Parenting Ed-Ventures

Today, Lara sits down with Ali (Alison) Canning—Founder and Executive Director of Let’s Get Together, a women-led Canadian non-profit making education accessible by helping every person in Canada own a computer and closing the digital divide through reuse, repair, and refurbishment of donated tech. After growing up an introvert who struggled with focus and confidence, Ali found resilience through sports and coaching—fueling a lifelong passion for educational equity, youth leadership, and community partnerships. Over three decades, she’s supported thousands of students and families and partnered with post-secondary institutions across Ontario. She also serves as Chair of the Association of Career Educators (ACE) and champions solutions that keep tech out of landfills while getting reliable devices into learners’ hands.

In this episode, Ali makes “educational equity” practical for everyday family life—beyond buzzwords. We talk about building a real growth mindset at home (not just posters), letting youth take the lead while parents thoughtfully step back, and finding the supports (devices, skills, and community programs) that reduce stress and increase opportunity. She shares insights from her children’s story True North Friends, her collaboration with Seneca Polytechnic, and moving stories from families that remind her why this mission matters.

If navigating your teen’s education sometimes feels like a full-time job—juggling logins, devices, missing assignments, motivation dips, and budget reality—this conversation offers calm, clarity, and actionable next steps you can use right away.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• Educational equity at home: what it looks like when your child has the right tools, time, and support.

• Digital access without the waste: device reuse/repair/refurbishment that helps families and the planet.

• Real growth mindset: moving from “try harder” to “learn how” with concrete, repeatable strategies.

• Youth-led learning: why stepping back (with safety nets) builds confidence, agency, and problem-solving.

• Parent playbook: simple ways to advocate with schools and community partners—without burning bridges.

• Community power: how to find local programs, device banks, and volunteer networks that close gaps fast.

Meet our guest:

Ali (Alison) Canning is the Founder & Executive Director of Let’s Get Together, Chair of ACE, and a long-time community builder in the non-profit and education sectors. She partners with schools, post-secondary institutions, and families to promote digital equity, mental-health-informed supports, and youth leadership—diverting e-waste from landfills while getting technology into learners’ hands.

Quick wins parents can try this week:

• Access first, then expectations: secure a reliable device + a simple plan before piling on tasks.

• Growth-mindset micro-habits: swap “Try harder” for “What’s the next step?” and debrief wins weekly.

• Let youth lead (with rails): set small goals, timebox, and close with a 2-minute reflection.

• Tap community: ask your school or local orgs about refurbished device programs and workshops.

  
  

  Resources & links

• Let’s Get Together (LGT): https://www.letsgettogether.ca/

• LGT Core Crew (Ali’s bio): https://www.letsgettogether.ca/about-us/core-crew

• Seneca Polytechnic on True North Friends & growth mindset:
  https://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/news-and-events/seneca-news/seneca-research-supports-growth-mindset-in-education.html

• Education News Canada summary:
  https://educationnewscanada.com/article/education/level/colleges/2/1128611/seneca-research-supports-growth-mindset-in-education.html

• LGT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsgettogether.ca/

• Ali Canning on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/alison-canning

  
  

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• Parenting Ed-Ventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentingedventurespod/

• Tutor Teach: https://tutorteach.ca/

Today, Lara sits down with Mohit Rajhans—leading media consultant, founder of ThinkStart Inc., and Amazon bestselling author of Rethinking with AI: For Educators and Trainers—to demystify AI for busy, concerned parents. For over two decades, Mohit has helped major organizations navigate technological change. Now he’s helping families and schools translate AI from buzzword to practical support so kids can learn with more confidence (and less overwhelm). Mohit Rajhans+1

In this conversation, we cut through hype and fear. Mohit explains what AI can (and can’t) do in a home or classroom, how to set healthy guardrails, and simple ways parents can use AI to save time, reduce stress, and boost real learning—without replacing the human relationships kids need. We talk about using AI for homework scaffolding, idea generation, project planning, language support, and building media literacy so kids stop believing everything they see online. We also look ahead at the skills tomorrow’s graduates will need—and how families can start building them now, one small habit at a time. Mohit Rajhans+1

If you’ve felt “AI-curious” or “AI-cautious,” this episode offers a calm, parent-first roadmap. You’ll leave with practical scripts, boundaries, and checklists to help your child thrive in a tech-driven world—no coding required.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• AI without the anxiety: what it is, what it isn’t, and where it actually helps at home and school.

• Homework sanity savers: turning AI into a study buddy for outlines, examples, and feedback—not a shortcut to copy/paste.

• Healthy boundaries: family rules for privacy, bias, accuracy checks, and age-appropriate use.

• Media & AI literacy: spotting deepfakes, clickbait, and low-quality content (for you and your teen).

