In the final episode for Season 4, I dig into one of the most misunderstood aspects of behaviour support: what it means to hold your authority without slipping into power-over or permissiveness. This is the episode I wish every educator and assistant could hear before heading into a new year.

You’ll hear:

✨ The critical difference between discipline and punishment

✨ Why high warmth and high expectations is the sweet spot for behaviour support

✨ The expectation gap: how unrealistic adult expectations derail connection

✨ What warm authority actually sounds and looks like in real moments

✨ How to lead with swagger (without threats, bribes, or giving in)

This one is packed with powerful mindset shifts, real-life scripts, and supportive scaffolding. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between being too soft or too strict, this is your roadmap back to confident, calm leadership.

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In this powerful episode, I dig into what belonging actually looks and feels like for children - beyond the buzzword, the policies, and the Pinterest-perfect classroom. Drawing on compelling Australian research and real-world reflection, I unpack the difference between showing up and feeling held, and how our beliefs and biases shape belonging more than we realise.

You’ll hear:

🤝 How children define belonging - and what helps them feel like they belong

🤝 The everyday language, routines and rituals that quietly send the message “you matter here”

🤝 How to navigate a child’s sense of belonging when you’re not feeling connected to them

🤝 How your inner stories about “challenging” behaviour can shape who feels worthy of belonging

🤝 6 tangible ways to bring belonging to life through environment, identity, rituals, and relationship

If you’re someone who wants to move from saying belonging matters to making it matter, this one’s for you.

Articles

Belonging in their words: Exploring early childhood perspectives using the draw, write, tell method

Starting school in Australia: What gives young children a sense of school belonging?

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Music has always mattered - and in early learning, it’s more than fun; it’s nervous system work. It’s behaviour support. It’s belonging in action.

In this episode, I unpack the neuroscience, research and real-world power of music in early childhood settings and why it's one of the most under-utilised wellbeing tools we have.

You’ll hear:

🎵 How music regulates the nervous system, even before words do

🎵 What the research says about music and social-emotional learning

🎵 Simple, spontaneous ways to embed music into your daily practice

🎵 How music supports identity, agency and rights-based participation

🎵 Practical musical cues, rhythms and reflection ideas to try tomorrow

This episode is for you if you’ve ever felt like your days are chaotic, transitions are tricky, or you want to do more behaviour support without raising your voice. It's also for you if you’re curious about how music can support inclusion, belonging, and the emotional development of every child - especially those who don’t yet have the words.

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

They're everywhere in early childhood - and for good reason. Rewards often work - but what are they really teaching children? And what if we’re using them in ways that create more problems down the track?

In this episode, I unpack the biggest myths about rewards and give you six practical, research-aligned ways to use them without crushing motivation, connection, or community.

You’ll hear: 

🪄The problem with how rewards are often studied (and what’s missing from the data).

🪄Three myths about rewards that just won’t die (and why they’re so sticky).

🪄 Six practical ways to use rewards well, without relying on bribes or behaviour scripts.

🪄The difference between “supporting behaviour” and “controlling it.”

🪄 Why praise matters and how to use it to build self-worth, not just win approval.

Whether you’re pro, anti, or somewhere in the murky middle, this episode will give you clarity and confidence to use rewards with intention; not just habit.

Helpful links

Download my free guide Navigating Rewards When You’re Expected to Use Reward Systems

Purchase my Behaviour Bites guide More Than “Good Job”: A Practical Guide to Praise That Builds Lifelong Learners

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

This episode is all about culture and how we create spaces where rights aren’t just printed on a poster but felt in the moment - especially when behaviour gets tough.

Building on part one, I explore how to translate rights-based values into real-world practice using the UNICEF Pathway framework.

You'll hear:

📣 Why discipline doesn’t mean punishment-and what it actually does mean

📣 The four pathways of UNICEF's Child Rights Education framework and how they can show up in daily work

📣 How exclusion undermines rights - and why we need to question it

📣 Why advocating for rights means speaking up and acting differently

📣 Ten guidelines to help you support behaviour while upholding rights

If you’re someone who believes that all children deserve to feel safe, heard, and held - especially in their hardest moments - this episode is for you.

Helpful links

10 books to explore rights with children

10 guidelines for embedding rights into behaviour support

Explore the UNICEF Child Rights Education Toolkit

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Yet too often, what we say we believe - safety, dignity, belonging - quietly slips away when behaviour gets tricky. This episode unpacks the powerful, uncomfortable intersection between behaviour and rights and why the two must always go hand-in-hand.

You’ll hear:

⚖️ What children’s rights actually are

⚖️ Why children’s rights are not conditional - and how “good behaviour” can’t be the price of belonging

⚖️ How to shift from being a gatekeeper of behaviour to a gatekeeper of rights

⚖️ Why traditional ideas of authority and ‘being in control’ need to be unlearned

⚖️ Four big myths that keep you stuck in outdated behaviour models

This episode isn’t about blame; it’s about breaking the old scripts so we can lead with connection, not compliance.

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In the final part of the Big Feelings 101 series, we bring it all home with the skills that transform awareness into action. This episode unpacks how children build emotional resilience, connect through empathy, and develop that inner knowing: “I can handle this.”

You’ll hear:

🌱 The difference between affective and cognitive empathy (and why both matter)

🌱 Why “how would you like it if…” often misses the mark in early childhood

🌱 Practical ways to build empathy and perspective-taking through stories, play, and everyday repair

🌱 How emotional communication creates connection - not just expression

🌱 What emotional self-efficacy really looks like in practice (hint: it’s not calm; it’s trust)

If you're ready to go beyond naming feelings and start building emotional wisdom in your practice, this episode will guide the way.

