Part 1: How to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids | BDC Podcast E19 with Nathan Wallis
Better Dads Club PodcastShow Notes
In this episode Tom sits down with renowned neuroscience educator, speaker and author Nathan Wallis for Part 1 of a two-part conversation about parenting, brain development and what our kids really need from us.
Nathan is a father, grandfather and foster parent with a professional background in child trauma counselling, teaching and human development.
He spent many years lecturing in Human Development at the University of Canterbury and has built a reputation for taking complex neuroscience and translating it into practical, easy-to-understand insights for parents and families.
This conversation begins with Nathan sharing his incredibly challenging childhood, his experiences in foster care and how those early experiences influenced the father he became.
From there, Tom and Nathan explore the developing brain, ages and stages, behaviour as communication, raising confident kids, music and language, and how we can create an environment that encourages our kids to learn without taking the fun out of learning.
Nathan also gives Tom some practical advice around challenges he's currently navigating with his own three-year-old.
Takeaways Early childhood experiences shape brain development Parenting in the first three years is crucial Ritualizing learning experiences can enhance the child's perception of learning Language is the major driver of cognition ADHD and self-control is a superpower Personality is easy to change with new experiences Behavior change takes time Managing anger and emotional responses Repairing relationships with children Communication and quality time with children Relationship quality is more important than time spent with children Grandparenting can be different from parenting and may involve a softer approach Understanding and embracing neurodiversity can lead to positive outcomes Personalized approaches to health and fitness are essential for optimal results
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:45 Nathan Wallis's Childhood and Career Journey 05:57 Parenting and Brain Development 09:13 Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood 12:00 Musical Development and Confidence Building 15:04 The Role of Rituals in Learning 18:06 The Impact of Early Childhood Experiences 21:00 The Importance of Confidence Building 24:05 Personal Experiences and Parenting 26:49 The Influence of Childhood Experiences on Parenting 29:18 The Impact of Language on Neurological Development 48:15 The Role of ADHD and Self-Control as a Superpower 57:02 Changing Personality Through New Experiences 59:28 Behavior Change and Habits 01:01:05 Managing Anger and Emotional Responses 01:03:24 Repairing Relationships with Children 01:30:25 Communication and Quality Time with Children 01:32:13 The Importance of Relationship Quality 01:33:01 Lessons from Grandparenting 01:34:02 The Rewards of Parenting 01:39:13 Understanding Neurodiversity 01:52:04 Personalized Health and Fitness
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Brady Dyer is a Lower Hutt city councillor, business owner, photographer and governance professional, but the role he values most is being a dad.
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