EP 21 | Supporting Challenging Behaviour With a Trauma Lens
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
Release Date: 11/25/2024
EP 27 | The Learning Environment Through Children’s Eyes
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
In today’s episode, I explore classroom design. However, this isn’t just another guide to setting up your classroom - it's an exploration of an amazing research article I came across: 'Children’s voices: Inclusive early childhood placemaking with children.' I cover: The importance of inclusive environments. Amplifying children's sense of belonging. Children as placemakers. Why children should have a voice in shaping their learning spaces. The role of authenticity in learning spaces. If you've never considered the learning environment through children's eyes before, this episode is...
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EP 26 | Co-constructing a Classroom Agreement
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
In today’s episode, I unpack classroom agreements and how we can co-construct these with the children in our class. I cover: Why classroom agreements are much more than a list of rules. The importance of balancing expectations to be firm, fair, flexible, and developmentally appropriate for children. Debunking myths about classroom agreements. A rant about the idea that we shouldn't co-construct expectations with children 'because they get too silly.' Some ideas for exploring rights and responsibilities and creating classroom agreements. If you've never created a co-constructed classroom...
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EP 25 | Essential Tips for Day One of a New School Year
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
In today’s episode, we consider the elements needed for a calm and successful first day back. I cover: Planning for logistics and setup: How to organise booklist items. Delegating roles. Navigating tears when children separate from their caregivers. Structuring your first-day schedule. Ideas for simple relationship-building and name-learning activities. The importance of day one reflections. If day one feels mega daunting (so normal, btw), this episode will give you some solid pointers to turn that overwhelm into intention. 💫 💫 Purchase my comprehensive transitions roadmap for...
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EP 24 | Nailing Your Classroom Routines From Day One
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
In today’s episode, I walk you through how to establish routines that will transform your classroom into a calm, predictable, and thriving environment. I cover: What routines are and why they’re essential for classroom success. How routines build a sense of safety and belonging for children. Five key reasons routines are the foundation of every effective classroom. A 5-step framework for teaching routines. Why investing time in routines early in the year saves you a heap of time, energy and frustration in the long run. If routines have ever felt like an afterthought, this episode will...
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EP 23 | Smooth Transitions: Welcoming Children + Families Into Your Classroom
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
In today’s episode, I walk you through how to make transitions meaningful and effective with a well thought out plan for welcoming children and families into the classroom. I cover: What effective transitions are. Why transitions set the tone for a successful school year. Essential information to share with families to build trust and reduce anxiety. How to prepare children and families for day one. The importance of children's participation in the transition process. 💫 Download a *free* copy of my transitions checklist: 💫 Purchase my comprehensive transitions roadmap: 💫 Send me...
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EP 22 | Progressive Mealtimes: Yay or Nay?
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Elise Disher, early childhood consultant and advocate for thoughtful, child-centered practices. Elise dives into the concept of progressive mealtimes in early learning settings, breaking down how they work, why they matter, and how to implement them in ways that are both meaningful and practical. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to reimagine mealtime routines as opportunities for connection and learning. Elise and I speak about: 🌸 What progressive mealtimes are and how they differ from traditional group mealtimes. 🌸 How...
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EP 21 | Supporting Challenging Behaviour With a Trauma Lens
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Kathy Warwick, the Head of the TraCS Trauma Consultancy Program at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. Kathy brings deep compassion and expertise to her work and, in our conversation, she shares powerful insights on viewing children’s behaviour through a trauma lens. This is a rich discussion for anyone supporting children in early childhood settings. Kathy and I discuss: 🌸 The importance of adopting a trauma lens when working with children. 🌸 Recognising that challenging behaviour often signals a child’s experience of fear or stress. 🌸...
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EP 20 | Fostering Children’s Resilience
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode, I speak with Jess, founder of Raising Resilience. Jess brings a wealth of insight and compassion as we explore what resilience really means for young children. Together, we dive into how educators and parents can support children through adversity, build emotional strength, and foster a growth mindset. Jess’s expertise is a gift for anyone passionate about nurturing resilience in little ones. Jess and I discuss: 🌸What resilience truly means and how misconceptions about "toughening up" can harm children. 🌸The role of the window of tolerance in resilience....
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EP 19 | Exploring the PDA Profile
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Claire Britton, a neuro-affirming occupational therapist and Director of Neuroinclusion. Claire brings incredible insight into PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) and how a neuro-affirming lens can help us support neurodivergent children better. She explains why PDA often requires a different approach to typical behaviour strategies and shares practical ways to help children feel safe and understood. Claire and I discuss: 🌸 What the PDA profile (Pathological Demand Avoidance) is. 🌸 The significance of understanding...
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EP 18 | Honouring Children’s Agency
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Lisa Burman - an author, speaker, professional learning facilitator and every-day researcher of childhood and learning. Lisa has strong roots in true early childhood pedagogy whose work is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and guided by honouring children’s rights. This discussion is a deep exploration of early childhood values and principles. Lisa and I discuss: 🌸 What is meant by a ‘culture of agency.’ 🌸 Shared power and democratic classrooms. 🌸 Common misconceptions of agency (hint: it’s not something that we ‘give’...
info_outlineOn today’s episode I speak with Kathy Warwick, the Head of the TraCS Trauma Consultancy Program at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. Kathy brings deep compassion and expertise to her work and, in our conversation, she shares powerful insights on viewing children’s behaviour through a trauma lens. This is a rich discussion for anyone supporting children in early childhood settings.
Kathy and I discuss:
🌸 The importance of adopting a trauma lens when working with children.
🌸 Recognising that challenging behaviour often signals a child’s experience of fear or stress.
🌸 The critical role of safe, supportive relationships in helping children with trauma.
🌸 How trauma can disrupt children’s developmental milestones and attachment.
🌸 The unique challenges educators face when supporting children impacted by trauma.
🌸 The value of curiosity in interpreting behaviours as potential trauma responses.
Kathy Warwick is the Head of Trauma Consulting (TraCS) at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Kathy is a qualified Social Worker who has worked with vulnerable children and families in the statutory and non-government sectors over the past 28 years. This has included working in Child Protection for 18 years in Australia and the UK and prior to her current role at AMF, managing an Early Childhood Parenting Centre delivering numerous community and family services’ programs aimed at supporting highly vulnerable infants, children and their families.
Having worked her entire career with children and families who have experienced significant trauma in their lives, Kathy has a strong understanding of the impact of trauma on the development and attachment experiences of children and values the role TraCS is able to play in supporting children to reach their potential in their crucial early years. This work has also made Kathy very passionate about recognising the impact trauma can have on professionals working closely with vulnerable children and families.
It is important that the wellbeing needs of professionals and staff providing invaluable support to these children is given the attention it deserves. If we recognise that “it can take a village to raise a child” then we must do our best to ”nurture the villagers so they can keep doing their wonderful work.”
Helpful links:
💫 Explore the Trauma Consultancy Service
💫 Download their guide - Trauma-Informed Practice: A Guide for Early Childhood Organisation
Connect with Kathy:
💫 Send her an email: [email protected]
💫 Find the Alannah + Madeline Foundation on Instagram: @alannahmadeline
💫 Visit their website: The Alannah + Madeline Foundation
Join the Little Bloom community:
💫 Download a *free* copy of The Guidance Toolkit
💫 Send me an email: [email protected]
💫 Find me on Instagram: @littlebloom.consultancy
💫 Connect with me on LinkedIn: Danica See
💫 Visit my website: Little Bloom Consultancy