Chasing The Connection

This week we review our childrens attachment needs and what we can do to support them. Practical ideas informed by the science of attachment Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being. Book a free chat at www.leadapproach.com   

We take a deep dive into the science of attachment, how children are meant to connect with their parents and carers. We look at the hierarchy of attachment and its development, as defined by Dr Neufeld. We touch on how children can get stuck in behaviour patterns when they are not deeply attached and how these can become personality traits. This episode forms the foundation of our next one where we explore the practical applications of this science. The LEAD approach is a way of understanding and supporting children from a relational perspective that draws on a variety of research in how brains develop and what they need to develop emotional maturity, and how that applies in our culture. Find more about LEAD at www.leadapproach.com and book a free chat with Laura to explore how you can help your child or teen develop deeper roots of attachment and improve their Social and Emotional well-being. Laura Newman is a registered Speech and Language Therapist specialising in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She supports families internationally with her trauma and attachment lens, helping parents rekindle their joy in parenting and transform childrens challenging behaviours into fulfilling connections.  

Welcome to Season 3 with a review of our approach. The LEAD approach is the foundation of Chasing the Connection. We discuss what it is, how it came into being and ultimatley how connection between children and parents supports everyone. Join us as we lay out the intention for our next 8 episodes focussed on each pillar of the approach:  Living, Emotion, Attachment and Development.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered Speech Therapist in attachment and trauma, specialising in children and adolescent mental health. Book a free chat at www.LEADapproach.com 

Following our last episode, we go deeper into our values and beliefs. Our scientific understanding of attachment walks hand in hand with our faith in Nature or Christianity. In this sense Nature or G-d can act as a caring lead in our lives and provide us with the Rest we need to be our kids 'best bet'. -------------------------------------------------------------------- To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being. Book a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com     

Hamaima Love, Director of Mission On Earth, shamanic practitioner and previously social worker, describes her project to raise awareness of our sensitive little ones, our starseed children, and provide support for their families. MOE has guides and coaches from many backgrounds, offering online sessions for parents, including inner child work, homeopathy, healing modalities and more. Laura also runs a free monthly parent circle for MOE.  All events and practitioner bios can be accessed at www.MissionOnEarth.org Together we discuss sensitive children from our 3 different perspectives on the world (clinical, spiritual and Christian) and find that the vital connection between parent and child is at the centre. ---------------------------------------- To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens social engagement and well-being. Book a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com 

Life brings stress for parents but how do we safeguard our kids from this? What can we control in uncontrollable situations? A controlled explosion maybe, tears of futility, a strong relationship. No easy answers but an important topic that we enjoyed discussing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being. Book a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com   

What has changed in our parenting practices? Gordon Neufeld identifies 'peer orientation' as a key phenomenon.  In the LEAD approach we identify the 'Caring LEAD' and our children's 'Attention to the Connection' as our primary focus, our 'One Thing'. Recommended: "The One Thing" by Gary Keller & Papasan -------------------------------------------------------------------- To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being. Book a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com   

Welcome back Mike and Amy from your holiday travels, which gives us a great opportunity for today's episode: why it's important to create a homebase, what this looks like and how to support our kids sense of belonging when travelling. Enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------------------- To fix or not to fix their behaviours. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. Did you know you can access professional support directly with Laura, a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being. Book a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com 

An initial exploration into the efficacy of intervention with children with complex needs. What might we be missing and what might be needed for change in the profession? PROMPT trained Holly Maya Greenwood, SALT, at www.WildChorusTherapies.com discusses her experience with children she supports. Mike reflects on the support Holly has provided for their family and why it's different to other forms of Speech and Language Therapy they received. Relationally informed practice takes the confidence not to push a child and to trust in their primary vital connections as a source of development. To fix or not to fix their behaviours. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

Our parenting experiences in Speech Therapy and the importance of meeting our children's need for connection and seeing the whole child. Is the profession changing to meet the relational needs of children with speech and language differences?  'To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered Speech and Language Therapist specialising in children and teens communication and emotional well-being.

What to do with our childrens aggression, in all its forms and how can play help? We talk about using "I wonder..." to have empathic conversations with our children who display frustration. We discuss the kind of play which is  'escapism'  and whether this is sometimes healthy and sometimes not. 'To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

'To fix or not to fix their behaviours'. A compliance-based approach tries to fix children.  In contrast the LEAD approach is relational, child-led, and reflective. We reflect on what's missing, what's driving their behaviour and support the roots of their development, feeling safe and connected. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

As we start the year full of hope for our families, we consider an unlikely source of happiness......tears of sadness. When we, or our children, 'have a good cry', it helps our bodies release stress hormones so they don't get stuck inside. Crying helps us clear out the emotional stuff so we can think and function better on the other side. References:  Facebook/Hand in Hand Parenting, to find a Listening Partner  Running on Empty by Jonice Webb For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura for a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

Our New Year starts with a passage from Gerard Durrell as we explore his insights about mothering from his childhood memories;  the importance of 'hope' in the face of what can feel 'hope-less'; self compassion as a predecessor to being compassionate parents and navigating the emotional storms with emotional buffering. Refernces: books by Gerard Durrell, The Brave Learner by Jule Bogart For moredirect support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to conact Laura for a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com Laura is a registered therapiost with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

Our last episode for 2023 takes us on a brief reflection of past themes, as well as introducing the PRRR model as another way to summarise our parenting approach and WIN as a way of remembering to be empathic with our kids. The PRRR model - Protect Relate Regulate Reflect - comes from TISUK   (www.traumainformedschools.co.uk) which supports schools to become trauma and mental health-informed. WIN represents the following sentence starters: I Wonder, I Imagine, I Notice.  For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura for a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

We take a deep dive into Neufeld's 6 levels of attachment so we can better understand our kids relationship needs. We weave this in with having realistic expectations (not being the 'perfect' parent), and the importance of their freedom to play and freedom to rest in their relationship with us.  Here's a short explanation that summarises Neufeld's attahcment stages: https://youtu.be/z7LHQwKpryw?si=kr3UHjb2gG94JGKd For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

This week we take a look at some of the places we experience our childrens' resistance and how that can lead to power struggles. We explain the natural instinct of 'counterwill' as our children feel our 'demands'. And we follow this up with lots of ideas! Once you understand your child's counterwill, it's a natural step towards reducing its presence, particularly when you want to be in your caring LEAD. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.

