Camilla's podcast

Hosted by parenting coach Camilla McGill, 'Raising Kids with Love and Boundaries' is your go-to podcast for navigating the challenges and joys of raising children aged 2-12.

Drawing from her own journey raising four children and over 20 years working with parents, Camilla offers practical advice and compassionate guidance.

Each episode is crafted to provide actionable insights in a warm, non-judgmental tone. Tune in for supportive conversations, expert interviews, and tips to nurture confident, resilient children.

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Why Time-Outs Don’t Work – And 3 Powerful Alternatives

Time-outs might seem like a quick fix, but they leave children feeling disconnected and misunderstood. Camilla explains why time-outs don’t work and shares 3 powerful alternatives: time-ins, replays, and setting boundaries with compassion. This will help children calm down, feel safe, and learn better ways to manage big emotions—without shame, threats, or punishment.

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When Our Kids Shut Us Out, Or Show Their Feelings Through Behaviour 

When your child is moody, rude, or shuts down and says “Nothing,” it’s easy to feel stuck. In this episode, parenting coach Camilla McGill shares a powerful mindset shift and 5 practical tools to help your child open up. Discover why connection—not correction—is the key to understanding difficult behaviour and building lasting emotional safety.

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How to Handle Sibling Fights Without Having To Take Sides

If sibling squabbling is driving you crazy, you need this episode! Camilla  shares four practical strategies to stop refereeing every squabble and start coaching your children to manage conflict calmly. Includes real-life examples, the answer to the question 'my 5 year old won't share with her brother' and tools to build lasting sibling connection.

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3 Biggest Parenting Mistakes - and what we can do instead

Why do simple parenting moments escalate into power struggles? Camilla shares the three biggest mistakes parents unknowingly make and how to shift them. Learn how to guide instead of control, respond calmly, and build long-term resilience. Includes a relatable listener question and practical solutions for staying calm and connected with your child.

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3 Calm Ways to Respond When Your Child Is Rude

Wondering why your child talks back or says hurtful things? In this episode, Camilla explains the hidden reasons behind rudeness and how to respond without anger or shame. Discover gentle, effective tools to guide your child toward respectful communication and help them manage big emotions with confidence.

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3 Powerful Reasons To Raise Independent Kids

Do you ever worry you're holding your child back by doing too much for them? In this episode, I share why overprotection can limit your child’s confidence, resilience, and independence—and what to do instead. You’ll learn practical ways to step back with love, encourage safe risk-taking, and raise a child who trusts themselves to handle life’s ups and downs.

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When Your Child Won’t Stop Hitting (FYI It’s Not Your Fault)

Have you ever felt judged or unsure about how to handle your toddler’s hitting or biting? In this episode, I coach Katy, a mum of three, through the challenges of supporting her son Leo’s big emotions. We talk about why toddlers lash out, how to respond with calm and clarity, and practical ways to build emotional regulation—without shame or punishment.

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I Lost It With My Kids - Now What

Have you ever completely lost it with your kids and felt awful afterward? You’re not alone. In this episode, I share why these moments happen, how guilt affects us, and three key steps to repair and reset. Plus, I answer a listener’s question about handling guilt after yelling. Tune in for practical strategies to move forward with confidence and strengthen your connection with your child.

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How to talk so your kids listen to you

Do you ever feel like your child isn’t listening to you, no matter how many times you ask? Learn transformative strategies to help you change how you talk to your child with tools that are effective and easy to implement. Camilla also answers a relatable listener question about getting kids to put on their shoes without a fight.

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Calming the Storm, How to Handle Your Kids Tantrums

Do your child’s tantrums leave you feeling frazzled and unsure of what to do? Whether your child is a toddler or a bit older, big emotions can be overwhelming for both kids and parents. In this episode, parenting expert Camilla McGill shares her personal experiences and practical tools for handling tantrums with empathy and boundaries.

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Does your child constantly want more, leaving you wondering how to teach them to value what they have? Are you afraid of raising a child who feels entitled? This episode holds the key to fostering gratitude and appreciation in your children, setting them up for lifelong happiness and contentment.

 Camilla McGill and her guest, Nicole Thompson, reveal six powerful strategies to encourage gratitude in your kids .

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Does bedtime leave you feeling frazzled, with endless delays and demands testing your patience? You're not alone—many parents struggle with bedtime battles, often ending the day feeling guilty for losing their cool. 

Camilla shares three practical strategies to help you bring calm to bedtime: These simple yet powerful tools will help you turn bedtime into a smoother process, and build your child’s cooperation without threats or shouting.

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Could your child's 'challenging behaviour' be a sensory issue? Ever noticed that sounds, textures, or social settings seem to overwhelm your child? Parenting coach Camilla McGill teams up with occupational therapist Vicky Robinson to uncover why sensory overload often triggers emotional outbursts and how you can help.

So instead of seeing these as misbehaviour, they share how understanding sensory needs can transform your approach.

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Scolding, shaming, and punishing children might seem like the quickest route to better behaviour, but they often backfire.

In this episode, Camilla McGill explains how these approaches damage self-esteem, create fear instead of respect, and break parent-child connection. She offers effective alternatives rooted in empathy, emotional intelligence, and connection—helping kids learn from mistakes rather than hide them. 

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How to Get Your Child to Talk to You: 4 Powerful Tools Every Parent Needs.

