The Art of Playful Parenting

Before taking a little break from the mic to welcome her new baby, Jill is looking back at your favorite episodes from the past year. From simple play ideas to deeper conversations about child development and connection, these highlights capture what makes this podcast such a supportive space for parents. Whether you've been here from the beginning or just recently joined, this episode is the perfect way to revisit or discover the ones that resonated most before Jill takes some time away from recording. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

You know those moments when something that's supposed to be fun, like a holiday, birthday party, or family outing, suddenly unravels into tears, meltdowns, and overwhelm? In this episode, Jill dives into why that happens and how we can make special events like Halloween (or any day that's out of routine) a little smoother for everyone. She shares practical, compassionate tips for setting expectations, reading your child's cues, and finding ways to keep the joy without less chaos. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this episode of The Art of Playful Parenting Podcast, Jill dives into how play can become one of your most powerful parenting tools for helping young children navigate big feelings and how playful moments can support emotional expression, regulation, and connection. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In honor of NICU Awareness Month, this powerful episode features Jodi Klaristenfeld, founder of Flrrish, a transformative resource and support hub created by a NICU mom for NICU parents. Jodi opens up about her own unexpected journey into motherhood and how it inspired her to build a community that helps preemie parents navigate life from hospital to home and beyond. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's walked the NICU path or loves someone who has. It's about confronting uncertainty, finding resilience, and discovering how to move forward and thrive in the face of the unexpected.  Learn more about Jodi and Flrrish here.  Connect with Jodi on Instagram.  Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started!  The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join!  Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!  

On today's episode, Jill dives into the chaotic world of parenting drama with a special "Am I the Asshole?" edition. She reads AITA posts and gives her unfiltered, unsolicited two cents. So who's right and who's wrong? Tune in and judge for yourself. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this episode, Jill, currently expecting baby #2, shares heartfelt, practical advice for parents preparing to welcome a child. Drawing on insights from past guests and her own experiences, she reflects on what really matters during this transition and what she wishes she knew the first time around. Whether you're newly pregnant or deep in the countdown, this episode offers encouragement, honesty, and wisdom for the journey ahead. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

Ever wondered why your child holds it together all day at school, only to come home and fall apart? You're not alone. In this episode, Jill dives into restraint collapse, a common but often misunderstood response in young children. We'll explore why this happens, how parents can recognize the signs, and practical strategies to support your child (and yourself) during those tough transitions. Get the Starting School Strategies Masterclass by clicking here. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this episode, Jill is joined by moms and pediatricians Brooke, Hadley, and Saskia, the trio behind My Pediatrician Friend. Born from a constant stream of texts and calls from friends seeking trusted medical advice, their platform was created to offer something more personal and reliable than internet searches or crowded parenting forums. Together, we dive into the real highs and lows of motherhood, the overwhelm and misinformation of online health information, and how to quiet some of the anxiety that comes with caring for our kids. Tune in for honest conversation, practical wisdom, and a fresh perspective on what really matters when it comes to our children's health. To learn more about My Pediatrician Friend and have a real pediatrician just a text away, click here. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

The school year is here and whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, the transition from summer to school can be A LOT. In this episode, Jill shares three tips to help ease the shift, drawn from her experience as a former preschool teacher. Get the Starting School Strategies Masterclass by clicking here. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this heartwarming and hilarious episode, Jill is joined by her favorite guest to date- her four-year-old daughter! They dive into the world as she sees it and the surprising wisdom only a preschooler could come up with. You won't want to miss this one! Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this episode, Jill dives into something she's currently experiencing firsthand: helping young children navigate big life transitions, specifically, moving to a new home. Change can feel overwhelming for little ones (and, let's be honest, for us parents too). Jill will share practical, manageable tips for creating a sense of safety and stability through the chaos of a large transition, ways to talk about change in age-appropriate language, and how to honor their big feelings while managing our own. Let's make this transition feel a little more grounded for all of us. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this raw and uncensored conversation, Jill sits down with Mackenzie and Myranda, licensed mental health therapists, moms, and hosts of the podcast Just Don't Eff Them Up to talk all things parental mental health. Together, they dive into the emotional trenches of parenting, explore how our own unhealed traumas show up in the way we raise our kids, and share real strategies for doing the inner work so we can break cycles (and not our children). It's honest, hilarious, and healing. You can learn more about Mackenzie and Myranda and Just Don't Eff Them Up Podcast here. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