• Teacher partnership: respectful ways to ask about AI in class, academic honesty, and accommodations.

• Future-ready skills: curiosity, prompt-crafting, project planning, and reflection—skills AI can actually strengthen.

Meet our guest:

Mohit Rajhans is a media strategist and AI advisor who helps leaders, schools, and teams adopt AI responsibly through training, executive advisory, and hands-on workflows at ThinkStart Inc. He’s a national media contributor and speaker recognized for translating complex tech into everyday language. Mohit Rajhans+2Mohit Rajhans+2

He’s the author of Rethinking with AI: For Educators and Trainers, a practical guide for bringing AI into teaching and training with clarity and confidence. Amazon Canada

Quick wins parents can try tonight

• Co-read the prompt: sit beside your child and craft a question together (goal + constraints + examples).

• Use “show your steps”: ask AI for an outline or rubric, then your child fills it with their own ideas and sources.

• Fact-check in 60 seconds: “What would an expert disagree with here?” + a quick search for a credible source.

• Create a family AI policy: where, when, and how AI is used for schoolwork—shared with teachers.

• Teach a media-literacy mantra: Pause → Source → Verify before sharing or citing content.

  
  

  Resources & links

• Mohit’s website / ThinkStart Inc. – services, advisory, and training: https://www.thinkstart.ca/ Mohit Rajhans

• About Mohit – background and approach: https://www.thinkstart.ca/about-mohit Mohit Rajhans

• Book – Rethinking with AI: For Educators and Trainers (Amazon): https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F732RYB7 Amazon Canada

• Mohit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohitrajhans LinkedIn

  
  

  
  

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• Follow Parenting Ed-Ventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentingedventurespod/ Instagram

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In today’s episode, we coverMeet our guestQuick wins parents can try tonightResources & linksStay connected

What if your child isn’t “difficult”—they’re different?

If you’re navigating meltdowns after school, confusing terminology from professionals, or the constant worry that you’re “missing something,” this episode will feel like a deep breath.

Today, Lara sits down with Ruth M. Strunz, RP, CCC—a Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian Clinical Counsellor, and Clinical Supervisor who specializes in neurodiversity-affirming, attachment-based therapy for individuals and families. Ruth works extensively with cross-neurotype relationships (when one person is neurotypical and the other is neurodivergent), helping parents and kids understand each other and move from friction to connection. Ruth Strunz

Ruth breaks down the most misunderstood terms—neurodiverse, neurodivergent, neurotypical—in plain language and shows parents how to build skills in advocacy (at home, at school, and with providers). We dig into the power of co-regulation, how to recognize sensory and executive-function stressors, and when to bring in outside support. Ruth also shares insights from her new book, Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy: Clinical Pathways to Autistic Mental Health, a trauma-informed, attachment-based resource that’s invaluable for clinicians, educators, and parents alike. Ruth Strunz

If you’ve ever thought, “My child is smart, but school is exhausting,” or “I don’t know what to ask for at the IEP meeting,” this episode gives you language, lenses, and next steps you can use right away. In this episode we cover:

• Decoding the terms: neurodiverse vs. neurodivergent vs. neurotypical—what parents actually need to know.

• From battles to bridges: using attachment and co-regulation to reduce daily power struggles.

• Advocacy 101 for parents: how to prepare for school meetings, what to ask, and when to escalate.

• Sensory + executive function realities: spotting overload early and creating predictable supports at home and in class.

• Cross-neurotype communication: scripts and micro-shifts that lower shame and raise understanding.

• When to get extra help: red flags that signal you’ll benefit from an outside therapist or coach—and how to choose one.

Meet our guest: Ruth M. Strunz, RP, CCC is a Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian Clinical Counsellor, and Clinical Supervisor. She provides psychotherapy, play-based therapy, parent counselling, clinical supervision, and professional training—both in person and virtually. Her practice centers on neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, attachment-based approaches for autistic and otherwise neurodivergent individuals and their families, with a special focus on cross-neurotype relationships. Ruth Strunz

She is the author of Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy: Clinical Pathways to Autistic Mental Health, offering a practical, clinician-friendly framework that also empowers parents and educators to better understand autistic mental health. Ruth Strunz

Resources and Links:

• Ruth’s website (services, approach, trainings, supervision) – see offerings and contact info. Ruth Strunz

• Ruth’s book: Neurodiversity-Affirming Psychotherapy: Clinical Pathways to Autistic Mental Health. Ruth Strunz

• Follow Ruth on Instagram or LinkedIn for upcoming trainings and insights. Ruth Strunz

Who this episode is for

Parents who are:

• feeling stuck in a loop of reminders, resistance, and after-school meltdowns,

• unsure how to translate professional jargon into real-life support,

• preparing for IEP/IPP meetings and want to advocate without burning bridges,

• ready to swap “fixing” their child for supporting their child.

