Parent Teacher Interview

What happens when the person responsible for helping children regulate is struggling to regulate themselves?
In this episode, I sit down with Danica See from Little Bloom Consultancy for a conversation about one of the parts of education we don't always talk about enough — the emotional weight carried by the educators doing the work.
Danica shares her journey through early childhood education, from a difficult first year of teaching to discovering behaviour guidance and eventually creating Little Bloom Consultancy, where she supports educators to bridge the gap between what we know about children and what that can actually look like in practice.
We talk about educator burnout, emotional regulation, the pressure to be the “perfect” teacher, and why creating safe spaces for children also means creating safe spaces for the adults who care for them.

Little Bloom Consultancy
A space supporting early childhood educators and leaders with children's behaviour, big feelings, emotional development and educator wellbeing.
Little Bloom Consultancy
📱 Instagram — @littlebloom.consultancy
Follow Little Bloom Consultancy on Instagram
🎙️ The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast
Danica's podcast exploring behaviour, emotions, relationships and the realities of working with young children.
Listen to The Bloom Room on Apple Podcasts

Music
“Ember” — The Lakes
“Green Leaves” — The Lakes
Music sourced from Uppbeat - https://uppbeat.io/

Connect with the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast
🎙️ Parent Teacher Interview Podcast
📱 Instagram: @parent_teacher_interview_pod
If you've enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to follow the podcast, share it with another educator or parent who might find it useful, and leave us a review wherever you listen.

For the first time on Parent Teacher Interview, Joshua is stepping out from behind the questions and sitting down for a solo episode.
In this episode, Joshua shares a little about his own journey as both an educator and a parent, and the questions that led him to start Parent Teacher Interview in the first place.
After years of teaching and navigating the highs, challenges and mistakes that come with parenting, Joshua reflects on why he has never felt like having all the answers was the point. Instead, the podcast began as a way to ask questions, learn from others and hopefully become a little better along the way.
Joshua also shares a key takeaway from the previous episode with Jacinta and Alicia from Little Potion Co. — a reminder to slow down, look for the little moments, and find opportunities for connection, curiosity and a little bit of magic in everyday life.
This episode is a little different. It's just Joshua, the microphone, and a chance to share some of the experiences and reflections that sit behind Parent Teacher Interview.
If there are topics you'd like us to explore, people you think we should speak to, or if you'd like to hear more solo reflections like this one, we'd love to hear from you.

Music Credits
“Ember” — The Lakes
“Green Leaves” — The Lakes

In this episode of the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast, I’m joined by sisters Jacinta and Alicia, the founders of Little Potion Co, a business creating mindful magic potion kits designed to encourage children to play, imagine, build confidence and connect with the people around them.
What began with Jacinta creating a potion kit for her young son has grown into a business with a much bigger purpose. We talk about the importance of sensory and open-ended play, the role of positive affirmations in developing children's self-belief, and how creating opportunities for imaginative play can help families slow down and reconnect.
Jacinta and Alicia also share the care that goes into developing their products, including their approach to sustainability and product safety, why they spend so much time crafting the words and stories that accompany their potions, and what they have learned from building a business together as sisters and mums.
We also hear about some of the teachers who have had a lasting impact on their lives and their children, and the exciting story behind Little Potion Co's collaboration with Fleur Harris and the Enid Blyton team to create a Magic Faraway Tree Potion Kit.

In this episode, we discuss:
Why imagination and a sense of magic can be so important during childhood
The benefits of sensory and open-ended play
How potion play can encourage confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing
The role of positive affirmations in helping children develop self-belief
Why the words and stories behind their potions are so carefully considered
The importance of creating opportunities for parents and children to play and connect together
Sustainability, biodegradable glitter and the choices behind their ingredients and packaging
Why product safety testing has been such an important investment for Little Potion Co
Building a business as sisters, mums and business partners
The teachers who have influenced Jacinta and Alicia and their children
The story behind the Little Potion Co collaboration with Fleur Harris and the Magic Faraway Tree

About Little Potion Co
Little Potion Co creates Mindful Magic Potion Kits designed to support children's confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing through imaginative play, potion making and positive affirmations.
Find out more about Little Potion Co:
The Little Potion Co website
The Little Potion Co on Instagram

Music
Ember – The Lakes
Green Leaf – The Lakes

In this episode, Joshua is joined by Isabelle from PDA Perspective to explore what PDA (Persistent Drive for Autonomy) is and how it shapes everyday family life. Through her lived experience raising a daughter with a PDA profile of autism, Isabelle shares the diagnosis journey, the realities of low-demand parenting, navigating education, and the importance of trusting parental instincts. This is an honest conversation for parents, educators and anyone wanting to better understand PDA.

What We Discussed
- What PDA is and why many people now use the term Persistent Drive for Autonomy.
- Early signs that led Isabelle to seek an autism assessment.
- The diagnosis journey and the emotions that followed.
- How PDA has influenced family life and sibling relationships.
- Common misconceptions about PDA.
- Why low-demand parenting can be more effective than traditional approaches.
- Finding a school that understands and supports PDA.
- Considering homeschooling and flexible education pathways.
- The impact of PDA on work, routines and daily family life.
- Why Isabelle created PDA Perspective to support other families.

Resources & Links
PDA Society
https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/

PDA Perspective (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/pdaperspective/

Parent Teacher Interview Podcast (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/parent_teacher_interview_pod/

Music Credits
'Ember' by The Lakes via Uppbeat
'Green Leaf' by The Lakes via Uppbeat

Thanks for listening to the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast.
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Every child communicates differently. In this episode, we explore how creativity can become another pathway for children to express themselves, process emotions and build connection.

In this episode of the Parent Teacher Interview Podcast, Joshua sits down with registered Creative Arts Therapist Rebecca Iona to unpack what art therapy really is—and perhaps more importantly, what it isn't.

Together they explore how creativity can become a powerful tool for communication, emotional regulation and healing, particularly for children who struggle to express themselves verbally. Rebecca also shares practical insights into neuroaffirming practice, trauma-informed care and how parents and educators can create environments where children feel safe to be themselves.

Whether you're a parent, teacher or someone who works with children, this conversation offers practical ideas and a fresh perspective on supporting young people.

In this episode we discuss:
What art therapy actually is (and what it isn't)
Why creativity can help children communicate when words are difficult
The difference between therapeutic art and art therapy
How art therapy supports emotional regulation
Neuroaffirming practice and supporting neurodivergent children
Trauma-informed approaches in therapeutic settings
Sensory needs and creating safe environments
The importance of qualified Creative Arts Therapists
Practical regulation tools for home, school and therapy
The Māori concept of Takiwātanga ("in their own space and time")
Connect with Rebecca
🌿 Website
https://www.thearttherapist.co.nz/
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thearttherapistnz/

Resources mentioned
ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association)
https://www.anzacata.org/
Whitecliffe College (Creative Arts Therapy programme)
https://www.whitecliffe.ac.nz/

Connect with Parent Teacher Interview
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/parent_teacher_interview_pod/

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

🎵 Music Credits
Intro Music
Ember – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)
Outro Music
Green Leaf – The Lakes (via Uppbeat)