Transforming The Toddler Years- Parents and Educators Raising Calm, Connected, Capable Kids

Apologizing for your child's social interaction? Here's how to avoid that and what to do instead.

In this episode, I emphasize how you talk to your kids matters. I explain how describing character builds our kids identities and creates a belief system about themselves.  I also share language you can use that will help your child feel seen, heard, understood, and permission to feel without defining their identity for them.

Looking for some support on your parenting journey?

Book a⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠complimentary connection call⁠ with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠and we can see how we can get to know each other and transform the toddler years, together.

July 1, 2025

Episode 259

Shy Kids? Overly Social Butterflies? How to Talk Them Through New Social Experiences

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the ⁠Guest Application form here.

Feeling overwhelmed with the current racial tension around us?

In this special re-release guest episode, I welcome Temi Adamolekun to discuss anti-racist parenting. Originally from Nigeria, Temi grew up in England, and now lives in San Francisco with her husband and son, running her own communications agency. She has written essays on topics such as anti-racist parenting and the importance of Black protagonists in children’s books.

Get your copy of Temi’s book “Your Special Voice”, a book to inspire young readers to use their own special voice to make a difference in the world, on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠. You can also find Temi on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Dealing with toddler meltdowns? Want to manage your own triggers better so you can help calm your child faster? Download the ⁠5 Mindful Mantras for Conscious Mamas Managing Toddler Meltdowns⁠, audio files included!

June 26, 2025

Episode 258

RE-RELEASE Raising Kids Who Don't See Color - Anti Racist Parenting Tips with Temi Adamolekun

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is a Vermont-based Early Childhood Educator, Conscious Parenting Coach, and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology(™), a birth-to-five, soul and science-based framework that empowers parents to maximize their child’s early learning while raising fantastic human beings who succeed in school and life.

While teaching preschool and Kindergarten, she noticed her students knew their ABC’s and 123’s, but struggled with their social, emotional, and interpersonal skills. At drop-off, parents would say, “We’re so glad that you are their first teacher”, but she knew she wasn’t -- their parents were! This realization led to her professional pivot as an online Early Childhood Parent Educator and Coach.

Cara has embraced her role as a thought leader and fierce advocate for Pandemic parents raising the COVID Generation (GEN-C). Through keynotes, teacher training, and her podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Cara holds degrees in American Sign Language (ASL) and Linguistics and a Master’s degree in Education. She lives in southern Vermont with her two nearly grown-and-flown daughters and a husband who is her biggest cheerleader. Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world?

Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the ⁠Guest Application form here.

Want to praise your kids with a purpose?

In this episode, I discuss praising our kids intentionally so that we do not eat away at our children's identities or define their effort based on what we want to see. I also share my actionable 3 step plan and language scripts you can use!

Looking for a parenting transformation? I invite you to look at my⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transforming the Toddler Years course⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ ⁠Let's turn the daily tantrums into teachable moments that align with your core values as you raise whole kids.

June 24, 2025

Episode 257

Heaping On Healthy Praise - My 3 Step Intentional Language Strategy

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the ⁠Guest Application form here.

Want to yell less and be more a mindful parent?

Hunter Clarke-Fields joins me to talk about how to be less reactive aka stop yelling. We discuss the 3 Rs: Recognize your feelings, Remove yourself (if possible), Use Your Resources to calm the nervous system. We also discuss reducing your overall stress may be the #1 best thing you can do to yell less.

Hunter Clarke-Fields is the #1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” (over 500k sold in 17 languages) and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast), global speaker, Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Certification program. Hunter has over 20 years of experience in meditation and yoga practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide. Learn more about her here: https://mindfulmamamentor.com/.

Check out Hunter's Mindful Mama Mentor: You Just Yelled at Your Kid. Now What?

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.

June 19, 2025

Episode 256

Mindful Parenting: Helping Parents Reduce Reactivity & Use Their Whole Brain (So They Can Respond Rather Than React)

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the Guest Application form here.

Does your older toddler suddenly have stranger danger?

In this episode, I share a personal example of a toddler who experienced stranger danger a little late. I discuss the ripple effect unexpected change can have in their life and also how to scaffold transitions to help our littles adjust.

