Academic Coaching for Parents with Dr Anna York-Weaving

Have you ever wondered why your teenager can seem mature and thoughtful one moment, and impulsive, emotional or resistant the next?Understanding what is happening in the developing teenage brain can help us make sense of some of the changes we see during adolescence and, importantly, shape how we support young people through them.In this episode, I am joined by Dr John Coleman OBE, a leading psychologist specialising in adolescence whose work has helped shape our understanding of this stage of life. Dr Coleman has spent decades researching and working in adolescent development across psychology, education and policy, translating research into practical insights for parents, educators and professionals.Drawing on his latest book, The Psychology of the Teenage Brain, published by Routledge, we explore what happens to the brain during adolescence and what these developmental changes can mean for behaviour, learning and everyday family life.🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:✅ How the brain develops and reorganises during adolescence✅ Why teenagers can be particularly sensitive to rewards, novelty and new experiences✅ The role of hormones and dopamine during the teenage years✅ What executive function is, why it is still developing and how parents can support it✅ Why sleep patterns shift during adolescence and how this can affect everyday life✅ How social relationships, parenting and digital environments can shape the adolescent experienceWhether you are raising a teenager, teaching adolescents or simply want to better understand the developing teenage brain, this episode offers an evidence-informed perspective on what is happening beneath the behaviour and how we can better support young people through this important stage of development.🔗 Links & Resources📚 The Psychology of the Teenage Brain by Dr John Coleman OBE, published by Routledge https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-the-Teenage-Brain/Coleman/p/book/9781032363950Dr John Coleman https://www.jcoleman.co.uk/📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching with me? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Have you ever heard your child say “I can’t do this” before they have even really tried?A student’s belief in their own ability can influence how they approach challenge, how much effort they invest and how long they persist when learning becomes difficult.In this episode, I explore the psychology of self-efficacy: our belief in our ability to succeed at a specific task. Drawing on the work of Professor Albert Bandura and research in educational psychology, I discuss the main sources of self-efficacy, its relationship with academic confidence and motivation and how parents can use this understanding to support the way their child approaches learning, challenge and setbacks.🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ What self-efficacy is and why it matters for students✅ How mastery experiences can build a student’s belief in their own ability✅ Why seeing other people improve can influence self-efficacy✅ How feedback from parents, teachers and others can shape academic confidence✅ How stress, tiredness and emotional state can influence what students believe they are capable of✅ Why statements such as “I’m just not good at this” can become powerful beliefs about academic ability✅ Why self-belief needs to be combined with effective study skills, strategy and consistent action🔗 Links & Resources📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on learning, academic success and student wellbeing.🎓 I’ll soon be launching my new Academic Coaching Programme, designed to help teenagers become more confident, independent and effective learners by teaching them how to study efficiently, manage their time and develop an academic system that actually works for them.👉 If you would like to join the waitlist or reserve a place for your child, book a free 30-minute consultation via my website: https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Have you ever wondered when your child actually has time to think deeply, apply their knowledge and reflect on how it all fits together?Because deeper learning does not necessarily come from completing more tasks, but from having the time and space to analyse ideas, make connections and learn from mistakes.Children often move from lesson to lesson, activity to activity and task to task, with very little time left simply to pause and think. In this episode, I explore how constant busyness may contribute to shallow learning and why reflection is such an important part of developing a deeper understanding of academic subjects.🎙️ In this episode, I discuss:✅ How constant busyness may affect the depth of children’s learning✅ Why rushing through academic tasks can encourage students to look for shortcuts rather than understanding✅ How self-explanation can help students connect new information with their existing knowledge✅ Why making a mistake does not automatically result in learning✅ Practical questions children can use to reflect after lessons and study sessions✅ Three ways parents can create more time and space for reflectionWhether your child is preparing for exams, completing homework or simply trying to understand their subjects more effectively, this episode will help you encourage a more reflective, thoughtful and independent approach to learning.