Helpful links

Take a peek at my Behaviour Bites guide, Beyond "Say Sorry"

Articles

Implications of Carolyn Saarni’s work for preschoolers’ emotional competence

Early childhood teachers as socializers of young children’s emotional competence

Early childhood teachers’ socialization of children’s emotional competence

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In Part 3 of my Big Feelings 101 series, I dive deep into emotional expression and vocabulary - how children move from raw feelings to regulated communication, and why the way we respond to their emotions matters more than we think.

You’ll hear:

💬 Why some children stop showing emotions (and what that really means)

💬 How emotional language builds brain pathways for regulation

💬 The difference between naming feelings and truly connecting them to experience

💬 Four ways to build emotional vocabulary that go beyond charts and scripts

💬 What “display rules” are - and how we teach context without shutting down authenticity

This episode is your guide to turning emotional expression into emotional intelligence - so children can feel their feelings and share them in ways that deepen connection.

Articles

Emotion Wheel For Kids: What It Is, Benefits, and How to Use

Implications of Carolyn Saarni’s work for preschoolers’ emotional competence

Early childhood teachers as socializers of young children’s emotional competence

Early childhood teachers’ socialization of children’s emotional competence

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

If you’re guiding children through big feelings with nothing but deep breaths and “use your words,” this episode will change everything. In Part 2 of my Big Feelings 101 mini-series, we go deeper into what emotional regulation really is (and isn’t), the integral role of co-regulation, and the often-misunderstood difference between regulation and coping.

You'll hear:

🧠 Why emotional regulation isn’t the same as being quiet or compliant

🧠 The distinction between emotional regulation and self-regulation (and why it matters)

🧠 Real-life strategies to support regulation through naming, anchoring, and micro-moments

🧠 What happens in a child’s brain during emotional overload - and what they need from us

🧠 How to co-regulate without rescuing or fixing (and what repair looks like when we mess up)

If you’re someone who’s sick of shallow 'calm down' tips and wants to truly support children’s nervous systems and emotions with intention, this episode is for you.

Articles

Implications of Carolyn Saarni’s work for preschoolers’ emotional competence

Early childhood teachers as socializers of young children’s emotional competence

Early childhood teachers’ socialization of children’s emotional competence

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In part one of this three-part mini-series - that I'm affectionately calling Big Feelings 101 - I'm providing a compassionate, practical look at what emotional competence actually is (hint: it’s much more than just regulation), why it’s essential to how we understand and support children’s behaviour and the eight skills involved. I'll also provide a deep(ish) dive into the first two skills and how to bring them to life in your practice.

You’ll hear:

🐰 What emotional competence really means and why it’s often misunderstood

🐰 The first two foundational skills: recognising your own feelings and recognising them in others

🐰 The deep interconnection between how we recognise emotions in ourselves and in others

🐰 How interoception and theory of mind shape emotional awareness

🐰 Micro-moment that support these skills through everyday connection

This episode sets the groundwork for guiding big feelings without shame, power-over, or rewards and gives you the language to name what children actually need to become emotionally competent individuals.

PS: Very (very) mild coarse language features in this episode.

Articles

Implications of Carolyn Saarni’s work for preschoolers’ emotional competence

Early childhood teachers as socializers of young children’s emotional competence

Early childhood teachers’ socialization of children’s emotional competence

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

For too long, we’ve asked young children to sit still and focus when their brains are wired for motion. In this powerful episode, I chat with Stefanie Hohl, creator of ABC See, Hear, Do, about how movement can transform early literacy, especially for children who’ve struggled with traditional methods.

Stefanie Hohl is the creator of ABC See, Hear, Do - an innovative phonics program that helps children learn to read through movement and fun. As a literacy advocate, author, and educator, she has helped thousands of children develop a love for reading. Stefanie is passionate about making learning engaging, especially for active children.

You'll hear:

👋🏼 Why expecting children to sit still is actually hindering their learning.

👋🏼 How movement enhances phonics and creates stronger neural pathways.

👋🏼 The shocking gap in teacher training around reading instruction — and how it impacts classroom confidence.

👋🏼 What teachers can do today to weave purposeful movement into literacy learning.

👋🏼 Real stories of children who couldn’t read - until movement made it click.

This episode opens up a new, evidence-aligned path and is especially valuable for educators curious about the science of reading, phonics instruction, and meeting learners where they are.

Helpful Links

Visit Stefanie's website ABC See, Hear, Do

Check out Stefanie's products on Amazon

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Phwoar. This conversation is a powerful one. I welcome Sarah Middleton and her 12-year-old son, Charlie (the first child on the show - yay!), to The Bloom Room for a critical conversation around why it’s time to move beyond Whole Body Listening towards inclusive listening practices. Charlie shares his lived experience of Whole Body Listening, reflecting on the consequences of this approach that were naked to the invisible eye. 

This year, Sarah and Charlie undertook their first grass roots advocacy campaign - the Force 4 Good campaign - which fast became a movement, bringing like-minded people together to petition against the widespread use of Whole Body Listening in classrooms (learn more about this in the episode). In this discussion, Sarah shares the challenges encountered with their campaign (some quite surprising), and the hope that has come with connecting with others.

You’ll hear:

🌏 How the typical ‘teacher look’ can feel for a child with high sensitivity

🌏 Why quiet doesn’t always mean engaged

🌏 The importance of questioning “how things have always been done” and why ticking boxes doesn’t lead to long-lasting change

🌏 The links between whole-body listening, masking and belonging

🌏 How to advocate for change - and why quietly modelling inclusive listening practices might be the key to creating change in your environment

If you aren't already convinced that we need to move past Whole Body Listening - hearing Charlie's lived experience will get you over the line.

