Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic

In this episode of the Raising Empowered Humans series on the Chatabout Children podcast, host Sonia Bestulic is joined by Julia Scott, founder of Love Luck Wealth.  Julia, an intuitive financial coach and mentor with over 20 years of experience, shares her unique approach to financial empowerment focusing on money mindset and the energy of money.  This episode dives into various aspects including Julia's personal journey through financial hardship, overcoming emotional blocks, and teaching children about the energy of money.  Be ready to gain insights into shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, overcoming financial judgments, and practical tips to be financially empowered.  Julia emphasizes the importance of modeling positive behaviors, educating oneself about financial management, and investing wisely to leave a legacy of financial empowerment for future generations.   00:00 Introduction to Raising Empowered Humans 01:20 Meet Julia Scott: Intuitive Financial Coach 03:35 Julia's Personal Journey with Money 08:09 Understanding the Energy of Money 11:33 Teaching Kids About Money 20:31 Shifting from Scarcity to Abundance 31:39 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 35:48 Resources and Closing Remarks   Resources & LinksChatabout ChildrenFlourish with Sonia Bestulic Connect with Julia on:Instagram: @loveluckwealthWebsite: www.loveluckwealth.comRead Julia's Article: Who's Teaching Our Kids About Money?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Robyn Saranah, known for her long standing executive career in the financial industry; including the role of National General Manager of Commonwealth Private Bank, and Executive Director of Commonwealth Private. Robyn shares insights from personal experiences and research, shedding light on financial attitudes, and the need for early financial education for children.  Empowering Moments Real-Life Example: A compelling example is shared of a woman navigating financial challenges post-separation, showcasing the importance of long-term planning and taking incremental steps towards financial security.Early Financial Education: Promoting open dialogue and accountability. Discussing concepts like needs versus wants and introducing tools for financial management.   Magnificence of Money: The positive impact of money, its role in supporting families, communities, and philanthropy.  Psychology of Money: Robin emphasizes the significance of self-awareness in understanding your feelings and attitudes towards money. Drawing from personal experiences and upbringing, individuals can recognise patterns that influence financial decisions and cultivates future empowerment. Foundational Modules: Robyn highlights three fundamental modules for financial education: understanding personal feelings about money, basics of budgeting, and principles of savings and investment. Robin underscores the need for early financial education, emphasizing the diverse learning paths suited to individual needs and stages of life.  So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Robyn Saranah. Links:Chatabout Children Flourish with Sonia Bestulic Connect with Robyn Saranah on LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YES I LOVE TO PLAY WITH WORDS... that would come as no surprise to those who know me... ⁠⁠I love the art of words; within my author work for children and adults; my speaking engagements; my screenwriting; my Speech Pathology background... and my intuitive life/business coaching and consulting, where "Wordology" is something i passionately teach from an energetic perpsective.⁠⁠My Monday message today is encompassed by my new word... "PHILOSO-BE"⁠⁠This word is a simple yet powerful reminder that...⁠⁠...the success of what you teach is communicated by the extent to which you have embodied your own teachings. ⁠⁠Enjoy some mindful moments with this...⁠⁠May we flourish together,⁠

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Paul Sullivan, to discuss his insights on this special Raising Empowered Humans series.    Paul is the: Founder of The Company of Dads, a platform dedicated to creating a community for lead dads. Former writer of the Wealth Matters column in the New York Times. Author of two books: Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don't and The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy.   So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast. Empowering Moments Paul Sullivan's Journey: Transition from journalist to founder of The Company of Dads. The ‘accidental' path that led him to this new venture. The challenge and fulfillment of becoming a lead dad and starting a platform for others in similar roles.   The Company of Dads: Launched in 2022 with a mission to support lead dads and help families fulfill their full potential. Focuses on media, community, and workplace education. Explores the unique challenges and rewards of building a supportive community for lead dads.   Balancing Professional and Personal Life: Sullivan's experience managing career transitions and family responsibilities. The importance of modeling balanced, empowered behavior for his children. Strategies for maintaining family harmony and fulfilling professional commitments.   Impact on Family: Lessons his daughters learned from observing their parents' entrepreneurial journeys. Emphasizing the unpredictability and resilience required in both business and personal life.   Challenges and Triumphs: Overcoming initial setbacks and financial challenges. The importance of perseverance and adapting to changing circumstances. Building credibility and support for The Company of Dads.   Words of Wealth Wisdom: Paul shares key insights from his book; The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy Paul shares some truths about money, and the importance of empowered choices when it comes to instilling money values within the family   Future Vision: Continuing to grow the platform and expand its impact. Encouraging businesses to adopt more inclusive and supportive policies for caregivers. Sharing insights and experiences to inspire other lead dads and families.   Final Take Home message from Paul Sullivan: Embrace the journey of raising empowered humans both at home and in the community, opening to the significance of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership and parenting.   Join the Paul's Community: Follow The Company of Dads for more resources and support.   Contact Information: Host: Sonia Bestulic - www.soniabestulic.com  Guest: Paul Sullivan - The Company of Dads   Newsletter Sign-Up: Visit soniabestulic.com for transformative tips, tools, and strategies to help you be more empowered as a parent/ carer or professional who works with children.    Links: Chatabout Children Flourish with Sonia BestulicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learning how to live in synch with your mind, heart and soul creates a whole new melody of life.⁠⁠(This is the essence of my intuitive life coaching work; and the deep essence of my award winning book, Flourish for Mums 21 ways to thrive with self-care and acceptance.)⁠⁠Enjoy some mindful Monday moments in reflection of the above. ⁠⁠May we flourish together,⁠⁠Sonia xo⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 100th episode of the Chatabout Children podcast, host Sonia Bestulic shares another insightful episode to this special Raising Empowered Humans series.  Sonia has produced this series, to inspire parents, carers, and professionals to raise children who are of highest service to themselves and to the world.  Today, Sonia weaves her decades of experience as a Speech Pathologist, working with thousands of children and their families across the globe, together with her expansive training within the realms of Intuitive Life Coaching, and Energy Healing. Sonia is also a mother of three children; who were all born in 2 ½ years, when she was four years into running her allied health company.  Discover what Sonia deems the top three life skills that help children build a flourishing future; and how parents/ carers and professionals who work with children can collectively and successfully contribute.  Enjoy this transformative episode with Sonia Bestulic.  Remember to leave a rating and a review for the Chatabout Children Podcast; and share this episode with family, friends and colleagues.   Links: Chatabout Children https://soniabestulic.com.au/chatabout-children-podcast/    Flourish with Sonia Bestulic https://soniabestulic.com.au   Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review:   chataboutchildren.com/itunes chataboutchildren.com/spotify chataboutchildren.com/stitcher chataboutchildren.com/tunein chataboutchildren.com/google   PODCAST DISCLAIMER Any information and links presented within the Chatabout Children™ with Sonia Bestulic podcast are aimed to provide general information and advice only. Information is to be used at the discretion of the consumer/ listener. The information presented does not replace or substitute the expert advice received from a direct consultation with the relevant qualified professional.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Wisdom with Sonia Bestulic offers a monthly wedge of transformative wisdom, helping you ascend to new levels of flourishing, across all areas of life.  Today's episode deep dives into three powerful ways to rise above the energy of frustration.  What is frustration anyway? What is your relationship with frustration?  