🔗 Stay Connected📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Have you ever wondered what mindfulness really means, and whether it could help your child feel calmer, cope with stress and improve their focus?In this episode, I am joined by Dr Mark Pearson, author, educator and counsellor with more than 35 years of experience in expressive therapies. Together, we explore what mindfulness really is, why it has become increasingly important for children growing up in today's world and how parents can introduce simple, practical mindfulness activities into everyday family life.Drawing on his latest book, Mindfulness and Relaxation Activities for All Ages, Mark explains why mindfulness is about much more than sitting quietly. We discuss how movement, creativity and guided relaxation can help children manage stress, develop self-awareness and build lifelong wellbeing.🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:✅ What mindfulness really is and why it matters for children✅ How stress and overstimulation can affect children's wellbeing, focus and learning✅ Why mindfulness looks different for every child✅ Simple mindfulness and relaxation activities parents can introduce at home✅ How creativity, movement and guided relaxation can help children develop resilience and emotional wellbeingWhether you're supporting a child who struggles to switch off, finds it difficult to manage stress or you simply want to help your family build healthier everyday habits, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed strategies that you can begin using straight away.🔗 Links & Resources📖 Mindfulness and Relaxation Activities for All Ages by Dr Mark Pearson https://www.routledge.com/Mindfulness-and-Relaxation-Activities-for-All-Ages-Over-Sixty-Fun-and-Engaging-Evidence-based-Visualisations-Meditations-and-Self-awareness-Games/Pearson/p/book/9781041204381LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-pearson-8a08921b/https://expressivetherapies.au/index.php📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don't forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website: https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Have you ever wondered why your child’s eating habits can feel so difficult to manage, even when you know what healthy eating should look like?In this week's episode, I am joined by Professor Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology at University of Surrey, whose work has shaped how we understand the psychological and behavioural factors behind how and why we eat.Professor Ogden has published over 280 research papers and authored a number of books, including several focused specifically on eating behaviour. Alongside her research, she has taught topics related to eating behaviour to students across psychology, medicine, nutrition and related fields for over three decades.Professor Ogden has recently published her latest book How to Eat Well at Every Age, published by Routledge, and in this episode we explore some of the key ideas from the book together with insights from her wider research.🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:✅ What eating well means and why eating is shaped by more than nutrition✅ Why children develop different eating habits and how these patterns form early✅ What it means to be a “good food parent”✅ The difference between overt and covert control and what the research tells us✅ Why rewards and modelling can have a lasting impact on eating behaviour✅ How body image and modern environments may influence children’s relationship with foodWhether you are navigating fussy eating, thinking about how habits form or simply looking to better understand your child’s relationship with food, this episode offers practical and research informed insights for parents.🔗 Links & ResourcesProfessor Jane Ogden https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/jane-ogdenLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-ogden-3328504b/📘 “How to Eat Well at Every Age” by Prof Jane Ogdenhttps://www.routledge.com/How-to-Eat-Well-at-Every-Age/Ogden/p/book/9781032987255?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23526953194&gbraid=0AAAAACWuhHW1ASIMzbfGL4HhazxWgkClq&gclid=CjwKCAjwuanRBhBSEiwAY5y6V_UNudSoMnTKXo0J-g3p-vGEOKz99RCYUJ2cz027C_4ETNHRGXv_mBoCyBcQAvD_BwE📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent and do not forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30 minute consultation via my website:https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Have you ever looked at your child and felt that something has shifted in their motivation, their focus or even their engagement?In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I am joined by Amber Chandler, an award-winning educator, author and speaker from New York, with over 20 years of classroom experience.Amber has recently published her book “Reclaiming Connection”, published by Routledge, and in today's episode we discuss the key ideas explored in the book.Over the past few years, many parents and educators have reflected on whether something has shifted in children and students. In her work, Amber explores questions around motivation, loneliness, screen use and a growing sense of disconnection both at school and at home.In this conversation, we explore how connection shapes learning, wellbeing and development, and what parents can do to help rebuild stronger relationships and communities around their children.🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:✅ How students have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic and what educators are noticing in classrooms✅ Why loneliness, isolation and disconnection may be influencing motivation and engagement✅ The role technology, social media and screen time may play in shaping children’s relationships and attention✅ How schools and families can work together to better support children✅ Practical ideas including family meetings and creating opportunities for meaningful connection at home✅ Why helping children develop belonging, resilience and community may matter more than everWhether you are a parent, educator or simply interested in how children learn and thrive in today’s world, this episode offers practical insights and thoughtful reflection on how we can begin rebuilding connection in children’s lives.🔗 Links & Resources📘 “Reclaiming Connection” by Amber Chandlerhttps://www.routledge.com/Reclaiming-Connection-How-Schools-and-Families-Can-Nurture-Belonging-in-a-Scared-New-World/Chandler/p/book/9781041114338LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/msamberchandler/📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching with me? Book a free 30 minute consultation via my website: https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Have you ever felt unsure how to support your child during exam revision season, despite wanting to help them succeed?Because more often than not, the challenge is not your child’s ability, but the lack of a clear system for how to revise effectively.Revision season can be a stressful time not just for students, but for parents too. It can feel like you are constantly trying to motivate, guide and support, without always knowing what actually works. In this episode, I walk you through practical strategies to help your child approach revision with more structure, focus and confidence.🎙️ In this episode, I discuss:✅ Why studying is a skill that needs to be taught, not something students automatically know how to do✅ How to create a realistic and effective daily revision structure using focused study blocks✅ Why routine, rest and sleep are important for memory, focus and performance✅ How to build a clear revision plan to reduce stress and avoid decision fatigue✅ Practical ways to support your child with phone use and minimise distractions during revisionWhether your child is preparing for GCSEs, A Levels or internal mock exams, this episode will give you the tools to support them more effectively during one of the most demanding periods of the academic year.🔗 Links & Resources📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/👉 Looking for more structured support during revision season?Explore my Exam Revision Accelerator designed to help students build focus, structure and effective revision habits:https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/exam-revision-accelerator

Have you ever asked yourself, in a world shaped by social media, algorithms and constant information, how do we know if our children have the skills to think critically, recognise misinformation and think for themselves?In this episode, I am joined by Dr Maree Davies, a researcher and senior lecturer based at the University of Auckland, whose work focuses on critical thinking and how young people engage with information in an increasingly complex digital world.Her research explores how students develop the ability to question, evaluate and form reasoned judgements, particularly in the context of modern challenges such as social media, algorithms and misinformation. She is especially interested in how these skills can be taught explicitly, rather than assumed within education.Dr Davies is also the author of Teaching Critical Thinking to Teenagers, published by Routledge, a book that offers a structured and practical approach to developing critical thinking skills in young people. She introduces the Street Smarts model, designed to help students navigate information, think independently and engage more thoughtfully with the world around them.In this conversation, we explore what critical thinking really involves, why it has become such an essential skill today, and how parents and educators can support young people in developing it.🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:✅ What critical thinking actually means✅ Why teenagers can be vulnerable to fake news and misinformation✅ How social media algorithms influence thinking and decision-making✅ What is happening in the adolescent brain during this key stage of development✅ How to recognise cognitive bias and flawed thinking patterns✅ Practical ways to help your child think independently and form their own views✅ How the Street Smarts model can be applied at home and in educationWhether your child is navigating social media, forming opinions or learning how to think more independently, this episode will give you the tools to better understand and support their thinking in a complex digital world.🔗 Links & ResourcesResearch & University Profile - https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/mj-davieshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maree-davies-22a39411/Teaching Critical Thinking to Teenagers Bookhttps://www.routledge.com/Teaching-Critical-Thinking-to-Teenagers-How-Kids-Can-Be-Street-Smart-about-AI-Algorithms-Fake-News-and-Social-Media/Davies/p/book/9781032944906📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator interested in learning, productivity and sustainable success.👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30 minute consultation with me via my website:https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/