Making Learning Special

It may be me and all the pregnancy hormones during the time of this recording (haha)--I'm in the very last few weeks of my second pregnancy--BUT just in case it's not just me, remember to have some tissues close by. Because in this sentimental discussion, we talk about the realities of parenthood. Is time on our side? That's the ultimate question. This is one of those episodes you'll for sure have to save, share and re-listen to, especially during those hard days!

In this episode we answer questions from a couple, one of our listeners who contacted us and are expecting their first child. Congratulations to them! Seeing their questions, we decided to do a whole episode about it, because you or someone you may know may also benefit from them. So today, we're talking all about babies and parenting! We touch on topics like how to incorporate language early on, how to interact and connect with your baby, diaper changing, toy and book recommendations, screen time, and more! Show notes and mentions: Recommendations of books, materials, soft-toys, etc. Quick Ideas during diaper changing Episode 008: What About Screen Time? Episode 036: My Top 5 Toys & Toy Alternatives for Toddlers Episode 050: Parenting Myth Episode 054: For the Soon-To-Be Parent

Whether your child is going into preschool or kindergarten, here are five suggestions we have to help maximize his/her overall school readiness. Our little ones learn lots of skills while they're in an academic setting, but why not equip them and start building these vocabulary words, tools, strategies, understanding, etc. even before they start school? Check out how we can proactively help set them up for success in this episode. Show References: 002: Components of Communication 006: Potty Training: the good, the bad, and the ugly 007: Creating a Healthy Social-Emotional Environment For Your Child 016: Why you Need to Know About Joint Attention 023: Transitions & Changes 035: When Our Little Ones Deal with Adversities & Challenges 038: Different Responses Our Kids Give Us

In this episode we're joined by one of Ace's favorite people, his one and only Pops. Ace is the first grandchild in both sides of the family and that being so, we dive into what it's like being a grandparent and the similarities and differences between parenting and grand-parenting. How is this generation of parenting different from the previous generation, how were our parents raised by our grandparents, how are we now raising our own kids, and what are we doing or not doing to maximize our little one's development are examples of the topics we touch on. Take a listen as we have this insightful and honest conversation about the past and present. Show References: Episode 008: What About Screen Time? Episode 013: Let's Chat About Co-Parenting Episode 039: Having Healthy Boundaries with Others Episode 053: The Importance of Turn Taking in Development

What do we even mean by "valuing disorganization" as it relates to our child's development and parenting in general? Well, you've heard of those sleep regressions and other changes that our little ones go through? As a educator and an early intervention provider, over the years I've heard tons of parents tell me how their child used to be a good eater but now he's not, or she used to be a good sleeper but now she's not. Did you know, regression in our child's behaviors can cause disorganization for us as parents? But how do we find value and learn in times like this? Tune into the episode now as we dive into this topic. Show references: Zach's example of responding and pausing My Amazon List - suggestions for parents, caregivers, and educators of materials that you can use with your little ones.

Do you have concerns about your child's speech development, motor development, or just his/her overall development and want to get him/her formally assessed but don't know where to start? Or was your child recently recommended for an evaluation or an assessment but you feel overwhelmed by all the information given to you and want to gain more understanding about it? Provided in a parent-friendly way, this episode will help you figure out what your first steps can be and help clear up information as you go through the process.

This episode is dedicated to new parents, soon-to-be parents, and those who plan on having a little one in the future. Share with your loved ones who are about to embark on the journey of parenthood. We know that becoming a parent can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time, so we want to be here to support you, tell you as is, and just be that soundboard for you, especially since it really does take a village to raise a child. Come join us now as we talk about strategies that helped us ease the anxiety as we stepped into the world of parenting. We hope these tips will help you as much as they've helped us!