How are you responding to frustration, so that it can be a tool of growth and expansion, rather than dis-ease and suffering? Join Sonia Bestulic, for this power packed 12 minute episode, that will reveal, to help you heal. Remember to sign up to Sonia's newsletter at www.soniabestulic.com  Follow Sonia on Instagram bestulic_sonia And connect with her on LinkedIn. It is your time to flourish!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Mindful Moments....⁠⁠Today i put forward the question as to whether you make mistakes; or whether they make you?⁠⁠As someone who identifies as a 'previous perfectionist'; there is great liberation in realising and emodying the greater/ higher gifts that come from anything you may have deemed a 'mistake'. ⁠⁠Let us flourish together...⁠⁠Sonia xo ⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Vanessa Bell. Vanessa is a passionate advocate for Australian merino wool, sustainable fashion designer, and entrepreneur. In sharing her insights on this special Raising Empowered Children series, Vanessa discusses her journey from high fashion model to sustainable fashion designer, and her family's life on a farm. Empowering Moments Vanessa's strong connection to the land due to her family heritage. Raising her son, Charlie, in the countryside and the unique challenges and benefits of rural life.  The importance of trusting children and giving them space to explore and learn.  Encouraging children to take part in family traditions and sustainable practices. The importance of teaching children resilience and independence. Advocacy for merino wool and its benefits: fire-resistant, thermoregulating, and biodegradable. The impact of disposable fashion on the environment and how wool offers a sustainable alternative. Introduction of Vanessa Bell's knitwear collection incorporating sustainable practices and heritage designs.   Legacy and Tradition Vanessa's focus on creating generational pieces, such as heirloom baby blankets. The role of knitting in mindfulness and passing down skills through generations. Encouraging families to adopt sustainable practices and create lasting memories. The importance of choosing sustainable options, educating children on environmental issues, and creating a legacy through mindful living.   Future Ventures Announcement of Wilder Sanctuary: Partnership with WWF for wildlife conservation.   Connect with Vanessa Bell Learn more about Vanessa, her knitwear collection and advocacy work. Instagram: fashiontofarmerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Flashback to one of my Monday messages... **⁠⁠CREATE VS CONSUME... which one do you feel the humanness package is truthfully engineered for?⁠⁠One is an energetic pathway of survival.⁠⁠The other is an energetic pathway to flourish. ⁠⁠The choice is yours...⁠⁠Happy Monday mindful moments. ⁠⁠May we flourish together,⁠⁠Sonia xo⁠⁠PS If you are an individual or organisation keen to learn more about my Empowered Energy coaching and consulting visit www.soniabestulic.com.au⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Carrie Kwan, Co-founder and executive manager of Mums&Co, speaker, coach, and podcast host of Mumbition. Carrie grew up in a big Malaysian Chinese family with strong support from her parents and siblings. Her upbringing instilled a sense of possibility and curiosity, leading to her current entrepreneurial endeavors. Together Sonia and Carrie discuss insights on raising empowered children, especially for women who are nurturing family and business. Empowering Moments Empowering Women in Business: Carrie Kwan emphasizes the importance of supporting women in business, highlighting structural barriers and the need for investment in women-led ventures. Balancing Family and Career: Mums&Co's mission is to help women balance family and career without having to choose between them, providing resources and support through a digital subscription model. Holistic Approach to Wellbeing: Emphasis on the importance of ambition, livelihood, and wellbeing. Strategies for Coping with Guilt and Pressure: Findings from a report indicated that many business-owning mothers do not feel guilty about less time with children and believe they set a good example.This highlights the importance of setting strategies to minimize guilt and maintain a healthy balance. Transferable Skills: Parenting skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience are valuable and transferable to the business world. Community and Support Systems: The significance of having a strong support system, both professionally and personally, and the value of a judgment-free community where parents can share and learn. Empowering Children: Use intentionally empowering language and involve children in decision-making. Encourage children to solve problems and learn from mistakes; and emphasize the importance of having fun and learning from both wins and losses. So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Carrie Kwan. Contact and Further Information Learn more about Mums&Co: mumsandco.com.au Follow on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. Explore "Mumbition the Journal" for practical insights and personal growth tools. Host's Invitation Sonia Bestulic invites listeners to join her newsletter at soniabestulic.com for more tips, tools, and strategies for transformational empowerment. Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish with SoniaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RATITUDE FOR ALL THE FAMILY & FREINDS i can count on... you know who you are!⁠⁠Acknowledgement and celebration is in order not just today; but everyday, for those family and friends you can count on, who have your back unconditionally. ⁠⁠TAG someone in your flourishing circle you can count on.⁠⁠May we flourish together...⁠⁠Sonia xoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This podcast series with Sonia Bestulic as the host, guides listeners through enlightening conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts who embody a heart-led approach to raising empowered individuals. Through these discussions, the series aims to inspire and empower parents, caregivers, and professionals, encouraging them to nurture children who positively contribute to themselves and the world. This episode features an insightful conversation with Stephenie Rodriguez, a renowned motivational speaker, human rights activist, resilience expert, and aspiring Paralympian. Stephenie shares her incredible journey of survival, recovery from cerebral malaria, and her commitment to positively impacting a billion lives by 2025 in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As a single mom and a bilateral osseointegrated amputee, she discusses the importance of empathy, integrity, and resilience in raising empowered children. Rodriguez also touches on her mission to eradicate malaria through the Rotary International's Finish the Fight campaign, illustrating how resilience, empathy, and impactful actions can shape a legacy of empowered humans ready to serve the world. Drawing from her own journey as a bilateral amputee, Stephenie emphasizes the value of problem-solving as a resilience-building tool. By teaching children to approach challenges with a proactive mindset, they can develop a sense of control and agency in their lives. Stephenie shares her experiences training in the Australian fencing team, aiming for the 2032 Paralympics. She discusses the mental fortitude required for such a goal, emphasizing the concept of "delusional dreaming" and pursuing ambitious dreams against conventional expectations. Stephaenie encourages parents to support their children's passions, even if they seem unconventional. She challenges societal norms that dictate certain career paths, advocating for individuals to pursue what truly inspires them. Empowering moments… Stephanie Rodriguez: A Mission to Impact Lives Stephanie's Personal Journey and Achievements Parenting Philosophies and Empowering Children Stephanie's Childhood and Parenting Approach Empathy and Integrity: Core Values for Empowerment Defining and Developing Resilience in Children Mindset Mantras and Achieving Big Dreams Stephenie's resilience, passion, and commitment to making a difference serve as an inspiration, reminding us of the power we each hold to create positive change beyond measure.  Enjoy this chat with Sonia Bestulic and Stephenie Rodriguez; and remember to share it with family, friends and colleagues who you know will benefit.  May we all continue to flourish together…The Chatabout Children Team. Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish with Sonia   Stephenie RodriguezConnect with Stephenie on Instagram - @digitalgodessHelp Stephenie's mission to stop malariaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"UNCOMPROMISING RADIANCE"... one of my core mantras. The embodiment of this, is to honour the shining of your light, with faith that it will touch others with rays of hope and inspiration... AND with a deep knowing that your light belongs; as part of the humanness package you signed up for.⁠⁠Enjoy some mindful Monday moments reflecting on this.⁠⁠Let us flourish together...