How can we use music to teach children the vital skill of emotional regulation? How might music have the ability to facilitate common bonds with other humans and create empathy and connection in our kids?

I'm speaking to Laurie Berkner who is one of the top preschool music artists in the world. She has over one billion streams, over 350 million views on YouTube, and an incredible list of top songs you might already be familiar with. Laurie offers her insights on the power music has in providing children the opportunity to express emotion that they might not yet have the verbal skills to communicate.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/24

Negativity is and will always be a part of our lives. We need to experience it, and it's a helpful teacher for what's good and bad. The challenge is not getting stuck in negative patterns and loops with the stories we tell ourselves every single day.

Hear the four different story hooks that get us into negative thought patterns from Susan David's book, Emotional Agility. I show you why it's important to remember that our inner voice is often unreliable, how stories are created, and how you can begin helping your child notice and reevaluate their negative thoughts.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/23

How can you tell if your child is a little bit spoiled? This is a question every parent asks themselves and becomes concerned about at some point. The good news is there are signs we can look for, and there are things we can do about it while having a lot of compassion for ourselves.

Discover the five signs your child might be spoiled, and the opportunities available for you to work in the direction you want to go. I'm offering ways for you to start seeing places where there's room for improvement, and my favorite little games that, over time, become powerful in teaching them new skills.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/22

How does your child's memory work? Since learning is one of our kids' primary jobs, it's important that we actually understand what that process looks like. Fully understanding our child's memory can teach us a lot about how to teach our children and help them remember the things we want them to remember.

In this episode, I share how memory works in your child's brain. I explain the three step process of learning and give some tips to help make your child's memory even better.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/21

What should your child's language development look like at ages two, three, four, or five years old? How many words should a child in this age range be able to communicate? What can you do to help them develop their vocabulary and language in a fun and engaging way?

To answer these questions, I sat down with AHSA board certified speech language pathologist Lenora Edwards. She is the Chief Knowledge Officer with Better Speech who works with individuals of all ages to become more effective communicators. Lenora offers her wisdom on how we ask our children questions, the importance of teaching them the difference between peer-to-peer versus peer-to-authority language, and her tips for encouraging fun and engaging ways of learning.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/20

Are you worried about your child's emotional health? Do you wonder how you can help them develop their social and emotional skills? What is the best way to teach our children healthy emotional regulation?

To discuss these questions, I sat down with Dr. Cindy Hovington, Ph.D., a mother of three and the founder and director of Curious Neuron: an online resource to help parents protect their children's emotional health through science-backed tips. She walks us through the four types of parenting styles, how we can become more emotionally intelligent, and why the end goal is all about recognizing our emotions and expressing them in healthy ways.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/19

Have you ever wondered if there's a better way to navigate those high-stress points of your day? Whether it's getting ready for school, night-time routines, or leaving playdates, what if we could decrease our verbal commands and use music instead to decrease stress and anxiety?

This week I speak to Stephanie Leavell, a mom, board certified music therapist, and founder of Music for Kiddos: an online education company that provides high-quality music that supports children's brain development. She's here to walk us through the power of substituting our verbal communication with music so we can talk less at our children, and instead use tempo, melody, and rhythm to get more buy-in with them.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/18

Toys have always been a way for children to learn about themselves and the world through play. What we're seeing now is that children have more toys than ever before, making it harder for children to choose ones that are going to stimulate their brains.

If you're thinking about the quantity and types of toys you want to have in your play area that benefit your child the most, listen in. I'm touching on how toys have changed over the last century, and three specific categories of toys and how they can be used to develop character and various skills in your child.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/17

Help us unlock some fun surprises for you and your kiddo to celebrate the podcast launch! Find out how here: https://planningplaytime.com/podcastlaunch/

Have you ever wondered if your child is struggling with anxiety? I'm talking to Jeanette Razo-Gonzales, a registered Play Therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, certified EMDR Therapist, and a Foundational Theraplay Practitioner who has some amazing ideas and tips to share on the subject of anxiety in children.

Jeanette and I are discussing the signs you can look out for that point toward anxiety in children, the different modalities of play therapy, how you can use those at home or in a classroom, and the science behind why play therapy is an incredibly useful tool to help kids with trauma and emotional responses.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/16

Help us unlock some fun surprises for you and your kiddo to celebrate the podcast launch! Find out how here: https://planningplaytime.com/podcastlaunch/

What do you do in those instances where your child is having a meltdown? Maybe your go-to strategy is to yell, shut down, or shame yourself into believing you just can't get it right. Do you want to learn how to support your child's emotional regulation, but find yourself at a loss for where to start?

Sarah Conway walks us through all things emotional regulation. She's sharing what secure attachment means and how we can develop that bond with our child, her co-regulation strategies for cultivating self-regulation, and what to look out for as you practice helping your child regulate.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/15

Help us unlock some fun surprises for you and your kiddo to celebrate the podcast launch! Find out how here: https://planningplaytime.com/podcastlaunch/