Libsyn Directory

EP 15 | A New Lens for Challenging Behaviours

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Release Date: 10/14/2024

EP 30 | Supporting Behaviour Without Behaviour Charts

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Aaaaah, behaviour charts. Love them or hate them (I'm the latter), it feels like they're here to stay. I'm often met with exasperation - but HOW do we support behaviour without them? It feels impossible, but it isn't. I did it for most of my teaching career (bar one year). I cover: Why behaviour charts don’t actually teach behaviour and what they do instead. How children internalise their placement on behaviour charts, shaping their self-worth and peer relationships. The connection between behaviour charts and social bias, including their disproportionate impact on neurodivergent children...

EP 29 | Overcoming Teacher Self-Doubt

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Self-doubt creeps in when we least expect it. Whether it’s comparing yourself to other teachers, feeling like you’re not good enough, or questioning whether you really belong in this field - these thoughts can be exhausting. The thing is - you’re not alone. I'm convinced every teacher experiences self-doubt at some point. I cover: How social media, unrealistic expectations, and 'shoulds' impact teachers falling into the comparison trap. Looking at imposter syndrome and questioning where it might come from. How to challenge the thoughts that make you feel “not good enough” by...

EP 28 | Building Relationships With Families

The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Building strong relationships with families at the start of the year is the foundation of a successful classroom. But let’s be real - it’s not always easy to navigate the nuances of communication, cultural differences, or setting boundaries. In this episode, I’m sharing the 'Ins' and 'Outs' of building meaningful connections with families. I’ll explore 8 things that are IN in order to foster trust, collaboration, and open dialogue, as well as 6 things that are OUT that can unintentionally act as roadblocks for your relationships. I cover: The importance of starting the year with...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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. 🌸...

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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