I’m excited to be kicking off something special today.  For years, I’ve been speaking at workshops and conferences about the power of play in the early learning environment, which sparked the series of parent letters I’ve written, called Why We Play.  This month, I’ll be sharing a special podcast series with the same name: Why We Play.  Every Tuesday and Thursday in February, you’ll find a new episode sharing the science and stories behind why we play, evidence that play is not just cute, it’s incredibly powerful. This Why We Play podcast series is long overdue – I’m so excited to jump into a topic I’m SO passionate about and to share some fascinating, compelling research that I absolutely love nerding out on.  I hope you’ll join me for the whole month of February. Whether you’re a champion for play or a playful learning skeptic, this series is just for you. Find Show Notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode62  

Episode 62: The Why We Play Special Series

Not Just Cute, the Podcast is like listening to a conversation with your nerdy best friend.  Who happens to be obsessed with child development.  Each episode covers a different topic related to parenting, early childhood education, and healthy, whole child development in order to support teachers and parents in serving young children.

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Challenging behaviors seem to be on the rise in preschool classrooms.  Prerna Richards, of Together We Grow, specializes in supporting educators with a behavior coaching program.  In this episode, she shares what she believes is behind this increase, and what can be done to better help our youngest learners. Find Show Notes : https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode73

Episode 73: Challenging Behaviors in the Preschool Classroom (with Prerna Richards)

 Once upon a time.....   ...Happily ever after.   These are common fairy tale phrases. But they're more than just staid story stems. These common phrases -- and the stories in between -- hold not only a recipe for imagination and fantasy but also for resilience.   Stephanie Goloway (EdD) is a powerful advocate for the importance of imagination, play, and storytelling.  As a now-emeritus professor, she’s taught young children as well as college students and has focused her research on how fairy tales align with and support child development.  She’s written a book called, Happily Ever Resilient, where she shares how the ordinary magic of resilience is woven into the extraordinary magic of fairy tales, supporting all children as they face the challenges of life. Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode72 

Episode 72: Fairy Tales and Resilience (with Stephanie Goloway, EdD)

Most people associate the library with silence.  But what if we associated it with play?   In this episode, I’m talking with Tammie Benham, Youth Services Consultant for the Southeast Kansas Library System. Tammie believes that where libraries, children, and families intersect, magic is possible.  And she’s set out to make that magic through a family engagement program focused on using play to teach, encourage, and support families in the communities she serves. Find Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode71

Episode 71: Bringing Families to the Library with Play (with Tammie Benham)

We started this series with the overall argument for why play is essential for human development.  The next three episodes dug deep into three main themes: Why we need play for mental health and wellness, for brain development and real learning, and for soft skill development.  Then, we shifted to several shorter episodes, touching on specific types of play and how they contribute to development.  In this final episode, I’m talking about why ALL children need play, even when others may think it’s time to help children “catch up” instead. Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode70

Episode 70: Why We Need Play for All

What does fingerpainting have to do with the Space Race?  In this episode, we're talking about art and creative play and their role in learning, thinking, and innovating. Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode69

Episode 62: The Why We Play Special Series

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