly to fix a bed, tie a shoe, or finish a task can inadvertently send the message: I don’t trust you to do this.

Lauren looks at how children, including neurodivergent and non-verbal students, pick up on our body language and actions just as much as our words.

She shares practical ways to change how we communicate, celebrate effort rather than perfection, and give children the trust and space they need to build real capability and self-belief. Omatas Learning Centre

When parents struggle to get their children off devices, the usual advice is to set strict screen-time limits or use rewards. But when screens become something a child earns, they can end up becoming even more important, with the device taking over a bigger part of their day.

Screens are also often used to calm children who are dysregulated or neurodivergent. While this may seem to work in the moment, Lauren explains why it can sometimes lead to a shutdown rather than helping a child properly regulate their emotions.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds looks at the impact of screen dependency on children and what parents can do to create a healthier balance. She explores how excessive screen use can affect physical and cognitive development, why screens cannot replace human connection, and how parents can build stronger relationships with their children.

Lauren also shares practical ways to create a screen-free home, set clear boundaries, and help children find motivation through achievement, play, and real-world experiences. Omatas Learning Centre

When a child repeatedly breaks a rule, it is easy to respond by tightening discipline and demanding compliance. But forcing children to fall in line rarely addresses the real issue. More often than not, it simply masks what is causing the behaviour in the first place.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds takes a closer look at the role of rules at school and at home. She explains the difference between rigid rules that demand compliance and flexible expectations that help children develop the skills they need. Lauren explores why rule-breaking can be a sign that a child is overwhelmed, lacks the necessary skills, or is avoiding something they find difficult. She also explains why, in many cases, either the expectation needs to be adjusted, or the child needs more support to meet it.

It is a practical conversation about moving beyond punishment and creating boundaries that help children learn, grow, and succeed. Omatas Learning Centre

It is easy to react to a child’s behaviour without stopping to consider what is driving it. But in therapy, we know that all behaviour is communication. Every action, word, or sudden change in mood is a child’s way of expressing how they feel and what they need.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores what it takes to truly understand your child. Using ideas from character development and empathy, Lauren explains why parents and educators need to look beyond a child’s behaviour to understand what is really going on. She also explores the risks of masking, particularly in neurodivergent children and young girls who hide their struggles to fit in, and explains why feeling accepted for who they are is the foundation for building confidence, self-worth, and trust in themselves. Omatas Learning Centre

Teaching a child a life skill is never as simple as explaining a rule once or writing it on a board. When children find themselves in high-pressure situations, whether standing up to a friend or navigating conflict, stress can quickly push them outside their comfort zone. If they have not had the opportunity to truly internalise the response, their nervous system often takes over.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores how children develop and retain real-world skills. Through practical, everyday examples, she explains why role-playing different scenarios at home, when the stakes are low, gives children a safe space to practise, experiment, and build genuine confidence.

It is an insightful look at helping children develop emotional resilience and self-belief, so that when high-pressure moments arise, they are better equipped to respond with confidence rather than simply reacting. Omatas Learning Centre

Whether a child is dealing with a mean peer on the playground or being pressured into a game they do not want to play, it all starts with having the confidence to say no. But standing up for yourself is a skill that has to be taught and practised, for children and adults alike.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores what it really means to "bully-proof" a child. Sharing a practical three-step approach to setting boundaries without guilt or aggression, Lauren explains why children need to know that their boundaries deserve to be respected. When they understand that, they are better equipped to make confident choices, resist peer pressure, and speak up for themselves.

It is a practical conversation about helping children build confidence, overcome the fear of rejection, and use their voice. Omatas Learning Centre

Getting a diagnosis such as ADHD, autism, or Oppositional Defiant Disorder can provide clarity, but it can also leave a child defined by a label. As Lauren Edmunds explains, when we focus only on managing a diagnosis, we risk treating the label instead of the child.

In this episode, Lauren explores what is really happening when a child displays aggressive, defiant, or demand-avoidant behaviour. Rather than viewing these responses as "bad behaviour" that needs to be stamped out, she explains them as instinctive coping mechanisms, a child's nervous system responding to an environment that feels unsafe or overwhelming.

Lauren also discusses why supporting the entire family, strengthening co-regulation, and creating genuine psychological safety are often far more effective than focusing on diagnoses alone. Omatas Learning Centre

Getting the whole family to sit down for dinner without screens can feel like an uphill battle, but it may be one of the most valuable routines you can build.

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explains how everyday activities in the kitchen can become a natural form of occupational therapy, helping children develop everything from vocabulary and bilateral coordination to visual planning skills.

She also shares a simple "high-low" conversation starter that creates a safe space for children to feel heard, and explores how involving them in household chores helps build the teamwork, responsibility and accountability they'll need later in life. Omatas Learning Centre

Whenever a teacher leaves, a routine changes, or a child has to move to a new school, parents often say the same thing: "My child just doesn't cope well with change."

But as Lauren Edmunds explains, the reality is that none of us naturally copes well with change. Our brains are wired to prefer what's familiar, simple and predictable.

In this episode, Lauren shares a powerful idea from her corporate career: "islands of certainty". She explains that when everything feels uncertain, one of the best ways to support a child, especially one with learning delays, ADHD or autism, is to focus on what isn't changing.

By helping children picture what to expect, drawing attention to the small things that will stay the same, and making the unfamiliar feel more familiar, we can ease the stress of transitions and reduce the likelihood of them slipping into avoidance or survival mode. Omatas Learning Centre