What if your child’s most powerful teacher has been you all along?

In this eye-opening episode, I welcome back early childhood expert Gretchen Camp for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating — and misunderstood — topics in parenting: the toddler brain. We unpack how a child’s brain develops between ages 0–5, why those years matter more than any ABCs or 123s ever could, and how parents can become confident, connected guides in their child’s emotional world.

Gretchen is a toddler behavior specialist, holds a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and spent over 20 years as a public school educator. Today, she is the creator of the Park the Skill™ Method and The Thriving Toddler Blueprint, resources grounded in brain development and built from real classroom experience to help parents raise capable, emotionally strong children starting in toddlerhood.

You are invited to access Gretchen's free workshop: "⁠Your Toddler Sent Me: Why Nothing’s Working and What to Do Instead⁠.” It’s packed with eye-opening insights to help parents understand toddler behavior through a whole new lens. Register ⁠here⁠.

Ready to Adopt the 4 C’s of Collaborative Discipline?⁠⁠

Grab your free download and embrace connection before correction! Get it ⁠⁠here.⁠

October 16, 2025

Episode 284

Your Toddler's Brain is a Parking Lot - Learn to Build Skills with Gretchen Camp

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to know how to really connect with your child?

In this episode, I talk about connection being the key first step in the collaborative discipline cycle. Spoiler alert: connection is not made with words!

Ready to take the next step?

Check out my short video training, where I guide you through the process of writing your personalized mission statement for raising and to teaching extraordinary human beings. Find all the details here.

October 14, 2025

Episode 283

The First C of Collaborative Discipline - Connect Before You Expect

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are modern parenting styles helping us—or holding us back?

Gretchen Camp joins me in this episode to explore what it truly means to raise and teach toddlers in today’s parenting culture. We reflect on how teaching and parenting overlap, how intuition is being drowned out by parenting “labels,” and why connection—not curriculum—is the foundation of learning for young children.

Gretchen is a toddler behavior specialist, holds a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and spent over 20 years as a public school educator. Today, she is the creator of the Park the Skill™ Method and The Thriving Toddler Blueprint, resources grounded in brain development and built from real classroom experience to help parents raise capable, emotionally strong children starting in toddlerhood.

You are invited to access Gretchen's free workshop: "Your Toddler Sent Me: Why Nothing’s Working and What to Do Instead.” It’s packed with eye-opening insights to help parents understand toddler behavior through a whole new lens. Register here.

Ready to Adopt the 4 C’s of Collaborative Discipline?⁠

Grab your free download and embrace connection before correction! Get it ⁠here.

October 9, 2025

Episode 282

Why Parenting Culture is Missing the Mark with Gretchen Camp

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠

Join me as I discuss the four C's of collaborative discipline, starting with a positive definition of discipline. I then give an overview of the four intentional steps of collaborative discipline and share a story where I recently practiced this approach.

Ready to Adopt the 4 C’s of Collaborative Discipline?

Grab your free download and embrace connection before correction! Get it here.

October 7, 2025

Episode 281

The 4 C's of Collaborative Discipline

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

Struggling with fatigue, mood swings, or feeling “off” after motherhood?

In this episode, Vanda Aubrey joins me to discuss balancing maternal hormones and explore how functional medicine differs from traditional approaches. Learn practical ways to restore balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again.

Vanda is a Functional Medicine Nurse and Board-Certified Nurse Coach specializing in hormone health for moms. Through her signature programs, she helps postpartum and toddler moms reclaim their energy, balance their hormones, and feel like themselves again. Be sure to check out her podcast Hormones 101 and all of her offerings here: https://www.wellnesswithvanda.com/

Let's turn the daily tantrums into teachable moments that align with your core values as you raise whole kids in my Transforming the Toddler Years Course.

The course is six modules and it dives deep. It gives you many resources to team up with your kids to get to the promised lands that you want to get to without all the typical parenting drama that is very popularized on the internet and social media. Check it out ⁠here⁠.

October 2, 2025

Episode 280

Balancing Maternal Hormones with Vanda Aubrey

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

Does your toddler fall apart when there is a sudden change of plans?

In this episode, I explore simple, conscious parenting strategies to help little ones feel safe, supported, and more adaptable during transitions and share mindful ways to guide your child through sudden changes with calm, connection, and confidence.

Parenting is hard – support shouldn’t be. Get my weekly dose of encouragement & strategies. Sign up here!

September 30, 2025

Episode 279

How to Help Toddlers Navigate Unexpected Transitions

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠

Want to teach your littles self-regulation?

Lisa Danahy joins me in this episode to discuss connecting on an energetic level as a great way to start building more positive and effective emotional regulation and communication, as we peel away authority and expectations and become co-creators in our children’s spaces. We also discuss emotions as energy in motion and co-regulation through mindful movement and breathing.

Lisa Danahy (C-IAYT, YACEP, MS) is a powerful educator and entrepreneur. Her non-profit, Create Calm, has facilitated cultural shifts and deep healing for thousands of students, teachers, and families in hundreds of schools and community organizations across the country since 2016. Lisa is highly skilled at creating accessible, evidence-based, successful curricula for behavioral and emotional regulation, as well as physical and mental health.

Check out Lisa's book Create Calm in Your Classroom, available on Amazon!

Please take a minute to rate and review the show, suggest a topic, and leave a comment so we can get the word out to as many conscious parents as possible.

September 25, 2025

Episode 278

How to Teach Toddlers to Self-Regulate with Lisa Danahy

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠

Is tech helping or hurting your kids?

In this episode, I unpack the toxic effects of screen time on toddlers, tweens, and teens. From AAP screen-time guidelines to real-life stories, we explore how early habits shape focus, social skills, and even addiction. Walk away with practical steps to set boundaries, foster connection, and rethink your family’s relationship with technology.

Teachers and ECE Professionals- what type of professional development would you benefit most from?

I do⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠early childhood education trainings, pre-service, in-service⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠and everything in between and would love to connect with you on a 1:1 call to see how I can be of service to you and the littles you work with.

September 23, 2025

Episode 277

The Toxic Effects of Technology on Toddlers, Tweens, and Teens

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠

Want your kids to thrive long after they leave the house?

In the final episode of a very special mini-series with my 20 year old daughter Caroline, she reflects on her journey into adulthood, including the leap of faith she took moving to Japan at 18. She shares candid stories about navigating uncertainty, building independence, and finding strength in faith and communication.

This conversation offers a rare, vulnerable look at parenting coming full circle—with honesty, grace, and lots of love.

Looking for intentional language scripts you can use with your toddler?

Check out my newest free gift to you:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5 Things Your Toddler Needs to Hear You Say Everyday⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch and listen as your child starts to respond differently to you.

September 18, 2025

Episode 276

Raising Healthy Adults From Birth - An Interview with My Daughter Part 3

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Feel like you're always entertaining your little one?

In this episode, I share why it is our job as parents, caregivers and educators to allow infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to experience the world, not to manufacture their experience by entertaining them at all times.

Join the community! Weekly insights, tools and real talk about parenting – delivered to you in my weekly newsletter.

Sign up here!

September 16, 2025

Episode 275

Allowing Vs. Entertaining - How We Solve Problems That Don't Exist

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠! ⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.