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

How do you talk to a toddler when they are in the middle of a meltdown?

In this episode I explain how using intentional language helps caregivers connect with toddlers and guide their behavior more effectively. I emphasize the idea that connection is the foundation for cooperation, especially in challenging moments. Giving children space, empathy, and involvement leads to better outcomes and stronger communication.

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

March 24, 2026

Episode 317

Meltdown in Aisle Two! How to Talk to Toddlers in the Moment. (Little Linguists Part 9)

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

What if toddlers are actually listening—but simply choosing a response we didn’t expect?

This episode redefines what it truly means for toddlers to “listen,” challenging the common belief that listening equals immediate compliance. I explain the four steps of active listening and highlight that a child may listen yet still choose not to follow a direction. I emphasize that adults can shift expectations and reduce power struggles with toddlers.

Longing for more community on your parenting journey?

I am launching a community JUST FOR YOU! It's time for us to see each other face to virtual face, hear each other in live time, so that we can really connect deeply and help each other through those challenging and celebratory moments that is toddlerhood. Get on ⁠the mailing list here⁠ so you can get all the details!

March 17, 2026

Episode 316

Why Won't Toddlers Listen? The 4 Steps to Active Listening- Little Linguists Series Part 8

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Wonder what your child's doodles mean?

Dr. Josephine Deguara joins me to discuss how children often use drawing as an early language to express thoughts and emotions before they can fully use words. We talk about how adults should avoid interpreting drawings themselves and instead ask open-ended questions to understand the child’s meaning. When children are given time, materials, and attentive listeners, drawing helps them process feelings, tell stories, and explore their identity.

Prof Josephine Deguara is an Associate Professor and researcher in the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Malta. Her work focuses on early childhood pedagogy, policy, and practice, with a particular interest in how children express their thinking and experiences through drawing. She uses children’s drawings as a way of understanding identity, belonging, play, and children’s funds of knowledge through participatory, rights-based research approaches. Longing for more community on your parenting journey?

I am launching a community JUST FOR YOU! It's time for us to see each other face to virtual face, hear each other in live time, so that we can really connect deeply and help each other through those challenging and celebratory moments that is toddlerhood. Get on the mailing list here so you can get all the details!

March 12, 2026

Episode 315

Children's Doodles: What They Tell You About Their Feelings & Identity with Dr. Josephine Deguara

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Ever feel like your toddler has "selective listening"?

In this episode I share how toddlers may struggle to follow directions when their receptive language skills or emotional regulation are not fully developed. Children move through three brain states—physical safety, emotional safety, and learning, and they can only process instructions and learn when they feel both safe and loved.

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

March 10, 2026

Episode 314

My Toddler Can't Follow Simple Directions. Is Something Wrong? Little Linguists Series Part 7

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

What if your toddler understands far more than they can say—and they’ve been quietly learning from you since the day they were born?

In this episode I explain how toddlers develop receptive language (what they understand) long before they can fully express themselves and have been absorbing words, tone, body language, and environmental cues since birth. I emphasize that communication is a two-way, relational process—what adults express, children receive and interpret, and vice versa—so miscommunication can happen when meanings don’t align. The key takeaway is for caregivers to be intentional with their language, energy, and responses, and to celebrate toddlers when they demonstrate understanding, recognizing that early development is a long but powerful growing season.

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.

March 3, 2026

Episode 313

A Girl and Her Dog: Why Toddlers Seem 'So Smart' Overnight - Little Linguists Series Part 6

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Ever wonder how breath and sleep affect our kids?

Dr. Shereen Lim joins me to discuss the connection between breath and sleep.   We explore how healthy breathing shapes your child's brain and behavior and also talk about tongue ties and healthy mouths.

Dr. Shereen Lim is the Founder and Principal Dentist at Sparkle Dental, the author of Breathe, Sleep, Thrive and is one of Australia’s first dentists to pioneer an airway-focused approach to dental care. Through her work, she’s helped hundreds of parents and educators understand how healthy breathing and jaw development support sleep, speech, learning, and behavior. Lean more about her work in her bookBreathe, Sleep, Thrive⁠.

Want to learn more about language, communication and connecting with toddlers? ⁠Book your complimentary connection call now!⁠

February 26, 2026

Episode 312

Breathe, Sleep, Thrive - The Healthy Connection Between Airway Health and Successful Kids with Dr. Lim

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

What's the antidote to anxiety?

In this episode, I explain that energy—especially nonverbal communication—plays a powerful role in how adults connect with toddlers. Fear, anxiety, and worry about new situations or repeated challenging routines (like naptime) subtly shape our tone, body language, and facial expressions, which children quickly mirror. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety by achieving better outcomes, I emphasize that the true antidote to anxiety is acceptance of the moment as it is.

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

February 24, 2026

Episode 311

The Antidote to Anxiety - Little Linguists Series Part 5

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Have you ever said something to your child and regretted it?

In this episode, I share a recent and very personal example of a situation where I said something hurtful to my daughter. I share what happened, what I said and what I should have said in that moment. This episode is a reminder that parenting is a continual process and the importance of repair work, no matter our children's age.

Want to learn more about language, communication and connecting with your children? ⁠Book your complimentary connection call now!⁠

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

February 17, 2026

Episode 310

My Public Apology to My Daughter - What I Said vs. What I Should Have Said

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Want to raise a successful entrepreneur?

This week Krystal Popov, founder of Futurepreneur joins me this week to talk about raising passionate, purposeful, and successful kids.

Krystal is the owner of Futurepreneur and a passionate advocate for empowering kids and teens to become entrepreneurs. A mother of three, she believes young people have immense potential to start businesses but often lack the guidance to do so. Through Futurepreneur’s Business Startup Challenges, Krystal helps kids harness their creativity, develop business skills, and embrace the adventure of entrepreneurship— setting them up for a future they control. Learn more about their work here.

⁠⁠Want to learn more about the 4 C’s of Collaborative Discipline?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

February 12, 2026

Episode 309

Raising Futurepreneurs: Passionate, Purposeful, and Successful Kids with Krystal Popov

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Did you know how you communicate literally helps design a child’s developing brain and sense of self?

In this episode I expand on the idea that words are only a small part of communication and how intentional language shapes connection, especially with young children. I outline five connection outcomes for healthy communication—connection, identity-building, emotional regulation, brain engagement, and empowered choice-making—using concrete examples of what this sounds like in everyday moments.

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

February 10, 2026

Episode 308

Words That Create Connection, Collaboration, and Cooperation - Little Linguists Series Part 4

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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