Kindness in Schools: Creating Emotional Safety for Children | Masha Kastner & David Moss | AEM #165

In this deeply moving episode of An Evolving Man Podcast, I speak with Masha Castner and David Moss, founders and directors of Kind Waves.Kind Waves is a UK charity created to help schools build deeper cultures of kindness, emotional safety and positive relationships. The charity was born from the heartbreaking death of Masha and David’s 13-year-old daughter, Helena, known as Heli, who took her own life.Through their grief, Masha and David have become passionate advocates for changing the emotional culture around children, families, educators and school communities.In this conversation, we explore how many children suffer silently, why school pressure can become overwhelming, and how kindness is not simply about being nice. It is about creating environments where children and adults feel safe, seen, heard, valued and supported.We discuss:• The story behind Kind Waves• Heli’s life and the heartbreak of losing her• Why many children suffer silently• The pressures facing young people in schools• Why kindness is different from niceness• The importance of emotional safety in schools• Why behaviour is often a nervous system response• How shame and humiliation affect children• Why teachers need support, not more pressure• How schools can build cultures of kindness• The importance of listening to children• How safe adults can make a life-changing difference• Social media, perfectionism and the pressure young people face• Why children need challenge without fear• How rest, creativity and connection support learningThis is a powerful conversation about grief, education, children’s mental health, school culture and the urgent need to create kinder environments for young people.Kind Waves:https://kindwaves.org.uk/    @kindwavesukPiers Cross:https://www.piers-cross.com/#AnEvolvingManPodcast #KindWaves #KindnessInSchools #ChildrensMentalHealth #EmotionalSafety #CompassionateLeadership #SchoolCulture #MentalHealthAwarenessTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Masha Castner, David Moss and Kind Waves02:05 The story behind Kind Waves05:20 Heli’s life and what her parents learned through grief09:10 Children suffering silently12:45 School pressure and young people’s mental health16:30 Behaviour as a nervous system response20:15 Why punishment and shame can harm children24:40 The importance of emotional safety in schools29:05 How external voices become internal voices34:10 Positive challenge rather than pressure39:00 Social media, perfectionism and young people44:15 Safe adults, open doors and early support49:20 Rest, regulation and the school day53:10 Kindness versus niceness56:35 The vision for Kind Waves58:20 Where to find Kind Waves---Piers is an author and a men's transformational coach and therapist who works mainly with trauma, boarding school issues, addictions and relationship problems. He also runs online men's groups for ex-boarders, retreats and a podcast called An Evolving Man. He is also the author of How to Survive and Thrive in Challenging Times. To purchase Piers first book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Survive-Thrive-Challenging-Times/dp/B088T5L251/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=piers+cross&qid=1609869608&sr=8-1 For more videos please visit: http://youtube.com/pierscross For FB: https://www.facebook.com/pierscrosspublic For Piers' website and a free training How To Find Peace In Everyday Life: https://www.piers-cross.com/community Many blessings, Piers Cross http://piers-cross.com/