Libsyn Directory

EP 15 | A New Lens for Challenging Behaviours

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Release Date: 10/14/2024

EP 26 | Co-constructing a Classroom Agreement

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

This season, we’re all about bite-sized professional development to help you start the 2025 school year strong - a back to school series, if you will. Join me each Wednesday and Friday in January as I explore a range of topics that will help you start your year with confidence, intention and clarity. 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...

EP 25 | Essential Tips for Day One of a New School Year

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

This season, we’re all about bite-sized professional development to help you start the 2025 school year strong - a back to school series, if you will. Join me each Wednesday and Friday in January as I explore a range of topics that will help you start your year with confidence, intention and clarity. 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...

EP 24 | Nailing Your Classroom Routines From Day One

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

This season, we’re all about bite-sized professional development to help you start the 2025 school year strong - a back to school series, if you will. Join me each Wednesday and Friday in January as I explore a range of topics that will help you start your year with confidence, intention and clarity. 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...

EP 23 | Smooth Transitions: Welcoming Children + Families Into Your Classroom

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

This season, we’re all about bite-sized professional development to help you start the 2025 school year strong - a back to school series, if you will. Join me each Wednesday and Friday in January as I explore a range of topics that will help you start your year with confidence, intention and clarity. 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...

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...

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. 🌸...

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....

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...

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’...

EP 17 | Rethinking Readiness in Early Childhood

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

On today’s episode I speak with Nathan Wallis, a neuroscience educator on a mission to share the value of brain development in early childhood to the masses. In this discussion, Nathan challenges the concept of "readiness" and advocates for focussing on the present moment rather than preparing them for future academic demands. Earlier and faster isn’t better. Nathan and I discuss: 🌸Readiness and developmental needs. 🌸Sequential brain development. 🌸The impact of cultural norms on education. 🌸The role of play in early childhood. 🌸Dangers of early academic pressure....

More Episodes

On today’s episode I speak with Dave Jereb - an OT and co-founder of Move About Therapy Services. Dave is a gem - he’s relatable, funny, personable and compassionate. He’s got a knack for seeing the bigger picture of behaviour and walks us through how he does this in out chat.

Dave and I discuss:

🌸What we mean when we use the term ‘challenging behaviour.’

🌸The fundamental need for connection when working with challenging behaviours.

🌸Ideas on ways to connect and the importance of micro-moments.

🌸Why we need to remain objective when we speak about challenging behaviour.

🌸The idea that there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ behaviour - behaviour is simply behaviour.

🌸The role of unconditional positive regard.

🌸Why educators and teachers need support (and unconditional positive regard!).

🌸Supporting behaviour with Dave’s framework ABC-IDEAS.

With over 20 years of experience as a paediatric occupational therapist, Dave Jereb has made a significant impact in the Allied Health field. As co-founder of MoveAbout Therapy Services with his wife Kathy, Dave’s vision is to create a world where all children lead meaningful lives and are valued within their communities.

A sought-after speaker and trainer, Dave offers expertise on regulation, resilience, beating burnout, and his innovative '3S Approach to Achieving Authentic Confidence as an Allied Health Professional'. He is the author of "Challenging The Story: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours," an Amazon international bestseller, and the creator and presenter of the 'Challenging the Story of Behaviour' workshop.

Dave’s guiding principle is to "support the people who support the kids," a philosophy that drives his commitment to both his team at MoveAbout and the broader Allied Health community.

Helpful links:

Kim’s Instagram - @creativityandbeyondot

Buy Dave’s book - Challenging The Story: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours

Challenging the Story of Behaviour Workshop

Dave’s ABC-IDEAS Worksheet pdf download

Connect with Dave:

💫 Send him an email: [email protected]

💫 Find him on Instagram: @davejereb_ot and @moveabout.ot

💫 Find him on Facebook: Move About OT

💫 Find him on LinkedIn: Dave Jereb

💫 Visit his website: Move About Therapy Services

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