It’s easy to encounter a child who is angry, disruptive, withdrawn, hungry, or struggling and focus on the behavior in front of us. But what happens when we ask a different question: What might this behavior be telling us about the child?

In this special Tiny Talks and UNrattled Cross-Talk episode, Jessica and Venay are joined by Joshua Jones, Director of the HALO Program at USA Health, for a personal conversation about childhood, connection, and prevention.

Together, they reflect on the “little” versions of themselves and the experiences adults noticed—or missed. For early childhood professionals, their stories are an important reminder that the child in front of us is always more than the behavior we see, and that noticing, getting curious, and building consistent relationships can matter long after a child leaves our classroom.

What You’ll Take Away

• Look beyond the behavior. What we see may be only one part of a child’s story.
• Relationships are part of prevention. Consistent, caring adults can be powerful influences in a child’s life.
• Notice without assuming. Children and families may be navigating challenges we cannot see.
• You don’t have to fix everything. Pay attention, get curious, build connection, and help families access additional support when needed.

Because before every headline, there was a child—and sometimes making a difference begins simply by noticing them.

What happens when we put the word “just” in front of our work?

Recorded live at the Gulf Coast Early Childhood Summer Symposium, Jessica and Venay sit down with educator, speaker, and advocate Rachel Giannini to unpack one small word with a surprisingly big impact. Together, they explore why early childhood professionals often minimize their roles, how language shapes the way we value our profession, and why recognizing your own expertise is an important part of advocacy.

Because you’re not just a teacher. And the work you do is anything but small.

Key Takeaways:

1. Drop the “just.” Your role and your work matter.
2. Own your expertise. Early educators know this field from the inside.
3. Your voice is advocacy. Change requires educators to speak up.
4. Words shape value. How we describe our work influences how others see it.
5. Children know your worth. To them, you have never been “just” their teacher.

What happens when we put the word "just" in front of our work?

Recorded live at the Gulf Coast Early Childhood Summer Symposium, Jessica and Venay sit down with educator, speaker, and advocate Rachel Giannini to unpack one small word with a surprisingly big impact. Together, they explore why early childhood professionals often minimize their roles, how language shapes the way we value our profession, and why recognizing your own expertise is an important part of advocacy.

Because you're not just a teacher. And the work you do is anything but small.

Key Takeaways:

1. Drop the "just." Your role and your work matter.
2. Own your expertise. Early educators know this field from the inside.
3. Your voice is advocacy. Change requires educators to speak up.
4. Words shape value. How we describe our work influences how others see it.
5. Children know your worth. To them, you have never been "just" their teacher.

Welcome back to Tiny Talks on Early Learning for Season 4!

As we begin a new season, Venay and Jessica reflect on the current landscape of early childhood education, the challenges families and educators are navigating, and the opportunities we have to better support young children during their most critical years of development.

Together, they discuss the themes that inspired this season's conversations and why topics such as children's mental health, family support, educator well-being, and community connections deserve our attention now more than ever.

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

• Early childhood lays the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being.
• Children's mental health begins at birth and is strengthened through safe, responsive relationships.
• Supporting young children also means supporting the families and educators who care for them.
• Early childhood professionals need fair compensation, meaningful resources, and recognition for their essential work.
• Strong connections among families, educators, and communities help children—and the adults in their lives—thrive.

What if parent-teacher conferences became opportunities for real connection instead of rushed conversations? In this special Cross Talk episode of Tiny Talks on Early Learning and UNrattled: A Podcast for Parents, we're joined by Dr. Tricia Shelton and Paula Reese to explore practical strategies for building stronger partnerships between educators and families. Inspired by Dr. Shelton's new book, Partnering for Success: Strategies for Effective Parent-Teacher Conferences, this episode shares relationship-centered tools that help conferences feel more collaborative, inclusive, and supportive for every child.