Subscribe to the Core4 Connector weekly newsletter to get more tips, tricks and strategies to help you win the toddler years!

Sign up ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠

June 17, 2025

Episode 255

Late Onset Stranger Danger - Why It Happens & How to Support It

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the ⁠Guest Application form here.

Struggling through the toddler years?

Dr. Alissa Jerud joins me to talk about how Emotion-Savvy Parenting can help us relate more skillfully to challenging emotions, connect more deeply with our kids, and even enjoy parenting more. Plus we discuss practical tools that can help us better accept, regulate, and tolerate unwanted emotions (ours and those of our kids).

Dr. Alissa Jerud, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, a Clinical Assistant at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of Emotion-Savvy Parenting. Learn more about her work here and get your copy of her book Emotion-Savvy Parenting here.

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.

June 12, 2025

Episode 254

Emotion-Savvy Parenting - How to Navigate Anxiety and Deepen Your Connection with Dr. Alissa Jerud

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the ⁠Guest Application form here.

Does your toddler struggle when  something unexpected happens?

In this episode I get into how kids process when something goes wrong. I talk about how long it takes when you give kids news or information that they're not going to like that will cause a real emotion, a real intensity, a real reaction and how long it takes for them to fully process what you've said. I emphasize the need to show up for toddlers in that moment when you thought you weren't going to have to.

Looking for a parenting transformation? I invite you to look at my⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Transforming the Toddler Years course⁠⁠⁠.⁠ ⁠Let's turn the daily tantrums into teachable moments that align with your core values as you raise whole kids.

June 9, 2025

Episode 253

One Mom's Co-Regulation Strategy When Her Daughter's Toy Broke

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Have you experienced the unimaginable?

Michelle Valiukenas joins me to share her personal story of infertility, navigating the NICU and parenting after the loss of a infant. She emphasizes that loss never leaves you and there are so many ways to keep memories alive, it may just take having the courage to let the path lead you where you need/want to be.

Content Warning: this episode speaks about infant loss

Michelle Valiukenas is the founder and executive director of The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation (CLTF), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families facing high-risk pregnancies, NICU stays, or loss. Learn more about the foundations Night at The Races, raising money for families in crisis, here.

Ready to expand your parenting journey and transform your relationship with your child?

Book a⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠complimentary connection call⁠ with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠and we can see how we can get to know each other and transform the toddler years, together.

June 5, 2025

Episode 252

Navigating the NICU and Parenting After Loss with Michelle Valiukenas

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Read⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠y to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Does your toddler struggle with time management? They all do.

In this episode, I share simple and effective tools and language tips to help teach your toddler time management skills. With practice, kids feel safe and confident because they know what's coming throughout the day.

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.

June 3, 2025

Episode 251

How to Teach Your Toddler Time Management

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!

Curious how you can build a strong, loving relationship with your child? Unconditional positive regard may be your answer.

In this episode, Nicole Greene joins me to discuss her guiding beliefs that all people are worthy, all people deserve respect and all people deserve to be cared for.

Nicole Greene is a National Board Certified Special Education Teacher. She is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Diversity Committee, a Board of Directors member for the CEC’s New York Chapter, and an Ambassador for Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. See all of the amazing work Nicole is doing on Instagram.

Looking for a parenting transformation? I invite you to look at my⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Transforming the Toddler Years course⁠⁠.⁠ ⁠Let's turn the daily tantrums into teachable moments that align with your core values as you raise whole kids.

May 20, 2025

Episode 250

How to Love Your Child Unconditionally Using Unconditional Positive Regard with Nicole Greene

About Your Host:

Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed is mom to three girls, a Vermont based Early Childhood Educator and the founder of Core4Parenting. She is the passionate mastermind behind the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™, a birth-to-five, soul and science based framework that empowers toddler parents and educators  to turn tantrums into teachable moments. Through keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast, Transforming the Toddler Years, she’s teaching the 5 Executive Functioning Skills kids need to navigate our ever-changing world.

Ready to raise world-ready kids who change the world? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.caratyrrell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to begin your Collaborative Parenting journey!