Schools often emphasize teaching our kids hard skills like math and literacy, but how do we make sure our children are also picking up soft skills like character development and social-emotional skills that, according to my guest today, are what really matters at the end of the day?

I’m speaking to Maria Dismondy, a former teacher, children’s book author, and founder of the Cardinal Rule Press. With over a decade of experience as a teacher, she understands the value of using literature to teach challenging subjects. She's sharing why soft skills like character development are important and how we, as busy parents, can incorporate character development into our daily routines.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/29

Have you ever considered adding sign language to your repertoire as a parent or teacher?

I’m delighted to share my recent conversation with nationally-certified interpreter and founder of ASL Teaching Resources, Cynthia Long. Cynthia shares the many benefits of using sign language with children, and what happens to a child’s brain development as they learn. Discover why sign language is so effective for emotional regulation, communication, and bonding, and Cynthia's top tips for implementing sign language with your children.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/28

This week, you’re hearing about a little girl named Luna who did not enjoy learning from workbooks. Luna’s mom Rachelle was trying to figure out how to help her get ready for preschool, but she wasn’t quite sure what Luna was supposed to be learning. She was also having a hard time keeping Luna engaged and interested. 

That’s when she found the Mommy & Me Preschool program, which changed everything for both of them. Rachelle shares how it helped her bring fun and play back to learning for her daughter, and how Luna is incorporating what she’s learned from the program in her class at school.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/27

What are the different phases of your child's brain development, and how does their current age of development relate to our hierarchy of needs as human beings?

To answer these questions, I am speaking with Alta Schwab. Alta is a Neurosomatic Therapist who has been studying childhood brain development extensively since her high school days. Her own personal health journey and love for children led her to neurosomatic therapy, where she gained a deeper understanding of the brain and nervous system and their interconnectedness. She is here to share her expertise on the hierarchy of needs and how it relates to the stages of childhood brain development.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/26

Do you feel like you’re at your wit’s end when it comes to your child’s challenging behaviors? Are your toddler or preschooler’s tantrums, testing behaviors, and big emotions leaving you aggravated, frustrated and confused?

I’m speaking to Jill Urbane, also known as The Mentor Mom. Jill is a licensed social worker and early childhood expert who has been working with toddler and preschool parents for nearly 25 years. Jill shares her expertise on what is going on with preschooler and toddler brains, and why they demonstrate testing and challenging behaviors. She’s offering her advice for anyone who is struggling to effectively address these issues.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/25

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