⁠⁠Sonia xoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Ways to Help Kids Nurture Emotional Harmony This episode of the Chatabout Children podcast forms part of the special Raising Empowered Humans series; hosted by Sonia Bestulic who shares insightful discussions aimed at helping parents, carers, and professionals empower children to serve themselves and the world better. This episode focuses on nurturing emotional harmony in children which is fundamental to a harmonious life. Sonia draws from her background as a speech pathologist with decades of experience with social-emotional skill development in children and adolescents; combined with her training in Intuitive Life Coaching and Energy Healing. Sonia introduces three methods to foster emotional harmony; whilst sharing personal stories to illustrate the importance of allowing emotions to be processed and metabolised, whilst emphasizing the significance of also supporting children's intuition. The episode underscores the need for self-awareness and daily practice in building a healthy relationship with emotions, both for adults and children.   00:00 Welcome to Raising Empowered Humans Series 01:21 Introduction to Emotional Harmony 02:02 The Importance of Emotional Harmony 03:25 Understanding Emotions as Energy 05:27 Rebecca's Story: A Lesson in Emotional Expression 09:50 Three Ways to Nurture Emotional Harmony 09:56 Tuning Into Your Body's Emotional Signals 13:36 Practicing Non-Judgment with Emotions 19:23 Using Breath to Support Emotional Energy   Enjoy this chat with Sonia Bestulic; and remember to share it with family, friends and colleagues who you know will benefit.  May we all continue to flourish together… The Chatabout Children Team.   Links: Chatabout Children https://soniabestulic.com.au/chatabout-children-podcast/    Flourish with Sonia   https://soniabestulic.com.au/   Connect with Sonia on Instagram @bestulic_sonia   Remember to subscribe, rate and review the Chatabout Children Podcast   chataboutchildren.com/itunes chataboutchildren.com/spotify chataboutchildren.com/stitcher chataboutchildren.com/tunein chataboutchildren.com/google   PODCAST DISCLAIMER Any information and links presented within the Chatabout Children™ with Sonia Bestulic podcast are aimed to provide general information and advice only. Information is to be used at the discretion of the consumer/ listener. The information presented does not replace or substitute the expert advice received from a direct consultation with the relevant qualified professional. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Wisdom is Sonia's monthly episode offering a wedge of  wisdom that invites you to an enriched pathway to flourish across all areas of life.  These episodes are an audio version of Sonia's popular LinkedIn newsletter series; ‘What Did you Forget?' Remember to sign up to Sonia's newsletter at www.soniabestulic.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR HEART & SOUL LEAD THE WAY?⁠The universe says ‘YES'. I cheerlead all those actioning their goals and dreams; with steps (big and small) each day. ⁠⁠And... for those who are sitting on the fence when it comes to actioning their goals and dreams... i invite you to jump down off the fence and let your heart and soul lead the way. ⁠⁠Enjoy mindful Monday moments...⁠⁠Let us flourish together,⁠Sonia xo⁠ Www.soniabestulic.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Hay House, NY Times Bestselling Author, Sonia Choquette; a globally renowned intuitive guide and spiritual teacher, to discuss the significance of intuition in Raising Empowered Children. She shares the absolute importance of creating an environment where children can express their inner guidance without fear of judgment. By valuing and respecting children's perceptions, families can foster a culture of intuition that benefits everyone. Empowering Moments The Value of Intuition: Sonia reflects on her upbringing in a family that valued intuition as their sixth and most important sense, with her mother teaching her to trust her inner guidance. Sonia shares how this approach empowered her and her six siblings. Passing the Tradition:  Sonia raised her own children with a focus on intuition, leading to multiple generations embracing this empowered way of being. She highlights the significance of listening to children and creating a supportive environment. Playful Activities and Open Communication: Sonia shares practical ways to nurture intuition in children whilst also strengthening family bonds.  Healing Potential of Intuition: Sonia reinforces the healing and transformative power of intuition, normalising this as an active use of six senses.  Resources: Sonia recommends valuable resources such as her books, 'Trust Your Vibes' and  ‘The Intuitive Spark' for parents interested in fostering and strengthening their children's intuition. So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Sonia Choquette Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish for Mums by Sonia BestulicSonia ChoquetteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sun is fixed... the clouds pass. ⁠⁠Happy Monday mindful moments...⁠⁠Let us flourish together.⁠⁠Sonia xoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Master Astrologer and Business Strategist, Kim Woods, to discuss her insights on Raising Empowered Children. Kim offers invaluable insights from her extensive and uniquely varied professional background. Prepare to be inspired as Kim shares her important perspective on merging feminine intuition with masculine logic to create a new paradigm of living and leading. Empowering Moments Kim's Why in Life: The journey from success-driven mindset to embracing wonder, magic, creativity, and joy. She shares the challenges with her son's developmental issues, and how this reshaped her perspective. Raising Empowered Humans: Highlighting the importance of empowering children beyond traditional models; Kim shares more about the integration of intuition and energy work into mainstream practices. Empowered Individuals: Kim shares how her now adult children, Nick and Katie are unique individuals with distinct characteristics; and how her raising of them as empowered humans has led her children to maturity, self-awareness, and inner authority. Practical Strategies: Kim encourages us to avoid over-scheduling and foster open conversations from an early age. She was also open to embracing her personal growth across various modalities and sharing the learning with her children within areas such as, flower essences, acupressure, yoga and sound therapy for grounding and self-awareness. And finally, Kim encourages humour and authenticity in parenting; helping us engage our children in meaningful conversations which will result in alignment and balance in their adult years. So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Kim Woods. Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Kim WoodsConnect with @kimwoodschannel on InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently there was an occurrence in which i experienced a bit of a 'shake up'. As much as there were short term lingering effects from this occurrence; the overriding experience was one of deep gratitude for being surrounded by and supported by incredibly heart led, authentic and genuine individuals.⁠⁠The power of being in an energy of gratitude, practicing self-compassion, and being okay to accept help were further deepened. ⁠⁠I chose this lens; to be of greatest service to me and those around me... remembering this choice is to remember to reclaim your personal power. ⁠⁠Would love to learn your reflections on this...⁠ happy Monday mindful moments.⁠Let us flourish together!⁠⁠Sonia xo⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast, Sonia Bestulic welcomes Karen McDermott, a multi-award-winning author, entrepreneur, and founder of various publishing ventures, including Serenity Press and KMD Books. Karen shares her passion for motherhood and her journey as Mum of six children, raising her own empowered humans. She shares the importance of showing up and recognising that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. Empowering moments: Karen's Journey and Shaping Influences: How unconditional love and support provided a solid foundation for her life and, her experiences as a teenage Mum. Nurturing Relationships while Building Success: Balancing motherhood with life and work. And, Karen's commitment to being present for her children while pursuing her dreams, empowering them to journey forward and pursue their own passions. Empowering Children and Setting Intentions: Karen shares her approach to intention setting and the importance of teaching children to work towards their goals while embracing struggles as opportunities for growth. Law of Attraction and Raising Empowered Humans: Karen explains the principles of the law of attraction, focusing on maintaining high-frequency emotions such as joy and gratitude to manifest desired outcome and, how to share this message with children. Defining Goals and Creating Space: The importance of clarity in defining goals, Karen encourages parents and caregivers to create space for their own growth and self-care. Ancient Wisdom and Final Thoughts: Karen shares her favourite ancient wisdom message, highlighting the importance of allowing children to grow, nurturing their curiosity, and offering unconditional love and support. So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Karen McDermott. Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Connect with KarenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TIME TO UPVIBE… with my Monday Mindful Moments ✨⁠As many of you already know, i work extensively with individuals, groups and organisational teams on the science and art of upvibing... …that is; the practice of increasing your personal energetic vibration, to align your hearts desires, and divine gifts with your outer reality; to flourish! When you learn how to nurture your energetics; it results in incredible clarity, productivity, collaboration, and personal fulfilment.