You know something is up with your child and you can't get them to talk to you and open up.

Maybe they show signs of aggression that are unusual for your child.

Maybe they've shut down emotionally and they’re internalising things.

You know something isn't right.

What do you do?

Camilla is joined by Dr. Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, a clinical psychologist and parenting coach, to explore "How to Get Your Child to Talk to You: 4 Powerful Tools Every Parent Needs."

Together, they discuss why children may shut down emotionally and how parents can encourage them to open up.

They delve into four actionable strategies:

1 Modelling how to talk about your own feelings,

2 Using "I wonder" statements instead of direct questions,

3. Engaging in the "hand squeeze game" to ease into tough conversations,

4. Responding with attentiveness when your child does share.

Whether your child simply says "I'm fine" when they’re clearly not or is struggling to share their feelings, this episode provides compassionate and practical advice for parents wanting to foster deeper connections.

The conversation also includes how to respond when your child says, "Nobody would play with me today."

If you’ve ever struggled to get your child to talk, this episode is for you

 

"I don't want to go to school" - 3 practical strategies to avoid drop-off-drama

For any parent who has faced a child who says "I don’t want to go to school" battle, you’ll want to find out how to handle it, so that you can drop your child off on time, without a stressful, emotional battle.

In this episode of Raising Kids with Love and Boundaries, parenting expert Camilla McGill introduces three highly effective strategies you might not have considered to ease those stressful school mornings.

Learn:

How to create a calm morning routine,

How to reduce overwhelm using visual schedules and timers

How to establish a comforting goodbye ritual to help your child transition smoothly to school.

Working Mum Guilt: Balancing Career and Family Without Losing Your Mind

If you've ever felt guilty about being a working mother, then you need to listen to this episode.
Camilla McGill, a seasoned parenting coach and mother of four, dives deep into the struggles of balancing a career with raising young children—a topic that resonates with so many working mums.
Joined by Laura Coady, a senior investment banker and mother of three, they explore the challenges of managing work commitments while staying present and connected with your children.

Laura shares her personal journey, including the guilt of not being there for every school event, the importance of setting strict boundaries around work and family time, and the value of consistency in routines.

Camilla provides actionable tips on how to handle the emotional pull of your child not wanting you to go to work, emphasising the importance of respecting their feelings and creating a predictable goodbye ritual. 

 

How to have an easy start to the new school year; 5 practical tips to give your child confidence

If you’re an anxious parent concerned about how your child is going to cope with the transition to a new school or you’ve got a toddler starting nursery, then you won’t want to catch this latest episode of Raising Kids with Love and Boundaries.

What You'll Learn in this episode is:

*The importance of fostering independence in your child.
*How to establish routines that create a sense of security and reduce anxiety.
*The power of role play in helping children navigate social interactions at school.
*How to manage bedtime to ensure your child is well-rested and ready for school.

 

Big Emotions When Words Fail

Ever wondered why managing your child’s emotions can be so challenging, especially when you're striving to do your best to support them?

In this episode, parenting coach Camilla McGill sits down with speech and language therapist Charlotte Hall to explore why children often have big emotional reactions when they struggle to communicate effectively and offers 3 practical and actionable strategies to help kids express themselves.

 

How to respond when someone criticises your child 

A common and painful experience for parents: criticism of their children by friends or relatives.

Drawing from her expertise and past discussions on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour, Camilla provides three key ways to respond to such criticism assertively without causing confrontation. 
She emphasises the importance of being your child's advocate and teaching them to manage their emotions. 
Camilla shares real-life examples and practical advice, including how to deal with criticism about tantrums, potty training, and misbehaviour in social settings. 

 

How to stop kids fighting in the car

Are car journeys with your kids filled with constant bickering and loud squabbles? Whether it's a short trip to school or a long drive to Grandma’s, the constant fighting can turn any drive into a nightmare. 
In this episode, we explore the reasons behind kids fighting in the car and, more importantly, how to stop it using my tried-and-true GREAT method.

You'll discover:

  • How to address the issue before you even open the car door
  • Simple steps to create calm and cooperation during car trips
  • Why setting expectations and involving your kids in problem-solving makes all the difference
  • What to do in the moment when a fight breaks out (without losing your cool!)
 

How to handle toddler tantrums like a pro

This episode addresses the common and challenging experience of managing toddler tantrums. Camilla explains why toddlers have tantrums, focusing on their struggles with emotional regulation and desire for control.

Listen for three practical strategies to handle tantrums:
🔵 Staying calm and breathing,

🔵 Acknowledging the child's feelings with empathy

🔵 Using calming techniques 

Additionally, listeners are invited to download a free guide for more tips on managing tantrums.

 

How to manage morning mayhem without losing your mind

Mornings can be chaotic for parents, filled with endless requests to get out the door on time. From kids searching for lost toys to refusing breakfast, the morning rush can leave any parent feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. In this episode, parenting coach Camilla McGill shares her effective GREAT method to help transform these stressful moments into a calm, organized routine.

Listeners will learn how to:

  • Start the day by connecting with their child to set a positive tone
  • Respect their child's feelings and reduce resistance
  • Set clear expectations so kids know what to do next
  • Ask engaging questions that encourage cooperation
  • Recognize small steps of progress to build momentum and ease morning stress