Home & Classroom

Join Lindsay & Kate as they talk about how everyday items become toys that unlock children’s imaginations and encourage creative play.

Mentioned during the show: Uncommongoods.com – creative and original items

Additional Resources:

“It certainly doesn’t take a veteran play observer to realize that babies and toddlers tend to be most deeply engaged by toys that aren’t toys at all.” Unexpected Toy Find! By Janet Lansbury

For a great list of alternatives to toys, visit Blessed Beyond Crazy’s post encouraging all of us to Stop Buying Toys

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Home & Classroom: A Day in the Life is a lighthearted podcast about childhood. Have an idea or story to share? Email it to [email protected]

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

Listen to Moira Mills, founder of Rebl Mom*, as she talks about her unique childhood and how she started the Albany Pop-Up Adventure Playground. The pop-up playground is a temporary play space filled with loose parts designed to inspire imagination and creativity. 

Parents may view the playground as a giant childlike junk yard, but they are highly encouraged to allow their children take advantage of the opportunity to play in the outdoor space with no direction given to them. It is advised that parents step back and allow their kids to get dirty and watch their creativity flourish!

Mentioned during the show:

 Albany’s Washington Park’s Pop-Up Adventure Playground from TimesUnion.com  

 *Moira Mills AKA Rebel Mom has currently taken a hiatus from her online presence, but feel free to check back here as we will update our show notes when she returns! 

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 On Home & Classroom, we talk with experts & special guests about children's development, health, nutrition, play, growth, child care, parenting, and more. Email [email protected] to be a guest or send an interview suggestion today!

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

In this episode, Lindsay & Kate talk about a common phrase uttered by children everywhere…I’m bored! We’ve all heard it, we’ve all said it; find out why a little boredom can be a good thing.

Mentioned during the show

Amsterdam family gives away hundreds of children's coats from WNYT

What Is Boredom? The key factors underlying boredom from Psychology Today

The Benefits of Boredom Mind Institute from the Child Mind Institute 

The Child Repair Guide with Dr. Steve Silvestro: Tips for When Kids Are Bored (and Why Boredom Can Be Good!) podcast

Being Bored Can Be Good for You—If You Do It Right. Here’s How from Time Magazine

How to deal with a kid who's always bored from Today’s Parent

Boredomtunity: Why Boredom Is the Best Thing for Our Kids

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10400419.2014.901073

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Home & Classroom: A Day in the Life is a podcast for understanding children. We share stories and explore the meaning or lesson behind every day interactions with children. Have an idea or story to share? Email it to [email protected]

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

Tune in for an interview with Fannie Glover, Director of Equity & Inclusion at the Early Care & Learning Council as she talks with Hannah about the importance of equity & inclusion in the classroom and shares stories & resources for learning more.

For more on implicit bias and expulsion, check out our episode with Dr. Walter Gilliam from August 2019.

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On Home & Classroom, we talk with experts & special guests about children's development, health, nutrition, play, growth, child care, parenting, and more. Email [email protected] to be a guest or send an interview suggestion today!

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

In this episode, Kate & Lindsay share uplifting stories about overcoming difficult situations through empathy, kindness, humor, and creativity.

Mentioned during the show
Dad Turns Anger into Kindness from Parents.com
How to Deal with Bullies from Parents.com
It's Contagious from News 10 San Diego
Benefits of Board Games for Kids from Scholastic.com
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On Home & Classroom: A Day in the Life we read stories of meaningful moments with children every day. Join us for some fun, laughter, and conversation as we discuss everyday life with children while gaining insight and sharing advice from the experts here at Brightside Up. Have a story to share? Email it to [email protected]

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

Listen to Kate Shannon, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Board Certified Music Therapist talk with Hannah and Rachel about supporting children through music therapy, play, and creative expression. We learned so much and had tons of fun!

Mentioned in the show:
Creative Therapy Umbrella Podcast

@creativetherapyumbrella on Instagram

Website: https://creativetherapyumbrella.com

Music for Kiddos: https://www.musicforkiddos.com

The Shy Little Monster: https://www.musicforkiddos.com/book

Music, Therapy, and Early Childhood by Elizabeth Schwartz book: https://www.amazon.com/Music-Therapy-Childhood-Elizabeth-Schwartz/dp/1891278533

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On Home & Classroom, we talk with experts & special guests about children's development, health, nutrition, play, growth, child care, parenting, and more. Email [email protected] to be a guest or send an interview suggestion today!

