


She Needed the Tools to Be Successful In Empowering Families to Support Their Young Children







Today, I’d like to share the story of one of my clients, Laurel Smith, of More Than Words Therapy. Laurel is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with a masters in public health, and is based in the Bahamas. When we met, she told me she had an interest in gaining knowledge and skills in parent education and parent coaching, and she was very interested in providing more community-based support to families. 



When she entered the Learn With Less® Facilitator Training & Certification Program, she stated that she believed becoming a parent educator using the Learn With Less® curriculum will give her the tools she needs to be successful in this area, and the support she needs to ensure she’s providing evidence-based strategies that will indeed empower and support families. 



She loved that the Learn With Less® program focuses on using the things in the families’ environment, and helps them to understand that it doesn’t take a fancy toy to allow them to support their infant and toddler’s development. As a busy private practice owner, she’d always had an interest in leading parent education classes, but she didn’t have the time to create a program – so I wanted to share this episode with you, to check in with Laurel and see if, now that she’s completed the training program, she feels ready with the knowledge and skills to make her dream a reality.



Before we get into it, though, I’d love to invite you to join me on a private training I’m holding for educators and therapists, on Thursday, May 6. If you’re interested in working with me to create a high quality, community based parent education program using the Learn With Less® curriculum, all you need to do to get your invitation is to fill out this quick application at learnwithless.com/certification. Ok, let’s hear from Laurel.









Connect With Us



Ayelet: Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest



Laurel: Website / Facebook / Instagram



Related Resources in This Episode



Learn With Less podcast episode: How Lesley Took Her Existing Skills as an Educator, and Started Serving Infant/Toddler Families In a Holistic, Meaningful Way



Learn With Less podcast episode: How to Use Your Skills as an Educator or Therapist to Serve Families Holistically as a Parent Educator, with Allie Glazer



Apply for the upcoming private training: How to Create Lasting Impact Leading ̶...

How to Impact Your Community With Parent Education and Parent Coaching Skills, with Laurel Smith

If you’re looking for information about baby development, or looking for ideas about how to play with your baby to support development, Learn With Less (formerly Strength In Words) is where we discuss all things early parenthood and early childhood. We help families (expecting parents, new parents, and seasoned parents) navigate those early years in an inclusive, educational, and supportive space. Join Ayelet Marinovich, M.A., CCC-SLP, author, singer, imperfect mother of two and pediatric speech-language pathologist, for a podcast for parents, caregivers, and educators of infants and toddlers of all developmental levels. Learn With Less is the place for families to access high quality, evidence-based resources about how their infants and toddlers learn and develop; for regular sessions of music, play and developmental information for both you and your baby, subscribe on Apple Podcasts and visit https://learnwithless.com!

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An Ultimate Checklist of Baby and Toddler Learning Essentials? Or Nah.







On this episode of the Learn With Less® podcast, Ayelet discusses the ways in which early development, everyday routines, everyday materials, and simple activities (often in which we are already engaging) are powerfully interconnected.



If you are a new parent or caregiver wondering what you really need to support and connect with your baby or toddler… or you’re a professional who serves new families as a developmental therapist, early childhood educator, or other professional in the perinatal space, this episode and our related upcoming workshop is for you. 



Many of us are searching for the ultimate checklist of items for young children, or for a list of go-to developmental activities for babies or toddlers to have in your back pocket. Ayelet makes the case that you already have the resources you need – and that if you’re spending your hard earned money on fancy developmental toys, that investment could go toward other places that are in line with your values. 



In our upcoming Learn With Less® Family Enrichment Fundamentals Workshop, we’ll explore the basis for the four areas of early development, and connect these to a framework of play, language, music, and movement so you can support and connect with the tiny humans in your care using the time and energy you’re already expending, and the materials you’re already using. Find the magic in the mundane, everyday objects and routines. Join us in our upcoming workshop and discover all about how to Learn With Less®!



The Learn With Less® Curriculum is used in communities all over the world in a “caregiver & me” class setting, and has also influenced the philosophies and environmental considerations for play spaces and organizations serving families. 



Not familiar with the term, “caregiver & me” classes? We use it as a more inclusive term instead of “mommy & me” classes. Our classes are open to – and meant for – ALL parents and caregivers: not just moms… but also dads, non-binary folks, grandparents, foster parents, babysitters, nannies, and other amazing grownups who care for tiny humans. We’re going to play the “search term” game here (so you can find this great content more easily!) and help shift the conversation from “mommy & me” classes to “caregiver & me” classes… to do our part to shape the more inclusive world in which we’d like to live.



Helpful Resources Related to This Episode



Register now for Learn With Less® Family Enrichment Fundamentals Workshop



Learn With Less® Bundle: get our favorite infant and toddler development resources (save 70%)! Discover how to support & connect with your tiny human, without having to buy a single toy.