Join Sonia Bestulic in this Raising Empowered Humans Series as she navigates the transformative power of thoughts and words in parenting; or working with children. Dive into practical strategies to cultivate positive self-communication and empower both yourself and the children in your life. Empowering moments: Sonia explores the significance of mastering self-communication as a life skill for fostering healthy relationships with oneself and others.  Understanding the cycle from thoughts to actions and results as a pathway to empowerment. How through challenging thoughts, one can shift feelings and actions towards more positive outcomes.  A poignant example from one of Sonia's clients whose power of thoughts helped him overcome his stutter and shape reality. Sonia shares 4 KEY STEPS to responding to children when they have unhelpful self-communication.  Practical strategies are shared for you to enhance self-awareness of your thoughts and words and start to shift them immediately to foster resilience and growth in both personal and parental journeys.   So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia BestulicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Wisdom is Sonia's monthly episode offering a wedge of  wisdom that invites you to an enriched pathway to flourish across all areas of life.  These episodes are an audio version of Sonia's popular LinkedIn newsletter series; ‘What Did you Forget?'Remember to sign up to Sonia's newsletter at www.soniabestulic.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HEART LED LIVING ACROSS ALL AREAS IN LIFE... is being of highest service to yourself and the world. ⁠⁠No doubt many of you can relate to the exhaustion of the inner battle between head and heart; it is an all too common one... until one learns how to do differently; committing to leading life from the heart; and honouring the inner wisdom contained within it.⁠⁠What can you do today to honour a heart led way of being?⁠⁠Enjoy mindful moments reflecting - and actioning this... ⁠⁠May we flourish together; Happy Monday!⁠⁠Sonia xo⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children, Sonia Bestulic welcomes The CEO Magazine's Co-Founder Anna Dutton, to discuss her insights on Raising Empowered Children. Anna shares practical strategies for maintaining balance in family life and, her insights on raising empowered individuals through leadership principles, personal reflections, and boundaries.  Empowering Moments Childhood Influences - Anna's independence and resilience stems from her strong female role models, including her mother's entrepreneurial spirit, her grandmother's financial independence, and her father's emphasis on health and fitness. Parenting Insights - The value of demonstrating strength, upholding personal values, and encouraging children to seek assistance. This will foster curiosity, authenticity, and determination. Setting Personal Boundaries - Anna discusses the importance of understanding personal values and boundaries, emphasizing the power of saying no and communication. Navigating Technology and Time Boundaries - Anna provides insights on managing technology usage and setting time boundaries for children, emphasizing consistency and awareness of risks. ‘Golden Time' and Listening - The value of quality time with children, highlighting active listening and empathy for supporting their emotional well-being. So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Anna Dutton. Links Chatabout Children  Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Anna DuttonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CREATING SPACE TO RECEIVE IS AN INTENTION & ACTION... ⁠

In this episode of the 'Raising Empowered Humans' Series, we are joined by David Meltzer; World Renowned Sports Executive, Author, Speaker, and Entrepreneur. David's mission - to empower over 1 billion people to be happy! Empowering 1000 people to empower 1000 more, creating a collective consciousness of abundance and happiness. These are principles we can share with our children. Empowering Moments Empowerment in Childhood - The beginning of David's belief system and the patience of his single Mum, who raised six children while working two jobs. Accountability and Personal Growth - Accountability involves asking oneself what they did to contribute to a situation, forgiving those imperfections, and enjoying the learning process rather than punishing oneself. Manifest Everything you Desire - Defined as the ability to learn from unplanned circumstances and attracted experiences through gratitude and forgiveness. Reconciling the opposites - Teach children to be productive, accessible, and gracious while pursuing their potential, with faith that good outcomes will result from doing one's best and having fun. How to give children the ability to find peace and control in the face of challenges. Teaching Children Abundance and Financial Wellness – with 66% of 4-12 yr olds worrying about cost of living, David share's how parents can teach children an abundance mindset to overcome scarcity mentality Empowering Families for Fulfillment and Goodness - Living in the present moment is key to happiness, health, wealth, and worthiness.   Sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic and David Meltzer.   CLAIM DAVID'S FREE GIFT FOR YOU! A COPY OF HIS BOOK:  "Connected To Goodness By David Meltzer"   Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic   David Meltzer Connect with David on Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PRIORITISE BEING IN 'LIKE- HEARTED' COMPANY... this is a simple yet powerful way to be of highest service to your elevated self-care. ⁠⁠Who comes to mind when you consider like-hearted people in your network?⁠⁠How do you plan to grow and expand this network for the remainder of 2024?⁠⁠Enjoy mindful moments reflecting - and actioning this... ⁠⁠May we flourish together; Happy Monday!⁠⁠Sonia xo⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the 'Raising Empowered Humans Series, we delve into a profound conversation with Tory Archbold, founder and director of Powerful Steps. She shares insights from her book, "Self Belief is Your Superpower," and discusses the importance of self-belief in personal and professional growth. Empowering Moments Childhood Influences - Tory reflects on her childhood experiences, being the eldest of four daughters and how she embraced her own authenticity. The Self-Belief Story - Learning from life's challenges, embracing discomfort, and trusting the process for personal and professional growth. Raising an Empowered Child - Tory's journey as a single Mum and the importance of surrounding her daughter with a supportive community. Looking after YOU! - The need to prioritise personal well-being for effective parenting and leadership while alignment with one's values and intentions. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic and Tory Archbold. Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic   Tory Archbold - Powerful Steps Connect with Tory on InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mindful Monday Moments with Sonia Bestulic is your 60 second dose of inspiration, motivation and revelation.  Sonia is renowned for her lifelong mission to creatively empower positive change and healing in the world; and it starts by empowering YOU. Why? Because this empowers the young people in your life to flourish; collectively creating a flourishing future for humanity, the planet and beyond! Ensure you check out www.soniabestulic.com to discover how Sonia can help you to flourish in any area of life and how she can help your family ecosystem flourish too.  May we all flourish together… xSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to the Chatabout Children podcast where our host, Sonia Bestulic sets the stage in the inaugural episode of the "Raising Empowered Human" series.  This series is aimed at empowering parents, caregivers, and professionals working with children.  With a diverse lineup of guests from around the globe, Sonia promises insightful conversations exploring principles and practices to 'Raising Empowered Humans'.  Rooted in her own journey as a speech pathologist and Author, Sonia shares 4 key Principals of Raising Empowered Humans: Nurturing Unconditional Love and Support of Self - The significance of nurturing unconditional love and support for children. She shares a poignant moment with her daughter that sparked deep self-exploration. Helping Kids Be Contributors and Acknowledge Their Contributions - empowering children to recognize and engage in contributions to their daily lives, fostering independence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. Practicing Gratitude  - The transformative power of gratitude, encouraging expressions of appreciation in daily interactions and what family life centered around gratitude looks like.  It's Okay to Ask for Help When You Need It -The importance of modeling vulnerability and asking for help when needed, reframing it as an act of courage rather than weakness. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic. Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish for Mums by Sonia BestulicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Dani was 29, she got a tattoo which read, ‘to thy own self be true'. There is courage required to be true to yourself and she shares how she struggled with post-natal anxiety. Dani says, ‘It's about leaning into the unknown, leaning into fear even though it is scary and not being afraid to be who you are'.  Children keep us young. We discuss the importance of play as this leads to being present. Sonia says, ‘Children are authentic, vulnerable humans and they remind us who we are.' It's important to keep those child-like qualities as an adult.  So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dani Vee.   Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish for Mums by Sonia BestulicConnect with Dani Vee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dani shares her own experience of Mother guilt and taking on the masculine stereotypical traits, rather than her own strengths of vulnerability and humour. Mother guilt is a real phenomenon – Dr Rose Sociologist discusses this in her research and she states that it comes from not meeting societal and cultural expectations. We discuss how to counteract this subconscious nature of being a ‘good mother' or ‘good wife' and the unrealistic expectations. ‘The golden thread of humanity is human connection' says Sonia, ‘and this can only be achieved through vulnerability'. Sonia shares her tips for re-claiming our human-ness and says, ‘the challenge is not to be perfect, but to be whole.' It's all about giving yourself permission to be YOU and being accepting of your whole self. This should become our narrative - self-care in motherhood is not just a possibility; it is a necessity.  So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dani Vee. Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Connect with Dani Vee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since our last chat with Dani Vee in Episode 67, she has released a picture book 'My EXTRAordinary Mum'.  In this episode we discuss, ‘Are you a human being or, a human-doing?' As mums it can be easy to adopt an outer focus, and feel at a loss when it comes to our identity. Dani share's the reason she wrote 'My EXTRAordinary Mum' after discussing her life with her children and realising they didn't know who she was. ‘When you have children there is a breaking down of your identity. But, that's ok – the positive side of breaking down is being able to re-build.'  Although it has been a difficult few years for us all, Dani has focused on celebrating the ‘wins' and, more importantly, celebrating and practicing the celebration of others.  So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dani Vee. Links:Chatabout ChildrenFlourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Connect with Dani Vee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Harvard's longest study of adult life, relationships play the most important role in making human beings happy. Social connections not only enhance mental and emotional well-being, but they also affect our physical wellness. This fact is noticeably true even early in childhood. However, certain difficulties may affect a child's ability to interact with his or her peers, teachers, and even family members. How can parents, teachers, and professionals help children develop great social skills? We bring in Alex Kelly to talk to us about this topic. Alex Kelly is a speech and language therapist with over 30 years of experience working with children and adolescents who have difficulties with their social skills, self-esteem, and relationships. Alex is best known for being the author of 13 books including the hugely popular Talkabout Resources, a collection of books that teach social skills to children. Together with her husband, who was a teacher, Alex runs Speaking Space, a business that provides training and consultancy work as well as speech, language, and occupational therapies for over 40 local schools. The business also provides a day service to adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. Speaking Space is the only speech and therapy service in the United Kingdom to be accredited by the National Autism Society and the only day service in England to have advance status. Alex also conducts research and lectures internationally on her field of expertise. Listen to my conversation with Alex Kelly and learn: The critical role that social skills play in the lives of children. The definition of social skills. The components of social skills and how they develop from birth to school age. Why assertiveness is the final stage of social skills. Why getting help for social skills when your child is already at school is already quite late. The most common problems Alex encounters in her work. How important a child's environment is in building his or her social skills. The relationship between self-awareness, self-esteem, and social skills. Being alone and not wanting friends is not necessarily a bad thing. How technology can help build social skills among children. Alex Kelly's top three tips for teaching social skills to children. Find the child's motivator and work with that. Look at the child's environment and modify it to support the child's confidence. Teach social skills in a safe space. So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Alex Kelly. Listen to the full episode here.  Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Alex Kelly's website Alex Kelly's work website See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even if we wish they were, our children will never be immune from the setbacks and failures inherent in life. These setbacks could be experienced by our children very early on, whether they be in the form of friendship dramas, academic pressure, or internal self-doubt. Getting back up after a setback is what we call resilience. Resilience is therefore an important skill to teach our children. In this episode of Chatabout Children™, we bring in author Michelle Mitchell to talk to us about how parents can raise resilient children. Michelle Mitchell is an award-winning speaker, author, and educator who has incorporated years of grassroots experience into her books. After leaving her profession as a primary school teacher, Michelle focused on helping teenagers, particularly teenage girls, learn vital life skills to support them while at school. Her latest book, Everyday Resilience: Helping Kids Handle Friendship Drama, Academic Pressure, and the Self-Doubt of Growing Up, tackles the very interesting topic of teaching resilience to children and teenagers, and we ask her to talk more about this subject in this episode. Key Learnings:  - How Michelle transitioned from being a primary school teacher to teaching kids how to be resilient.  - Michelle explains “Resilience is the capacity to thrive regardless of the circumstances' and shares the importance and challenge of connecting with your child. - The seven characteristics of a resilient child - She shares some strategies on helping children develop resilience in their everyday lives, for both girls and boys.  - Addressing a child's “I can't” mindset - Teaching why it's okay for kids to start doing something poorly. -We discuss perfectionism in kids. Michelle says to parents and educators - It's all about connection. Connecting with our kids is vital. Kids need the loving support of adults in their life so that they are not afraid to take risks. In replace of being connected, sometimes we over-parent kids, whereas we really need to be focusing on connection and allowing our children to fail. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Michelle Mitchell. Listen to the original episode here. Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Michelle Michell Follow @michellemitchellspeaker on Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attention is a very basic skill for human beings, so basic that we don't usually talk about it. But for some, attention is not a skill that comes easily and this problem can emanate early in childhood. This is where Occupational Therapists like Jacky Peile enter. They help children with attention difficulties live a better life. In this first episode of a two-part series, we chat with Jacky about attention, learning, and your child. Jacky Peile established EarlyLinks in Sydney's Sutherland Shire in Australia in 2010. Today, she leads a team of occupational therapists who support children, teens, and young adults with anxiety and sensory-processing difficulties through practical strategies that make their daily life easier.  Key Learnings What attention is and how it develops early in life. How attention problems arise in childhood. How a shift in a child's social environment (i.e. pre-school to school) affects attention The different subtypes of attention: shared attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention. The relationship between motivation and attention. How a child develops divided attention. How parents can identify attention issues in their child and when they should get professional help. What sensory-processing difficulties are and how they are related to a child's ability to sustain attention The “Purple Mat” technique to teach your child selective attention   Jacky's questions for parents who want to test children for attention difficulties before consulting a professional: Can your child maintain attention to something that is important or motivating to him or her? Can your child achieve basic short periods of attention? So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Jacky Peile. Listen to Part One and Part Two of the Attention, Learning and your Child episodes.    