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

Listen to Kate & Lindsay talk about the imaginative side of play with stories about cardboard boxes and skeletons (yes, skeletons!).

Mentioned during the show |
Home & Classroom Magazine | Vol. 2 Imagination
This issue features an article written by Abbe Kovacik, Executive Director at Brightside Up. "Some imaginary friends are invisible boys or girls; however imaginary friends can take the form of almost anything...pretend friends can be a fly that sits on your shoulder, a bird outside your window, or a little can of tomato paste." Subscribe or join Brightside Up to receive the magazine.

Creative Therapy Umbrella - upcoming guest on Home & Classroom
The Strong National Museum of Play and
The National Toy Hall of Fame
Adirondack Wildlife Refuge
Alive Inside Documentary


On Home & Classroom: A Day in the Life we read your stories of the moments you have with children every day. Tell us all about the times a child in your life has surprised you, challenged you, made you laugh, or made you cry. Join us for some fun, laughter, and conversation as we discuss everyday life with children while gaining insight and sharing advice from the experts here at Brightside Up. Email [email protected] to share your stories today!

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

Listen to Shann Acevedo, Preschool Teacher, mother, and Creator of Learn As You Play. Shann has been a preschool teacher for 13 years with children ranging from 1- 5 years old. Shann is passionate about the child-led approach to learning and helping children to develop a love for learning while having fun. In 2018, Shann and co-teacher Molly observed the children noticing each other’s skin and questioning the differences and the “Skin Project” was born. “A lot of people say kids are colorblind, they don’t see skin color at this age and we would say we teach children to be color-brave. To embrace color and talk about our difference.”

Mentioned in the show:

Learn as You Play Blog | https://learnasyouplay.net

StoryTime Play Membership | learnasyouplay.net/courses/storytime-play-membership

Let’s Talk About Skin Color | Home & Classroom Magazine Vol. 4 – Wellness | brightsideup.org/homeandclassroom

All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissenger

The Colors of Us by Karen Katz

The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler

Shades of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

Anti-bias Educator Debbie Leekeenan | antibiasleadersece.com/debbie-leekeenan

Don’t Look Away: Embracing an Anti-Bias Classroom by Iheoma Iruka, Stephanie Curenton, Tonia Durden

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 On Home & Classroom, we talk with experts & special guests about children's development, health, nutrition, play, growth, child care, parenting, and more. Email [email protected] to be a guest or send an interview suggestion today!

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

In this episode, Lindsay and Kate share stories shared by listeners describing how children use play and art as a way to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

Mentioned during the show | Home & Classroom Magazine | Vol. 2 Imagination
This issue features an article written by Barbara Mitchell, Social Emotional Development Educator at Brightside Up. "In play, children do not have to translate their thoughts into a pre-existing medium (language). Instead, in the freedom of imagination and fantasy, there is no limitation, therefore thoughts and feelings come out spontaneously in their purest form." Subscribe or join Brightside up to receive the magazine (or drop an email to Kate or Lindsay and maybe we can sneak you a copy).

On Home & Classroom: A Day in the Life we read your stories of the moments you have with children every day. Tell us all about the times a child in your life has surprised you, challenged you, made you laugh, or made you cry. Join us for some fun, laughter, and conversation as we discuss everyday life with children while gaining insight and sharing advice from the experts here at Brightside Up. Email [email protected] to share your stories today!

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Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.

Listen to Victory Riedy, Md.M., Founder/Director at Victory Child Care, Inc. in Albany, NY discuss how passion, resilience, community dedication, and collaboration have enabled them to stay open since the beginning of the pandemic. "We serve a diverse population...many of our families, particularly our low-income families would have been without care and without care, they can't work...we felt like as a community, we could keep ourselves safe and our families safe so we could serve families that really needed the care."

Mentioned during the show:
World Health Organization | https://www.who.int/

Centers for Disease Control | https://www.cdc.gov/

Victory Child Care | https://www.victorychildcare.com/

NYS Office of Children and Family Services | https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/

Quality STARS NY | https://qualitystarsny.org/

The Food Pantries/Food Connects | https://www.thefoodpantries.org/home.html

The Palace Theatre | https://www.palacealbany.org/
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On Home & Classroom, we talk with experts & special guests about children's development, health, nutrition, play, growth, child care, parenting, and more. Email [email protected] to be a guest or send an interview suggestion today!

--
Home & Classroom is an interview-style podcast featuring child development experts and  Shorties! is a news-style podcast on what's happening at Brightside Up.