Ep 27 - 'It's OK not to share' - Book Review!

In this lively, outdoor episode the team greets a curious raven and riffs on corvid fascination—before diving into a deep review of Heather Shumaker’s game-changing parenting guide It’s Okay Not to Share & Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent & Compassionate Kids. They unpack Heather’s surprising background (from Antarctic trash-collector to oral-history biographer), the book’s bite-sized chapters and practical “what to say” boxes, and the fundamental Renegade Rule: children’s right to choose how (and whether) they share. Along the way they explore setting limits while respecting autonomy (even “doggie” dinner play), conflict resolution scripts that give victims a voice, signage strategies for “no boys/girls allowed” scenarios, flexible blackboard waitlists, and the book’s bold takes on rough-and-tumble, bomb/gun play and even preschool sex ed. Finally, they invite listeners to join their workshop at the Somerset Play Forum on June 19th.⏱ Chapter Timings:00:07 – Raven sighting, corvid obsession & Google’s “befriend a crow” top autofill00:27 – Introducing It’s Okay Not to Share & Heather Shumaker’s bio00:47 – Heather’s eclectic past: sailor, llama-trekker, Antarctic trash-collector, oral-history author01:23 – Surprising non-psychology background vs book’s authoritative voice01:54 – Book structure: standalone chapters & “words to use/avoid” boxes02:46 – Renegade Rules: permission to skip forced sharing & reclaim play rights03:40 – Key rule deep-dive: “It’s okay not to share”—protecting children’s play autonomy04:48 – Language tips: short, simple, non-judgemental statements to set limits05:36 – Balancing limits and imagination (“doggie dinner” case study)06:44 – Adult advocacy: defending a child’s turn without penalising others08:23 – Conflict resolution scripts: giving victims a voice & coaching both parties09:59 – Exclusion play: signage & gentle interrogation of “no boys/girls allowed” myths11:11 – Blackboard waitlists: portable, flexible turn-tracking tool in group sessions12:39 – Other standout chapters: rough-and-tumble, bomb/gun play, preschool sex ed, dead-bird buddies13:28 – Coming up: Somerset Play Forum workshop on 19 June—join us!🌲 Keywords: Renegade Rules, child autonomy, sharing rights, conflict resolution, waitlists, exclusion play, rough-and-tumble, play signage, non-judgemental language, Heather Shumaker, play pedagogy, Somerset Play Forum🔖 Hashtags:#ItsOkayNotToShare #RenegadeRules #ChildLedPlay #PlayRights #ConflictResolution #OutdoorPlay #PlayPedagogy #ForestSchool #SomersetPlayForum #HeatherShumaker🌐 More Episodes & Support:Listen & find resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.comSupport us at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcastFeedback or collab? [email protected]