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

What is selective mutism?

Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum joins me in this episode to talk about communication, mutism and selective more!

Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum, DO is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety and Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center) and is a board certified physician who specializes in Selective Mutism.

Learn more about Dr Shipon-Blums work on her podcast, Unspoken Words and the SMart Center's CommuniCamp program.

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.

November 6, 2025

Episode 288

Why Won't My Child Talk to Others? What is Selective Mutism with Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How important is compromise with your child?

In this final episode of our five part series on the four Cs of collaborative discipline, learn to transform the way that you connect with kids, problem solve with them and completely avoid power struggles.

Download the free 4 C's of Collaborative Discipline PDF now!

Looking for more 1:1 help?

Book your complimentary connection call and we will explore together what it would look like to put together a one-on-one package for you.

November 4, 2025

Episode 287

The Fourth C of Collaborative Discipline - The Art of Compromise

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How important is collaborating with your kids?

In this episode, I discuss the third C of Collaborative Discipline: Collaboration.   I share that it's the togetherness is where you problem solve.

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 28, 2025

Episode 287

The Third C of Collaborative Discipline - Collaborate to Problem Solve

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 your toddler not cooperating?

Tia Slightham joins me to talk about understanding the WHY behind your child’s behavior, to set you and your family up for success. We discuss shifting your parenting to shift your child’s behavior and how “forcing” kids to listen or cooperate won’t work!

Tia is the founder of Tia Slightham- Parenting Solutions and The Parenting With Purpose Method, where she works with parents to teach them positive ways to decrease the daily struggles to build a strong parent/child connection.

As part of the Transforming the Toddler Years community, Tia is offering listeners access to her 2 free “Battle Free Parenting Bundle” tools! Just DM her the word TODDLER on Instagram and she will send them directly to you!

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 23, 2025

Episode 286

Why Your Toddlers Behavior Isn't Changing with Tia Slightham

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Curious about collaborative discipline?

In this episode, I talk about the second C of collaborative discipline- communication! I share why it is a cornerstone of the collaborative discipline framework and share an example of it in action.

Download the free 4 C's of Collaborative Discipline PDF now!

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 21, 2025

Episode 285

The Second C of Collaborative Discipline - Intentional Communication

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.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.⁠⁠