About Kathy
Hi, I’m Kathy
I’m a behaviour and wellbeing educator with a psychology degree and more than 30 years’ experience working with children, educators and families across early learning and school settings.
This program, Sparky and Shady for Early Years, is an updated version of the wellbeing books I first published in 2015. After completing my psychology degree with honours, I revisited the program to reflect current research in child development, psychology and education, while keeping it practical and accessible for young children.
Why I created Sparky and Shady
When I was 22, I had a serious motorbike accident that changed my life. During my recovery, I realised that I had never been taught how my body, thoughts, emotions, and behaviour all worked together. I wanted to understand this for myself – and I wanted children to understand it too. At the time I was training to be a teacher and decided that once I had the answers I would create a wellbeing program to help children build self-awareness, confidence and resilience from an early age.
My goal has always been prevention – supporting children to develop emotional understanding and self- regulation early, before anxiety, disconnection and behavioural challenges became habits.
I have grandchildren now, and I want every little one to learn this stuff, as early as possible.
What makes this program different?
There are many wellbeing programs available. Sparky and Shady is different because it gives children a simple, internal framework they can learn and use themselves to support connection and emotional regulation. Sparky is the framework.
Sparky is a child-friendly way of understanding the inner state of calm, clarity and connection that supports regulation, learning and relationships.
In my experience, Sparky is essential for wellbeing.
I first became aware of the power of this internal calm while working as a behaviour support teacher. One morning, I was supporting a nine-year-old boy named Sam who was struggling to self-regulate. He was shouting, swearing, threatening people and hitting trees with a stick. I was meant to be the expert and I didn’t know what to do. I closed my eyes and quietly asked, “How can I help this kid?” That’s when I felt it. Calm. Peace. Connection.
A moment later, Sam sat opposite me and gently asked, “Hey Miss, did you bring your handball?”
From that moment on, I knew I wanted to help children find that same inner calm for themselves—especially those who’d never been told it was there.
A bit about my background
I’ve raised two boys, while teaching in public, private, specialist, alternate and faith-based schools. I’ve supported students with autism, special needs and complex trauma. I’ve taught in mainstream, special education and behaviour schools, worked with homeless youth, answered phones at Lifeline, written other wellbeing programs, and held roles from classroom teacher to acting principal.
I’m not a practicing psychologist. I do not diagnose or treat mental health concerns. I prevent them. That’s my dream: that every child in Australia grows up with the tools they need to be happy, connected and well.
Kathy’s Philosophy
Connection
Connection is the heart of Sparky and Shady.
When children feel connected – to themselves, to others and to the world around them – they are more likely to feel safe, calm and ready to learn. Research consistently shows that emotional safety and connection support regulation, attention and learning.
In Sparky and Shady, connection is taught in a clear developmentally appropriate way that children can understand and practise. Children learn that connection is a felt state – one that helps them calm their bodies, think more clearly, solve problems and respond with care.
In this program, this inner connection is also described as “love”.
What’s Love Got To Do With it?
Connection and love are the first of the five core elements taught in Sparky and Shady.
When children feel safe, cared for and connected, they are more likely to be regulated. When children are regulated, they are better able to manage their thoughts, emotions and behaviour, which supports respectful relationships, engagement and learning.
It might sound unusual for a wellbeing program to talk openly about love. However, psychologist Barbara Fredrickson highlights the role of love in wellbeing:
“The love you do or do not experience today quite literally affects your physical health, your vitality, and your overall wellbeing.”
(Love 2.0)
In Sparky and Shady, love is used as plain, child-friendly language for a sense of connection and care that helps children feel safe enough to calm, cope and learn.
Connection Beyond People
Some children experience strong, consistent connection with family, friends and community. Others may not — or may experience breaks in those relationships over time. For this reason, it’s helpful for children to learn that feelings of safety and connection can be supported in more than one way.
Research in psychology and education shows that children benefit from multiple sources of connection, such as time in nature, meaningful routines, cultural identity, creative expression, community participation, and caring relationships with safe adults.
Psychiatrist Daniel Siegel describes wellbeing as being supported by connection within ourselves, with others, and with the world around us (IntraConnected).
In Sparky and Shady, we use the name Sparky to describe the safe, caring state children can return to, to feel calm, loved and connected.
So… What Is Sparky?
Sparky is a child-friendly way of describing the loving, wise and helpful part of ourselves — an inner state of calm, clarity and connection that supports wellbeing and learning.
When children connect with Sparky, they feel safer, more confident and more ready to learn.
When educators connect with Sparky, they are better able to respond calmly, build relationships and support regulation, especially during challenging moments.
Connection is where wellbeing begins.
Testimonial
“I highly recommend Sparky and Shady. We were lucky enough to work alongside Kathy at our community preschool. It helped to embed the practical solutions for the children, establishing a better understanding of themselves, both their Sparky and Shady sides! The children embraced the language and practiced when supported by their educators and parents! It definitely made a positive difference!”
Nicky Darby-Misios
Director, Lower Bucca Community Preschool