Future Smart Parent

About This Episode

I'll be honest, at the start of this year, I very nearly wrote my own son off as "just being a teenager." Miles had started high school, the homework wasn't happening, the pushback was constant, and that explanation was sitting right there, easy to reach for. You know the one.

But there's this framework I'd come across a while back that kept nudging at me. And instead of asking "what's wrong with him?", it made me ask something different: what does he actually need right now? When I looked at it that way, it was obvious. New school, new faces, everything unfamiliar; his sense of belonging was on the floor. I don't think I'd have seen it without the Circle of Courage.

That's really where this conversation starts. The Circle of Courage is a way of understanding what children need to thrive - four things, held in balance: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. It draws on Indigenous First Nations child-rearing wisdom and pairs it with developmental psychology. And once you've seen it, you honestly can't unsee it.

So I sat down with Tamryn Batcheller-Adams to talk it through - a psychologist, author, and my colleague at TomorrowToday. Tamryn has two master's degrees in psychology, she's a mum of two, and she has this rare knack of taking something that could sound very academic and making it feel like a chat over a cup of tea. She's also refreshingly honest about how hard this is to actually do – including in her own home, with her own five-year-old, this very week.

What I love most is that it isn't about fixing what's broken. It's a strength-based way of asking where a child is struggling, and why, and then quietly building from there. It's not a marker of success. It's the pathway to it.

In This Episode We Talk About

Why "what's wrong with this child?" is the wrong question and the one worth asking instead.

The four things every child needs in balance: belonging, mastery, independence, generosity.

How one quadrant quietly gets over-invested in while another goes neglected and why the whole wheel starts to wobble.

Tamryn's honest story about her own five-year-old falling apart over spilled juice and what was really going on.

Why belonging has the biggest ripple effect of the four, and the huge opportunity that hands to schools.

The difference between a child being seen and a child being known (it's bigger than it sounds).

Why "hey, we missed you yesterday" from a teacher can land harder than the loudest war cry on the field.

What real co-creation with students actually looks like and why it's freeing for kids but quietly threatening for the adults.

Why giving your child chores was never really about the chores.

Where a school or a family might actually start with all of this.

A Moment That Stuck With Me

"I'm getting frustrated with her behaviour, but her behaviour is a communication to me about something else that's going on for her." – Tamryn Batcheller-Adams

She was talking about her own daughter – normally so steady, suddenly in tears over the smallest things. Her instinct, like any tired parent's, was "stop it, what is going on?" And then she caught herself. The behaviour wasn't the problem to be fixed. It was the message about the thing underneath it - a move on the horizon, a brother with a complicated medical history, something she'd sensed but couldn't put words to. Such a simple reframe. And yet we fall into the trap constantly.

Mentioned in This Episode

The Circle of Courage – the framework at the heart of this whole conversation. Four needs: belonging, mastery, independence, generosity – drawn from Indigenous First Nations child-rearing philosophy and paired with developmental psychology. Worth a look if you've ever watched a struggling child and sensed the usual explanations weren't quite it.

Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Our Hope for the Future – the book that put the Circle of Courage on the map, by Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg and Steve Van Bockern (1990). Worth knowing: the framework came first, and the book followed. And while the title points to youth "at risk," the ideas apply to every one of us – those four needs don't stop mattering when you grow up.

TomorrowToday Global – where Tamryn and I both work. She consults and coaches on leadership internationally, and brings this same psychology into schools, families and organisations.

About Tamryn Batcheller-Adams

Tamryn is a psychologist with two master's degrees, and she's spent her career working right where psychology meets real life – with clinical patients, with parents, in schools, and with leaders across more than twenty countries. She's based in Cape Town, she's a registered Enneagram specialist, and she's a co-author of Mavericks: How Bold Leadership Changes the World.

What makes her perspective so unusual is how easily she moves between the theory and the lived reality of it. She'll explain the developmental psychology behind a framework and then, in the same breath, tell you about the morning she and her husband sat down to work out why their daughter kept dissolving into tears. She knows the research, but she parents in the same messy trenches as the rest of us, and she's generous enough to say so out loud.

She's also clear-eyed about schools, and unafraid to name the hard part: that building a place where every child feels known, not just seen, asks a lot of teachers who are already stretched thin. She holds both things at once - the ambition and the compassion.

Connect With Tamryn

🌐 tomorrowtodayglobal.com

💼 LinkedIn: Tamryn Batcheller-Adams

📖 Mavericks: How Bold Leadership Changes the World (co-author) – available here

Connect With Jude & Future Smart Parent

🌐 www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/schools

📸 Instagram: @judefoulston

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judefoulston

🫶 Community: Raising Tomorrow

Some conversations change the question you carry around with you, and this was one of them for me. If it shifted something for you too, share it with a parent or teacher who could use a gentler way of looking at a struggling child.
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About This Episode
I have a friend whose teenage daughter has a support dog. I've watched that dog quietly and consistently support a young person navigating a world that wasn't always built for her. And I'll be honest, I've probably rolled my eyes at the idea before. But then I saw it. And I thought, who's the one who should be rolling their eyes now?
That's really where this conversation begins, not with a research paper, but with a moment of honesty. And it's the perfect introduction to Laurelle Fry, who doesn't talk about dogs in schools the way you'd expect.
No grand claims. Just real stories - a boy who spent an entire school break playing with Frankie because he couldn't find his way into a friendship group. A child who jumped onto his chair in fear the first time Frankie walked in, and now runs over to say hello.
Laurelle is Head of Pre-Prep and Junior Prep at Western Province Prep School in Cape Town, and she's been bringing her rescue dog Frankie to school for years. But this conversation is really about what schools are for. Culture, belonging, regulation, and why the thing that helps a child feel safe enough to learn sometimes has four legs and a wagging tail.
She has a phrase she keeps coming back to, "home away from home." After this conversation, I couldn't stop thinking about what it actually takes to build.

In This Episode We Talk About

How "Frankie Fridays" started and what happened on the Fridays when Frankie didn't show up.

The difference between a therapy dog and a dog who just shows up and makes things better.

Why the best learning doesn't happen in the quietest classroom.

The moment a child's shoulders drop, and what that actually means for their ability to learn.

How dogs help neurodiverse children regulate in ways that are hard to engineer any other way.

What happened when Frankie crashed a formal chapel assembly (and why nobody flinched).

The practical stuff nobody talks about - allergies, bathroom duties, what to do if a dog nips.

The quiet boy, his Border Terrier puppy, and the small moment in morning drop-off that meant everything.

Why choosing a school is really about choosing a community, and what that has to do with dogs.

Laurelle's honest advice for any school or teacher thinking about introducing a dog into their environment.

A Moment That Stuck With Me
"As soon as he's happy, then he wants to be at school. When he wants to be at school, he wants to learn. When he wants to learn, he feels confident because he's succeeding and things are happening. So it's got this snowball effect that just happens." - Laurelle Fry

Mentioned in This Episode

Western Province Prep School - the Cape Town school where Laurelle is Head of Pre-Prep and Junior Prep, and where both Frankie and Apalefi have the run of the place. A school building something real around culture and belonging.

Bishop's - where Laurelle taught for 13 years and where Frankie Fridays first began.

The SPCA - where Frankie came from. Her previous owner was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and chose to rehome her while she was still young enough to be adopted. Worth knowing, because it shapes who she is.

Reading aloud research - the science behind children reading aloud to dogs: fluency increases, and the mechanics of reading come more easily. It's the reason Apalefi came to school in the first place. Georgette, the head of learning support, brought her in so boys could read to her instead of a teddy bear.

About Laurelle Fry
Laurelle Fry comes from a family of educators, which probably explains why she talks about school the way she does, not as a place where curriculum gets delivered, but as a living community that children either feel part of or don't.
She spent 13 years at Bishop's before moving to Western Province Prep, where she's now Head of Pre-Prep and Junior Prep. She's spent most of her career in boys' education, and she brings to it an instinct for what children actually need, not just academically, but as small humans trying to find their feet in a big world. She talks about creating a "home away from home." You can tell she means it.
She is also, it must be said, completely besotted with Frankie. I follow her on Instagram, and I can confirm there is photographic evidence of Frankie being pushed in a pram. There was a very good reason. Torn ligaments. The boys loved pushing her around. Of course they did.

Connect With Laurelle Fry

LinkedIn: Laurelle Fry

Connect With Jude & Future Smart Parent

🌐 www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/schools

📸 Instagram: @judefoulston

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judefoulston

Some conversations make you want to be a little more patient, a little more present. This is one of those. Know a parent or teacher who'd appreciate it? Send it their way.
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About This Episode
I'll be honest - I found today's guest because of a conference theme. And I know that sounds like a strange place to start, but when the theme is "Let's Meet Under the Tree," you just have to stop, don't you?
That's what happened when I came across the Embrace Symposium, happening at St Benedict's College in Johannesburg this month. And it led me straight to Tebogo Maneli - history teacher, DEIBS practitioner, and great podcast guest :)
This conversation goes deep... into Indigenous Knowledge Systems, what representation actually feels like (versus just understanding it intellectually), why language is one of the most powerful tools of connection we're currently underusing, and what it really means to raise children who know who they are.
In This Episode We Talk About

What Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) actually means - and why every single person in the room carries one

The "Meet Under the Tree" metaphor, and why Tebogo thinks it might not just be a metaphor

Why she prefers the word educationalist over transformation practitioner - and how language shapes whether people open up or shut down

The difference between representation and transformation, and why Tebogo believes in one far more than the other

What happened when Jude worked alongside a woman in leadership for the first time - and the moment she felt what representation means, not just understood it

Why white teachers aren't being replaced, they're being invited into a bigger conversation