Does it ever feel like you're doing all the "right" things in parenting: staying calm, setting boundaries with love, offering choices, validating big feelings and yet… it still feels so hard? You're not alone. In this episode, Jill pulls back the curtain and gets real about what it means to parent respectfully. She'll dive into what respectful parenting doesn't promise, what it actually looks like in real life, and why hard moments don't mean you're failing. This is your reminder that doing it "right" doesn't mean it's always easy  and that's okay. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this episode, Jill dives into the hilarious world of play gone wrong. Think the absolute worst toys kids have ever unwrapped, the glitter you're still finding two years later, and when things just go totally different than you envisioned. If you've ever had a rogue LEGO injury, this episode is for you!  Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age!

In this powerful episode, Jill chats with trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith to explore the layered and often messy intersection of perfectionism, trauma recovery, and parenting. Elyssa shares her own courageous journey overcoming multiple forms of trauma. Together, they unpack how perfectionism and people-pleasing patterns can stem from early wounds, shaping how we show up as parents and partners. We dive into topics like healthy attachment, emotional regulation, and how reconnecting with our inner child can help us not only heal ourselves but also show up more consciously for our children. Learn more about Elyssa Smith, her coaching program, membership, and training series called the Ultimate Self-Regulation Method that she offers to help with the top 6 most common triggers that women deal with here. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Like the show? Leave a review here. And a great way not to miss an episode is to subscribe to the show while you're at it.

We all want our kids to play, right? We have the best intentions and only want to be helpful, but often we're the ones getting in the way. On today's episode, Jill shares the three things parents do that disrupt their child's play and how we can shift those habits. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join!  Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age! Like the show? Leave a review here. And a great way not to miss an episode is to subscribe to the show while you're at it.

At the splash pad, a simple toy trade becomes a powerful lesson in boundaries, self-advocacy, and the quiet courage it takes to speak up, for both kids and parents. In this episode, Jill shares a story about her daughter, a moment of emotional growth, and the internal tug-of-war we face as parents: when to intervene, and when to simply stand beside our children as they find their voice. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age! Like the show? Leave a review here. And a great way not to miss an episode is to subscribe to the show while you're at it.

Think play requires new toys, expensive outings, or a Pinterest-perfect setup? Think again. In today's episode, Jill shares three simple but powerful ways to invite more play into your child's day without buying a thing.  Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age! Like the show? Leave a review here. And a great way not to miss an episode is to subscribe to the show while you're at it.

In this episode, Jill is joined by Mike Ticehurst and Casey Shimon, co-founders of Village, a virtual coaching platform designed to simplify the everyday challenges of parenting. We dive into our shared passion for supporting parents and discuss how supportive tools and routines can help transform chaos into calm. From the importance of preparation to creating predictable routines for kids, this conversation is full of practical insights to help parents ditch the guilt, spend less time managing, and more time enjoying their families. Learn more about Village's virtual, on-demand coaching services here. Listeners can use the code VillyBeans for 33% off a purchase of 3 sessions (through 12/31/25). Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join!  Like the show? Leave a review here. And a great way not to miss an episode is to subscribe to the show while you're at it.

Patience. It is the one thing most parents wish they had more of with their children. In this honest episode, Jill dives into the real reasons why even the most loving parents lose their cool. Jill unpacks the psychological and situational factors that often push us over the edge. More importantly, we explore simple, practical strategies to help reduce explosive moments. Whether you're in the thick of toddler tantrums or navigating preteen rebellion, this episode offers insight and tools to help you stay calm, connected, and compassionate. Want to work with Jill privately? Book a discovery call to get started! The Playful Parenting Membership is HERE! You'll learn about foundational developmental concepts and age-appropriate play fundamentals , how to create simple, engaging, meaningful play experiences your child will WANT to explore, feel less burnt out and overwhelmed and feel more joy and connection. Click here to join! Ready to see more independent play? This totally free resource that will help you get more time back for yourself while your child is learning and playing independently. Grab my free guide to independent play at any age! Like the show? Leave a review here. And a great way not to miss an episode is to subscribe to the show while you're at it.