EP 19 | Exploring the PDA Profile
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
Release Date: 11/11/2024
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’...
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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....
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EP 16 | Supporting Children With ADHD
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Andy Hayes - an accredited ADHD coach with an epic sense of humour. Andy is a dedicated Perth dad, teacher and educational leader with lived experience of ADHD who represents the ideal mentor for children and adults everywhere. Andy and I discuss: 🌸 The four pillars of ADHD and their impact on learning and behaviour. 🌸 Executive functions and their role in daily life. 🌸 The role of dopamine. 🌸 How labels can act as roadblocks to true support. 🌸 Why emotional intelligence is critical. 🌸 Cognitive load and...
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EP 15 | A New Lens for Challenging Behaviours
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
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...
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EP 14 | Coming Together to Support Children Experiencing Anxiety
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode I speak with Kathryn Hackman, founder of the Courageous Kids app. Kathryn is a doctor but, first and foremost, a mama to two children and knows firsthand the challenge in supporting children through anxiety. Her app, Courageous Kids, is a one-stop shop for both parents and educators alike to create individualised social stories - a proven method that supports children through those trickier times. Kathryn and I discuss: 🌸 The prevalence of anxiety for young children. 🌸 The distinction between anxiety + separation anxiety. 🌸 How caregivers and...
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EP 13 | Nature Play + Regulation in the Outdoors
The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
On today’s episode, I speak with Cath Fitzhardinge, an OT who is a strong advocate of nature play and children spending time outdoors so much so that she is currently completing a Masters of Philosophy (Arts & Sciences) at Notre Dame University Australia where she is researching play opportunities and the utilization of an intentionally designed nature play space in a primary school to support children’s health, wellbeing and learning. Cath and I discuss: 🌸 What nature play, messy play and sensory mean for children's well-being. 🌸 How nature play benefits sensory...
info_outlineOn 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 PDA through a neuro-affirming approach and why the term "Pervasive Drive for Autonomy" is preferred.
🌸 Understanding the difference between PDA and typical demand avoidance.
🌸 Common behaviours associated with PDA, including the different "fight, flight, freeze, fawn" responses.
🌸 Supports for PDAers, including the critical role of reducing and adapting demands to support regulation.
🌸 We also talk a load about neuro-affirming practice and supports in general.
Claire Britton is the Director and Principal Occupational Therapist at Neuroinclusion. She is passionate about educating, inspiring and empowering Australian clients and therapists to optimise best practice to facilitate their success doing their daily activities. She works with neurodivergent clients across the lifespan and also runs The Neurodivergent Occupational Therapist instagram with over 27,000 followers. She is a speaker, podcast guest, neurodiversity advocate and clinical mentor to therapists across Australia. She brings her own personal experiences being neurodivergent with over 9 years of clinical experiences to consistently provide the highest quality neurodiversity-affirming practice. Her extensive experience as an occupational therapist includes schools, not-for-profits, private practice and in community settings in Perth, Melbourne and Cape Town.
Connect with Claire:
💫 Send her an email: [email protected]
💫 Find her on Instagram: @neuroinclusion.au
💫 Find her on Facebook: Neuroinclusion
💫 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Claire Britton
💫 Visit her website: Neuroinclusion
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