  
  

  
  

  Key takeaways for parents

• You don’t need perfect strategies—you need attuned, co-regulated ones.

• Behaviour is communication; look for sensory/executive-function roots before discipline.

• Advocacy is a learnable skill: prepare your asks, document patterns, and build a calm, consistent paper trail.

• Attachment > compliance: relationship safety is the fast track to long-term skill growth.

Today, Lara sits down with one of Canada’s most trusted parenting voices to tackle a topic that hits close to home for almost every family: sibling rivalry.

Alyson Schafer is an Adlerian family counsellor, internationally acclaimed parenting expert, best-selling author, and familiar face on national media outlets like The Marilyn Denis Show, CTV News Channel, and HuffPost Parents. With a Master’s in Counselling, decades of hands-on experience, and her signature “firm but friendly” approach, Alyson has helped thousands of families navigate conflict with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

In this conversation, Alyson unpacks what sibling rivalry really is—why it happens, what your children are truly trying to communicate through their clashes, and how birth order may be shaping the dynamics in your home. She also reveals why parents should resist the urge to constantly play referee, and instead focus on fostering skills that will help siblings work things out on their own. One of her favourite tools? Family meetings—simple, structured gatherings that build mutual respect, improve communication, and transform household harmony.

Whether your kids’ arguments are an occasional annoyance or a constant source of stress, Alyson’s insights offer both immediate strategies and a refreshing mindset shift. You’ll walk away feeling equipped to handle sibling tension in a way that strengthens, not strains, your family bonds.

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Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios
Sting Music: Purple Planet Music - Timelapse

This week, Lara welcomes back one of our most trusted voices on child development and mental health: Dr. Zia Lakdawalla. A seasoned clinical psychologist and founder of Foundations for Emotional Wellness, Dr. Lakdawalla brings over a decade of experience supporting children, teens, and families through anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and relationship struggles.

In this episode, we dive deep into a question that keeps many parents up at night: Is my child’s anxiety just a phase—or something more? Drawing from her years of clinical work in hospitals, schools, and private practice, Dr. Lakdawalla shares what signs to watch for, what behaviours may signal deeper emotional struggles, and—perhaps most importantly—how to respond in ways that foster emotional safety and connection.

We unpack some of the most common misconceptions about childhood anxiety and explore its impact not only on the child, but on the entire family system. Dr. Lakdawalla also offers powerful tools to help parents regulate their own emotional reactions in the moment—so they can show up with calm, compassion, and confidence.

Whether your child has a formal diagnosis or you’ve simply noticed more worry, sensitivity, or emotional overwhelm than usual, this episode offers reassurance, practical strategies, and a reminder that you don’t have to walk this road alone.

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🎵Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios
🎵Sting Music: Purple Planet Music - Timelapse

Lara sits down with an expert who’s dedicated her career to empowering parents, educators, and future teachers to understand the true impact of second language learning in childhood.

Dr. Katherine Mueller is an Assistant Professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, where she’s been shaping future language educators since 2013. With a background in teaching everything from high school Core French to university-level courses, she brings a deep understanding of what it means to learn—and teach—a second language. As Vice President of the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers and a national leader in language education, Dr. Mueller is a passionate advocate for bilingualism, cultural connection, and accessible language learning for all families.

In today’s episode, we explore the myths, benefits, and realities of second language learning in childhood. Dr. Mueller breaks down what the research says about bilingual development, addresses common concerns parents have—like whether learning a second language might confuse their child—and shares her perspective on why so many more kids belong in language programs than we might think.

She also offers practical advice for families who don’t speak a second language themselves, including simple ways to support your child’s learning journey from home. Whether your child is already in a French immersion program or you’re simply curious about the possibilities, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and encouragement.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start, whether your child is “cut out” for bilingual learning, or how you can help them thrive without being fluent yourself—this conversation is for you.

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Learn more about the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers

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Learn more about and connect with Dr. Katherine Mueller

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🎵 Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios

🎵 Sting Music: Purple Planet Music – Timelapse

Have you ever found yourself unsure how to handle your child’s emotional outbursts or wondering if their impulsive behaviour is something more serious? In this episode of Parenting Ed-Ventures, host Lara Courtepatte sits down with award-winning author and emotional health expert Maureen Healy to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface of those big behaviours.

Maureen is an internationally respected educator, speaker, and author of The Emotionally Healthy Child—a book that blends cutting-edge psychology with practical strategies for raising emotionally resilient kids. With over 15 years of experience working with families, schools, and children around the world, Maureen brings a powerful mix of research, lived experience, and compassionate wisdom to this conversation.

