Tara Phillips is a speech/language pathologist and has run her own communication based classroom for 25 years. She was at the early elementary level for the first part of her career, and at the early childhood level for the last 10 years.Tara earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communicative Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Her ... Show More
Aug 20
#374 - How to Create a Motor Lab for Your Classroom That Boosts Focus & Learning
This week, we’re diving into one of our favorite topics - Motor Labs! These movement-based, circuit-style spaces are game-changers for students of all ages, especially those with ADHD, autism, sensory processing challenges, or retained primitive reflexes.We’ll break down:What a M ... Show More
20m 10s
Aug 13
#373 - Sensory Seekers in the Classroom: How to Help Kids Who Can’t Sit Still
Do you have a student who’s always moving, touching everything, or humming non-stop? They might be a sensory seeker—a child with a high sensory threshold who craves extra input to feel regulated.In this episode of All Things Sensory, we break down what sensory seeking really mean ... Show More
27m 8s
Aug 6
#372 - Crawling & Ocular Motor Skills: What’s the Connection?
Crawling is a foundational developmental milestone that does more than just strengthen muscles — it plays a critical role in developing the visual system, especially ocular motor skills such as tracking, convergence, and coordinated eye movements.We’re diving into why crawling is ... Show More
17m 48s
Oct 2023
My Kids Don't Want to go to Preschool! What Do I Do?
October 17, 2023
Transforming the Toddler Years- Episode 81
My Kids Don't Want to go to Preschool! What Do I Do?
In this episode, Cara discusses how to handle when kids don't want to go to school or daycare. She shares how even when it's hard, telling the truth sets u ... Show More
9m 3s
Mar 2024
Leo the Lion Teaches Kids About Entrepreneurship with Children's Author, Annie Franceschi
March 28, 2024
Transforming the Toddler Years- Episode 128
Leo the Lion Teaches Kids About Entrepreneurship with Children's Author, Annie Franceschi
This week Annie Franceschi, former Disney storyteller-turned-branding expert, joins Cara this week to discuss teaching kids abo ... Show More
30m 19s
Jul 2024
What My Child Needs to Hear Me Say Every Day
Want to know what's the most important thing to say to your child? Our kids need to hear us say many meaningful, emotional words everyday, but there are 3 words we need to prioritize as parents, caregivers and as teachers. Spoiler alert: it's not I Love You. Listen in and ... Show More
13m 44s
Mar 2025
From Sister to Sister: Growing Up with Milo
What does it really feel like growing up with an autistic sibling? In this intimate and emotional conversation, I'm joined by my youngest sister, Yasmine Smadi, for the first time on All Brains Grow. Together, we open up about what it was like growing up in a loud, unpredictable ... Show More
31m 12s
Mar 2024
IEP Advocacy with Annie McLaughlin
Annie McLaughlin is a BCBA and IEP advocate. Annie started her career as a special education teacher, where she met a consultant who introduced her to behavioral analysis. From there, she went back to school for her BCBA and got her doctorate in special education. Down the road, ... Show More
29m 23s