The real reason African languages aren't being taken by white students in South African schools (hint: it's systemic, not about difficulty)

Why parents and teachers are partners in this ecosystem - and how a single positive message home can shift everything

A Moment That Stuck With Me
"We don't know what we do not know. And this is where I think the tree metaphor lives - you didn't even know you were wounded before, right? Through experiencing her as a system, using her indigenous knowledge, you were changed. You were healed in a way that maybe you might not have been before." - Tebogo Maneli
Mentioned in This Episode
The Embrace Symposium 2026 Let's Meet Under the Tree: Using Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Pedagogy as Pathways to Social Healing in Education
📅 4–5 June 2026
📍 St Benedict's College, Johannesburg
This is not a sit-and-listen kind of event. It's practical, it's dialogic, and it's designed so that every delegate leaves with tools they can actually take back to their school community. If this conversation moved something in you, that's probably your sign to look it up.
🔗 St Benedict's College - Embrace Symposium
About Tebogo Maneli
Tebogo Maneli is an Upper School History teacher at Lebone II College of the Royal Bafokeng, based in Phukeng village, North West. With over 15 years of experience in education across South Africa and Mauritius, Tebogo holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of the Witwatersrand and is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education through UNISA.
In 2023, her passion for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in schools was formalised at St Stithians Girls' College, where she became a DEIBS practitioner and went on to convene the DEIBS Cluster in Gauteng - bringing together transformation practitioners from private schools across the province. She has facilitated Teachers' Roundtables for the Apartheid Museum, presented on Girls' Education at St Mary's DSG, and spoken on innovative AI teaching strategies at the 2023 History National User Group Conference.
Tebogo describes herself not as a transformation practitioner, but as an educationalist - and once you hear this conversation, you'll understand exactly why that distinction matters.
Connect With Tebogo

LinkedIn: Tebogo Maneli

Connect With Jude & Future Smart Parent

🌐 www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/schools

📸 Instagram: @judefoulston

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judefoulston

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another parent or educator who needs to hear it. And if you haven't subscribed yet - now's a good time. We've got a lot more conversations like this one coming.
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In today’s episode, we dive into the exciting world of AI in education with global futurist Graeme Codrington and the team at Future Smart Teacher. Graeme shares valuable insights on how AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, can serve as powerful assistants in teaching, helping educators enhance their workflow, engage students in new ways, and save valuable time—all while preparing for a tech-driven future.
Key Takeaways:

AI as an Assistant, Not a Replacement: Learn why AI tools like ChatGPT are best used to support teachers rather than replace them, and how to integrate these tools thoughtfully.

Navigating AI’s Limitations: Graeme provides practical tips for recognising where AI is most effective in the classroom, and where human insight remains crucial.

21st-Century Skills: Discover ways to equip students with essential skills for the future while empowering yourself to adapt to new technologies.

Why You Should Listen: If you're an educator looking to harness the benefits of AI in a balanced, practical way, this episode will equip you with actionable insights to navigate this ever-evolving landscape confidently.
Resources Mentioned:

Future Smart Teacher Academy: A membership platform for educators that provides tutorials, weekly Q&A sessions, expert insights, and community support—all to help teachers integrate AI and 21st-century skills into their classrooms effectively.

Join Future Smart Teacher Academy and Get:

Weekly tutorials and strategies to use AI in your classroom

Practical tools for incorporating 21st-century skills into your lessons

Access to a supportive community and subject-matter experts

For just R135 ($7.99) per teacher or R980 ($55) per month for schools, Future Smart Teacher Academy provides a resourceful platform where educators can grow professionally, reduce administrative tasks, and maintain a dynamic, future-ready learning environment.
Connect with Us:

Website: futuresmartteacher.com

Email: Jude@tomorrowtodayglobal.com

Tune in, empower your teaching, and join us on this journey into the future of education.
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Episode Summary: In this episode, Jude chats with music therapist Graeme Sacks about what music therapy is, how it encourages growth, self-expression and healing through music and how this might impact parents and their kids today! Graeme challenges the notion that music should be something we add competition to, especially because of how that pressure can often lead children away from music and singing. Instead he says, we should be encouraging children and teens to be making music and singing regardless of how “good” or “bad” they are, because of the joy that music brings and the way that we can process our emotions through music in so many ways. “Where communication is physically or psychologically disrupted, where words are not available, or distrusted, or too personal, music can help… Musical meetings can be life-changing.” - Gary Ansdell - music therapist and researcherIf you’re interested in learning more about what music or other arts-based therapy is all about and how it can be transformational for our kids visit www.sanata.org (South African National Arts Therapies Association).Connect with Graeme:Website: Graeme Sacks Music TherapySocial Media: Facebook Thank you so much for listening! This episode is brought to you by Future Smart Parent Club. Please like and subscribe to our community. If you enjoyed the podcast, consider leaving a review and sharing the episode with your network. Join the Future Smart Parent Community:Instagram | Newsletter signup | Facebook Group
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