Are We Accidentally Teaching Our Children They Can't?

Loading player...
We all want the best for our children, but what happens when our good intentions accidentally hold them back?
In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores the concept of “learned helplessness” and how stepping in too quickly to fix a bed, tie a shoe, or finish a task can inadvertently send the message: I don’t trust you to do this.

Lauren looks at how children, including neurodivergent and non-verbal students, pick up on our body language and actions just as much as our words.
She shares practical ways to change how we communicate, celebrate effort rather than perfection, and give children the trust and space they need to build real capability and self-belief.
28 Sep English South Africa Education · Self-Improvement

Other recent episodes

Helping Our Anxious Kids

In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores how anxiety shows up in children and why no learning can happen when a child’s nervous system is in fight, flight, freeze or fawn. She explains why anxious children first need to feel safe, not just be safe. She also warns that a calm,…
10 Nov 9 min

Why Inclusion Starts Before a Child Joins In

How do we help children feel included when they struggle to join in? I n this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores why inclusion is about more than simply being present. She explains how giving children the time, space and support to participate at their own pace can help them build confidence,…
26 Oct 14 min

Making Learning Easy

Learning is about more than taking in new information. Children need time to process what they’ve learnt and practise recalling it. In this episode, Lauren Edmunds explores why children with learning difficulties may struggle to remember information and how screen time and distractions at home can affect their concentration. She…
20 Oct 12 min

Helping Children Manage Big Emotions

When a child loses control of their emotions, it’s easy to see it as bad behaviour. But as Lauren Edmunds explains, there’s a difference between a child acting out and a child who is simply overwhelmed. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) offers a useful way to understand emotional dysregulation and what…
12 Oct 14 min

Rethinking Screen Time: Connection Over Addiction

When parents struggle to get their children off devices, the usual advice is to set strict screen-time limits or use rewards. But when screens become something a child earns, they can end up becoming even more important, with the device taking over a bigger part of their day. Screens are…
14 Sep 22 min