Is everything bullying now?

One day your child comes home saying someone wouldn't let them play. The next day they say they say they are being bullied. As parents, we want to protect our children—but we also want to help them build the confidence and resilience to handle everyday disagreements.

In episode 93, I'm joined by Dr. Carrie Jackson to unpack one of the biggest parenting conversations happening today: Has the word "bullying" become too broad?

We're talking about how to validate our children's feelings without labeling every uncomfortable interaction as bullying, what true bullying actually looks like, and how we can help kids develop emotional regulation and healthy conflict-resolution skills.

Whether you're parenting a preschooler, elementary schooler, or tween, this episode will help you know when to step in, when to coach from the sidelines, and how to raise kids who can navigate friendships with confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What actually qualifies as bullying
• The difference between bullying, conflict, teasing, and rude behavior
• Why more children are using the word "bullying" for everyday disagreements
• How social media and adult language may be shaping kids' perceptions
• Questions every parent should ask before assuming bullying is happening
• When parents should contact the school—and when they shouldn't
• How to validate your child's emotions without reinforcing a victim mindset
• Practical ways to teach emotional regulation and resilience
• Helping kids solve friendship problems instead of avoiding them
• How schools and parents can work together to support healthy peer relationships

You'll walk away knowing:

• How to recognize the warning signs of true bullying
• What to say when your child comes home upset about a friendship
• How to help kids develop problem-solving skills instead of fear of conflict
• Why learning to handle everyday social challenges is an important part of growing up

Guest: Dr. Carrie Jackson @dr.carriejackson on Instagram

About the Host

Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @BigCityReaders

Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Topics

bullying vs conflict, childhood bullying, friendship problems, emotional regulation for kids, conflict resolution for kids, resilient kids, social skills, positive parenting, child development, elementary school parenting, school behavior, parenting advice, emotional resilience

Episode 92: If you've spent even five minutes on pregnancy TikTok, you've probably wondered: should I be bouncing on a birth ball every night? Do dates actually help? Can I sleep on my back? Do I really need every prenatal appointment? Should I hire a doula? And is there anything that actually helps labor start? This week Miss Beth sits down with labor and delivery nurse, educator, and creator behind The Labor Mama, Lo Mansfield, to separate evidence from internet hype and answer the questions real moms sent in. Whether you're expecting your first baby or your fourth, this conversation is full of practical, reassuring information that will help you feel informed, not overwhelmed.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• What an anterior placenta actually means
• Why sleeping on your back becomes a topic during pregnancy
• The third-trimester trends all over social media, and whether they're worth doing
• The truth about birth balls, curb walking, dates, and raspberry leaf tea
• Breech babies and when an external version makes sense
• Why some people choose an epidural, and why others don't
• Why many women over 35 are prescribed baby aspirin
• How to advocate for yourself at prenatal appointments without feeling "annoying"
• The questions every pregnant person should ask their provider
• Whether you can actually predict when labor is coming
• Pushing positions, closed-glottis vs. spontaneous pushing, and your birth options
• What may (and may not) help reduce tearing
• Whether hiring a doula is worth it
• Which childbirth classes are actually worth your time
• Mental prep, breathing techniques, and staying calm before birth
• Lo's favorite labor advice and what she wants every pregnant woman to know

As always, we wrap up with our favorite question: what are you reading right now?

TOPICS
third trimester · labor and delivery nurse · evidence-based pregnancy · anterior placenta · birth ball · curb walking · raspberry leaf tea · external cephalic version · breech baby · epidural · baby aspirin pregnancy · prenatal appointments · doula · childbirth classes · pushing positions · perineal tearing prevention · labor preparation

CONNECT WITH LO MANSFIELD
Follow Lo and learn more from her evidence-based pregnancy and birth education at @thelabormama.

If this episode helped you feel more confident about pregnancy or labor, share it with a friend who's expecting. And if you're enjoying Play on Words, leaving a rating and review is one of the best ways to help more parents find the show.

