The Teaching Your Toddler Podcast

How would you feel if your child WANTED to go to school over the summer or was sad when school was closed for a snow day? Mimosa Jones Tunney speaks to the Teaching Your Toddler show about the curriculum that is inspiring kids across the country to WANT to learn, who love school and who get sad for snow days and summer break. Can you imagine? Mimosa is a writer, researcher and the founder of both the American Emergent Curriculum and The School House, a private elementary school in New York. She’s also a former political speech and Hollywood television writer as well as an avid philanthropist.  She's also our favorite kind of guest - an activated mom! She saw the deficiency in public education where schools "dumb down" kids and "teach to the test" instead of what she calls "smart up" the kids and teaching to their interests and passions that keeps them loving learning throughout their school life. Over 300,000 teachers per year leave the profession, often out of frutration. The curriculum The School House offe

Have you ever asked yourself or your family, "How full am I?" BEFORE a meal? Our guest today suggests doing just that to help understand how different our bodies feel before and after eating as a way to regulate your body using Lifestyle Habits. She also says the scale isn't always right - listen to the episode to find out why.  Our guest today, Sam Cutler, is a Harvard-trained nutritional health coach as well as the founder and CEO of the lifestyle medicine app, www.MINDFULL.so According to the website www.MINDFULL.so is "a meal planning and health coaching app where [Sam] guides thousands of women to live a life of food freedom, walking away from counting and tracking towards a life of eating primarily whole, nourishing foods." In this episode Sam discusses the importance of lifestyle habits as primary medicine for health. She emphasizes the role of food in this and shared her personal experiences with a health-conscious upbringing and the challenges she faced when she left home. Sam highli

Stefanie Hohl, M.Ed., has been teaching children to read for years. She holds advanced degrees in both children's literature and early childhood education, and she has experience running preschool, homeschool, and local storytime programs. Stefanie developed the ABC See, Hear, Do Learn-to-Read method to make early reading fun and easy for kids and their parents. Stefanie lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, five children, two very silly dogs and two cuddly cats. The program combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles and has shown to increase learning and retention by 90%. In this episode, Stefanie also shares her journey of developing a parent-friendly reading method and emphasizes the benefits of incorporating movement into learning. Stefanie emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation in phonics before third grade to prevent kids from falling behind and struggling in school, as reading is essential for learning across subjects. The research shows phonics is the best way

What's so SAD about the Standard American Diet? Well, just about everything! In this amazing episode, Zen Honeycutt from Moms Across America will tell you everything you need to know about the horrible things going on with the food supply from some of your favorite restaurants.  From pollution and chemicals, to pharmaceuticals and hormones and beyond, you are never going to believe what is in the food you get at some of the most popular restaurants around the country.  Zen is a return guest for us - her first visit was all about the food supply for school lunches and how, once she changed how her sons were eating, she saw astounding changes in their allergy symptoms and even in her son's symptoms of autism. In this episode, she tells us about the suppliers of many school lunches and those are restauraunts. She'll tell us about that food and what's happening there but she'll also give you some great ideas on how keep your family safe as best you can from these terrifying conditions.  The link to the latest stu

Maybe you've heard of equine therapy but have you heard about "Cow Hug" therapy? Did you know that cows are matriarchal and take care of each other in birth, life and death? We can all learn a thing or two about society, how to take care of each other and about a different way to heal from these amazing animals - cows!  Listen to this ground-breaking episode with Ellie Laks, co-founder of The Gentle Barn and the author of the book Cow Hug Therapy: How the Animals at the Gentle Barn Taught Me about Life, Death, and Everything In Between (ARC, May 21, 2024) Cows are wise and compassionate animal ambassadors who have helped countless people heal from trauma with their gentle, calm manner at the 3 different Gentle Barn locations. Each animal's story in this book will touch your heart and maybe make you cry, like me.  Through the stories of Buddha, her first cow, to many other animals like turkey, pigs, dogs, horses and other cows, their unique personalities will leap off each page to share life lessons with all o