We all make sacrifices for the sake of our kids but sometimes they are very different to what we expected and planned for. There can be so much to let go of, from our vision of what it was supposed to look like. In this episode we explore what that looks like in our families and why this process of letting go is so important to staying in the caring LEAD with our children. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, you are warmly invited to contact Laura to have a free chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in children and teens mental health and well-being.  

Remembrance Sunday has brought up losses and nostalgia for when our children were younger, for all the things we wish we'd known then, for missed opportunities for connection. On the flip side, we talk about building our family now, embedding our values and creating opportunities for connection. For more direct support with your parenting challenges, contact Laura at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com to book a free chat. Laura is a registered therapist with a specialism in childrens' mental health and well-being.

We value independence and getting ahead so we unwittingly push our children towards it earlier and earlier. But Nature has her own plan! Our children need to feel safe to depend on us so they can rest in the relationship and deepen their connection.  In this episode Amy, Mike and Laura talk about the importance of children depending on us, how all growth comes from psychological rest and how play can help us out when we are struggling with our caretaking provision.  For more direct support with your child or young person, book a free chat with Laura Newman MSc. RCSLT, The Attachment Speechie, at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

Sometimes parenting can feel like a constant uphill struggle. Even when we try to connect with our children it can seem like it isn't landing within the hearts of our children or that the more we give, the more they need.    In this episode Amy, Mike and Laura talk about connecting in a way that our children feel the connection and how to keep pursuing connecting moments even when we feel like we've got nothing left to give.   For more direct support with your child or young person, book a free chat with Laura Newman MSc. RCSLT, The Attachment Speechie, at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

Conversations with our children come in all shapes and sizes. Our guest speaker Lynne Kendall, Educational Psychologist and Resilience Tutor from Australia, shines a light on those tricky conversations and how connection is key. Check out Lynne's parenting programmes at www.theresiliencetutor.co.au For more support with having connecting conversations with your children and avoiding those power struggles, contact Laura Newman MSc. RCSLT, The Attachment Speechie, at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

We all want our children to have resilience in an ever-changing world and to be compassionate towards each other, but here's the thing...these traits are not actually teacheable. Emotional resilience and empathy are the fruits of a strong connection with a caring alpha adult, a natural result of healthy development.  Join Laura, Mike and Amy for an intriguing conversation that invites us to consider a different perspective, a hopeful one. For more direct support with your child or young person, book a free chat with Laura Newman MSc. RCSLT, The Attachment Speechie, at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

In this episode, Laura and Mike are joined by special guest Heather Boyd, an Occupational Therapist from Canada who specialises in supporting families through sleep challenges using connection as key. We swap stories of toddlers comandeering all the space in the bed whilst still needing to be touching us, the importance of that last bit of connection before bed and how we as parents can find ways to keep going even when running on empty! If this episode has spoken directly to your parenting sleep struggles, you can find out more about Heather's support services at www.familysleep.ca  If you would like support using attachment-friendly strategies with your children, contact Laura at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

We're talking about discipline, some mistakes worth avoiding for the sake of the connection. Join Laura, Mike and Amy for another conversation about the struggles we have and how to help. If you would like support using attachment-friendly strategies with your children, contact Laura at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

In this episode we are talking about resourcing ourselves through letting go of stuff we want to do and prioritising the connection instead. Join Laura, Mike and Amy for another great conversation, sharing our experiences and insights. For professional support contact Laura at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com 

Our childrens' behaviour can escalate into a temper tantrum, which is when parenting can get tricky. What is it all about? Where does it come from? What can we do? Join Laura, Mike and Amy as we embark on our conversation into Chasing the Connection with our children in the midst of their temper. For professional support with your child, please contact Laura directly on www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

What kind of behaviours are we talking about? What constitutes a crisis?  This episode sets the scene for the parenting challenges we are going to address in future episodes. Find out more about the LEAD approach or book a FREE chat with Laura at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

Relationship is key to parenting using the LEAD approach. So we prioritise connection as the first stage in getting our kids to co-operate with us. It makes family life go much more smoothly. To find out more or to book a FREE chat with Laura, go to www.ReadySteadyConnect.com  

Our children often demand our attention and connection. Did you know that this behaviour comes from the emotion of pusuit? For more information about the LEAD approach contact Laura for a FREE chat at www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

Find out what this podcast is all about and why we are passionate about parenting with connection in our hearts and minds. Disclaimers: We are not medical practitioners, so if you have medical concerns about your child you should always seek the advice of a doctor. We are recording in our own homes so sometimes you may hear the delightful sounds of our children as they seek our connection. Looking for further support? You can book a FREE chat with Laura on her website www.ReadySteadyConnect.com

The noises and demands from our children can make even the most robust parent crumble. Where is this behaviour coming from and what can we do about it? Here's the link to "Neufeld's Traffic Circle Model of Frustration" https://youtu.be/cLYaQ4WX4xw?feature=shared Join Laura, Mike and Amy for another conversation episode as we share our experiences and look for answers together.