Helpful Links

Connect with Sarah on Instagram @sarah.middleton.blg

Visit the Force 4 Good campaign website Charlie's Letter

Read Dr. Connie Buckingham's blog Whole Body Listening: A First Attempt to Find the Science to Back a Change

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Eeeep - we’ve all said it - "sharing is caring". Two children are locked in battle over a toy, voices rising and out comes the phrase we hope will fix it fast. But what if “sharing is caring” is doing more harm than good?

In this episode, I unpack the very real consequences of forced sharing, why it doesn’t teach what we think it does, and what to do instead. Spoiler: it’s not about children giving up the goods, nor is it about permissiveness. It’s about building trust, patience, and genuine empathy.

🦕 Why “sharing is caring” might actually teach self-sacrifice, not kindness.

🦕 The subtle but powerful difference between sharing and turn-taking.

🦕 The mixed messages we send when we say “You’ve had it long enough” or “Who had it first?”

🦕 How scaffolded turn-taking supports regulation and social growth.

🦕 Practical scripts for tricky moments - that honour both children’s needs.

This episode is for anyone who’s felt caught in the tug-of-war and just wants to handle it better next time - with calm, clarity, and a whole lot more trust in children’s capacity to grow.

Helpful Links

Download my freebie Is Sharing Really Caring?

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

This chat with Em Gentle will be like a hug for the parts of you telling you that you're not doing enough. Em shares so much of her wisdom in this discussion centred on emotionally intelligen edicators - what emotional intelligence is, why it's important, how we live it, and why it's the crux of all we do in our work with children (or should be!).

Em is former teacher and Assistant Principal turned Emotional Intelligence Coach driven by a mission to transform the way we teach and lead. She helps educators and leaders prioritise emotional intelligence and nervous system regulation as the foundation for thriving school communities. She is committed to equipping support staff, teachers, and leaders with the knowledge and practical tools they need to build compassionate, connected, and emotionally safe learning environments.

You’ll hear:

☀️ Why conversations about teacher wellbeing and student wellbeing need to happen together, not separately

☀️ The links between the nervous system and behaviour

☀️ The first step to take in your journey with emotional intelligence

☀️ The importance of regulating routines to support children's self-regulation

☀️ Vulnerable stories about when we get it 'wrong'

This conversation is your permission to be more self-compassionate and to let go of the idea of perfection - and to move towards emotional intelligence.

PS: Very (very) mild coarse language features in this episode.

Helpful Links

Connect with Em on Instagram @em_gentle

Visit Em's website emmagentle.com.au

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Boundaries are often thrown around as one of those behaviour support tools that’s the magic bullet for getting children to do what you want. Womp womp, friend - magic bullets for behaviour don’t exist. The good news? When done well, boundaries can be an excellent tool for behaviour guidance and for showing children where our line is.

You’ll hear:

🍎 What a boundary really is - and what happens when we confuse them with limits

🍎 The three most common traps we fall into when setting boundaries

🍎 Why big feelings in response to your boundaries don’t mean your boundary has failed

🍎 A framework for knowing which boundaries to remain steadfast on and which you can drop

🍎 The myth of consistency meaning 100% of the time

This episode’s for those of you feeling like your boundaries could do with a little spring clean (or maybe even a complete makeover).

PS: Very (very) mild coarse language features in this episode. 

Helpful Links

Check out my Behaviour Bites guide Leading from the Middle

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In this inspiring episode I speak with Anna Skates, a passionate advocate for children's rights, about the importance of truly seeing and listening to children. We unpack how adult discomfort, language, and societal structures can either uplift or silence children and how we make space for them.

Anna Skates is a children’s advocate, entrepreneur, and creator on a mission to help the world take kids seriously - and treat them accordingly. Whether she's hosting kid book clubs, creating content, leading youth camps, or building experiences like The Story Booth or Every Little Step, everything she does is built on the belief that kids are full people right now. Not someday. Not “when they can articulate it.” Right now.

You’ll hear:

🐞 Why children are full human beings right now

🐞 The need to get comfortable with the discomfort that comes with advocacy and being courageous

🐞 What it means to truly listen to children - with all of our senses

🐞 How shifting the way that we see, understand and relate to children and childhood could change the world

🐞 A frank conversation around the harm of the obsession with data in education

If you’re ready to hear powerful insights on empathy, advocacy, and the transformative potential of viewing children as valuable members of society, this is the episode for you. 

Helpful Links

Connect with Anna on Instagram @anna_skates

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In this energising chat with Simon Airey, we explore neurodivergent play through a radically affirming lens - one where movement, stimming, flow states, and autonomy aren’t side notes, but centre stage. If you’ve ever wondered how to support neurodivergent play without overriding it, this episode is for you.

Simon is a neurodiversity and inclusion specialist with over 25 years of experience in education. Through his content, talks, and podcast, Simon shares practical strategies that support the diverse needs of neurodivergent children in real, everyday classroom settings.

You’ll hear:

🌛 How certain forms of play are actually powerful self-regulation tools

🌛 How movement, repetition, and regulation show up in authentic play

🌛 Why adult-led agendas can interfere with connection and safety

🌛 Challenging the idea that play needs to fit into neat, expected boxes

🌛 How to create an environment that makes room for all kinds of play

If you’re ready to let go of the Pinterest version of play and make room for deeper connection, curiosity, and co-regulation, this conversation will stay with you.

