Talking Sense with Dr Martha

We often talk about bullying from the point of view of the victim, but what of the children who engage in bullying behaviour? This conversation can be confronting because it means deconstructing the …

As a parent there are going to be times when you lose it, shout, say things you don't mean or put in actions you regret. This doesn't make you a bad parent, it makes you human. In these moments, repa…

As a parent it is normal to want your child to be happy and have positive experiences. And one of the hardest things to learn is that you cannot make your child happy, and fixing their feelings is no…

We don't tend to talk about little ones' sexual behaviour. As adults we may find this is wrong or perverse, and yet there is a difference between 'sexual behaviour' that comes from curiosity and expl…

With technology literally in our pockets it is no surprise children have access to porn easily. How can you talk about porn to your child in a way that is age appropriate and helpful rather than scar…

Do you have to repeat instructions to your child? Does it make moments throughout your day frustrating, such as mornings or evenings? If you have ever heard yourself say "please hang your coat up" mo…

To punish or not to punish, that is the question. In a society that continues to ask us to 'control our kids', it makes sense that punishments feel familiar, nearly instinctive to offer as a strategy…

We all want children to strive to. do their best. When we catch a glimpse of perfectionism we may think it's a 'good thing', that it will motivate them to push forwards towards a goal. However, if yo…

Children sometimes want to quit doing things and knowing when to encourage them to persist and when to support them to keep going can feel like a tricky balance. Dr Martha offers a reframe on the ide…

The climate crisis affects all of us and our children are going to hear about it and want to talk about it. How do we work through the worries they bring up without overwhelming them with the scale o…

Competition is everywhere and we need to help our children learn how to navigate the wins and the losses. Dr Martha discusses what competition can teach us all that is more than the ideas of 'winning…

Making the decision to separate as a couple is never an easy one. Considering how you share the new with your children show how much you care about the relationship you have with them and can help yo…

How do you speak about your body? We all have a self-critical voice and for some this is louder than others. How do you then respond when it's your child talking about their body as 'fat' in a way th…

On this Special Episode of Talking Sense Dr Martha shares her favourite three podcasts from Blended, by Kate Ferdinand and discusses why she thinks they are a useful listen.

i) The Mother's Day Episod…

If you have more than one child do you see them fighting over toys, winding each other up, and/or competing about who 'wins' or gets to the swings first? Sibling rivalry is common and there is a reas…

When children learn how to use the toilet they sometimes go through phases of 'not getting it quite right'. If your family has had a recent change, such as welcoming a new baby, then toileting accide…

Do you think of your child as "shy"? What is the best way to respond to others when they call our child "shy"? And what is the best language to use around your child to promote confidence and help th…

Little boys gets taught from an early age the rigid rules of 'masculinity' in terms of what is acceptable to say, do, and like. This can turn toxic in the long term and have a detrimental impact on t…

'Body Positivity' is a bit of a movement at the moment. The idea that feeling good about yourself comes within, not from how you look. There is a wealth of research on this topic and the things that …

Does your child ever seem to ignore you when you say "no" and keep asking or doing the thing you have asked them to not do? If your answer is "yes", you're not alone! There is a reason why children t…