Raising Healthy Kid Brains

This week, I’m joined by early childhood interventionist, Jill Urbane, as she shares her expertise on toddler speech development. Jill has been working with families for over 25 years, and in that time, she has created a comprehensive system that gives parents the tools they need to encourage their child’s development and set a strong foundation for learning and success.

Listen in to hear Jill break down the five foundational language skills all children need to develop, and her top tips for parents supporting their child’s speech at home. Learn how imitation of gestures and sounds helps with speech development, the role music and play can have in boosting your child’s speech, and Jill’s advice for making learning a joyful experience for your child.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/84

As recent data shows that a staggering 67% of fourth graders in the United States have fallen behind in reading, Valerie and Amanda are on the front lines combating this crisis. Through the Elite Reading Coach Academy, they have gained the skills and tools to teach children to read using engaging, play-based methods that deliver real results.

Hear how Valerie and Amanda took the leap and became Elite Reading Coaches, starting their own businesses. They share the challenges they've overcome along the way, as well as the immense pride and fulfillment they feel in seeing their students gain confidence and fall in love with reading.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/83

This week, I sit down with integrative pediatrician Dr. Joel Warsh to discuss his balanced approach to raising resilient kids. While he shares eye-opening data on the state of children's health today, Dr. Warsh focuses on small, gradual changes busy parents can make to nourish their families—no extreme lifestyle overhaul required.

Discover how reading labels, cooking one extra meal at home per week, and curating a more positive social media feed can have a profound ripple effect on your child's long-term wellness. Dr. Warsh walks you through simple micro-upgrades you can start implementing today to raise resilient kids, and arms you with wisdom that will help you think like a pediatrician as you parent at your child’s unique pace.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/82

Celia Kibler is a parenting expert with over 45 years of experience. She’s also a bestselling author, international speaker, and founder of the International Day of Calm. Her acclaimed 21 Days to Stop Yelling course is designed to guide you through a journey of self-reflection and practical skill-building to help you replace yelling with constructive and compassionate communication, and she’s sharing her insights with us on this episode.

If you’re ready to stop yelling and start connecting with your kids on a deeper level, listen in. Celia shares her secret to getting kids to cooperate without resorting to yelling, doable tips that will transform your parenting, and the importance of play, both for you and your kids, in fostering a peaceful household.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/81

Anthony Delauney has been a financial planner for two decades and calls himself the Financial Dadvisor for kids and families. He is the author of five children’s books that focus on financial literacy, with a sixth releasing soon, and is a huge advocate for teaching children the financial know-how they need to make informed decisions now and in the future.

Anthony shares his insights on the importance of kids understanding finances from an early age and how parents and educators can start them young. We’re exploring why the lessons laid out in his books are about so much more than just money, what happens when kids take ownership of their decisions, and how money lessons can prepare them for all of life’s challenges.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/80

Bryn Lottig is an educator who uses the wilderness and adventure as a medium to teach children character development. Written for educators, parents, and leaders, her book, No Child Left Inside: Transforming the Next Generation Through Experiential Learning, explores how we can create an experiential learning cycle for kids where they can develop skills and safely explore personal strengths as well as limitations. 

Bryn walks us through the concept of the experiential learning cycle and how leading kids through immersive outdoor experiences amplifies their social, emotional, and communication skills. We’re also exploring the importance of giving our children autonomy and choice, why kids need to engage in healthy risk-taking behaviors, and what happens when you make stressful patterns predictable, moderate, and controlled.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/79

Welcome to my first co-hosted podcast episode with my dear friend, Kelsey Sorenson. Kelsey is a former teacher, current homeschool mom to three kids, founder of Educate & Rejuvenate, and a certified life coach. She's also the host of the Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Conference: the virtual education event of the year that will have you ready to take on the next school year with joy and ease, and we’re inviting you along.

Kelsey and I are diving into what you can expect from the Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Conference 2024 happening in July, and how we’re on a mission to create a win-win-win for all parents, educators, and kids by reaching more people. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/78

My guest this week is legendary children’s musician and global troubadour, Raffi. In addition to his five-decade-long career as the most popular children’s entertainer in the English-speaking world, Raffi has started a global movement called the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, where he shares his philosophy on valuing and respecting children. He’s here to give us a brief introduction to his work.

Raffi shares his insights on the importance of respectful love and his nine guiding principles of child honoring. We’re discussing the beauty of treating our children with respect, how it grows our compassion in challenging moments, and Raffi’s tips for cultivating a safe, caring community for your children. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/77

Karen DeLoach grew up directing plays on the playground with no idea that one day she’d make her own independent films and teach others how to do the same. As both a university instructor and a homeschool teacher, Karen has seen how art can impact both physical and mental health firsthand. She also shares some really powerful stories about how art has changed lives.

Join us for a wonderful conversation about discovering new ways to get creative, finding our ability to express ourselves through art, and the science behind what art can do for our kids—and for us! We discuss how the right and left brain are different, how art helps people who are neurodiverse, and what you can do to support your kids and their love for art.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/76

Michelle Steiner is a writer, speaker, and photographer who writes about living with an invisible disability. She believes knowledge is what helps us all be more supportive of one another, and she’s on the show this week to shed light on identifying invisible disabilities in children. Whether you know someone with a learning disability or are wondering what to look out for in your own children, this is going to be a super helpful conversation to keep coming back to.

Michelle shares her experience of getting diagnosed as a child and why she feels empowered by her disability rather than held back by it. We’re exploring the pros and cons of labeling someone with a disability, when it might be time to seek professional help, and how you can best empower your children if they have an invisible disability.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/75