Helpful Links

Connect with Simon on Instagram @simoninclusionteacher

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In this powerful conversation with Lauren Mittell - a mother, teacher and advocate for children who embeds social justice and children's rights into her parenting and pedagogy - we dive deep into what it really means to uphold children’s rights in our practice. Beyond posters and policies, this episode is about how we show up every day - in our language, our decisions, and the way we hold space for children’s voices.

Lauren shares how her teaching philosophy is grounded in children’s rights, social justice, and anti-oppression. Rather than seeing education as a way to control or prepare children for the workforce, she advocates for creating learning spaces where children feel seen, heard, and empowered.

You’ll hear:

💫 The importance of critically reflecting on systems and traditions in education 

💫 Unpacking the power dynamics between teachers and students and shifting from control to collaboration and shared power

💫 Practical, concrete, accessible changes you can make to uphold children’s rights

💫 A reminder that transformation starts with reconsidering how we see children

💫 How to shift from tokenism to truly listening, respecting, and including children

If you’re ready to go beyond buzzwords and reflect honestly on how your practice upholds (or overlooks) children’s rights, this episode is essential listening.

Helpful Links

Connect with Lauren on Instagram @ms_lauren_eve

Take a look at the book It's Not Fair by Eloise Rickman

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

If you’ve ever ended a school day feeling utterly drained by the tiny behaviours that chip away at your patience, this episode is for you. We're tackling low-level behaviours - the eye-rolls, the pencil taps, the incessant chattering - and unpacking why they're anything but low-impact.

You’ll hear:

💫 Why I don’t actually like the term 'low-level behaviours' and what we should be calling them instead

💫 How small behaviours send big signals about disconnection, disengagement, or overwhelm

💫 Three common myths that stop educators from responding to these behaviours effectively

💫 Practical strategies for responding without escalating or ignoring 

💫 Why proactive measures are invaluable for preserving your own energy whilst maintaining classroom culture and connection

If you’re sick of micromanaging every. little. behaviour. and want to build your toolkit, this episode is your starting point.

Helpful Links

Purchase a ticket to my August 21 workshop Tiny Behaviours, Big Impact 

Download my *free* checklist Keeping Low-Level Behaviours Low

Connect with me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

If your calm space is feeling more like a soft time-out than a supportive sanctuary, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew. I unpack why calm corners often miss the markand what to shift so they actually support emotional regulation.

You’ll hear:

💫 Why many calm corners become time-out in disguise

💫 The role of co-regulation and adult presence in calm corners

💫 What calm corners truly need to be effective (hint: it's more than breathing posters)

💫 How to build a calm corner with children, not just for them

💫 What to do when a child resists the space, and how to preserve autonomy

This one’s for educators and carers who are ready to rethink calm down strategies and build spaces that truly support emotional growth.

Helpful Links

Check out my behaviour bites guide Building Emotional Competence

Connect with me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• Why behaviour charts don’t actually teach behaviour and what they do instead.
• How children internalise their placement on behaviour charts, shaping their self-worth and peer relationships.
• The connection between behaviour charts and social bias, including their disproportionate impact on neurodivergent children and children of colour.
• Four alternative strategies to support behaviour - clear expectations, teaching missing skills, connection and problem-solving, and having a plan for tricky behaviours.
• How to shift from compliance to skill-building, fostering self-regulation, responsibility, and a positive classroom culture.

There are ways to support behaviour while fostering connection, fostering skill building and helping children feel good about themselves - without the need for behaviour charts. Promise.

Helpful links

💫 Read When the Clips are Down

💫 Download my free guide: Navigating Rewards When You're Expected to Use Reward Systems

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• How social media, unrealistic expectations, and 'shoulds' impact teachers falling into the comparison trap.
• Looking at imposter syndrome and questioning where it might come from.
• How to challenge the thoughts that make you feel “not good enough” by reframing your limiting beliefs.
• How to recognise when you're overgeneralising, catastrophising, and speaking in absolutes.
• Embracing authenticity, leaning into strengths, and stepping into your true teacher self.

If you've ever felt less-than in your work, this episode is for you.

Helpful links

💫 Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers

💫 Peep my post on Marigold Teachers

💫 If you'd like some 1:1 support, take a look at my mentoring packages

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

I’ll explore 8 things that are IN in order to foster trust, collaboration, and open dialogue, as well as 6 things that are OUT that can unintentionally act as roadblocks for your relationships. I cover:

• The importance of starting the year with strong family relationships.
• Ways to help families feel welcome and included from day one.
• Building trust through clear communication and proactive engagement.
• Why families should have a voice in their child’s classroom journey.
• Being intentional with information shared with families.

Working with families isn't as scary as it seems, promise. 

Helpful links

💫 Download a *free* copy of my transitions checklist: Supporting Effective Transitions

💫 Purchase my comprehensive transitions roadmap: Beyond the Welcome Email

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• The importance of inclusive environments.
• Amplifying children's sense of belonging.
• Children as placemakers.
• Why children should have a voice in shaping their learning spaces.
• The role of authenticity in learning spaces.

If you've never considered the learning environment through children's eyes before, this episode is going to leave you with a lot to reflect on - in the best possible way.

Helpful links

💫 Purchase the Clarity & Culture Back to School Workshops

💫 Read through  Children’s voices: Inclusive early childhood placemaking with children

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• Why classroom agreements are much more than a list of rules.
• The importance of balancing expectations to be firm, fair, flexible, and developmentally appropriate for children.
• Debunking myths about classroom agreements.
• A rant about the idea that we shouldn't co-construct expectations with children 'because they get too silly.'
• Some ideas for exploring rights and responsibilities and creating classroom agreements.

