The Child Charmer

Chrissie Davies- Child Behaviour Specialist

Chrissie Davies, affectionately known as The Child Charmer, is on a mission to change the way the world views children's behaviour. Every week on this podcast, Chrissie will use her 26 years of knowledge to educate, inspire and guide families and educators on how to use therapeutic approaches to support behavioural responses in children. In Chrissie's world, there is no such thing as bad or naughty children. Just some gorgeous little human beings looking for connection, guidance, empathy, and understanding from their grownups. Each week Chrissie will share her thought leadership around all things Therapeutic Parenting, child brain development, unplugging children, and getting back to some good old grassroots ideologies about growing up kids in the modern world: just as nature intended. Hang around here long enough, and you will understand why people far and wide are falling in love with Chrissie and her fresh and positive approach to raising kids in the modern world!

  1. What we can all learn from Augie Pullman & Mr Tushman

    07/05/2024

    What we can all learn from Augie Pullman & Mr Tushman

    If you recognise the names Augie Pullman & Mr Tushman, then chances are you may know what this solo episode is centred on. An amazing book titled "Wonder." Chrissie shares during this solo episode the importance of parents relinquishing control and encouraging their children to step out in the big wide world away from the safety of the family nest. You see, Augie lives with a disability called Treacher Collins syndrome which is a genetic disorder that affects growth and development of the head. It prevents the skull, cheek and jawbones from developing properly, causing facial anomalies and hearing loss. The episode also discusses the vital roles of attachment that our educators play in the lives of all children, but just how important they are for children living with disabilities: visble or not.. Disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, anxiety, foetal alcohol syndrome, developmental trauma and dyslexia are just some of the examples of invisible disabilities that people live with in our communities. These disabilities are not always ‘obvious’ to other people as they are part of the human brain wiring. We call this our neurotype and is why I encourage families to teach their kids about their brain as a starting point to understanding neurodivergence. Education around developmental differences is vitally important as everybody deserves to know that they belong to their community and feel understood by those around them. It’s important that we are having those conversations as families to support understandings for when our kids meet other children who are different to them. Research indicates that kids who grow up in families where they have access to this information, where it is encouraged as part of their everyday conversations, go on to be more accepting, inclusive and understanding of those with differences to them.” “When we are a family that embraces and celebrates difference, then our kids go on to do the same. True inclusion starts at home." You can purchase the book Wonder here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Wonder-R-J-Palacio/dp/0375869026 You can learn more about Treacher Collins Syndrome here: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/treacher-collins-syndrome

    12 min
  2. 8. Supporting communication through Social Stories with Dr. Kathryn Hackman

    06/07/2024

    8. Supporting communication through Social Stories with Dr. Kathryn Hackman

    What is a social story and HOW can it be of benefit to kids in schools? Today we are learning more about this powerful, but incredibly under utilised therapeutic tool that can be easily embedded in our educational practices as a way of ensuring that our communication is not being lost in translation. Used by the Autistic community for many years, it is time for all school leaders to understand the vital ways in which we can aim to reduce anxiety and emotional distress in kids by helping them understand the where, when, why and what is expected of them. Social Stories are a positive, proactive and preventive measure we can use as a whole school approach to demonstrate our understandings and beliefs that not all kids onboard, process and understand information in the same way. Our guest, Dr. Kathryn Hackman identified a gap between the medical field where she works, and the ways in which we can prepare our kids for medical procedures or needing to go to hospital. These experiences can be incredibly daunting and overwhelming for our children and social stories help them understand what lays ahead in VERY simple, factual information. Kathryn set to work and has created an incredible tool that creates socials stories in a flash - saving you time and effort - and they can even be personalised for kids and she is currently working on a school version. Chrissie has been using social stories in specialist settings, and with her own kids for years! She actually cannot quite believe that more schools have not been implementing this game changing strategy. Maybe after hearing this conversation, they will. You can learn more about the origin of social stories here: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/ Courageous Kids here: https://www.courageouskidsapp.com/

    34 min

About

Chrissie Davies, affectionately known as The Child Charmer, is on a mission to change the way the world views children's behaviour. Every week on this podcast, Chrissie will use her 26 years of knowledge to educate, inspire and guide families and educators on how to use therapeutic approaches to support behavioural responses in children. In Chrissie's world, there is no such thing as bad or naughty children. Just some gorgeous little human beings looking for connection, guidance, empathy, and understanding from their grownups. Each week Chrissie will share her thought leadership around all things Therapeutic Parenting, child brain development, unplugging children, and getting back to some good old grassroots ideologies about growing up kids in the modern world: just as nature intended. Hang around here long enough, and you will understand why people far and wide are falling in love with Chrissie and her fresh and positive approach to raising kids in the modern world!