Claim OwnershipRaising Healthy Kid Brains
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Description
Raising Healthy Kid Brains helps moms and teachers understand how children's brains work and what they can do to set them up for success. Discover the critical elements of supporting a child's healthy brain development, psychological factors that influence emotional development, and simple suggestions to encourage the creativity and curiosity of life-long learners.
Join your host, Amy Nielson, Founder of Planning Playtime, a provider of game-changing educational programs and resources to moms and teachers, as she and her guests discuss the importance of understanding child development.
This is the show for you if you find yourself asking questions like:
*Am I communicating effectively with my child?
*How can I build a bonding experience with my child?
*What exactly are the structures, limits, and boundaries for children?
*Why are good parent-teacher relationships important?
*What benchmarks should I focus on in early childhood?
To learn more, visit planningplaytime.com
Join your host, Amy Nielson, Founder of Planning Playtime, a provider of game-changing educational programs and resources to moms and teachers, as she and her guests discuss the importance of understanding child development.
This is the show for you if you find yourself asking questions like:
*Am I communicating effectively with my child?
*How can I build a bonding experience with my child?
*What exactly are the structures, limits, and boundaries for children?
*Why are good parent-teacher relationships important?
*What benchmarks should I focus on in early childhood?
To learn more, visit planningplaytime.com
115 Episodes
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Your baby hasn't started walking yet, but your friend's child is already running around. That familiar worry creeps in - is something wrong? I'm joined today by licensed speech-language pathologist Jordyn Gorman and founder of Eat Play Say, a network of experts on childhood development milestones. In this episode, Jordyn and I dig into the truth behind milestone charts: what they actually measure, what they don't, and why hitting every milestone "on time" isn't the full story. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/114 Follow us on our socials: https://www.instagram.com/planningplaytime/ https://www.facebook.com/Planningplaytime/ https://www.pinterest.com/planningplaytim/
In a world where every kindergartner has access to an iPad, does handwriting still matter? The answer, according to handwriting expert Holly Britton, is yes – and it's not just a penmanship issue; it's a thinking issue. In this episode, Holly explains why the way we teach handwriting is critical for young learners. We dive into why handwriting is such a powerful tool for cognitive development and why, without it, kids are missing out on vital brain connections. As more classrooms move toward digital devices, Holly makes the case that handwriting is still the key to unlocking deeper learning and success in all areas. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/113 Follow us on our socials: https://www.instagram.com/planningplaytime/ https://www.facebook.com/Planningplaytime/ https://www.pinterest.com/planningplaytim/
Sleep struggles in families create a cascading effect. When children can't sleep, parents don't sleep, and everyone's mood, health, and ability to function suffers. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, author of Beyond Tired and a triple board-certified sleep physician who transformed her own family's sleep crisis into a mission to help others. Drawing from both her medical expertise and personal experience with a reflux baby who wouldn't sleep, Dr. Brown is here to uncover the complex relationship between sleep and behavior. Join us this week to learn the three categories of sleep issues and how to identify which one your child is dealing with. Dr. Brown shares why sleep hygiene matters, the surprising connection between ADHD and sleep disorders, and her CREATE framework for better sleep. Whether you're dealing with a toddler who won't stay in bed or your own 3 a.m. wake-ups, you'll walk away with actionable tools to help your entire family get the restorative sleep you need. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/112 Follow us on our socials: https://www.instagram.com/planningplaytime/ https://www.facebook.com/Planningplaytime/ https://www.pinterest.com/planningplaytim/
Does your child struggle to sit still or focus during learning time? What if the problem isn't that they're not paying attention, but that their brain actually learns best through movement, touch, and sensory input? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Christina Bretz, a pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience and senior professional learning manager at Learning Without Tears. Join us to learn how surprise, play, and touch help children retain information and engage socially, while also supporting sensory sensitivities in a developmentally appropriate way. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/111 Follow us on our socials: https://www.instagram.com/planningplaytime/ https://www.facebook.com/Planningplaytime/ https://www.pinterest.com/planningplaytim/
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a parenting storm, desperately trying to keep your cool while your child is melting down? I'm talking with Dr. Alissa Jerud, a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety and emotion regulation, and author of Emotion-Savvy Parenting: A Shame-Free Guide to Navigating Emotional Storms and Deepening Connection. She brings a unique perspective that combines cognitive behavioral therapy techniques with the messy reality of parenting, and shares a revolutionary approach to handling both our children's emotions and our own. Join us this week to discover practical strategies for when emotions run high (both yours and your child's). Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/110 Follow us on our socials: https://www.instagram.com/planningplaytime/ https://www.facebook.com/Planningplaytime/ https://www.pinterest.com/planningplaytim/