If you've never created a co-constructed classroom agreement before, let me tell you - these are powerful! You won't look at rules the same.

Helpful links

💫 Purchase the Clarity & Culture Back to School Workshops

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• Planning for logistics and setup: How to organise booklist items.
• Delegating roles.
• Navigating tears when children separate from their caregivers.
• Structuring your first-day schedule.
• Ideas for simple relationship-building and name-learning activities.
• The importance of day one reflections.

If day one feels mega daunting (so normal, btw), this episode will give you some solid pointers to turn that overwhelm into intention. 

Helpful links

💫 6 books about starting school

💫 Purchase my comprehensive transitions roadmap for a smooth day one: Beyond the Welcome Email

💫 Purchase the Clarity & Culture Back to School Workshops

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• What routines are and why they’re essential for classroom success.
• How routines build a sense of safety and belonging for children.
• Five key reasons routines are the foundation of every effective classroom.
• A 5-step framework for teaching routines.
• Why investing time in routines early in the year saves you a heap of time, energy and frustration in the long run.

If routines have ever felt like an afterthought, this episode will show you why they’re the cornerstone of a smooth, successful school year. 

Helpful links

💫 Purchase the Clarity & Culture Back to School Workshops

💫 5 mistakes I made with routines when I started teaching

💫 A 5-step framework to setting routines

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

• What effective transitions are.
• Why transitions set the tone for a successful school year.
• Essential information to share with families to build trust and reduce anxiety.
• How to prepare children and families for day one.
• The importance of children's participation in the transition process.

Helpful links

💫 Download a *free* copy of my transitions checklist: Supporting Effective Transitions

💫 Purchase my comprehensive transitions roadmap: Beyond the Welcome Email

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Check out the Courageous Kids app (affiliate link)

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Elise and I speak about:

🌸 What progressive mealtimes are and how they differ from traditional group mealtimes.

🌸 How mealtimes can shift from being rushed routines to meaningful rituals that foster connection and learning.

🌸 The role of autonomy, choice, and agency in progressive mealtimes.

🌸 Practical strategies to make progressive mealtimes work.

🌸 Addressing common challenges such as food safety, chaotic transitions, and preparing children for structured school settings.

🌸 Why intentionality and context matter - ain't no one-size-fits-all approach around here.

Elise is a mum of two and an Early Childhood Consultant and Teacher. Her mission is to create a movement in the way we educate and raise children so together we can improve the mental health outcomes of our next generation. Elise is passionate about promoting the importance of healthy attachment and developmentally responsive and attuned approaches in the first five years of life - she is BIG ON LITTLE PEOPLE! 

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

Connect with Elise:

💫 Send her an email: hello@elisedisher.com 

💫 Find her on Instagram: @elisedisher.ed

💫 Visit her website: Elise Disher

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Kathy and I discuss:

🌸 The importance of adopting a trauma lens when working with children.

🌸 Recognising that challenging behaviour often signals a child’s experience of fear or stress.

🌸 The critical role of safe, supportive relationships in helping children with trauma.

🌸 How trauma can disrupt children’s developmental milestones and attachment.

🌸 The unique challenges educators face when supporting children impacted by trauma.

🌸 The value of curiosity in interpreting behaviours as potential trauma responses.

Kathy Warwick is the Head of Trauma Consulting (TraCS) at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Kathy is a qualified Social Worker who has worked with vulnerable children and families in the statutory and non-government sectors over the past 28 years. This has included working in Child Protection for 18 years in Australia and the UK and prior to her current role at AMF, managing an Early Childhood Parenting Centre delivering numerous community and family services’ programs aimed at supporting highly vulnerable infants, children and their families. 

Having worked her entire career with children and families who have experienced significant trauma in their lives, Kathy has a strong understanding of the impact of trauma on the development and attachment experiences of children and values the role TraCS is able to play in supporting children to reach their potential in their crucial early years. This work has also made Kathy very passionate about recognising the impact trauma can have on professionals working closely with vulnerable children and families. 

It is important that the wellbeing needs of professionals and staff providing invaluable support to these children is given the attention it deserves. If we recognise that “it can take a village to raise a child” then we must do our best to ”nurture the villagers so they can keep doing their wonderful work.”

Helpful links:

💫 Explore the Trauma Consultancy Service

💫 Download their guide - Trauma-Informed Practice: A Guide for Early Childhood Organisation

Connect with Kathy:

💫 Send her an email: kathy.warwick@amf.org.au

💫 Find the Alannah + Madeline Foundation on Instagram: @alannahmadeline

💫 Visit their website: The Alannah + Madeline Foundation

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Jess and I discuss:

🌸What resilience truly means and how misconceptions about "toughening up" can harm children.

🌸The role of the window of tolerance in resilience.

🌸How temperament influences a child’s capacity for resilience. 

🌸The importance of emotion coaching to help children process and learn from their feelings.

🌸Why failure is essential for growth and how adults can create safe spaces for children to experience and navigate failure.

🌸The significance of risky play in teaching children to assess challenges and build autonomy.

Jess has a Bachelor of Social Science (amongst other training) and a background working in Case Management, Counselling and Student Wellbeing and is on a mission to support families to build resilience and emotional intelligence so that they feel empowered & equipped to face life's inevitable curveballs with confidence. Currently, Jess supports parents and any professionals working with families through psychoeducational workshops and also works as a Parenting Consultant at Childhood Rising where she provides 1:1 nuanced support for each unique family she meets with. Jess is a mum to two wonderful little people and deeply understands both the beauty and the heartache that can be felt as a parent which is why all of her services are jam-packed with compassion.