Learn With Less® “Caregiver & Me” Classes: the magic of Learn With Less® lies in the communal aspect of coming together with our resources, in community with other families. Join us for a virtual or in-person class led by a licensed facilitator near you!



Learn With Less® Facilitator Training & Certification Program: Use your existing skills as an educator or therapist to serve families holistically with a high quality program that will provide lasting impact! Apply now to become a licensed facilitator Learn With Less®.

What Do We Really Need to Support & Connect With Tiny Humans?




Building a Sense of Community in Parenting







On this episode of the Learn With Less® podcast, Ayelet sits down with Desiree Viray, an early childhood educator, mother, entrepreneur, parent partner and parent educator, Learn With Less® facilitator, and the owner of Empowered Family Collective.



Desiree’s purpose and joy are rooted in serving, empowering and walking with educators, parents / caregivers, and families through each stage of development, impacting children’s lives through a family-centered approach to play, talk (language development), song, movement, connection, and simplicity. Her work at Empowered Family Collective helps families find moments of joy, and opportunities for intentionality and simplicity in each stage of child development and parenthood/caregiving. She offers “caregiver & me” groups for families using the Learn With Less® curriculum, among other services. 



Not familiar with the term, “caregiver & me” classes? We use it as a more inclusive term instead of “mommy & me” classes. Our classes are open to – and meant for – ALL parents and caregivers: not just moms… but also dads, non-binary folks, grandparents, foster parents, babysitters, nannies, and other amazing grownups who care for tiny humans. We’re going to play the “search term” game here (so you can find this great content more easily!) and help shift the conversation from “mommy & me” classes to “caregiver & me” classes… to do our part to shape the more inclusive world we’d like to live in.



In this episode, we discuss:




* Desiree’s background, how she came into the world of early childhood education, and where her career has taken her 



* What drew her to the Learn With Less® philosophy, and the value of prioritizing parents and caregivers and parent education



* How she has placed her values front and center with regard to her own business decisions, marketing decisions, and how she coaches families



* The ways in which creating a sense of belonging serves both her as a business owner, as well as serving families with young children



* How she has respected her internal pace and intentionally created slow and steady growth




Helpful Resources Related to This Episode



Learn With Less® Stories:  Additional podcast episodes and other interviews from educators who’ve provided the Learn With Less® infant/toddler family enrichment curriculum and families who’ve experienced our programming.



FREE Infant/Toddler Development Blueprint: Discover the four major areas of infant and toddler development, what’s involved in each one in the first three years of life, and what you can do to support that learning (using what you already have in your home).



Desiree’s Podcast, Storm and Sky (specifically, her episode on writing new chapters – what happens when you find yourself in your sweet spot)



Learn With Less® Bundle: get our favorite infant and toddler development resources (save 70%)! Discover how to support & connect with your tiny human,

Building Community & Belonging for New Families




Creative Ways to Add Movement into Your Young Child’s Day







This episode of the Learn With Less® podcast is the final of a 4-part series about incorporating play, language, music, and movement, into everyday routines. These episodes feature a conversation between Ayelet Marinovich (pediatric speech-language pathologist, founder & creator of the Learn With Less® curriculum) and Miranda Zoumbaris (early childhood educator & interventionist, licensed Learn With Less® facilitator, and entrepreneur). 



In this series, we’ll explore the four pillars of the Learn With Less® framework, and examine how we can incorporate more of each of those into our everyday routines to support connection and early learning. 



For each episode, we chose one routine and one everyday object, and explored the ways in which we could infuse developmentally enriching experiences into everyday life, and helping families see they can do this using the time, energy, and materials they already have.



Be sure to check over at our Instagram and Facebook pages (linked below) for additional content that may support your understanding and experience of these episodes. As we release each episode, we’ll link to them here in the show notes so you can access them easily.



In this episode, we discussed:




* What is MOVE (as we define it in the Learn With Less® curriculum), and how it can be woven into everyday routines



* How to take the routine of dressing (putting on and taking off coats, zippers, etc!), and incorporate more opportunities for movement into these moments



* How we can adapt movement activities based on our body’s needs or the needs of our children



* Adapting an environment to include opportunities for movement and integrating a child’s needs 



* How to incorporate movement into simple routines, using simple, everyday objects



* How to include young children within an activity by facilitating opportunities for movement



* The value of learning in community, of parallel processing with other families, and of experiencing the practice of following your child’s lead, through caregiver and child classes like those led by licensed Learn With Less® facilitators




Helpful Resources to Acknowledge For This Episode:



Daily Routines Freebie: download Miranda’s free handout about winter dressing, and get ideas for incorporating play, talk, sing, and move into your everyday routines! 



