In this episode, I'm discussing articles from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, all about Brain Architecture and a key concept called Serve and Return. It explores how, the more sensitive and responsive we are to a child's 'serve,' the more we can provide a rich environment of 'returns,' and, as a result, build a sturdy foundation for healthy brain architecture.

Discover how Serve and Return interactions shape brain architecture, 5 key elements that help increase and strengthen neural pathways in children's brains, and how you can add more of these brain-building tips into your everyday life.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/62

Sukey Molloy was a professional modern dancer in New York City before an injury led her down a different path. She embarked on a career as an award-winning children's music performer and recording artist, centering her work around movement and sensory play using the philosophy of Developmental Movement first coined by Garland O'Quinn. She's joining me to share her insights on engaging children in movement that supports developing brains.

Discover what the framework of Developmental Movement entails, and Sukey's top tips for inviting movement that calls children into their own bodies. Hear how movement helps the growth of a developing brain, what it means to become a magnet for children's attention, and how to acknowledge children without judgment.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/61

Do we have the correct expectations when we ask our kids to do something? Are we expecting them to remember multiple things at once and to know the correct order? What are some strategies for timing communication, especially when there's already tension? And how can we allow our kids to take ownership of certain tasks?

This week, I'm speaking to parenting coach Kathy Bowers on how we can improve our communication with our children. Kathy helps parents who are struggling with communication find solutions to improve their parenting skills and relationship with their children, and she's here this week to walk us through her top tips around routines, boundaries, and expectations of our children.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/60

Bree Nelson is a life coach for moms and children who is on a mission to create emotionally intelligent kids. She empowers them to create a life they love, and she's here this week to offer a goal-setting practice that will transform the way you set goals for 2024.

Hear Bree's top tips for setting and achieving your goals this year, and how these strategies can be applied to both you and your children. We're exploring the importance of measuring your goals and including checkpoints, how to use the CTFAR model to set your goals, and why we must focus on determination rather than motivation to achieve them.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/59

You're hearing my conversation with child psychologist and parent coach, Sarah Conway. Sarah empowers parents to ditch punitive tactics and embrace brain-based strategies that nurture emotional intelligence. She's here to illuminate the power of doing emotional regulation work, and why it's never too late to start.

Join us this week for a dose of hope and courage this Holiday season as Sarah shares her insights on all things emotional regulation. Learn how to build secure attachment with your children, how to avoid falling into dysregulation, and her top co-regulation strategies for supporting kids through big emotions.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/58

As we near the end of the year, I'm bringing together the Planning Playtime team to celebrate our amazing community. Steffani and Kara are joining me on this episode to dive into our favorite community stories that we've heard. They've both played a huge part in creating our programs and connecting with our members, and we're here to honor the work our listeners have done.

Join us on this episode as Steffani, Kara and I come together for an end-of-year roundup to celebrate our Planning Playtime community! We're each sharing our favorite stories that have touched our hearts to show you the power of our programs and the incredible work our members are committed to doing on their journey of teaching and learning.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/57

The Holiday season tends to be a time of extreme stress and anxiety for most of us. There are long to-do lists, full calendars, visitors, and activities, so it's no surprise if you're starting to feel overwhelmed by it all. But did you know that anxiety is contagious and that you might be infecting your children with it?

Learn how to cultivate the feeling of calm, and why it's just as infectious as anxiety. I'm sharing some of the unhelpful coping mechanisms we lean on to manage stress and anxiety, how to channel excitement when you're feeling anxious, and questions to ask yourself that will help you access a sense of calm. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/56

Giving is a topic that's top of mind for most of us as we head into the Holiday season, but it's also a powerful skill that transcends the festivities. We want our kids to be kind and generous people who have the desire to give throughout their lives, and I've discovered some interesting research about teaching our kids how to love the act of giving.

Hear five steps for getting your children excited about giving. Learn how kids have a naturally strong propensity for generosity, the benefits of building a habit of giving, and tips for making giving a part of their identity. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/55

Internal Family Systems therapy suggests that we all have parts of us that aren't necessarily our identity. Whether it's sadness, anger, or anxiety, they aren't really us, but they all have jobs that they're doing and need to be heard.

To walk us through Internal Family Systems therapy and the practice of personifying our parts, I'm speaking to Bekkilyn Toone this week, a licensed marriage and family therapist who currently works with children, teenagers, and their families. Bekkilyn is sharing what happens when you allow space for all your parts, how this practice separates what we're feeling from who we actually are, and her top tips and ideas for using this concept with your children.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/54

Gratitude is a game-changing life skill that all of us can start and improve at any point in our lives. It is a beautiful gift you can give your children right now that will change the way they approach their lives forever, but it all starts with you modeling it for them first because kids learn from what we do more than what we say.

Hear what happens when we teach our children the practice of gratitude, and why it's about so much more than just learning to say thank you. I'm sharing four steps to helping your children develop the habit of gratitude, and my top suggestions for modeling it with consistency so it becomes an automatic lifestyle choice for them.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/53