Helpful Links:

Explore Jess' workshop for educators and teachers: Thriving Classrooms

Connect with Jess:

💫 Send her an email: jess@raisingresiliencemp.com.au

💫 Find her on Instagram: @raisingresilience_mornington

💫 Visit her website: Raising Resilience

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Claire and I discuss:

🌸 What the PDA profile (Pathological Demand Avoidance) is.

🌸 The significance of understanding PDA through a neuro-affirming approach and why the term "Pervasive Drive for Autonomy" is preferred.

🌸 Understanding the difference between PDA and typical demand avoidance.

🌸 Common behaviours associated with PDA, including the different "fight, flight, freeze, fawn" responses.

🌸 Supports for PDAers, including the critical role of reducing and adapting demands to support regulation.

🌸 We also talk a load about neuro-affirming practice and supports in general. 

Claire Britton is the Director and Principal Occupational Therapist at Neuroinclusion. She is passionate about educating, inspiring and empowering Australian clients and therapists to optimise best practice to facilitate their success doing their daily activities. She works with neurodivergent clients across the lifespan and also runs The Neurodivergent Occupational Therapist instagram with over 27,000 followers. She is a speaker, podcast guest, neurodiversity advocate and clinical mentor to therapists across Australia. She brings her own personal experiences being neurodivergent with over 9 years of clinical experiences to consistently provide the highest quality neurodiversity-affirming practice. Her extensive experience as an occupational therapist includes schools, not-for-profits, private practice and in community settings in Perth, Melbourne and Cape Town.

Connect with Claire:

💫 Send her an email: claire@neuroinclusion.com.au

💫 Find her on Instagram: @neuroinclusion.au

💫 Find her on Facebook: Neuroinclusion

💫 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Claire Britton

💫 Visit her website: Neuroinclusion

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Lisa and I discuss:

🌸 What is meant by a ‘culture of agency.’

🌸 Shared power and democratic classrooms.

🌸 Common misconceptions of agency (hint: it’s not something that we ‘give’ children and it extends far beyond offering simple choices).

🌸 The critical connection between teacher agency and child agency.

🌸 The teacher’s role as a facilitator of agency.

🌸 Critical reflections on educational values.

🌸 The importance of finding your teacher tribe and the role that community plays in teacher agency.

🌸 Lisa’s framework for working towards a culture of agency and its five core elements. 

Lisa Burman is firstly a teacher, which means she sees herself as a constant learner, fascinated with childhood and the power and joy of learning. She is the Director and Principal Consultant for Lisa Burman Consultants, based in Adelaide, South Australia. Lisa is the author of “Are You Listening? Fostering Conversations that Help Young Children Learn” and the recently published, “Culture of Agency - Fostering Engagement, Empowerment, Identity, and Belonging in the Early Years”. Her favourite times are side-by-side with educators and children as a pedagogical partner in preschools and primary/elementary schools.  

Helpful Links:

Engage with one of Lisa's eCourses at The Authentic Educator

Buy Lisa’s book: ‘A Culture of Agency’ in Australia or internationally 

Connect with Lisa:

💫 Send her an email: info@lisaburman.com.au

💫 Find her on Instagram: @lisaburmanconsultants

💫 Visit her website: Lisa Burman

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

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: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

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: andy@beyondthehaze.com.au

💫 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: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

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: dave@moveabout.com.au

💫 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: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

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:

💫 Find her on Instagram: @courageouskidsapp

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

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

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: cathfitzhardinge@gmail.com

💫 Find her on Instagram: @cathfitz_ot

💫 Visit her website: Cath Fitz OT

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Jacquie and I discuss:

🌸Internalised + externalised anger and the fight + flight response.

🌸Removing the stigma surrounding anger.

🌸Anger as a secondary emotion.

🌸When we join the child in their chaos.

🌸Navigating aggressive behaviours.

🌸When to seek specialist support.

🌸When families + caregivers also need support. 

🌸The concept of teaching children to be ‘angry with responsibility.’

🌸What happens when children don’t want to talk about their feelings.

Here are the resources shared in our discussion:

The Explosive Child by Dr Ross Greene

The Highly Sensitive Child by Dr Elaine Aron

Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel

Robyn Gobbel’s podcast ‘The Baffling Behavior Show’ on Apple or Spotify

Jacquie Ward is a Psychologist who looks after children, adolescents and their families. She works with a wide range of presentations and is dedicated to recognising and valuing the diverse ways in which brains can function. Jacquie had her first ever children’s book, an exploration of the trait of high sensitivity in young children, published this year. When not working, you’ll likely find Jacquie at the beach, chasing her three young children around, or daydreaming with her husband about moving out of Sydney to live on a hobby farm.

Connect with Jacquie:

💫 Send her an email: hello@jacquieward.com.au

💫 Find her on Instagram: @jacquie_ward_

💫 Visit her website: Jacquie Ward

💫 Pre-order Jacquie’s book ‘Billy’s Brilliant Butterflies’

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Renee, Charmaine and I discuss:

🌸 Respecting + advocating for children’s rights.

🌸 What is a children’s council and how have they brought it to life?

🌸 The idea of slow pedagogy.

🌸 Supporting transitions with a Children’s Handbook.

🌸 Looking at a child’s complaints process.

🌸 Sharing the importance of rights with families and grown-ups.

🌸 Transforming practice and embracing the messy middle.

🌸 Making space for children’s voices to lead your work.

🌸 The importance of returning to your ‘why’.

