That heart-in-mouth moment when your little one suddenly bolts is something so many parents recognise. One minute they are beside you, the next they have spotted freedom, space, excitement - and they are off.

In this episode, we explore what is really going on when children run away from us, and why it often happens just as they are beginning to feel more confident and independent. From a child’s perspective, they have spent much of their early life being moved, carried, lifted and guided from place to place. Then suddenly they discover they can move themselves, and running feels exciting, powerful and freeing.

We talk about the sensory pull of movement, space and exploration, and why young children do not yet have the same sense of danger or safety that adults do. That is why our role is not just to stop them running, but to help them gradually learn how to manage freedom safely.

Claire shares practical ways to build safety awareness from an early age, including how clear and simple our explanations need to be, why role modelling matters so much, and how games like “Red Light, Green Light”, “What’s the Time Mr Wolf?” and “freeze and go” can help children practise stopping and listening in a playful way.

We also reminisce about the Tufty Club, the Green Cross Code and the old road safety campaigns many of us grew up with, and discuss why teaching road safety now sits even more firmly with parents and carers.

The episode also covers what to do when your child refuses to hold your hand, how to make boring walks more engaging, and how reins or wrist links can be used calmly and positively when needed. Claire also shares her top tip for how impactful our reaction can be in the moment, especially when we feel frightened or cross.

For families who are really struggling, we talk about how a reward chart might support this learning, and how to approach safety when you are out and about with more than two little ones. We have a blog on reward charts here

As always, this episode is about understanding children’s behaviour, setting boundaries and helping our little ones learn the skills they need to stay safe while still building confidence and independence.

Helpful reminder

Running off is not usually about being “naughty”. It is often about curiosity, excitement, impulse and a child’s developing sense of independence. With calm, clear boundaries and lots of practice, children can gradually learn how to stay safe while still enjoying the freedom to explore.

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This podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative

In this episode, we’re talking all about keeping your cool when your child loses theirs - much easier said than done!

We explore why staying calm in the middle of a meltdown can feel so difficult, especially when the little things have been building up, you’re already feeling stressed, or the day you had planned simply isn’t going the way you hoped.

Becks shares honestly about how her mum never kept her cool (and how Becks hasn’t always kept hers either!) We talk about the fact that no parent can stay calm 100% of the time. It’s just not possible. Sometimes people may look like they’re coping from the outside, but we never really know what is going on underneath.

We also discuss how hard it can feel when everyone seems to have an opinion, especially when your child is having a difficult moment in public, or when social media makes it look as though everyone else has it all together - calm parents, calm children, and no meltdowns in sight.

Claire talks about the importance of having a toolkit of things to try when emotions are running high, including simple strategies you can use yourself and with your children. These are the kinds of ideas you can pin on the fridge or save on your phone, so they’re easy to reach for when you need them most.

We look at how you can try to bring your child’s chaos down with your calm, rather than matching their chaos with your own and escalating things further. We also talk about recognising your own triggers, trying to understand your child’s triggers, and how different situations, including Claire’s experiences with her mum’s dementia, can bring up big feelings in us too.

There’s also an honest conversation about what happens afterwards: the guilt, the beating yourself up, and the importance of repair. Losing your cool doesn’t mean you’ve failed, but coming back together afterwards really matters.

Finally, we talk about accepting help when it’s offered. So many of us find this hard, but it really does take a village to raise a child. And if you’re the friend offering help, sometimes just doing something practical can make all the difference.

We hope this episode gives you some reassurance, some practical ideas, and a reminder that you are not alone in finding these moments hard.

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For information about a Bespoke Family Parent Consultation click here

‘Your Guide to...’ — our downloadable webinars including preparing for and welcoming your newborn, behaviour, toilet training, sleep and more

This podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative

In this episode, we’re talking all about hayfever in children - how it can affect them, how tricky it can be to spot, and how to help manage hayfever symptoms during pollen season.

We explore just how unpleasant hayfever can be for little ones, from feeling generally unwell and tired to dealing with a wide range of symptoms. Because younger children can’t always explain how they’re feeling, it can be difficult to know whether it’s just a cold or hayfever. We talk through the common hayfever symptoms in children, including sneezing (very common for Becks!), runny nose, coughing, itchy, watery or red eyes, headaches, earaches, tiredness, and that itchy or scratchy throat that may be described by little ones as a sore throat.

We also discuss how hayfever symptoms can vary day to day, and how different types of pollen affect children at different times of year - tree pollen in spring, grass pollen in summer (often worse during harvest time), and weed pollen in autumn.

Antihistamines can help relieve hayfever symptoms, but we touch on how they may still cause drowsiness in some children - something to be mindful of, especially when they may already be feeling run down. If your child has more severe hayfever, we highlight the importance of speaking to a GP or pharmacist for advice and support.

Claire also shares some simple, practical tips for managing hayfever in children and helping them feel more comfortable during high pollen days.

With hayfever season approaching, we hope this episode gives you helpful, realistic ways to support your child through it.

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Our Hayfever blog – My child has hayfever, what can I do to help?

For information about a Bespoke Family Parent Consultation click here

‘Your Guide to...’ (our downloadable webinars including preparing for and welcoming your newborn, behaviour, toilet training, sleep and more)

This podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative