Tara's Take - Parenting, Education & Life With Kids

Today I'm chatting with Kaitlin Johnstone, the co-founder of Kind Cotton about our shared vision to redefine Kindness. We talk about the importance of moving away from the idea that Kindness is about being nice or being a people pleaser. Instead it's important to shift our understanding to being more empathetic in way that supports diverse audiences. The idea that Kindness is a concept that needs to be built with intention. Kind Cotton is a clothing company dedicated to redefining kindness and putting books in the hands of kids. Their inclusive clothing helps to inspire others to rethink kindness as more than simple pleasantries, but rather take a deeper look into kindness being rooted in justice and grounded in action. With every purchase made, a book is directly given to a child through the Kind Cotton Reading Program. As part of my ongoing commitment to finding ways to support community literacy program I have donated a box of my book, The Adventures of Team Brain to their initiative. ___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

We like to buy solutions to our parenting problems. Here’s my cautionary tale. Don’t buy the solutions to parenting challenges that are promising a quick fix. They don’t last because they aren’t tackling the underlying problem, missing skill or challenge. It’s a bandaid when you actually need stitches. Behaviour, habits and social emotional skills are all things that require commitment, consistency and a bit of practice and patience.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

In this episode I'm talking about the runaway snowball we all have and how creating an effective routine guided by predictability can help you manage your overwhelm. I also dig into how mentioning the word routine tends to put parents off until we are able to take a deeper dive into understanding that I'm not suggesting rigidity, instead consistency that makes space for functional flexibility.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

For today's episode I am hosting a special guest to talk about the relationship between Kindness to Self, Parenting and Food Culture.I think it's important to give a little warning that this episode is digging into some challenging topics around body acceptance, food choices, diet culture, and food insecurity. I believe having important conversations is essential to learning more, and that not every topic is going to resonate 100%. In this episode Lindsay and I have an amazing conversation around food culture and parenting, at times sharing very different perspectives, but aligned around some similar goals of fostering Kindness to Self, Kindness to the Planet and supporting parents with building awareness so they can make informed decisions for their family's needs. Lindsay is a Canadian Registered Dietitian, founder of Proactive Health Nutrition a nutrition consultant business that serves people looking to take action on their overall health and well-being in an individualized and thoughtful way. As well as the creator of the FED Mamas program a supportive community and a plan that works to help you end generational diet culture, reconnect with your body and find food freedom. She believes kindness to self is one of the keys to stop feeling shame and guilt for your food choices and instead feel content, satisfied and in control.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

This week’s topic is about handling the holidays, specifically things like Santa and that little Elf, without losing sight of tradition and joy. One of the reasons I think about the holidays differently is because of my diverse upbringing. It’s also where I land with some of my parenting advice. It’s not about this or that, it’s about some of this and a little of that.In this episode I also share some ideas for when you've already introduced some of the traditions and you are ready to rethink or maybe you have older children and you want to recenter their understanding.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Inspired by Jarrett's Graphic Novel Crash Course workshop that I took in the summer, I invited him to come on my podcast to extend that learning and experience with you. In this episode  we talked about  the value and importance of exposing children to a range  of books to enhance their learning and enjoyment of literacy. I shared a very honest reflection of what I used to believe about graphic novels and where I've reached and why. “I want to convince kids who maybe aren't fully convinced yet, that reading can be a blast. And that it can also be something very positive and worthwhile to have in your life. For entertainment, and also for edification, for information for guidance, for comfort.”Author-illustrator Jarrett Lerner is the award-winning creator of the EngiNerds series of Middle Grade novels, the Geeger the Robot series of early chapter books, the activity books Give This Book a Title and Give This Book a Cover, and The Hunger Heroes series of graphic novel chapter books. Jarrett is also the creator of the forthcoming illustrated novel in verse A Work in Progress, the forthcoming set of Nat the Cat early readers, and more. All of Jarrett’s books are published by Simon & Schuster. In addition to writing, drawing, and visiting schools and libraries across the country, Jarrett co-founded and co-organizes the #KidsNeedBooks and #KidsNeedMentors projects. He is also the founder and operator of Jarrett Lerner’s Creator Club. He can be found at jarrettlerner.com and on Twitter and Instagram at @Jarrett_Lerner. He lives with his wife and daughters in Massachusetts.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