Free Infant/Toddler Development Blueprint: what are the four major areas of early development… and how can you use the pillars of Learn With Less® to support that learning, using the time, energy, and materials you already have?! Download our free blueprint today.



How to Incorporate Play into Everyday Routines: our first episode in this podcast series, featuring a conversation with Miranda Zoumbaris and A...

How to Incorporate Movement into Everyday Routines, with Miranda Zoumbaris & Ayelet Marinovich




Bringing Music Into Your Everyday Routine Can Support Early Learning!







This episode of the Learn With Less® podcast is the third of a 4-part series about incorporating play, language, music, and movement, into everyday routines. These episodes feature a conversation between Ayelet Marinovich (pediatric speech-language pathologist, founder and creator of the Learn With Less® curriculum) and Miranda Zoumbaris (early childhood educator & interventionist, licensed Learn With Less® facilitator, and entrepreneur). 



In this series, we’ll explore the four pillars of the Learn With Less® framework, and examine how we can incorporate more of each of those into our everyday routines to support connection and early learning. 



For each episode, we chose one routine and one everyday object, and explored the ways in which we could infuse developmentally enriching experiences into everyday life, and helping families see they can do this using the time, energy, and materials they already have.



Be sure to check over at our Instagram and Facebook pages (linked below) for additional content that may support your understanding and experience of these episodes. As we release each episode, we’ll link to them here in the show notes so you can access them easily.



In this episode, we discussed:




* What is SING (as we define it in the Learn With Less® curriculum), and how it can be woven into everyday routines



* How to take the routine of transitioning (from one activity to another, from inside to outside, etc), and incorporate more musical elements into these moments



* What kinds of musicality can we infuse into the routines we have when it comes to transitioning between activities



* Using the power of music to create levity in a stressful moment – for both children and adults



* How to incorporate music into simple routines, using simple, everyday objects



* The power of “group sing,” and learning within a group



* How to create inclusive environments for children (or adults) who are reticent or averse to music



* The value of learning in community, of parallel processing with other families, and of experiencing the practice of following your child’s lead, through caregiver and child classes like those led by licensed Learn With Less® facilitators




Helpful Resources to Acknowledge For This Episode:



Daily Routines Freebie: download Miranda’s free handout about winter dressing, and get ideas for incorporating play, talk, sing, and move into your everyday routines! 



Free Infant/Toddler Development Blueprint: what are the four major areas of early development… and how can you use the pillars of Learn With Less® to support that learning, using the time, energy, and materials you already have?! Download our free blueprint today.



How to Incorporate P...

How to Incorporate Music Into Everyday Routines, featuring Miranda Zoumbaris & Ayelet Marinovich




Use Everyday Routines to Build Language Skills In Young Children: It’s Powerful!







This episode of the Learn With Less® podcast is the second of a 4-part series about incorporating play, language, music, and movement, into everyday routines. These episodes feature a conversation between Ayelet Marinovich (pediatric speech-language pathologist, founder and creator of the Learn With Less® curriculum) and Miranda Zoumbaris (early childhood educator & interventionist, licensed Learn With Less® facilitator, and entrepreneur). 



In this series, we’ll explore the four pillars of the Learn With Less® framework, and examine how we can incorporate more of each of those into our everyday routines to support connection and early learning. For each episode, we chose one routine and one everyday object, and explored the ways in which we could infuse developmentally enriching experiences into everyday life, and helping families see they can do this using the time, energy, and materials they already have.



Be sure to check over at our Instagram and Facebook pages (linked below) for additional content that may support your understanding and experience of these episodes. As we release each episode, we’ll link to them here in the show notes so you can access them easily.



In this episode, we discussed:




* What is TALK (as we define it in the Learn With Less® curriculum), and how it can be woven into everyday routines



* How to take the routine of nose-blowing and other self care routines, and incorporate more language into these moments



* What kinds of language routines we can create with an item like a tissue or tissue box



* Using language to create levity in a stressful moment – for both children and adults



* How to incorporate language strategies into simple routines, using simple, everyday objects



* The value of learning in community, of parallel processing with other families, and of experiencing the practice of following your child’s lead, through caregiver and child classes like those led by licensed Learn With Less® facilitators




Helpful Resources to Acknowledge For This Episode:



Daily Routines Freebie: download Miranda’s free handout about winter dressing, and get ideas for incorporating play, talk, sing, and move into your everyday routines! 



Free Infant/Toddler Development Blueprint: what are the four major areas of early development… and how can you use the pillars of Learn With Less® to support that learning, using the time, energy, and materials you already have?! Download our free blueprint today.



How to Incorporate Play into Everyday Routines: our first episode in this podcast series, featuring a conversation with Miranda Zoumbaris and Ayelet Marinovich



How to Incorporat...

How to Impact Your Community With Parent Education and Parent Coaching Skills, with Laurel Smith

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