Today I'm talking with Dr. Hokehe Eko, a board-certified integrative pediatrician, whose work focuses on the powerful connection between gut health and brain function – especially in children with autism and ADHD. Through stories of children who went from aggressive to calm, from constipated to regular, and from non-verbal to speaking their first words, you'll discover practical dietary changes that can improve your child's quality of life. While these interventions don't cure autism or ADHD, they can significantly enhance therapy outcomes and family dynamics by addressing the underlying inflammation that may be driving challenging behaviors. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/109
When your child answers "good" to your question about their day, it might feel like the conversation ends there. But they're actually telling you a story. You just need the tools to uncover it. In this episode, listening expert Christine Miles and I explore how to teach kids the language of listening, helping them – and you – tune in to the full story behind every conversation. Through her Listening Path framework, Christine offers a practical way to turn listening into a skill kids can learn and use. You'll discover how to ask the right questions to uncover stories and help your kids build deeper connections with the people in their lives. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/108
The traditional education model we've been using since the 1940s was designed for assembly line workers. But this system is failing to prepare kids for real life. This week, I'm talking to Dr. Linda Hopper, a former business coach turned classroom teacher, who turned the system upside down by bringing coaching principles into the classroom. After spending 14 years in the classroom, Dr. Hopper found that asking the right questions - rather than just giving the right answers - is the key to helping kids grow and learn. Join us today as Dr. Hopper shows us how we, as educators and parents, can empower kids to become experts on themselves. Her approach shifts the focus away from standardized tests and helps students build skills that last a lifetime. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/107
This week, I'm talking with Stefanie Adler, a functional diagnostic nutritionist who transformed her own childhood of chronic digestive issues into a mission to help families heal through food. After being told at age 12 that she'd have to live with IBS forever, Stefanie changed her diet against medical advice and watched symptoms she'd had for 13 years disappear within months. Now she helps parents decode their children's symptoms by addressing root causes rather than masking problems. Join us today as Stefanie shares practical strategies for building your child's immune system through protective foods, simple swaps for common household toxins, and ways to make real food appealing even when everyone else has packaged snacks. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/106
This week, I'm joined by Alisha from Rainbow Sky Creations, a passionate educator who's spent years transforming how children experience mathematics in the classroom. She shares how, when children can touch, manipulate, and physically interact with mathematical concepts, something remarkable happens in their brains that traditional paper-and-pencil methods simply can't replicate. Join us to hear the compelling research that shows how students using concrete materials develop stronger neural pathways for abstract thinking, leading to 30 to 50% faster learning and a staggering 90% increase in engagement. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/105
A simple tweak in how we talk to kids about emotions can transform those frustrating moments into genuine connection. When children lack the vocabulary for their emotions, they face the same barrier as trying to communicate in a foreign language. Kristina Lucia, an award-winning author and illustrator who creates books about feelings, discovered firsthand how learning to name and express emotions changed her relationships. Join us this week to discover why vulnerability isn't weakness, how to meet children at their level (literally and figuratively), and practical ways to expand emotional vocabulary for the whole family. Most importantly, you'll learn how small adjustments in communication create space for deeper understanding and stronger connections. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/104
Finding the balance between gentle parenting and building resilience in our kids is a huge challenge, often resulting in unintentional perfectionism on our part as parents. But could this perfectionism be having a deeper impact on your child's development? I'm speaking to Lisa Chan, a former pediatric occupational therapist turned parent coach, to explore how we can support our children's emotional development without falling into the perfectionism trap. Lisa brings over a decade of experience working with kids who have autism, ADHD, and sensory challenges, and she shares why she made the shift from therapy to parent coaching. Tune in this week as Lisa shares practical strategies for understanding your child's unique needs, whether it's sensory input, executive functioning challenges, or emotional regulation struggles. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/103