The advice is clear. Don’t say be careful, it’s not specific enough. And after every single time you read that, you see this super detailed explanation of what you should say instead. So I got to thinking. Could I honestly say more than be careful in a cautious situation and should I actually be saying more? In today's episode I tackle this question and address some of the layers that I think lead us to believe we need to craft everything that comes out of our mouths.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Just getting by in your parenting might be why things are so challenging and why things have slowly but surely built up to a place where you feel like you’re always chasing the snow ball.In this episode I tackle a few different layers:You are doing amazingYou don’t know nothing!The things you don’t know, well you never learned themIt’s essential to take part two and put it together with part three to make informed choicesI'm building something new to support busy parents with tools and skills to show up the way they imagine. ___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Today I'm chatting with special guest Ashley Patrick of the Money Mindset Podcast & @budgetsmadeeasy.We talk about how to navigate during one of the most stressful periods of time both financially and as a parent. There's some amazing overlaps and the tips and strategies we share will support you with tackling both!In the episode Ashley shared her Free Holiday Planner - you can download your copy HEREI'm building something new to support busy parents with tools and skills to show up the way they imagine. Be there the first to know by joining my mailing list HERE-------This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Social media is basically a giant resource for quick fixes.When it comes to a new approach to parenting that validates feelings, there is a heavy focus on the validation part and a really light focus on the 'now what' part.Let's talk about why validating feelings is important, but so is part 2.Want to take the next step in becoming the parent you want to be?Doors are OPEN for Building Resilience Through Kindness.Enroll today by clicking HERE--------------This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Ever find yourself wracked with guilt about the decisions you make as a parent, especially when they seem  at odds with societal norms? That's the question we're exploring today, as I share my personal struggles, particularly around the food choices I make for my family. My aim isn't to judge or shame, but to inspire reflection on our actions as parents. We discuss different parenting styles, family situations and how they all contribute to this notion of parent guilt. As we dig deeper, we take a critical look at Halloween, a holiday oftentimes celebrated with great enthusiasm but equally riddled with difficult decisions for conscious parents. We examine the consumerism, waste, and questionable values embedded in these traditions, posing a dilemma for parents. I share my personal struggle with this, and how I try to strike a balance between finding ways for my children to partake in the festivities without compromising my values. Ultimately, this episode is aimed at getting parents to critically evaluate the implications of our choices and how they shape our children and the future of our planet. Transcript HERE___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

I've mentioned it here and there, today I'm really digging in and sharing more about my signature framework, the Language of Kindness.Want to join the Parenting Toolkit Bootcamp?Save your spot HERE--------------This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

One of the most impactful workshops I gave this year was about Tricky Transitions so I thought I would share some of the highlights with you in today's episode.Catch the workshop replay HEREThe reality is, transitions are a big part of everyday parenting and also the things that makes parenting really challenging at times. By understanding a little bit more about transitions and how you can support your child, you can make parenting that little bit easier to navigate.Enrol in the FREE 7 Day Parenting Toolkit Bootcamp HERE--------------This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

In this episode I'm sharing how you can use the stories of change makers to support building essential skills for social emotional well-being and resiliency with your children. By sharing the life stories of impactful individuals, children have an opportunity to learn from experiences that can help shape their ability to navigate different situations.With the Terry Fox Run just around the corner, I wanted to share how his legacy stories can guide you with ways of fostering tools and skills for: growth mindsetresiliencyperseverancedeterminationI also introduce the idea that stories like these are an important way to have conversations with children around big topics like grief, cancer, terminal illness and dying.It can be tempting to avoid difficult conversations, but when we actively build tools and skills with our children we are supporting them with navigating a whole range of experiences.Something I shared was  how books can help make these conversation more concrete, build them in age appropriate ways and take the pressure off.Here are some of the recommendations I shared in the episode:Run by Eric Walters (Middle School book)Terry Fox: A Story of Hope by Maxine Trottier (age 5/6+)Terry Fox and Me by Mary Beth Leatherdale & Milan Pavlovic (age 3+)Book Pairs:Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen.Gentle Willow: A Story for Children About Dying by Joyce C Mills & Cary PilloSome of the books from a kids book about series:a kids book about cancer by Dr Kelsie Storm & Sarah Portera kids book about grief by Brennan C Wooda kids book about death by Taryn SchuelkeStay in the loop about future podcast episode and when my course on "How to Talk to Children About the Dying Process, Grief & Death" by signing up for my mailing list HERE.______________________________This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Are you nurturing your child's independence or inadvertently hindering it? As parents, it's second nature for us to step in and assist our children in their daily tasks, from packing their backpacks to choosing their outfits. But what if this well-intentioned habit is contributing to your overwhelm? Today, I aim to shed light on this delicate parenting conundrum. I believe it's our duty to empower our kids, foster a sense of responsibility and arm them with necessary life skills. Let's reevaluate our parenting routines together and explore how we can guide our children towards becoming more self-reliant.I'll walk you through various stages of development and discuss how you can help your child master some tasks. From dressing up on their own, to emptying the dishwasher, we'll talk about the importance of  responsibilities over chores. The key is understanding skill development is all about striking a balance, adjusting time for transitions, and ensuring we make space for children to learnAs our children grow, so does the complexity of the tasks they can handle. From carefully handling fragile items to planning meals, the world is their oyster, and with our guidance, they can navigate it while reducing our overwhelm. So, join me as we embark on this journey of raising resilient children together. Let's ensure that our kids not only thrive at home but also out in the world, equipped with the skills they need to succeed.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