Maybe you've heard this word "codependency" but you don't really know what it means. In this very important episode, Teaching Your Toddler's Marijo Tinlin talks with Dr. Frieda Birnbaum, research psychologist, psychoanalytic therapist, author and podcaster - also known as "Dr. Frieda" about what exactly that means. So, what does codependency look like in a family? Do you have trouble setting boundaries? Asking for what you want? Expressing your true emotions? And what effect does this have on your children both now, in their childhood, and also later in life in their own relationships? Dr. Frieda will talk about all of this in this episode. Dr. Frieda is also a mom to 5 children and is known as the oldest mom in America, having given birth to her twins at the age of 60. She is the author of a book about this experience called Life Begins at 60: A New View of Motherhood, Marriage, and Reinventing Ourselves. She has also recently started a podcast called The Doctor Frieda Show: Pushing the Limits. Find Dr. Fr

Wondering what the signs are that your child may potentially struggle with dyslexia? You HAVE to listen to our interview with Robin Zikmund, a mom-advocate from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE). It's estimated that about 20% of kids struggle with dyslexia; that's one out of five! AND - it's hereditary, so if someone in your child's family struggled with dyslexia, that could mean your child is more likely to struggle too. There's a spectrum for dyslexia too so there's a huge range to how much it might affect someone. Early intervention is KEY, Robin says so this episode is even more important if you have little ones - like before age 5! While this episode is not meant as a diagnosis, Robin will help you start looking for some of the earliest signs of one of the most common learning challenges - she will also help you understand what your next steps are to get the support you need from your child's school. Robin's story of her son's frustration with reading and learning to the point of complete

The episode we've been dying to bring you - Potty Training, or as expert Kim West says Potty Coaching. Listen to the end for a fantastic parenting hack you MUST have when you're out and about with your little one in public restrooms. All the things you've been dying to know about - when is my child ready? How long should it take? What age should I start? Along with some of the common challenges we face when we are working with our little ones. Kim, aka "The Sleep Lady(R)", is a Jool Baby Potty Learning Coach, licensed clinical social worker, working mother, and a leading authority in gentle sleep and potty training. Her sleep and potty coaching programs have supported hundreds of thousands of parents globally, offering a stress-free, non-punitive, and bribe-free approach. Kim is dedicated to making her potty training method widely accessible to parents. Through a collaboration with Jool Baby potty products, available at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Babylist. Kim shares a guide to h

A new survey called "Couples, Money & Retirement" surveyed 1,510 American couples and found that while they trust each other to make decisions, they also face several issues when it comes to planning for retirement. Join us for this mini-episode interview with Marcy Keckler, Vice President of Financial Advice Strategy at Ameriprise Financial about the survey's findings and what couples can do to better communicate about these very important financial issues. About Marcy Keckler: Marcy Keckler, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®, is the Senior Vice President of Financial Advice Strategy at Ameriprise Financial. She leads the overall strategy for financial advice at Ameriprise, enabling thousands of financial advisors to help millions of clients achieve their financial goals and dreams. Keckler has been with Ameriprise Financial for 27 years in a variety of positions in financial planning, marketing, and interactive development. Her commentary and quotes on retirement and personal finance have been featured in numerous med

Did you know crafting is actually teaching your brain engineering principles? You are designing, measuring, coordinating and putting things together. It's helping your brain! Listen to our short episode with Leticia Barr, founder of savvytechmama.com as well as STEM teacher and parenting expert. If you'd like to see the examples she's talking about, find this broadcast on our YouTube channel here.  Leticia is an award-winning technology, education, and parenting blogger who founded TechSavvyMama.com in 2008. Her site combines her knowledge of child development, psychology, education, technology, and parenting to provide useful advice for families. Leticia has taught first grade, middle school computer science and engineering, and served as Technology Magnet Coordinator. She spent most of her public-school career providing professional development to teachers, training them how to integrate technology into their classrooms. Leticia is passionate about STEM education and provides resources to parents encouragin