How do we help our young children with their handwriting? And in this digital age where everyone's learning on an iPad, is it even necessary for children to be practicing their handwriting skills? School-based occupational therapist Dr. Christina Bretz believes handwriting remains a crucial skill for children's cognitive development, even in our digital age. Listen in this week to learn the research that proves the importance of children learning handwriting, and practical strategies for teaching handwriting. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/102
My guest today is Dr. Aditya Nagrath, who holds a PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science. With over 30 years of industry experience as a software engineer, author, and entrepreneur, he's worked on everything from atomic clocks to Amazon's Kindle Fire. As founder of Elephant Head Math software and the Elephant Learning Math Academy, he's developed an online system that helps children learn about a year and a half of math in just 10 weeks when used 30 minutes per week. In our conversation, Dr. Nagrath outlines three distinct steps to master new math concepts – define, recognize, and produce. He explains the crucial "language gap" in mathematics, and explores the difference between recognizing math symbols on paper versus truly understanding and applying mathematical concepts. Most importantly, we discuss math anxiety and what children need to overcome it. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/101
Have you ever felt caught in the crossfire between gentle parenting and raising resilient kids? As a parent in today's world, I constantly wrestle with how to validate my children's emotions while still helping them develop the strength to face life's inevitable challenges. This tension between empathy and resilience represents one of the most significant parenting dilemmas of our time. In this special 100th episode, I'm diving into a concept that has transformed my approach to parenting: preparing the child for the road, not the road for the child. Join me this week as I introduce you to the concept of antifragile children—those who don't just bounce back from challenges but actually grow stronger because of them. I share three practical strategies to foster this quality in your children, helping them develop the emotional equivalent of "stress wood" that will enable them to stand tall through life's inevitable storms. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/100
Have you ever struggled with setting boundaries while still being a kind, gentle person? Today's conversation might just transform your approach to parenting and relationships. In this episode, I'm diving into the world of boundaries with Amy Armstrong, a pioneer in conflict resolution who brings her expertise from high-conflict divorce situations into practical advice for everyday parenting. She introduces a revolutionary approach to boundaries that allows us to maintain our warmth and kindness while still protecting our needs and teaching our children valuable life skills. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/99
Have you ever had one of those moments where you discover something so important, you can't believe no one told you sooner? That's exactly how I felt recording this episode. If your child snores, breathes through their mouth, grinds their teeth, has ADHD symptoms, gets frequent cavities, or even wets the bed - these could all be signs of pediatric sleep apnea. The most shocking part? Unlike adult sleep apnea, the solution for children can be remarkably simple. Dr. Kalli Hale, a dentist specializing in sleep dentistry, shares how airway-centered dental care and how proper intervention in childhood can prevent a lifetime of sleep-disordered breathing issues. This information could literally change your child's life - it's that important. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/98
What if your child told you their school wasn't teaching them to read properly? Would you believe them? In this week's episode, we dive deep into a story that's unfortunately all too common in our education system. Dr. Irene Daria shares her journey from being a concerned mother to becoming a developmental psychologist specializing in teaching children how to read. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/97
I'm joined by education blogger, children's book expert, and former teacher, Melissa Taylor. Melissa is the creator behind Imagination Soup: a blog where parents, grandparents, librarians, and teachers can find great children's books as well as educational learning ideas, resources, and community. We dive into the world of nonfiction and explore why it's such an essential part of a balanced reading diet for kids. Throughout the episode, Melissa shares practical tips and strategies for incorporating more nonfiction into your child's reading routine. From book talks and read-alouds to hands-on activities and critical thinking exercises, you'll come away with a toolbox full of ideas for making nonfiction fun and accessible for kids of all ages. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/96
Anna Rita is the Regional Managing Director of Green Ivy International School and Interim Head of School at Pine Street School. As an expert in multilingual education, we explore the incredible power of learning languages in childhood. Anna Rita shares why the ages of 0-6 are a critical window for language acquisition, how bilingualism enhances executive function and cultural understanding, and the long-term cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages. Whether you're considering language immersion school, learning a heritage language at home, or simply want to give your child's brain a boost, this episode will open your eyes to the world of possibilities in multilingual learning. Get ready to be inspired to help your child become a global citizen! Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/95
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