TPP 004: Kate Berger on What Mindfulness Can Do for Kids and How to Get Started
episode
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
29 min
2 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 2 hours ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is mindfulness and how does Kate Berger define it for children?
Kids nowadays have so many, there's so much for them to have to pay attention to and think about and distractions and video games and busy schedules and just lifestyle is so hectic that it's become really difficult for kids to focus. And the reason that kids actually tend to be so good at it, if you could say that, is because there's a huge component of it that's about being open and curious to what you find in the present moment.
Welcome to the Tilt Parenting Podcast, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently wired kids. I'm your host, Debbie Reber, and today's episode features a conversation with Kate Berger. Kate is a child and adolescent psychologist, as well as a certified mindfulness instructor who specializes in working with expat and third culture kids. In the past few years, I've been reading more and more about mindfulness, and I'm really intrigued by what research is showing in terms of how children can benefit from using mindfulness tools in their everyday life, especially children who may be more prone to anxiety or maybe just are more intense in general.
So on today's episode, I asked Kate to break down exactly what mindfulness is, what a mindfulness practice might look like for a child, and how we as parents can support our kids in tapping into some of these really useful techniques. To learn more about this podcast and Tilt, the revolution for parents raising differently wired kids, visit www.tiltparenting.com. Well, hi, Kate. It's so nice to have you on the show today. How are you doing? Hi, I'm great. Thanks for having me. My pleasure. I'm really happy to be sharing you with people on the Tilt podcast. You and I have had a chance to work together a couple years ago, as you were Asher's therapist during our first year living in the Netherlands. So at that time, he met with you individually, and you had also set up a really cool social skills group.
through your practice that he participated in. So just to share with listeners a little bit about your background, you have a BA in psychology from George Washington University and a master's degree in child and adolescent psychology from the University of Leiden, which is here in the Netherlands. And then you have a therapy practice called Expat Kids Club, which includes therapy for children, after school groups, consulting for businesses and families who are dealing with kind of life as an expat. And then you're also the co-creator of the Families in Global Transition affiliate in the Netherlands. So first of all, it sounds like you're very busy. Yep, that's true. So what can you tell us a little bit about the overall mission for your business?
And the you know, I'd love to just know the kinds of kids that you work with in general.
Yeah, sure. So you know, I really believe that relocation is creates a wonderful opportunity for people in general. And so often families that are relocating with kids see only the the difficulties or the big challenges ahead of them. And So part of the mission of the work that I do is to help families see that the opportunities that are created are really wonderful and terrific. kids who are exposed to a relocation transition and can kind of get through that and see the challenges in front of them as obstacles to overcome, that these kids can develop skills that can be applied as they go through life and on to in the workforce and becoming leaders in society and things like this. And so if we can really help them develop that sort of mindset from a younger age, I really truly believe that we are creating a better future for the young people in our society, but really for all of us.
So it's a huge part of what I do and where the passion for what I do lies in that. I really think we, in the day-to-day interactions, can make a big difference long-term.
I'm just curious, before we kind of dive into the topic of mindfulness, the kids that you work with, is it kind of a blend of neurotypical kids and differently wired kids?
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is mindfulness and how does Kate Berger define it for children?
0:00–4:40
2
Why is mindfulness a natural fit for kids in today’s hectic world?
4:40–8:33
3
How can mindfulness improve focus and attention for neurotypical and differently‑wired kids?
8:33–13:03
4
What research shows that mindfulness helps kids with anxiety, ADHD, or sensory challenges?
13:03–16:44
5
How do schools and programs like Mindfulness in Schools, Mindful Schools, and MindUP bring mindfulness into classrooms?
16:44–20:39
6
What does an eight‑week after‑school mindfulness program look like in practice?
20:39–23:40
7
How can parents model and support mindfulness at home without formal meditation?
23:40–26:48
8
What simple resources and first‑step exercises (e.g., Sitting Still Like a Frog, Headspace) can families try today?
26:48–29:27
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 266a: A Conversation with Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne
TPP 522: A Whole Child Approach to ADHD with Phil Boucher, M.D.
TPP 091a: A Conversation With Steve Silberman About His Book “Neurotribes”
TPP 521: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Gray About Restoring Childhood
TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks
TPP 520: Dr. Özgür Bolat on Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids