Independent play and having a vivid imagination opens up so many doors for our children. We want to see their ability to play by themselves and create a whole world for themselves while we get our adult stuff done or even sit down and feel some independence ourselves. We go in depth into how to facilitate the development of both and what works and doesn't w ... Show More
Apr 2020
Benefits of play for child development
Send us Fan MailIn today’s episode, we talk about play! There are so many opportunities for play with items around our home and Emma from @play_at_home_mummy has an Instagram account that beautifully illustrates this. We chat about setting up a playroom, different types of play, ... Show More
1h 6m
Jul 2020
Engaging in Your Child's Play Without Interrupting
A parent hopes to encourage her 21-month old’s self-directed play by sitting with her in her play area observing, “ready to respond if she engages with me.” Lately, she says, her daughter has been asking for help with tasks she can do by herself, and also actively directing both ... Show More
22m 52s
Mar 2023
The Power of Independent Play with Dr. Adriana Stacey (#143)
<p>Today, Melanie and Dr. Adriana Stacey discuss a recent article in the Journal of Pediatrics on independent play and how it relates to children’s mental well-being. This episode is full of great recommendations, encouragement, and a ton of research on why allowing your children ... Show More
53m 20s
Apr 2025
What Does It Mean To Raise Creative Kids?
Raising creative kids isn’t just about paintbrushes and piano lessons—it’s also about noticing how they think, solve problems, and dream up deas. Both Meagan and Sarah come from creative backgrounds and hope to raise creative kids, but we’ve learned that creativity shows up in un ... Show More
56m 57s
Apr 2022
The Pragmatics of Working with Children
The world we grew up in doesn’t exist. But this new world has endless possibilities, and our children are flexible, they accommodate change easily. So what if instead of trying to control your kids, suggests Susanna, you have the courage to let go and allow your kids to have thei ... Show More
22m 30s
Sep 2024
Preparing your child for preschool using play
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, I chat with Connie about the critical aspects of preschool education, emphasizing the importance of play in child development. We explore the challenges children face in adapting to open-ended play, the significance of emotional regulation, a ... Show More
57m 47s
Nov 2023
35. Raising Confident Kids
How do you find balance in raising confident and independent kids while still serving them?Teaching confidence and independence involves knowing when to step back and when to step in. It's about offering guidance and support while allowing them the space to try, fail, learn, and ... Show More
15m 44s