The workforce market is evolving, and this year we'll see more employers begin to move away from the emphasis on four-year degree requirements to greater recognition of valuable skills. However, there are sizeable skill and opportunity gaps for workers illustrated in the results of the University of Phoenix's recent Career Optimism Index® study. The Index showed that while more than half of Americans are seeking their next career move, 70% would prefer to stay in their company if they were given more opportunities to learn and apply new skills.   Studies by workforce research leaders McKinsey and Deloitte make the case for focusing on skills as well.  In this episode, Doris Savron, vice provost of Colleges, Assessment and Curriculum at University of Phoenix, discusses the transition to skills-based hiring in the workforce. She also talks about how workers can leverage their skills, employers can develop talent, and education leaders can empower learners and job seekers in this new era of skills-based hiring.

What if you could leverage a parenting expert anytime, any day and that expert would remember everything you've talked about to help you build your knowledge and process your thoughts? Well, now you can with the app called Era from Parent Lab. Our guest today is Josh Iwata, the CEO of Parent Lab who tells us how this app can help parents not just with expert advice but also with help journaling and processing your thoughts.  Parent Lab, the industry leader in holistic parenting, announces the launch of their AI-enhanced product called Era, the first app offering parents immediate, personalized support based on the distinctive identity of their children. Era closes the gap between learning a parenting framework and implementing their new understanding by personalizing the application of proven strategies to their child or different children in the same family. With foundations grounded in attachment theory, mindfulness, and behavioral science, Era empathetically and efficiently processes parents' goals and str

Did you know that when you engage in play with your child that not only is it helping your child's brain, but it's also helping YOUR brain?  In this very special episode you will learn how important it is to play with your child, not just because it's good for your child's development but also because it will help you as well.  Our guest today is Dr Jacqueline Harding. She is recognised as an international child development and education expert and author of The Brain that Loves to Play. She is a former BBC Education Editor, Government Consultant, and Headteacher. Find out more about Dr. Harding here: https://www.drjacquelineharding.com https://www.routledge.com/The-Brain-that-Loves-to-Play-A-Visual-Guide-to-Child-Development-Play/Harding/p/book/9781032314396   Please like and subscribe to our podcast and leave a 5-star review so we can reach more parents like you! Subscribe to our podcast by sending an email to subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com  For more expert interviews, fun activities and story time podc

What is the biggest mistake parents make when they're trying to help teach their child to talk? And what are the 3 best ways to help your child talk? Find out today when we talk to Jessie Kensey. Jessie is a pediatric speech language pathologist and toddler mom. She owns a private practice called Simply Speech Therapy in Southern California and provides parent coaching to families of late talkers. Prior to becoming a speech therapist, she was a high school English teacher. Her mission through speech therapy and parent coaching is to celebrate children's unique strengths and interests while helping them communicate successfully at home and in the community. Find Jessie here: website: simplyspeechtherapy.org instagram: simplyspeech_ Please like and subscribe to our podcast and leave a 5-star review so we can reach more parents like you! Subscribe to our updates by sending an email to subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com  For more expert interviews, fun activities and story time podcasts, please visit our website a

Dr. Steve from The Joint Chiropractic will discuss the transformative power of conscious breathing. He'll explain how simple, yet effective breathing techniques can significantly enhance both physical and mental well-being. He'll also talk about how these techniques tie into chiropractic care for a holistic approach to wellness in the new year. Steven Knauf, D.C. is Vice President of Chiropractic and Compliance at The Joint Chiropractic. Dr. Knauf began working at The Joint in 2011. After spending four years as a chiropractor in-clinic, he took the role of Senior Doctor of Chiropractic for 13 of The Joint Corp. clinics and, subsequently, was elevated to a director position at the corporate office. Dr. Knauf has since moved into several leadership positions for The Joint and currently holds the role of Vice President of Chiropractic and Compliance. In August 2017, he was appointed by the governor to serve on the Arizona Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which he held through October 2023.  Please like and subsc