As the Centre Director of Goodstart Red Hill for 21 years, Renee has attracted a team of like-minded thinkers. With the changing and evolving landscape of the world and our Sector, Renee’s Adaptive Leadership has led to the Centre’s Distributed Leadership model; creating a collaboratively rich professional space.

Embedding the WNDER project spanning 10 years to date, the Red Hill team and children have been Wandering and Wondering beyond their gates to engage with their local community, explore their surrounding wild spaces, and learning how to care for Country.

Connecting with each other, and the community, Renee advocates for the needs of Educators, children, and implementing Change.

Find out more about Goodstart in Red Hill:

💫 Send them an email: kse@goodstart.org.au

💫 Find them on Instagram: @goodstart_red_hill

💫 Find them on Facebook: Goodstart Early Learning Red Hill

💫 Watch a short clip about their Children’s Council

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

In our conversation, we tackle many big questions when it comes to rethinking traditional practices in education.

Simon and I discuss:

🌸 Reframing behaviour as something to managed or supported.

🌸 How has inclusion in classrooms changed and how can we foster inclusive spaces?

🌸 Meeting the need for movement + the outside classroom.

🌸 Burnout and the importance of self care and self-compassion.

🌸 Why does education suddenly veer away from early years practice in year one?

🌸 Being a brave educator and resisting dominant educational practices.

These are the books that Simon referred to in our discussion:

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Minding Bodies by Susan Hrach

Sensory Solutions in the Classroom by Cameron Lamp + Monique Thoonsen

With 24 years of teaching experience, Simon is passionate about ensuring all children have access to the curriculum. His strong interest in EYFS, SEND, and neurodiversity has driven him to develop provisions for open-ended play and essential life skills. Throughout his career, he has been a class teacher, subject lead, phase leader, and a member of SLT. He is currently a visiting teacher, working in schools across London.

Connect with Simon:

💫 Send him an email: simonairey4578@gmail.com

💫 Find him on Instagram: @simoninclusionteacher

💫 Tune into Simon's podcast Social Anxiety Life on Apple or Spotify (these links will take you to his episode on children with social anxiety)

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Michaelene and I discuss:

🌸What is the role of an Occupational Therapist?

🌸The three step framework that is sensory processing.

🌸The difference between understanding versus judgement when it comes to behaviour.

🌸What are the eight sensory systems (including the three lesser known sensory systems - proprioception, vestibular input and interoception)?

🌸What happens when one of these systems isn’t doing their job and how does this contribute to behaviour?

🌸The importance of working with OTs and knowing when to seek out their support. 

🌸Considerations for sensory friendly classroom environments.

🌸Movement as up-regulating and movement as down-regulating.

Michaelene Kearney is a paediatric occupational therapist with specialised training in the diagnosis & treatment of sensory processing disorder. As an occupational therapist, she collaborates with teachers & school staff on care for her clients in the school setting. After years of providing OT consultative services for schools in the Atlanta area, she created The Teachers OT - an online educational platform where she provides education on all things sensory in the classroom.

Connect with Michaelene:

💫Send her an email: michaelene@theteachersot.com & 

💫 Find her on Instagram: @theteachers_ot

💫 Visit her website: The Teacher's OT

💫 View her course: Understanding Behaviour in the Classroom

💫 Check our her sensory tools

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Annabel and I discuss:

🌸The difference between the terms neurodiverse, neurodivergent and neurotype.

🌸The importance of listening to people with lived experience with neurodivergence.

🌸How some practices commonly used with neurodivergent children can be causing more harm than good.

🌸Exploring the need to practice with both a neuro-inclusive and neuro-affirming lens.

🌸Some small tweaks you can make towards being more neuro-affirming in your practice (hint: it’s not as big a task as you think!).

Annabel is the founder of Thriving Minds Education and is a neuro-inclusion advocate who’s supporting and empowering young members of the neurodivergent community.

For most of her life, Annabel didn’t know why she was different. Growing up, she says she always felt like an outsider, struggling to get a grasp on learning and socialising while grappling with anxieties that couldn’t be explained. That is, until she began teaching in early education settings – and seeing similar traits show up in the children she was supporting.

Annabel was diagnosed with autism at 30 and ADHD at 31. But even before then, she knew there was a desperate need for more awareness and support around kids with developmental differences. A need that she was already working to meet through her business, Thriving Minds Education, where she offers workshops, resources and a vast array of books celebrating neurodivergence.

Connect with Annabel:

💫Send her an email: annabel@thrivingmindseducation.com

💫 Find her on Instagram: @thrivingmindseducation

💫 Visit her website: Thriving Minds Education

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Kristi and I discuss:

🌸Myths around childhood abuse and the prevalence of abuse in Australia.

🌸The critical role of prevention.

🌸Grooming and signs to look out for.

🌸The importance of a protective behaviour curriculum that is developmentally appropriate.

🌸Child protective behaviours such as tricky people and tricky behaviours, safe and unsafe touch, safety networks, consent, early warning signs and saying no.

🌸Mandatory reporting and signs/behaviours we can look out for.

Kristi McVee has spent over 14 years fighting child sexual abuse from the front lines and now utilises her experiences as a police officer and child abuse detective to teach all she knows about child abuse prevention to parents, caregivers, educators and the community.

Connect with Kristi:

💫 Send her an email: admin@cape-au.com

💫 Find her on Instagram: @kristimcvee

💫 Visit her website: Child Abuse Prevention + Education Australia

💫 Visit her TikTok: tiktokcop81

💫 Listen to The CAPE Podcast: Apple or on Spotify

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Amie and I discuss:

🌸What led Amie to her interest in early years leadership? 