In this episode I'm talking about something that not many people talk about. How YOU, the parent, is feeling about the process of Back-to-School. Especially those of you who have children starting school/daycare for the very first time or children headed off to high school. A lot of what’s out there is focussed on supporting children and this is super important BUT, the reality is, transitions like this might be having a big impact on you as well because you have feelings too.Let's dig into why this is important to talk about and how you can support yourself and your child through this process. Ready to learn how building social emotional skills will make your everyday parenting easier. Check out my FREE ON-DEMAND Course Why Do I Lose My Cool HERE______________________________This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

As we are head back to school, a common topic I get asked is how to address our children's worry thoughts. So, today I'm talking about how you can start to support your children with building some skills for worries and whatifs using my three step framework.3 Steps to Building Tools for Worries & WhatifsIdentify them (label them)Learn about them (understand them)Build Tools for ThemAs a part of learning about them I recommend using picture book to support your conversations.You can find my latest blog on Books for Talking About Whatifs and Worries HERECurious to learn more about my program Building Resilience Through Kindness click HERE______________________________This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio.For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

In this episode I'm talking to Paul Davis, a Social Media and Cyberbullying Educator about keeping our children safe online and in the digital world.Our conversation focusses on 4 main topics:1) Sharing PicturesWe tackle some important thoughts to consider when posting pictures of children on-line. Paul outlines a strategy for sharing pictures in a way that will protect your child's on-line privacy.2) Using Platforms like YouTubePaul shares his three pillars for online safety when it comes to elementary school kids to help guide you with supporting your child.3) Cell Phones We talk about Paul's recommended age, strategies for what to do in the mean time and alternatives to smart phones! 4) Privacy and IndividualityPaul shares his thoughts on choices around privacy and safety and what parents need to consider to keep their children safe.Where to find Paul:Presentations for Students, Educators, Parents & Law Enforcement.Paul Davis - www.socialnetworkingsafety.netTwitter: @pauldavisSNSWeb: www.socialnetworkingsafety.netInstagram: @followpauldavis Newsletter sign up: https://mailchi.mp/9753d54aaa82/pdnewsletter___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

Last week in the Back-to-School Special episode about Preparing for Kindergarten one of the topics that came up was importance of helping children communicate their feelings. As children head back to school and their busy classroom communities, being able to identify their feelings and know what to do when they have those feelings is a really important part of building relationships. Relationships with their peers, their teachers and themselves.It's also an essential component of emotional regulation. The reality is, we all have feelings, but we don't all have tools for them. It starts with being able to identify them!In this episode I'm sharing how you can start building a feelings vocabulary in your home using one of the strategies I teach in my program Building Resilience Through Kindness. It's super easy, effective and doesn't require any additional resources.-------------This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.

When I asked my community on IG what topics they would like me to cover in a Back-to-School Special, several people asked me to speak about the transition from Middle School to High School.I knew right away that I needed to invite my friend and colleague Amy Yeung to join me for this conversation.Our combined expertise and extensive experience with facilitating transitions provided an amazing framework for what to expect when your child is moving from Middle to High School. There are also elements of this conversation that cover families with children moving from Junior to Middle School.So, to round out my Back-to-School Podcast Special I’ll be tackling Transitioning to High School. We'll be talking about the kinds of things you can be doing to support your children through this process, in particular by raising are awareness of the difference between adult expectations and teen perspectives.If you want to take the next step in setting yourself up for success this school year, enrol in my mini-course The Art of Saying Goodbye.  You will learn how to build a customized goodbye routine, how to gather parent clues to handle the ‘one mores’ and the importance of developing an understanding of goodbye with your child.Enrol by clicking the link here-------------This podcast is produced, mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more information about how to start your own podcast visit their website or email mike@cardinalstudio.co.___Get your quick and actionable tips, blog/podcast updates and curated children's book recommendations by joining Tara's Take the Newsletter HEREYou can also submit questions directly to me at info@taragratto.ca or by heading to our website HERE------The music for this podcast is written and produced by Jazlyn B with the guidance of Sabine Ndalamba Note: This podcast is created for educational purposes only. Any references links, resources or content are not intended as a substitute for medical or professional mental health advice.