Why are we spending a whole entire episode on this you ask? Well, did you know that turn taking is a critical, CRITICAL part of development? We dive into why this is so and the elements of turn taking. Tune in now! Show notes/show reference: I had briefly mentioned a video I dueted on TikTok showing how early babies respond and turn take with you. Here are a few examples. Enjoy! Turn Taking Example 1 Turn Taking Example 2 Turn Taking Example 3 Turn Taking Example 4 Turn Taking Example 5 Turn Taking Example 6

WARNING: You may get triggered. We wholeheartedly love our little ones, but they can also drive us wild. What does your little one do that pushes your buttons? This is the nitty grittiness of parenthood! How can we stay calm, collected, and sane-- AKA regulated--during times when we feel like losing our cool or about to pull our hair out??? Don't worry parents, these are all natural feelings. So we take the time to discuss them, and ways to get through these oh-so-tricky times.

In this episode we discuss five common parenting myths and why they're not true. Listen in, because the answers might surprise you, especially myths #4 and #5. Episode reference below: Episode 032: What About Self-Care? With Special Guest, Renata Trebing

In this episode we discuss three real life scenarios and questions that come along with them as it involves parenting. Even with three very different scenarios we realized that there are underlying related themes that we can really learn from and take away. Check out these key points and let's learn and grow together as we raise our little ones!

That wraps up our 10 of 10 mini podcast episodes! We wanted to bring you simple, functional, tangible, and practical tips and strategies that you can implement right away with your little one. Again, this is meant for parents, grandparents, educators, aunts, uncles, etc. You name it! Basically anyone interacting with littles. In this last episode we even have an extra strategy for you, so you get a two in one tip from us. How we can be and why we should be our little one's personal commentator, what does it mean to be their interpreter, and how can we use this to make learning special in minutes? Tune in and see! If you haven't yet checked out the other 9 "Making Learning Special in Minutes Mini Podcast Series" or if you'd like to share them with others, the links are below. Enjoy! Strategy #1: General Vs. Specific Words Strategy #2: Help Your Little One Healthily Struggle Strategy #3: Leveling Up Your Naming Game Strategy #4: The Rule of 3 Strategy #5: Communication Temptation Strategy #6: The Follow Through is Crucial Strategy #7: Be Silly & Be Forgetful Strategy #8: Expansion Strategy #9: Verbal & Play Routines

What does peekaboo, a line from your child's favorite song, and the phrase "ready, set, go!" have in common? They're all routines! Whether it's a verbal routine or a play routine, there's lot of power behind them. You may already be doing this strategy with your little one, but now it's time to level up by knowing exactly the reason behind why it's helpful for development, and also, how to expand your verbal and play routines to continue making learning special in minutes.

Here is strategy number eight of ten as we're winding down on our  "Making Learning Special in Minutes Mini Podcast Series."  What is expansion and how can you put it into practice as you're interacting with your little one? This is one of our longer mini-episodes, but well worth the listen as you learn a handful of nuggets within this one strategy. Now go out there and expand your parenting toolbox and tune in.

Here's another underrated but very powerful strategy that you can implement in minutes! This requires a bit of self-reflection. How silly and playful are you when interacting with your little one? And if you're not too silly and it's out of your character or  if your personality is more serious in general, how can you still implement this strategy to get your child's mind learning and growing? Tune into the mini-episode now to learn how.

How are you following through with things that you're saying? Continue to include your child in the process using this strategy. We focus on the importance of follow through and how that looks like in child development, more specifically when helping your little one develop his/her language skills.

We're continuing with our mini series episodes with strategy #5, which is communication temptation. What does this strategy mean, what does it provide, and how can you implement it? In this quick and informative episode, we go over family-friendly ways to use this strategy during your little one's routine activities. Check it out now!

In this mini episode, we cover "The Rule of 3" and what that means when helping our children learn to imitate and process information. Tune into this simple but powerful strategy that you can implement right away. PLUS, we even have a bonus tip for you towards the end of the episode. 

Help level up your child's vocabulary and make learning special in minutes with strategy #3. Naming items in your child's environment is a great start, but what can you intentionally  and mindfully do next? Start talking about object functions and let the five wh-questions guide you. Check out what we mean by all this by tuning into this quick episode now.

Ready to make learning special in minutes with strategy #2? Today we talk about how to help our little ones healthily struggle to maximize their development. We give you real-life examples of what we're experiencing right now with our 3 year old, while also giving you a perspective from a developmental and growth-minded standpoint. Check out this quick episode packed with simple and actionable suggestions.