Pickleball, stuffies and so much more! Check out these amazing ideas for your holiday gift-giving that you can find at your local shops! Shop local and support small busines this holiday season. If you or someone you knows runs an online shopping site, check out the amazing products that Faire.com can provide too! Lifestyle expert Meaghan B Murphy is an author, on-air personality, lifestyle and health expert, a home-hack master and certified trainer. In her best-selling book, Your Fully Charged Life, now in 3 languages, she shares the secret to finding the yay in every day. Meaghan is also a longtime magazine editor at places like Good Housekeeping, Cosmo, and SELF. Meaghan married her younger brother’s best friend and together they live in New Jersey with their 3 young kids and labradoodle Dempsey.  About Faire:  Faire is an online wholesale marketplace built on the belief that the future is local — there are millions of independent retailers across North America, Europe, and Australia alone. Faire uses the

What is NEXT for you? Do you have a dream to do something you've never done before? Something on your heart you just cannot shake? Listen to this episode with Stephanie Nelson, the author of the book Imagine More Do What You Love, Discover Your Potential. She helps inspire moms like you to find those new projects, careers or passions you are interested in.  Stephanie Nelson is the founder of the Coupon Mom website, which started in 2001 when she had two young children and grew to have 8 million members. As a national savings expert, Stephanie appeared on many national and local television news shows, including Good Morning America, The Today Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Today she is encouraging others to use what they love to do to help other people, in partnership with God. Her new book, "Imagine More" shares a practical roadmap for readers to get started on their own journeys. https://stephanienelson.com/ Instagram: @stephanienelson_cm  Amazon book listing: https://tinyurl.com/5n8m5m6f   Please like an

What if you could make history so interesting your kids would beg to hear more about it? That's what Bill Stevenson has done with his book series called "Ricky's Dream Trip" where his grandson and his "PopPop" go on adventures across time and space including to Ancient China, Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, Colonial America and even Outer Space. The illustrations are simple and Bill has sprinkled in fun facts along the way to keep it interesting and educational. Great books for #homeschoolers, especially #classicaleducation focused programs.  William (Bill) Stevenson, Ed. D. is an acclaimed children’s book author and a retired award-winning accountant. His doctorate in education along with inspiration from his grandson Ricky, led him to write the Ricky’s Dream Trip book series. In this series, PopPop and Ricky go on adventures and discover Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Colonial America, and even blast off into outer space and dive under the sea. The most recent book combines th

Charter Schools - What are they? Where are they? Why would you want to consider one for your child's education?  Join us for this very helpful episode that can help you find a charter school for your child, and if not, how to possibly get one started. Also, find out the difference between a magnet school and a charter school and what rights you have as a parent in your child's education.  Nina Rees is the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the leading organization committed to advancing the charter school movement.  Nina has over 20 years of experience in Washington, D.C., most recently as Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives for Knowledge Universe, a leading global education company with investments in early childhood education, before- and after-school programs, and online instruction. Prior to that, Nina was the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education, overseeing the administration of 28 grant programs and

Do you know what the top 9 allergens are? Do you know the "new kid on the block" on the list? Did you know kids can grow out of allergies? Do you know which ones they tend to grow out of and which ones will probably stay with them for life? Elizabeth Pecoraro joins the TYT show to discuss living with allergens, what people should know about how to live with them and how to cook without them. Her new cookbook is called The Allergy-Friendly Cookbook, available now and features 60 delicious recipes, all without the top 9 allergens. Elizabeth is a New York-based mom of two children with allergies. She shares her stories of how they discovered her kids' allergies, what they did about them and how she learned how to cook healthy foods for them and finally, how she decided to share them through her cookbook. Elizabeth is also a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Currently, Elizabeth owns a private practice, Eating Healthy 4 Life, LLC, in Westchester, NY where she sees patients (adults and children), both wit