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

1. Parent-teacher conferences are most effective when they focus on partnership, not performance.
2. Strength-based communication helps build trust and opens the door for productive conversations.
3. Preparation and intentional listening can transform conferences into meaningful relationship-building opportunities.
4. Inclusive communication practices are essential for supporting children with diverse developmental needs.
5. Small changes in how educators approach conferences can lead to stronger family engagement and better outcomes for children.

Episode 6 of 6 - A Limited Podcast Series

In this final episode of Voices of Alabama Families, we look ahead—exploring the hopes, values, and changes families across Alabama want for the next generation. Through heartfelt reflections, contributors share a vision of a future where children feel safe, seen, and free to be who they are, while also emphasizing the importance of protecting what matters most—connection, community, and care.

At the same time, this episode does not shy away from what needs to change, from the role of education to the ways communities show up for one another. Grounded in both hope and honesty, The Future We Want for Our Children reminds us that the future isn't something we wait for—it's something we actively build through our everyday choices, our willingness to listen, and our commitment to creating a better world for the children who will shape what comes next.

Episode 5 of 6 - A Limited Podcast Series

Some of the most important things children need to understand are also the hardest to explain. In this episode, Voices of Alabama Families explores how families across Alabama navigate conversations about difficult history—stories of segregation, integration, and racial injustice that are not just part of the past, but lived experiences that continue to shape how people see the world and raise their children today.

Through powerful personal reflections, listeners hear how these histories are carried across generations, influencing identity, protection, and the ways families approach hard conversations. This episode also offers insight into how adults can support children through these topics—using honesty, simple language, and emotional connection to help children process not just information, but feelings. Ultimately, Healing the Past is about the responsibility of telling the truth in ways that help children feel safe, seen, and empowered to understand the world they are growing up in—and the role they will one day play in shaping what comes next.

Episode 4 of 6 - A Limited Podcast Series

Raising children has never been something families were meant to do alone, and in communities across Alabama, it hasn't been. In this episode, Voices of Alabama Families explores what it truly means to "raise a child in a village"—through the neighbors, educators, family members, and community leaders who step in, fill gaps, and show up in ways both seen and unseen. Through powerful, real-life stories, listeners hear how care and responsibility are shared across households and generations, how support often extends far beyond the classroom into advocacy and everyday life, and how communities rise to meet needs when systems fall short. This episode highlights the cultural and historical roots of collective caregiving, while also acknowledging the challenges families face today, reminding us that when children are surrounded by connection, consistency, and care, they don't just learn how to navigate the world—they learn what it means to belong, to support others, and to one day become part of the village themselves.

Episode 3 of 6 - A Limited Podcast Series

Long before children can explain what they believe, they are already learning what matters—through the patterns, relationships, and traditions that surround them every day. In this episode, Voices of Alabama Families explores how faith, family, and cultural values shape early learning across communities in Alabama. Through powerful personal stories, listeners hear how lessons are passed down not just through words, but through lived experiences—at the dinner table, in places of worship, through family traditions, and within the broader community. From the role of faith in creating belonging, to the influence of resilience, discipline, and shared responsibility, this episode reveals how children absorb identity, expectations, and values from the environments around them. It also reflects the complexity of those experiences—how community can both nurture and challenge—and the lasting impact those early influences have on how children see themselves, others, and their place in the world.

Episode 2 of 6 - A Limited Podcast Series

Long before children ever step into a classroom, they are already learning—through stories shared in everyday moments. Around kitchen tables, on front porches, and in passing conversations, children begin to understand who they are and where they belong. In this episode, Voices of Alabama Families explores storytelling not as something imagined, but as something lived—an essential part of how families pass down history, identity, and culture.

Through personal reflections, this episode reveals how stories—spoken and unspoken—shape the way children see themselves and the world. From the role of family storytellers to the power of language, including African American Vernacular English and Indigenous languages like Creek, storytelling becomes one of the earliest and most meaningful forms of teaching.

At its core, The Front Porch Tradition is about connection. It's about the responsibility of sharing truth, the impact of traditions repeated over time, and the lasting sense of belonging children carry with them. Because the stories we tell don't just reflect who we are—they help shape who children become.