In this research deep dive, we break down what the latest science says about how children learn to read—and why it matters more than ever. We explore the rise of structured literacy, a term introduced by the International Dyslexia Association, and how it connects to decades of research known as the Science of Reading.

Using a 2025 study from Reading Research Quarterly, we unpack compelling evidence that explicit, systematic instruction in foundational skills like phonemic awareness and phonics leads to significantly stronger reading outcomes in kindergarten and first grade. In fact, students in structured literacy programs showed dramatic gains—equivalent to months of additional learning—compared to traditional approaches.

We also walk through the five pillars of reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—and explain how they work together using real-world examples parents can use at home.

This episode makes one thing clear: early literacy is not just an academic issue—it’s a life outcome issue. Children who are not reading proficiently by third grade are significantly more likely to struggle long-term. The good news? We now know what works.

If you are a parent, teacher, or therapist, this episode will give you practical insight and the confidence to support early readers the right way.

Article: 

Citation: Lane, H. B., Contesse, V. A., Gage, N. A., & Burns, M. K. (2025). Effect of an Instructional Program in Foundational Reading Skills on Early Literacy Development of Students in Kindergarten and First Grade. Reading Research Quarterly (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), 60(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.607

Effect of an Instructional Program in Foundational Reading Skills on Early Literacy Development of Students in Kindergarten and First Grade

Having a baby in the NICU can be overwhelming, especially when parents are flooded with conflicting information about newborn medications and vaccines. In this episode, we tackle common NICU myths and fears with evidence-based guidance from a multidisciplinary NICU team.

We start with a popular misconception circulating on social media: If a mother is healthy, her baby doesn’t need hepatitis B vaccination or erythromycin eye ointment at birth. Our experts explain why this is false, and why these medications are given as preventive protections during a newborn’s most vulnerable period, not because a parent is assumed to be unhealthy.

Joined by three experienced NICU nurses and a neonatologist, along with an occupational therapist who practices in the NICU, we walk families through:

• The most common reasons babies are admitted to the NICU

• What the first 24–48 hours in the NICU are really like, both emotionally and medically

• How families can mentally and practically prepare for an unexpected NICU stay

• The evidence behind vitamin K and the real risks of vitamin K deficiency bleeding

• Why hepatitis B vaccination is recommended at birth and how it protects infants

• Why erythromycin eye ointment is still used even when prenatal testing is normal

• How misinformation about newborn care spreads and how parents can evaluate it

• Ways parents can support their baby’s development in the NICU, even when they feel powerless

• Questions parents should feel confident asking their NICU care team

This episode is designed to empower parents with clear, respectful, science-based information while honoring the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight of a NICU experience. Whether you’re currently in the NICU, expecting a baby, or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance from professionals who care for newborns every day.

In this episode, Dr. Daris McInnis pulls back the curtain on how literacy actually develops. He clearly breaks down early literacy into its core components—oral language, print awareness, alphabet knowledge, and phonological awareness—and explains why reading is not instinctual like speaking, but must be explicitly taught. Listeners walk away with a practical, empowering understanding of what’s broken in how we think about literacy, and how parents and caregivers can build strong foundations for reading starting at birth.

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we welcome Allison Jandu, potty training consultant and author of The Adaptive Toolkit for Potty Training Children with Disabilities. Together, we take a developmentally informed look at potty training and why readiness, not timelines or pressure, is the key to success.

Allison shares why she wrote her book and addresses common misconceptions that often create stress for families. We talk about how to recognize true readiness, what to do when a child is not ready but external pressure exists, and how readiness may look different for children with disabilities or developmental differences. The conversation also explores accidents and regressions, what they tell us about a child’s nervous system, and how parents can respond in supportive ways.

We dive into sensory factors that often interfere with potty training, including barriers parents may not realize are at play, and discuss the role of retained reflexes and how they can impact staying dry. Allison offers practical strategies for adapting the potty training process, including small changes families can make right away and tips for managing potty use outside the home.

This episode is designed to help parents feel informed, confident, and less alone, reminding listeners that potty training is not about doing it perfectly but about supporting each child’s individual developmental path.

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we explore a powerful and unconventional approach to child therapy with Kate Beckwith, a psychodynamic psychotherapist and arts education specialist whose work challenges traditional therapy models. Kate shares how her practice, Kate’s Garden, integrates nature, animals, movement, art, and play to support children’s emotional well being and development.

We discuss why therapy does not need to be confined to an office, how freedom of choice supports regulation and emotional processing, and why movement and time outdoors play a critical role in mental health. Kate explains how being in nature can trigger dopamine release, support emotional regulation, and offer children new ways to communicate feelings that may be difficult to express with words alone.

This conversation also addresses the rise in diagnoses such as ADHD and autism, how nontraditional therapeutic environments can better meet children’s needs, and how parents and caregivers can be supported alongside their children. Drawing from her TED Talk and clinical experience, Kate offers practical insights into adapting to a world where play and access to nature are increasingly limited.

This episode invites listeners to rethink what effective therapy for children can look like and consider how curiosity, movement, and connection to the natural world can support healing and growth.

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we take a global look at how culture shapes early childhood education through a conversation with Parul Sindhwani, Principal for Early Years at Nehru World School in India. We compare what early childhood education looks like in India and the United States, exploring how community values, family structures, and cultural expectations influence children’s learning and development.
Parul shares insights into her role as a preschool leader, the strengths she sees in Indian early childhood education, and how educators support social emotional development, co regulation, and mindfulness in culturally responsive ways. We also discuss the rapid growth of early childhood education in India, changing parent expectations, and what educators and families in the U.S. can learn from a more community centered and intergenerational approach to early learning.
This episode is for parents, teachers, therapists, and policymakers interested in global perspectives on child development, early learning, and kindergarten readiness.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Lisa J. Lucas, educator, therapeutic coach, and author of Better Days and Practicing Presence. Drawing on more than 35 years in education, Dr. Lucas shares how small, consistent daily practices, such as reflection, gratitude, intentional pauses, and relationship-centered routines, can significantly improve teacher well-being, classroom climate, and student engagement, even within imperfect systems.

We discuss why she wrote Better Days, how daily practices support teachers facing increased stress and challenging classroom behaviors, and why simple habits like spending time outdoors can regulate emotions and restore connection. Dr. Lucas also offers practical self-care strategies for the new year, explains how her work can be used by both teachers and parents, and leaves listeners with one powerful piece of advice for navigating today’s demanding educational landscape; with presence, intention, and hope.

In our debut episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Aimee and Crystal introduce the mission behind the podcast—merging the education and medical models to bring science-based, practical insights to parents, teachers, therapists, and policymakers. We walk through our seven recurring segments and dive into this week’s topic: the real science of co-regulation and developmentally appropriate mindfulness. Learn why young children can’t self-regulate on their own, what the research actually says about mindfulness in early childhood, and one simple strategy you can try tomorrow.

Welcome to the Plant the Seed of Learning Podcast- A research-based podcast that merges the education and medical models to help parents, teachers, and early childhood professionals support young children’s development. Hosted by a pediatric occupational therapist and an education expert, each episode breaks down developmental milestones, early learning, play-based strategies, social-emotional development, early intervention, and kindergarten readiness in clear, practical ways.

Designed for parents, educators, pediatric occupational therapists, therapists, and anyone working with young children, this podcast connects brain science, child development research, and real-world strategies to help children thrive from infancy through the early elementary years.