Links: Chatabout Children Flourish for Mums by Sonia Bestulic Early Links Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of the Chatabout Children™ Podcast we sit down with dietitian Monica Kubizniak, where we will talk about food fuel for effective learning.  Monica completed her Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2000. Since graduating, she's worked in community health centers, hospitals, and private practice both here in Australia and overseas.  Monica is not only a dietitian but also a mum to 3 young kids. So, we ask her how she practises her expertise in food and nutrition at home. She gives us her top tips for creating healthy filling meals to help sustain our children as they grow and learn.  In this episode Monica and Sonia Bestulic also discuss: Why she advises parents against cooking more than one meal for families with more than one child. How she teaches and encourages her kids to listen to what their bodies are telling them — to cues — about fuelling and refueling themselves; something they will bring with them when they become adolescents. What are the best foods to give your preschool or school-age child for learning, concentration, and attention. A typical day for a dietitian with three kids. She shares the actual food she prepares for her kids' breakfast, lunch, snack time and dinner.  The common culprits that we find in the lunch box of a typical Australian child. How to cope with the imperfect days when you don't have time to buy, or prepare, healthy food for your child. Monica's Top After School or Morning Tea Snack Ideas for Kids What everyone should know about the harmful effect of nitrates in your body and the healthier options available in the market. When I asked Monica about her top 3 healthy snack ideas to prepare for kids, she gave me more than 3, which is amazing. Here are her top 7 snack ideas: Whole grain toast with toppings like avocado, baked beans, egg or peanut butter Nuts Savory muffins Mini frittatas Yogurts Smoothies with low-fat milk and fruits Soups – chicken and veggie or lentil and veggie So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Monica Kubizniak. Listen to the full episode here  Links: Chatabout Children Book an appointment with Monia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children™ Podcast, we look at the foundations of learning to read and spell with a real focus on pre-schoolers. This is part 2 of this comprehensive topic and a guide can be found in Sonia's e-book - 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell. In part 1 we talked about practical strategies, speech and language milestones for 3-5 year olds, what to do if you are concerned that your child is not reaching those milestones, and oral language skills. You can listen to Part 1 here. How oral language is linked to literacy In the preschool period and early schooling, the real focus is for children to receive life experiences that are going to enrich their vocabulary. So, it's really about having fun and incorporating things in your everyday life, and it's not about sitting at a tabletop and forcing your child to learn to read or spell. Because those life experiences will build their vocabulary and their view of how things operate in the real world. Think about this: your child starts out by learning to read. And as they grow older, they are reading to learn.  Phonological awareness What is it? Phonological awareness is the conscious awareness of the sounds of language and that ability to reflect on the sounds in words. For example, preschool children start to notice the following: Words that rhyme: mum and drum Words that sound odd Words with the same sound beginning Engaging a lot in sound play – making their own words and rhymes 5 ways to build phonological awareness Here are the 5 ways to build phonological awareness: Syllable counting – learning how to break up words into smaller parts makes it easier for children to spell long words. For example: Break the word caterpillar into cat-er-pil-lar. Another tip: To make it fun, you can clap out the syllables. Rhyme time – is a great way to learn new words and get kids to think about how words can relate to each other. It sets the foundation to learn about word families and sounds that letters can make. For example: ‘fight' and ‘night' belong to the same word family. Hearing the first sound in a word – You can start with family names from photos. For “Here's Sally. What's the first sound that we hear when we say Sally?” Another tip: You can use catalogues from supermarkets and let your child identify the first sound of products. Sounding out words – It's not about the spelling of words, it's about the sounds. Focus on words with a structure of 2 to 3 sounds like bin, dog, cat, go. Another tip: Use coloured counters.  Alphabet – learning and reinforcing the alphabet in everyday life. The car is a great place where you can do a lot of these activities like street signs, shop signs, billboards, etc. Listening and attention skills Being able to focus, pay attention and listen is so crucial to skill development, particularly for children looking to start school. There's got to be that important foundation because they are going to an environment so different to their home environment. If you are concerned about your child's attention or listening skills, you can do the activities that we already talked about or sharing books within a daily book routine will help build their concentration skills. My comment on apps There's lots of great apps that help with learning to read and spell, but there's a popular one called Reading Egg. https://readingeggs.com/apps/ You should check it out. But be very mindful of screen time, a topic that I discussed in the last episode. It is good practice, a year before going to school, to have your child checked for the following: vision checked, particularly by a behavioural optometrist. ears and hearing checked fine and gross motor skills So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she shares the foundations for reading and spelling. Resources: Reading Eggs  Chatabout Children 079 – Foundations for Reading & Spelling Part 2  4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell  Links: Chatabout Children See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Chatabout Children™ Podcast, we look at the foundations of learning to read and spell with a real focus on preschoolers – children who are from 3 to 5 years of age. This is part 1 of this comprehensive topic and a guide can be found in Sonia's e-book - 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell  Speech and Language Milestones Learning to speak and communicate is a crucial part of a child's development because it will help them progress in their early school years in terms of mastering those rules of language. Even though development will vary for each child, it is important to have a rough guide (or milestones) as to what typical development is and you can ascertain if your child might need a bit more help. 3 years of age Children at 3 years of age understand more complex directions (2-part instructions), WH Questions (What, Where and Who). Different concepts, and they can sort items into groups when asked. In terms of expressive language, they are able to say 4-5 words in a sentence and they start to have a conversation with you. When it comes to play skills, this is the age when they start playing beside other children and start role playing games 4 years of age Children at 4 years of age children understand most questions about their daily routine, more WH questions (and answer those related to a story they just heard), and they are showing an awareness that words may start or finish with the same sounds. In terms of their speaking, sentences are longer now, making use of connecting words (and, but, because), they are able to describe or recount something that they had just done, asking a lot of questions, and you'll also notice lots of concepts developing. As to play skills, they are now playing in small groups, they are continuing their pretend play and they are starting to play games with simple rules. 5 years of age Children at 5 years of age understand longer instructions (3-part instructions), starting to understand “before and after instructions” and they understand instructions without having to stop and listen. They start speaking well-formed sentences understood by most people, turn-taking in a longer conversation, and tell simple stories with a beginning, middle and end. Play continues to be quite imaginative, they start to negotiate, you'll find that they include other things — things they haven't experienced like space.  Speech sounds At 4 years of age, a child can say most of the consonant and vowels sounds correctly, and between 4 and 5 some of their pre-literacy skills start to be a little bit reinforced — rhyming words and syllables. At age 5, they may still have a bit of trouble with the r sound, replacing it with w like “wabbit” instead of “rabbi”. Also, they confuse the th sound with an f sound like “fank you” instead of “thank you”. Another common one is a lisp, where the s goes to a th sound like “it's thunny outside” instead of “it's sunny outside”. A child speaking another language at home (aside from English) If you speak a foreign language at home, you can still use the milestones I mentioned earlier as a guide and apply to the dominant language spoken at home. But if you are still not convinced, it is best to consult with a speech pathologist about this. What to do if you are concerned after learning the milestones? If you are concerned that your child has not reached the milestones we discussed earlier at her age level, then have a chat with your medical professional or family doctor, get the child's hearing checked or contact your local speech pathologist. 