If the phrase “kindergarten readiness” sends you into a spiral of flashcards and phonics drills, this one’s for you.
In this follow-up episode, I chat with Susie Allison (@busytoddler), former kindergarten teacher and mom of three, to reframe how we think about school prep. Spoiler: it’s not about who can write their name in cursive or recite the alphabet b ... Show More
Yesterday
How We Learned to Speak: Babies, Survival, and Human Connection
Have you ever wondered why human babies are born so helpless compared to other animals? That single vulnerability may have given us the gift of speech. Today, I sit down with evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman, the author of The Origin of Language, to explore the science be ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 2
The Follow-Up: Policy, Morality and Boundaries
With Election Day approaching, Dr. Mona revisits a conversation with Sharon McMahon, known as "America's Government Teacher". They unpack the difference between normal political disagreement and moral boundaries lines, how to navigate division within families and how to hold firm ... Show More
14m 35s
Oct 28
Revenge Is Addictive-Here’s How to Break the Cycle in Childhood Before it Begins
Revenge isn’t a word we typically use when we talk about toddlers. But if you’ve ever taken something away and gotten a swat in return, you’ve seen it in action. In this episode, I sit down with James Kimmel Jr., a Yale researcher and lawyer who was the first to describe revenge ... Show More
56m 35s
Jul 2025
RE-RELEASE Kindergarten Readiness - 3 Skills Teachers Really Want to See with Zeba McGibbon
Worried if your toddler is ready for preschool?I welcome Zeba McGibbons, teacher, curriculum creator, and children’s book author. In this episode, we discuss kindergarten readiness, and it's not actually about academic readiness like parents think, but rather social-emotional ski ... Show More
40m 36s
Sep 2025
Is Daycare Really Helping Your Child? What Parents Need To Know Ep 121
Should you homeschool through kindergarten or send your child to preschool? You’ll discover the truth about “socialization,” what’s actually happening in many early childhood programs, and how to confidently decide what’s right for your family — without guilt, pressure, or fear o ... Show More
33m 51s
Aug 2023
Listener Questions, Back-To-School Edition (Vol. 1): Episode 425
Stephanie worries she didn’t “do enough” for her children this summer by way of plans, vacations, and educational activities. Sara asks if we have rituals for ourSELVES to mark the back-to-school season, and Caitlyn needs tips for encouraging a painfully shy kid to walk in the pr ... Show More
49m 47s