🌸What makes for an effective leader (hint: it’s more than a checklist!)?

🌸Amie’s advice for navigating unsupportive leadership as well as tips for aspiring early years champions. 

🌸Feelings of disconnect, tension and dichotomy - it’s not us vs. them.

🌸The role of values, belonging, agency, community and being heard.

🌸What to do when passion isn’t quite enough. 

Dr Amie Fabry is a passionate early childhood educator, facilitator and researcher who is committed to empowering leaders to transform pedagogical practice. A rising star in the education sector, Amie uses a strengths-based approach to build the confidence, knowledge and skills of early childhood educators, teachers and leaders to create responsive and trusting cultures in which educators and children thrive.

Connect with Amie:

💫Send her an email: amie@thelearningfuture.com

💫 Find her on Instagram: @amiefabry_earlyyears

💫 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Amie Fabry

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Join Em and I as we share our opinions and frustrations not only on this media hype but about the real question - do we actually need a behaviour curriculum? 

Em and I discuss:

🌸 The media’s sensationalism of a behaviour curriculum and its potential harm to effective education.

🌸 The implications of a behaviour curriculum and what it really means for teachers and students.

🌸 The importance of holistic child development and proactive teaching methods.

🌸 The need for a shift towards relationship-based approaches in education that challenge punitive disciplinary measures.

🌸 Strategies for effectively supporting children's emotional and behavioural development without resorting to outdated punitive measures.

Em is doing powerful things in the space of supporting graduate teachers with her membership and courses offered through The Grad Guide. I am led to believe, however, that some incredibly exciting changes are close on the horizon as Em is preparing to shift gears and set her sights on world domination (ok, I joke, but it’s close). If you’re keen to watch it all unfold, connect with her via Insta. 

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

Connect with Em:

💫 Send her an email: hello@thegradguide.com.au 

💫 Find her on Instagram: @em_gentle

💫 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Emma Gentle

💫 Visit her website: The Grad Guide

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Elise and I discuss:

🌸 Which happy accident led to Elise falling into early childhood education? 

🌸 What is attachment and why is it crucial for young children?

🌸 How can we become attuned and responsive educators and navigate the delicate balance between being a do-er and a be-er.

🌸 Tangible ways to bridge the divide between home and care spaces.

🌸 How we can support children transition into new spaces through the lens of attachment.

🌸 Leaning into trusting the process of attachment.

Elise is a mum of two and an Early Childhood Consultant and Teacher. Her mission is to create a movement in the way we educate and raise children so together we can improve the mental health outcomes of our next generation. Elise is passionate about promoting the importance of healthy attachment and developmentally responsive and attuned approaches in the first five years of life - she is BIG ON LITTLE PEOPLE! 

Connect with Elise:

💫 Send her an email: info@umeplay.com.au 

💫 Find her on Instagram: @elisedisher.ed

💫 Visit her website: UMe Play

Join the Little Bloom community:

💫 Send me an email: hello@littlebloomconsultancy.com.au 

💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy

💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See

💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Jess and I discuss:

🌸 What separation anxiety feels like for a child and what’s going on inside the brain of a child experiencing it

🌸 Language we can use to support children that’s helpful (and unhelpful)

🌸 Why it’s important to provide space for all emotions - even the big ones

🌸 How separation anxiety can manifest for children (hint: it’s not always retreating like we’re led to believe!)

🌸 The role (and power) of play and movement in moving through feelings of separation anxiety

For our chat, Jess had actually created a wonderful resource to support those of you supporting children experiencing separation anxiety - but we got so carried away with our discussion that we forgot to touch on it! You can download it via the link below.

Jess has a Bachelor of Social Science (amongst other training) and a background working in Case Management, Counselling, and Student Wellbeing and is on a mission to support families to build resilience and emotional intelligence so that they feel empowered & equipped to face life's inevitable curveballs with confidence. Currently, Jess supports parents and any professionals working with families through psychoeducational workshops and also works as a Parenting Consultant at Childhood Rising where she provides 1:1 nuanced support for each unique family she meets with. Jess is a mum to two wonderful little people and deeply understands both the beauty and the heartache that can be felt as a parent which is why all of her services are jam-packed with compassion.

Connect with Jess

💫 Send her an email: jess@raisingresiliencemp.com.au

💫 Find her on Instagram: @raisingresilience_mornington

💫 Visit her website: Raising Resilience

💫 Download a copy of 'Using S.P.A.C.E. to support a child experiencing separation anxiety'

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

You'll hear:

🌸 What primary school was like for me (hint: not great).

🌸 Why I left the classroom - and will I ever go back? 

🌸 How I navigated working in a school that almost broke me, and how I found the school that put my broken teacher parts back together.

🌸 How I responded when another teacher threatened to call the police on one of my children for being sent to buddy class.

🌸 The future of Little Bloom.

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

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au

Join me, Danica See, an early childhood education mentor and consultant, as I delve into the wonderful world of early childhood education with heart, humour and community. 

In season one I’ll be delving right into: 

🌸Why we need to put behaviour charts in the bin.

🌸How we can elevate the wonder that is early childhood education and care.

​​🌸Concerns about the current conversation on a behaviour curriculum.

🌸Supporting children experiencing separation anxiety.

🌸How we can move towards neuro-inclusive practice.

🌸The importance of strong early years leadership... and more!

Whether you're an experienced educator or just starting out, the Bloom Room has something for everyone. Subscribe now and cosy up with me for weekly episodes in the Bloom Room, where laughter, learning, and growth await!

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 45 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy

Visit my website www.littlebloomconsultancy.com.au