ABOUT THE HOST
Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @BigCityReaders

Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Episode 91: This week Miss Beth dives into her viral video that sparked thousands of comments and a lot of strong opinions. After sharing that children who can read familiar words but struggle with nonsense words may be relying on memorization rather than decoding, the internet had questions: is memorization bad, do skilled readers really sound out every word, and are adults just "fake reading"? Beth unpacks what she actually meant, explores the research behind decoding and orthographic mapping, and explains why nonsense words reveal so much about whether a child truly understands the alphabetic code.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
• Why the term "fake reading" struck such a nerve online
• The real difference between memorization and decoding
• What nonsense words actually reveal about a child's reading ability
• Why skilled readers don't decode every single word forever
• The truth about automaticity and orthographic mapping
• Why words like invited and invaded can expose hidden gaps
• Common myths about how our brains read words (shape, context, first and last letters)
• Why explicit reading instruction is an equity issue, not just a preference
• How to support children without shame, blame, or guilt

READING REWIND: 1991
This week's literacy time capsule takes us back to 1991, when the Reading Wars were heating up and educators were debating many of the same questions parents and teachers are still asking today.

TOPICS
science of reading · decoding · orthographic mapping · nonsense words · automaticity · phonics · reading wars · structured literacy · literacy equity · fourth grade reading proficiency · reading instruction · memorization vs decoding

CONNECT WITH MISS BETH
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a teacher, grandparent, or friend who's ever wondered: "How do I know if my child is really reading?" And if you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow Play on Words so you never miss an episode.

ABOUT THE HOST
Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Join Big City Summer right here!

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @BigCityReaders
Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Episode 90: In this episode, Beth breaks down one of the most important (and most misunderstood) reading skills: fluency. She explains why knowing letter sounds doesn't automatically lead to easy reading, what the real bridge between decoding and comprehension looks like, and simple, science-backed ways parents can help their child become a stronger, more confident reader at home.

What you'll learn

• What reading fluency actually means and why it matters
• The three components of fluent reading: accuracy, rate, and expression
• Why fluency is about far more than reading quickly
• How fluency supports reading comprehension
• The connection between decoding skills and fluent reading
• Signs your child may need extra fluency support
• Five simple ways to build reading fluency at home
• Why rereading favorite books can be incredibly powerful
• How strong fluency builds lasting reading confidence

Topics science of reading, reading fluency, reading comprehension, decoding, phonics, accuracy, reading rate, expression, early literacy, structured literacy, reading confidence, parent tips, foundational reading skills

About the host Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Episode 89. In this episode, Beth breaks down what kindergarten readiness actually looks like and why reading is just one small piece of the puzzle. She walks through the practical skills children need before they start kindergarten, why an extra year doesn't automatically make reading easier, and what parents can do right now this summer to set their child up for confidence and success on day one.

Join us for Big City Summer! LINKED HERE

What you'll learn

• Why your child does not need to enter kindergarten already reading and what the research actually says
• Why the brain is not naturally wired to learn to read (and what that means for your child)
• Whether holding your child back an extra year will actually make reading easier
• The concept of print skill most parents overlook, and how to check if your child has it
• A practical checklist of kindergarten readiness skills across literacy, fine motor, social, and self-care
• Why emotional readiness and excitement about school may matter more than academic skills
• How co-regulation and the way you talk to your child shapes how they talk to themselves
• What to practice with your child this summer to build confidence before the first day

science of reading, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, concept of print, phonemic awareness, rhyming, fine motor skills, school readiness, redshirting, structured literacy, kindergarten, parent tips social-emotional learning, letter recognition

Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Episode 88: In this episode, Beth breaks down one of the most anxiety inducing moments for parents: getting a report card or teacher feedback that says your child is struggling with reading, but not really explaining why. She walks through what vague report card language actually means, the five questions every parent should ask their child's teacher, and simple at-home checks you can do right now to figure out exactly where your child is and how to help.

• What "declining" really means on a report card (hint: it's not what most parents think)
• Why report cards in K–2 are broad skill buckets, and how to get more specific information
• What to do if your child's teacher says they should "get tested"
• The five questions to ask your child's teacher for real clarity
• How to do a simple at-home reading and writing check in under 10 minutes
• Why writing reveals what reading can hide
• What phonemic awareness and blending actually look like and how to spot gaps

Topics science of reading · phonemic awareness · phonics · early literacy · report cards · reading struggles · parent advocacy · blending · structured literacy · kindergarten · first grade

Links Mentioned

Kindergarten Ready

First Grade Bootcamp

Kinder & First Grade Beginning Middle & End of Year Guide

About the Host Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @BigCityReaders

Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Episode 87: In this episode, Beth answers one of the most common questions she gets from parents: What reading curriculum should I be looking for and how to I know what my school uses? She breaks down why reading is not a natural process, what phonological awareness really means, and what to look for in a strong reading curriuclum program (plus red flags that a curriculum may be doing more harm than good.)

• Why curriculum matters and the different types of curriculum schools can use
• What to do if your child's curriculum isn't working
• What phonological awareness is and why it predicts reading success
• How to evaluate your child's school reading curriculum
• What parents of struggling readers and kids with dyslexia need to know
• How fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary all fit together

science of reading · phonological awareness · structured literacy · reading curriculum · phonics instruction · dyslexia · early literacy · reading fluency · parent questions about reading

Links Mentioned

Kindergarten On-Demand

First Grade On-Demand

2nd & 3rd Grade On-Demand

Play on Words Episode 52: 3 Cuing and Reading Struggles

Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @BigCityReaders

Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Episode 86: In this episode, literacy expert Miss Beth breaks down the biggest misconceptions about sight words and reveals what the science of reading actually tells us about how children learn to read.

Beth explores orthographic mapping (the brain-based process behind how readers store and recognize words) and explains why phonics and phonemic awareness are non-negotiable foundations for early literacy. Whether you're a parent or teacher, you'll walk away with practical, research-backed strategies for teaching high frequency words and building confident, capable readers.

Grab our brand new resource, Sight Word Mastery for Kindergarten! Play on Words listeners can use the code POWFAN12 for $12 off (valid through 2/27/26). Click Here

https://www.bigcityreaders.com/kinder-sight-word-mastery

In this episode:

• Why traditional sight word instruction may be holding kids back
• What orthographic mapping is and why it matters
• How decoding skills accelerate reading development
• Actionable strategies you can use today

If you care about early literacy and want to give children the best start in reading, this episode is a must-listen.

About the Host:

Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @bigcityreaders
Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Episode 85: In this episode, Beth is joined by Jennie Monness (@jenniemonness), early childhood educator and founder of Union Square Play, who shares insightful strategies for parents navigating big feelings, regulation, and self-compassion. We explore how understanding your own nervous systems, modeling vulnerability, and embracing imperfections can transform our approach to parenting and self-care.
Key topics:

• The importance of recognizing that parents and children are both "first-timers" in this journey
• How dysregulation impacts the entire family and ways to build frustration tolerance
• The concept that feelings last approximately 90 seconds and how to use this knowledge in real moments
• Practical tips for incorporating meditation and mindfulness into busy parent routines
• The significance of repair, connection, and modeling self-compassion after conflicts
• Understanding and respecting individual temperaments, sensitivities, and triggers
• The role of intentional language and the power of honesty about learning and uncertainty
• The impact of cultural and developmental histories on parenting and self perceptions
• Light-hearted stories highlighting the humor and messiness of parenting

About the Host:
Beth Gaskill (Miss Beth) is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and founder of Big City Readers. She helps parents support their children's literacy development through research-backed, science of reading strategies.

Follow Miss Beth on Instagram @bigcityreaders
Browse Big City Readers resources at BigCityReaders.com

Episode 84: A parent of a second grader recently asked a question I hear all the time:

“Do I need to care that much about spelling if my child is improving—even if there are still lots of errors?”

Her child recently started spelling MY correctly (it used to be MI), which is real progress—but the writing sample still includes plenty of misspellings. The child wrote it independently, without adult prompting, and that raised an honest question:
Should we correct spelling every time? Or is there a moment where confidence matters more than accuracy?

In this episode, I break down:

• What gradual improvement in spelling actually looks like in second grade• Why MY instead of MI is a meaningful developmental leap• The difference between practice writing and performance writing• When spelling accuracy does matter—and when it really doesn’t• Why over-correcting can shut kids down as writers• How to “hold kids accountable for what they’ve learned” without nitpicking• What spelling errors can tell us about phonics, orthography, and growth• Whether it’s controversial to care less about spelling sometimes

We’ll talk about how spelling develops over time, how it connects to reading, and how parents can support progress without turning every writing moment into a correction session.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Am I being too chill about spelling?”• “Should I fix this… or let it go?”• “Is my child behind—or just learning?”

This episode will give you clarity—and permission to focus on what actually matters.

Links Mentioned:
Episode 54 "When do I start correcting my child's spelling?"
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-on-words/id1689430556?i=1000674429262
Episode 77 "How to correct your child's spelling without crushing their confidence"
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kOasZMODEnnv68TNsj0kL?si=XtyxlUSCSHmzONrdynaxpQ

About the Host
Miss Beth is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and the founder of Big City Readers. She supports parents in raising confident, capable kids through research-backed literacy and development strategies.

Follow Miss Beth:
   •    Instagram: @bigcityreaders
   •    Website: bigcityreaders.com
   •    Podcast: Play on Words from Big City Readers