Today, Lara sits down with a truly remarkable guest whose mission is to put joy and emotional growth at the centre of childhood.

Shalini Samtani is the founder of Open the Joy, a toy company backed by therapists and science that helps children develop emotional intelligence through play. She’s also the force behind the Spread the Joy Foundation, a non-profit that delivers therapeutic activity kits to hospitalized children across North America. After her own child faced a long hospital stay, Shalini made it her life’s work to bring healing, confidence, and resilience to kids everywhere—one joyful moment at a time.

In this episode, Shalini shares the powerful story behind her ventures and why she believes play is one of the most effective tools for building emotional intelligence in children. We explore how her initiatives—Open the Joy, Inner JoyEd, and Spread the Joy Foundation—work together to support children’s mental and emotional well-being, both at home and in clinical settings.

You’ll hear about:

• Why emotional intelligence is just as critical as academic achievement

• How play helps kids navigate fear, anger, sadness, and uncertainty

• Ways parents can support emotional growth in the everyday moments

• The science behind therapeutic toys and curriculum

• The importance of accessible mental health resources for children facing medical trauma

  
  

If you’re a parent looking for practical, compassionate ways to nurture your child’s emotional development, this episode will leave you inspired, equipped, and reminded of the transformative power of joy.

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Learn more about Shalini’s work:
https://www.openthejoy.com/
https://spreadthejoy.org/

https://innerjoyed.com/

Check out their Instagram Pages:

@openthejoy

@spreadthejoyfoundation

@innerjoy.ed

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Learn more about Tutor Teach:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tutorteach.ca/

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Intro Music: Good Times by Patrick Patrikios
Sting Music: Timelapse by Purple Planet Music