6 practical, easy-to-apply strategies on how to power up your child's vocabulary Children between 2 and 5 years of age learn at a really extraordinary pace. They understand and remember words that they may have heard once or twice (warning: be careful with your own language). So a strong vocabulary helps a child to create a message and information that they want to express successfully. Here's how you can encourage the growth of your child's vocabulary in 6 easy ways: Interactive book-sharing – Make book-reading engaging and a little bit more fun, not just one-way. Go to your local library for variety and to save on costs. Download the PDF guide Interactive Book Sharing  Speak to your child using a variety of words – Be mindful of your own vocabulary. Rather than using just one word to describe something, add other words that give the same meaning (e.g. for “big” use also “enormous”, “huge”, “gigantic” etc.) Be specific and descriptive – The more words your child hears daily, the more they will likely absorb them and use them. For “teddy bear” say “teddy bear with the blue pants and striped shirt” instead, for example. Use everyday life opportunities to reinforce words and alphabet – Those routines that happen every day are perfect for you to talk to your child about what's happening at that time. For example, at bath time say: “Pouring water in the big blue cup. Pouring, pouring, pouring.” Make label cards for items around the house – For example, in a bedroom, label simple words like a bed or a rug and also talk about the letters and the sounds they make in those words like b for bed. Look at sorting common household items – This will help your child organize information in their brain and gives them a chance to see what they're hearing. For example sorting socks, shoes, or pencils by colour or size.  Screen time habits Screen time is so easily accessible these days and it is said to contribute to a language delay and social skills difficulties especially if the screentime is so excessive that it takes away from human interaction time. One of the parenting websites here in Australia recommends that children under 2 years of age should have to steer clear of the screen altogether, which I did for my own children. For Children 2-5 years of age, the recommendation is no more than an hour a day and for 5-18 year olds, it should be no more than 2 hours a day. In essence, just exercise some common sense and moderation when it comes to screen time and it should not replace human interaction. You've now had an understanding of the milestones for speech sound, language and play skills. For any other concerns, please seek the advice of a medical professional. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she discusses Foundations for Reading and Writing.   Links: Chatabout Children Resources: E BOOK - 4 Power Tools to Ready your Preschooler to Read and Spell Download the PDF guide Interactive Book Sharing Toddler Communication Checklists Top 10 Tips to Nurture Confident Communication in Kids See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is money an openly talked about topic in your family? Most of the time, our frustration comes when children want us to buy them what they want even though they don't need it. As parents, we often consider our finances before any buying decision. But do we include our kids in the conversation? If you're someone who struggles with saying ‘no' to your kids when they frantically beg you to buy them another toy to add to their never-ending collection, today's episode is for you. With me today is Melissa Meagher who took her passion for finance and making a difference in people's lives to create her own money-coaching business called ‘Talking Money.' She is a financial advisor who is also a mother of two.  Melissa shares her top tips for talking money with kids. She shares the most common obstacles that people need to overcome; how to be conscious about what we say and the impact money can have on relationships. She reveals practical ways to help kids understand the value and importance of money, and how to handle money better in this modern era, including common trends like credit cards for kids. Money chat should be a normalized daily conversation. Melissa says, ‘Talk to your kids about money in everyday life, as if it's a normal thing. Don't make it this thing you've got to sit down and have this big conversation about it.' She shares how we can encourage healthy money mindsets, shape children's reasoning as they handle money growing up, and how we can reframe language and be more conscious of the words we use in addressing money matters with our children.  ‘Get your children involved with making family money decisions so you get their buy-in and their involvement.' So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Melissa Meagher. Links: Chatabout Children Talking Money Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn   Taking Money Facebook   References: Pocket Money Calculator and Card Savings Goal Calculator Budget Planner 45 Minute Strategy Session See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raising a child has never been easy. Raising a strong confident child, during a pandemic, is even harder. To learn how this is possible, I sit down with Dr. Louise Metcalf to discuss ways to look after our children's wellbeing. We specifically talk about how we can teach our children to be more resilient and adaptable, so they can enjoy life as kids while becoming more eager to face the challenges of life growing up. We discuss the definition of resilience and adaptability, the makings of a strong and confident child and, how we help our kids discover their strengths and find ways to use them. Dr Louise shares how we can manage anxiety in our kids particularly during the COVID pandemic. Dr Louise says “Tell your kids what you like about them as a person – it's about recognising self-worth.” Her advice to parents and carers is to slow down, practice relaxation and self-care, meditate, teach your kids how to meditate and remember to just stop and breathe.  We discuss some of the reasons we're observing these mental health issues in kids nowadays and how, after years of supporting children with anxiety and mental wellbeing, Dr Louise had the idea for a robot that can help kids with their anxiety. It came in the form of an app called ‘Gheorg'. The Friendly Robot empowers children with emotional intelligence and mental wellbeing. ‘Build a village around your kids, the village should be quite big' says Dr Louise ‘Gheorg can be part of that village.' So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dr Louise Metcalf. Links: Listen to the full episode here Chatabout Children Connect with Dr Louise Metcalf on LinkedIn Download ‘Gheorg' here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our previous chat with Julia Pappas, we talked about what emotions are, what emotional development is, and how we regulate emotions. We've learned that our ability to acknowledge, express, and regulate emotion is a very crucial life skill and fortunately, as parents, we can teach this skill to our children.  In this episode, we're diving a bit deeper and discussing how to strengthen emotional wellbeing. We tackle specific strategies and tools that we can use to nurture that strength in our children, such as building emotional vocabulary, storytelling, simple observation, and so much more. Julia shares some common issues parents have when dealing with their child's emotional wellbeing and how their emotions might translate into behaviours when the child's needs are not met.  No child comes with a parenting manual. Julia re-assures all parents that there is support. She shares the skills which are needed to strengthen our child's emotional wellbeing and the difference between teaching the recognition of emotions and teaching emotional regulation. Julia gives us some real-life examples of situations wherein a child may still not have developed the skills needed for emotional wellbeing and how we can best respond to them.  The first step is to be observant. Whenever you are noticing a negative behaviour or the way a specific emotion is expressed, ride that out. This is what I see; this is a challenge. Then flip it into, this is what I would like to see instead. Be specific about the skills you want your child to learn. Ask yourself, What would I like my child to be able to do, to express, to show? And how can I teach that? It is important to remember, even in the midst of a meltdown, that your child is trying to communicate. Remember that emotions and behaviour are devices to communicate a need. Knowing ourselves as parents, how we process emotions, and how we support our own emotional wellbeing will help us in guiding that process in teaching and modelling to the child. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Julia Pappas. Links Chatabout Children Julia's website The Parenting Presence Podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Raising children is not only a fulfilling and rewarding experience in itself but also one that is quite challenging – especially when we see our kids having temper tantrums, mood swings, and getting upset over the smallest things. Sometimes, these situations can leave us feeling frustrated, guilty, and shameful when we don't handle them well. We wish our child would just remain calm all the time and respond positively in the face of disappointing situations but could that even be possible? Fortunately, our guest knows a thing or two on how to regulate our child's emotions and regulating our own emotions as parents as well. In this Chatabout Children episode, our guest Julia Pappas,  introduces us to the topic of emotional development. She shares why it is so important, and how we can help our children develop this valuable skill throughout life (without becoming an emotional mess).   We start by defining emotions and the four core emotions she wants all parents to understand. We look at how social-emotional development develops from birth to toddler years to up until our child enters school. The three pillars of appropriate emotional development are ‘You're ok, your needs are ok and your emotions are ok' says Julia. As the adult care-taker, we need to have the self-awareness and emotional maturity to reinforce these pillars.    We also discuss parent guilt when we are not able to regulate our own emotions and tips on how to respond to our child having a tantrum - Make sure we are ready. Show up fully regulated ourselves. Recognize that the tantrum is an escalation of our child's emotions because their need was not met. ‘When an adult is fine with whatever the child is feeling, then the child will be as well.'  Says Julia.  So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Julia Pappas. Links: Chatabout Children Julia's website The Parenting Presence podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, we chat with Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen, the Vice President and Chair of Learning Through Play at the LEGO Foundation in Denmark. He spent 9 years building the research agenda and organizational expertise on children's development, play, and learning to enable the LEGO Foundation to be the leading authority on Learning Through Play. The process of "learning through play" is a long-term game. LEGO builds skills for life. Regulation, manipulation, symbol recondition, muscle building and cognitive learning are all bonus' of learning through play. Free-play teaches children to deal with change and uncertainty which is a skill needed for success in adulthood. So, by allowing children to play, create, build and problem solve is a valuable skill needed for their future.  Dr. Bo's wise advice to parents during their children's playtime: ‘Do not set your expectations, always to be the one who knows everything, but instead acknowledge uncertainty and help to ask questions, reflect and explore ideas. The goal is to equip children to make decisions and learn. We cannot do it for them. Always reflect and say, "How can we facilitate play?". Children need time, and an open from structure, to be able to ask questions, reflect, and contribute. ‘It's the best way for them grow up and learn to make decisions on their own.'  Educators, have a different role in play. First and foremost, the goal is to balance the instruction with project based learning and free play. Work with the school leadership to embed playful learning as part of longer sessions. Stitch topics together, embed collaboration, creativity and knowledge into that. ‘Be less concerned about failing as instructors, and just show the source of knowledge' says Dr. Bo. Invite students to think about creative problems, projects, and collaborations. Allow them to assess what they are doing. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen. Links: Chatabout Children LEGO Foundation  Join the Free LEGO Foundation Course  LEGO Foundation Facebook  LEGO Foundation Twitter  LEGO Foundation LinkedIn  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining us today on the children's author spotlight, we speak with Dave Pow Tabain. Dave is a three-time World Kettle Bell Champion, motivational speaker and creator of the 30 Day Challenge which inspires thousands of people around the world to achieve their best and face their challenge. He is also the author of the ‘POWman' books which aim to teach children how to turn bullying into a positive experience. Before he was an author, Dave grew up in a small country town which came which difficulties. After failing high school English, along with negative mental health experiences, he came to a realisation - ‘When you see what you don't want to become, you get to a point where the only option is to do something about it.' So, Dave started Australia's first kettlebell gym, in a backyard, and actively made choices to change his life. The question then becomes - How can I make this great? Dave shares his mindset during his first kettlebell championship. ‘I remember stepping onto the platform and the guy who was winning at the time, was making fun of me.' This just motivated Dave to push harder. ‘My first mindset was to prove myself and that evolved into creating a pathway for myself.' Dave wanted to use his championship wins to inspire others to look after their own lives. ‘These last few years I have gone within. I've taken the energy from kettlebell lifting and turned it towards the books' says Dave.  There are three books in the POWman series. Book one is ‘Unleash the Hero Within', then ‘Discover the Strength Within' and the third being ‘Find the Courage Within.' Dave tours around to different schools and shares the impact meeting POWman has on the kids. ‘We get all the kids from the school together and I help them to picture themselves in the story and feeling what it would be like. The goal is for them to read a story, which then inspires them to be their best selves.' Dave goes on to say, ‘I can't take away the pressure from these kids, but I can teach them how to grow through what they go through.' In each book Dave has included a ‘POWplan' where kids learn to strategize around a particular situation. ‘We've seen kids who are becoming bullyproof' says Dave.  So, what are Dave's top tips for parents and carers who feel the pressure of becoming the perfect role model? ‘Remove the idea of perfect. A superhero's superpower is rising to occasion in challenging times.' Dave says parents need to ‘drop the perfectionism and teach your kids that no matter how bad the day is, we can fight again the next day.' So sit back and enjoy this episode of the Chatabout Children Podcast with Sonia Bestulic as she interviews Dave Pow Tabain. Links: Get a copy of ‘POWman' Join the ‘Creating Change In 2021 with Dave POW Tabain' group on Facebook Follow @davepowtabain on Instagram Don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating, and review: chataboutchildren.com/itunes chataboutchildren.com/spotify chataboutchildren.com/stitcher chataboutchildren.com/tunein chataboutchildren.com/google PODCAST DISCLAIMER Any information and links presented within the Chatabout Children™ with Sonia Bestulic podcast are aimed to provide general information and advice only. Information is to be used at the discretion of the consumer/ listener. The information presented does not replace or substitute the expert advice received from a direct consultation with the relevant qualified professional.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ADHD is a huge topic area for discussion; with so many questions attached! So what exactly is it? What is it not? Why is it so often missed? Misunderstood? And what approach works to best help our children with an ADHD diagnosis? I was keen to explore this further, and did so with the exceptional Simon Da Roza; who has over 33 years teaching experience and a specialised passion for helping kids and families with ADHD. Enjoy the chat, and remember to share with family, friends and with colleagues who you know will benefit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a treat to have the amazing award-winning Author, Josh Langley join me for a chat! Josh is an inspirational mental health advocate; whose book series, latest course for kids, and latest book "Wildly Kind" is changing the lives of children around the world. This is an important chat to tune in to, as I know for parents/ carers and professionals working with children; there is a collective movement and wish, to have kids develop not just a strong relationship with themselves; but also with others, and the world around them. Is kindness the superpower to do this? Enjoy this insightful chat with the talented Josh Langley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can we learn from Danish parents? After all, Denmark has been voted the happiest country on the planet for 40 consecutive years?! I share a fascinating chat with Jessica Joelle Alexander, the Bestselling Author, Journalist, Danish Parenting Expert and Cultural Researcher. Her book “The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident Capable Kids" is published in over 28 countries. This chat with Jessica is overflowing with inspiration, and wonderful ways we can incorporate simple, yet deeply meaningful approaches in our daily lives with the children we share our world with. Enjoy this beautiful chat!