In this episode, we explore the developmental roots of impulsive behaviour, what emotional regulation looks like at different ages, and how to support kids who may struggle with self-control. Maureen shares real-life examples, simple tools like calm-down kits, and empowering strategies that help parents move from a place of guilt or overwhelm to one of confidence and connection.

If your child has ever melted down at the worst possible moment—or if you’ve ever wondered whether your response is “right”—this episode offers grounded, gentle guidance to help you and your child grow together.

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Learn more about Maureen’s work:
https://growinghappykids.com/

Follow Maureen on Instagram:

@maureenhealy

Check out Maureen's books:⁠

Amazon Canada - Maureen Healy

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🎵 Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios
🎵 Sting Music: Purple Planet Music – Timelapse

Lara sits down with Dr. Michele Morningstar, a clinical psychologist and leading researcher on how children and teens learn to understand and express emotions—especially through nonverbal communication like facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language.

Dr. Morningstar is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University and leads the Development of Social & Emotional Communication (DSEC) Lab. With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from McGill University and postdoctoral training at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, she brings both deep academic insight and real-world relevance to the emotional development of young people.

In this episode, we explore what it really means when a child seems to “miss” social cues or struggles to read a room—and why these skills are so crucial for healthy relationships. Dr. Morningstar explains how nonverbal communication develops across childhood and adolescence, how neurodevelopmental differences can impact these abilities, and how parents can play an active role in supporting their child’s emotional growth.

From science-backed explanations to practical strategies, this conversation will empower you to better understand the nonverbal world your child is navigating—and offer the support they need to thrive in it.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is picking up on the emotional signals around them—or what to do if they’re not—this episode is for you.

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Learn more about Dr. Morningstar’s research:

Website: DSEC Lab at Queen's University
Instagram: @DSECLAB

X: @DSECLab

YouTube: @DSECLab

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Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios
Sting Music: Purple Planet Music – Timelapse

Today, Lara sits down with a truly remarkable guest whose mission is to put joy and emotional growth at the centre of childhood.

Shalini Samtani is the founder of Open the Joy, a toy company backed by therapists and science that helps children develop emotional intelligence through play. She’s also the force behind the Spread the Joy Foundation, a non-profit that delivers therapeutic activity kits to hospitalized children across North America. After her own child faced a long hospital stay, Shalini made it her life’s work to bring healing, confidence, and resilience to kids everywhere—one joyful moment at a time.

In this episode, Shalini shares the powerful story behind her ventures and why she believes play is one of the most effective tools for building emotional intelligence in children. We explore how her initiatives—Open the Joy, Inner JoyEd, and Spread the Joy Foundation—work together to support children’s mental and emotional well-being, both at home and in clinical settings.

You’ll hear about:

• Why emotional intelligence is just as critical as academic achievement

• How play helps kids navigate fear, anger, sadness, and uncertainty

• Ways parents can support emotional growth in the everyday moments

• The science behind therapeutic toys and curriculum

• The importance of accessible mental health resources for children facing medical trauma

  
  

If you’re a parent looking for practical, compassionate ways to nurture your child’s emotional development, this episode will leave you inspired, equipped, and reminded of the transformative power of joy.

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Learn more about Shalini’s work:
https://www.openthejoy.com/
https://spreadthejoy.org/

https://innerjoyed.com/

Check out their Instagram Pages:

@openthejoy

@spreadthejoyfoundation

@innerjoy.ed

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Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios
Sting Music: Timelapse by Purple Planet Music

Today, we flip the script as host Lara Courtepatte steps into the guest seat for a special episode all about summer learning loss—what educators call the “Summer Slide”—and what parents can do to keep their child’s mind active, engaged, and thriving all summer long.

Guest host Jacqueline Ivanc sits down with Lara, the co-founder of Tutor Teach and a passionate advocate for equitable, joy-filled education. With years of experience as a tutor, educator, and mom of four, Lara brings both professional insight and personal wisdom to the conversation, sharing how small shifts in the summer can lead to big gains come fall.

In this episode, we unpack the real impact of summer break on students—from which subjects tend to slide the most, to how learning loss affects a child’s confidence, attention span, and motivation when school starts back up. Lara also tackles the age-old question: How do we balance summer fun with learning without turning the season into a second semester?

If you’ve ever wondered whether summer tutoring is worth it—or if you’re just looking for simple ways to keep your child’s brain active without taking the magic out of summer—this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and easy-to-apply takeaways.

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✨ Special Bonus: Send an email to [email protected] and inquire about the Summer Ed-Venture Special. Tell them Parenting Ed-Ventures sent you to unlock this exciting offer!

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Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios

Sting Music: Purple Planet Music – Timelapse

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