How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

About How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

Hello, I'm psychologist and parenting expert Dr Maryhan and this is How Not To Screw Up Your Kids, the podcast for parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone else who wants to be part of a movement to raise confident children who grow up believing in themselves. Follow now for twice weekly episodes - on Monday's you'll find shorter Bucket Emptying episodes, with longer episodes each Thursday. The greatest gift we can give our children is self-belief. It will get them further in life than any qualification and is absolutely possible for each and every child; we just need the right information and support around us to teach them. The old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child” couldn’t be more true than now. Parenting has got a whole lot harder; not just because we are busier than ever but because our children are growing up in an ever changing, fast-paced world, which is so different to the one we grew up in. Our children have more pressure to be better, look better, do better, and in a world where lives are so publicly scrutinised and commented on through social media it’s really no wonder we’re seeing mental health problems sky rocketing amongst children, teens, and young adults. What you can expect from this podcast are honest conversations about parenting. We’ll talk confidence resilience, anxiety, managing tech, and all the topics you’d expect as well blowing the lid off the widely help misconception that children are innately resilient. They’re not! This podcast is for people who want to get real about parenting. You understand it can get messy sometimes and aren’t afraid to admit it. I have had more than my fair share of messy and I will no doubt share these with you along the way. I won’t dress things up but I will always give you something practical to take away and use in each and every episode. My guests and experts will be real people who have overcome their own adversities and bring with them a message to us as parents, as well as inspiring stories. So pour yourself a cuppa, find a comfy seat, and enjoy the conversation... We'd love to hear from you! We want to hear what you love and what you don't love about the podcast, so we can keep making it better: https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/SEyYrxGB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Dr Maryhan

Category

education · kids & family · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jun 2021

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

448 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Bucket Emptying: The Bedtime Battle - Three Things Which Actually Help

   Do you dread bedtime? Are you children refusing to go to sleep? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! When bedtime becomes a nightly battle, it drains every ounce of energy you have left. In today’s episode, I walk you through why children of every age struggle to settle at night - from toddlers who can’t tolerate separation, to primary‑aged children whose brains haven’t yet wound down, to teenagers whose phones and FOMO keep them wired long past bedtime. I explain the real drivers behind bedtime resistance, and share three practical things you can start doing today that will genuinely help. If you’re exhausted, frustrated, or feeling like nothing you try ever works, this episode will help you understand what’s going on underneath the behaviour, and give you simple, doable steps to finally change the bedtime dynamic in your home. So take a seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation… Highlights from this episode: 01:41 - Is bedtime a nightmare for you? 06:41 - Three causes of bedtime problems 09:34 - The wind-down window 17:50 - Fix the environment 22:37 - Give your kids responsibility 💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together 💚 For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ (https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/) 💚 For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library (https://drmaryhan.com/library) 💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 💚 Brands and advertisers, email contact@drmaryhan.com (mailto:contact@drmaryhan.com) DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Building Good Habits in Children

   Let me guess… you spend ages nagging about teeth brushing? You’re constantly running late? Homework is a war? And don’t even mention tidying rooms, am I right? When I sat down to record this episode, I wanted to flip the whole conversation about children’s habits upside down, because none of the above actually shape who your child becomes as an adult. In this episode, I walk you through what the research really shows. I explain why self‑control, distress tolerance, problem‑solving, emotional regulation, persistence and self‑advocacy matter far more than perfect mornings or tidy bedrooms, and why rescuing and over-helping is the worst thing we can do (in this particular instance, at least!) Plus, I share five things you can start doing today to build the habits that matter. These are small shifts with huge long‑term impact, and they will help your child become a capable, resilient adult who can navigate life with confidence. So take a seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation… Highlights from this episode: 01:12 - IQ doesn’t tell you this 06:25 - Surviving, not thriving 10:19 - The habit of trying 15:36 - Self-advocacy & neurodivergence 21:09 - Resist the rescue 26:15 - Embrace the discomfort 31:06 - Praise the struggle 💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together 💚 For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ (https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/) 💚 For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library (https://drmaryhan.com/library) 💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 💚 Brands and advertisers, email contact@drmaryhan.com (mailto:contact@drmaryhan.com) DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Bucket-Emptying: Fussy Eaters, Fizzy Drinks, and the One Thing Which Changes Everything

   In this episode, I’m talking about food. Does your toddler refuse pasta because the shape is “wrong”? Or does your teenager come home from school every day with an energy drink and packet of crisps? Don’t worry, you are not alone. The struggle is real and it can feel relentless (pun not intended 😆). But underneath every food battle is the same thing: pressure. It can be their body’s cravings, it can be developmental, it can be social, or (here’s the brutal truth) it might even be us. However, once you understand what’s actually going on in your child’s brain and body, everything changes. So in today’s bucket-emptying episode, I talk you through the five practical things you can do that genuinely change the game between your kids and food. No battles. No bribing. No guilt. Just simple, doable shifts that help your child build a healthy relationship with food over time. And the best part: you can start doing these five things right now. So if food has become a battleground in your home, this episode will help you take back control of the long game. So take a seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation… Highlights from this episode: 01:03 - Children have more taste buds than adults 03:23 - The Forbidden Fruit Effect 07:22 - My 5 top tips 💚 Please share with at least one friend, and let’s build our village together 💚 For all previous episodes, and to submit episode topics you want me to talk about, visit https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/ (https://drmaryhan.com/podcast/) 💚 For the free resource library, visit https://drmaryhan.com/library (https://drmaryhan.com/library) 💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 💚 Brands and advertisers, email contact@drmaryhan.com (mailto:contact@drmaryhan.com) DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sophie David
• Rania Robinson
• Tina Lond-Caulk

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

3,165

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

139 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

73

Social presence

0

YouTube

74

Engagement

67

Contact How Not to Screw Up Your Kids

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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