logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2025
31m 15s

The 7 Stages of Play: Building Your Chil...

Erin Hyer
About this episode
Most parents think play begins with dolls and pretend kitchens — but the earliest stages of play start long before that… and missing them could mean missing crucial communication growth. From nibbling on their fists, to peekaboo and pretend play -- your child’s first three years are full of small moments that build a BIG foundation. In this episode, Erin Hy ... Show More
Up next
Mar 3
The Most Overlooked Disruptor in Your Child’s Development (It’s in Almost Every Home) Ep 145
There's something running in the background of most homes with young children right now. Not something dramatic. Not something you'd even think to question.The TV. Just on. Nobody watching. Life happening around it.And after nearly four decades of clinical work with children and ... Show More
1h 8m
Feb 24
Are We Making Toddlerhood Too Complicated? Ep 144
Parents have never had more information about early childhood than they do today. We track sleep, research milestones, optimize toys, and fill our days with activities meant to help our toddlers thrive.And yet - many parents quietly wonder why their child still feels overwhelmed, ... Show More
25m 56s
Feb 17
Why Some Kids Cooperate - And Others Struggle Ep 143
Are calm, cooperative kids just born that way?Recently, there’s been growing conversation around Japanese parenting - how children there seem more respectful, more self-disciplined, and more socially aware.But is it cultural magic?Or is it development?In this episode of Talking T ... Show More
40m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2025
Building Resilience in Your Kids
<p>#087 In this episode Lisa discusses how she would approach building resilience in kids. Her goal with calm leadership parenting is to raise free thinkers and problem solvers which she further goes into in the episode. <br/><br/>Lastly, Lisa addresses seven listener questions, ... Show More
26m 39s
Nov 2023
Screaming Toddlers: Why They Do It and How To Stop It
Dr. Cathryn delves into the piercing world of toddler shrieks and screams, a phase that's as challenging as it is common. We share a story that brings this issue close to home for many, discuss why toddlers go through this phase and present big-hearted strategies to manage and mi ... Show More
14m 38s
Aug 2019
#381 Jumpstart Expressive Language in Late Talking Toddlers
Join Laura Mize, M.S., CCC-SLP of teachmetotalk.com as she discusses effective strategies for helping late talking toddlers begin to talk. When there are no other developmental  red flags ( meaning a child is socially connected to other people, has an adequate attention span when ... Show More
1h 6m
Aug 2025
Getting Your Kids to Listen By Focusing on Connection
<p>#083 In this episode Lisa is discussing her thoughts on getting kids to listen by focusing on connection. She touches on the classroom analogy which covers how kids react differently to a pleaser, and authority, and a leader, whether she recommends using the BratBusters Behavi ... Show More
27m 33s
Oct 2025
The missing skill that helps parents and kids stay calm: Interoception
Send a textLast week, we uncovered how your child’s behaviour is really their nervous system communicating.Today, we’re going deeper, inside the body, to explore the science of interoception, the hidden sense that helps us feel and understand our emotions.My guest, Laura Petix, i ... Show More
39m 12s
Dec 2024
Rude or Just Learning? Big-Hearted Fixes for Toddler Challenges
In this episode, Dr. Cathryn dives into three common toddler parenting challenges with big-hearted, practical solutions: Rudeness: Learn how to validate your toddler’s feelings without reinforcing rude behavior, teach social alternatives like waving instead of talking, and defuse ... Show More
15m 19s
Oct 2024
How To Raise An Awesome Kid
In this episode, Dr. Cathryn discusses how to avoid raising an entitled child and instead foster resilience. She begins by explaining the characteristics of entitled behavior in children while clarifying that normal toddler self-centeredness is different from entitlement. Dr. Cat ... Show More
14m 46s
Nov 2024
Does Your Toddler WANT Everything they See?
tail spinning
3m 46s
Sep 2024
Preparing your child for preschool using play
Send a textIn 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, and th ... Show More
57m 47s
Sep 2025
Episode #27: Help! My Toddler Says a Lot of Sounds Wrong — Should I Be Worried?
It's typical for toddlers and preschoolers not to be able to say all speech sounds correctly. It's a learning process. Maybe your child says "tar" for star or "nana" for banana. But how do you know if it's just a normal stage or something more? In this episode, we're digging into ... Show More
23m 9s