Home
Podcasts
Not Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
Not Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
Not Just Cute, the Podcast is like listening to a conversation with your nerdy best friend who happens to be obsessed with child development. Each episode covers a different topic related to parenting, early childhood education, and healthy, whole child development in order to support teachers and parents in serving young children.
Episodes
Episode 87: Technology and ECE (with Emily Cherkin)
In her January 2026 Congressional testimony, Emily Cherkin put it simply: "Parents are not naive — we know our children will use technology for work and life in adulthood. We just want to ensure they have a childhood first." That testimony — covering the impact of screens, AI, and EdTech on kids — echoed so much of what I hear from parents and teachers alike: real questions about technology's pl
Episode 86: Play-Based Learning - A Scoping Review of the Research
A scoping review published in the Early Childhood Education Journal analyzed over 50 studies on play-based learning for ages 4-6, and the findings are too significant to ignore. This research synthesis shows play-based learning enhances cognitive skills, executive function, literacy, mathematics, and social-emotional development—yet we're not acting on it. Parents remain skeptical of pla
Episode 85: Making the Case for Joy in Playful Early Learning
Joy is one of those concepts that everyone understands until you try to define it. And yet, the research is remarkably clear about what it does. In this episode, we explore what joy actually is, why it matters so profoundly for young children, and what it looks like in the early childhood classroom. From the neuroscience of how joy changes the brain's chemistry and learning capacity, to the rela
Episode 84: The Essential Role of Agency in Play and Early Learning
Agency — the ability to make choices, act on them, and feel that those actions matter — is key to play and learning. In this episode, we dig into what agency really means for young children, tracing it through the work of foundational developmental theorists and grounding it in current research on how play, agency, and learning work together as a powerful, reinforcing system. Along the way, we na
Episode 83: Schema Play Theory (with Heather Bernt-Santy)
Professor and early childhood advocate Heather Bernt-Santy is widely known from her podcast as That Early Childhood Nerd. In this episode, Heather talks about her new book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood. Heather shares her journey through the early childhood profession and how writing her first book was a full-circle moment. She breaks down what schema play
Episode 82: Second Read - There's Good in the World. And It's Worth Fighting For.
In this episode, we revisit one of the most-read pieces published on Not Just Cute: "There's Good in the World. And It's Worth Fighting For." Written nearly a decade ago (and based on quotes from movies released TWO decades ago, which were based on books written NINE decades ago.....) yet increasingly relevant today, this reflection explores the role of educators, parents, and everyday helpers in
Episode 81: Not Just Cute Book Study - Best Moments and Big Ideas
Is play the missing piece in today's educational puzzle? That's the question we wrestled with during a three-part book study I hosted this summer with early educators from across North America. Together, we unpacked key themes from my new book, Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood—and now I've pulled the highlights into this one-hour recap just for you. In this ep
Episode 80: Actions of Play (with Heather Jackson)
Unlock the secrets to transforming early childhood education by focusing on the actions — not just the topics — that captivate young minds. Join me as I sit down with Heather Jackson, author of "Actions of Play," to explore how play schemas can revolutionize the way we approach learning. Discover how understanding the verbs that inspire children can lead to rich, inquiry-based projects that reson
Episode 79: Building a Blended PreK Model (with Machelle Scogin)
This episode explores the transformative blended pre-K program at Prosper Independent School District in Texas, championed by Michelle Scogin, Director of Early Childhood and Learning Services. Discover how this program successfully merges special and general education along with joy, wonder, and compassion. Machelle and her amazing team are committed to building a developmentally appropriate envi
Episode 78: We Could All Use the Science of JOY
I had an experience a few months ago that began with a fantastic workshop with one of my favorite schools, and *seemed* to end with a broken down, broken into truck. But the real ending came full circle when I found that what I had been teaching that early childhood team the day before, was *exactly* what I needed to remember in that moment. File this one under – everything we ever needed to kno
Episode 77: Why Play? (With Rae Pica)
Rae Pica has been a fierce advocate for children and childhood for over 40 years. And during that time she's written a whole bookshelf full of books on the topic. Today, she's sharing her latest addition to that bookshelf, it came out just last week, Why Play?: How to Make Play an Essential Part of Early Education. In this newest book, Rae dives into the importance of play in early childhood
Episode 76: A Play-Based Evolution (with Amber Unger)
When Amber Unger (also known as the Cream City Teacher) began her career in education, she thought she'd be working with teenagers. As her path led her to a 4K public school classroom in the middle of a shift toward play-based learning, she discovered a new passion! Today, she helps other teachers on their own journeys to better understand and implement intentional play-based practices. Get the
Episode 75: Empowering Parents as Teachers - Mobile Early Education Outreach Team (With Play Smart Literacy)
In episode 74, I introduced you to Michele Dineen-White, the creator of Play Smart Literacy in Chicago. Play Smart Literacy is a truly mobile outreach program, meaning that rather than hoping parents can overcome the burden of traveling to a specific location to receive services, Play Smart Literacy goes out into the community, particularly in vulnerable areas, to contact families and meet them r
Episode 74: Innovative Early Education Outreach that Actually Reaches the Children - Play Smart Literacy (With Michelle Dineen-White & Talmage Steele)
Michele Dinneen-White was working in an early education outreach program when she realized something. The program wasn't actually reaching out to the families who needed it most. Those families were still required to find the time and the means to get their child to the center in order to receive services. And for many, that barrier was just too much to overcome. So Michele decided to create s
Episode 73: Challenging Behaviors in the Preschool Classroom (with Prerna Richards)
Challenging behaviors seem to be on the rise in preschool classrooms. Prerna Richards, of Together We Grow, specializes in supporting educators with a behavior coaching program. In this episode, she shares what she believes is behind this increase, and what can be done to better help our youngest learners. Find Show Notes : https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode73
Episode 72: Fairy Tales and Resilience (with Stephanie Goloway, EdD)
Once upon a time..... ...Happily ever after. These are common fairy tale phrases. But they're more than just staid story stems. These common phrases -- and the stories in between -- hold not only a recipe for imagination and fantasy but also for resilience. Stephanie Goloway (EdD) is a powerful advocate for the importance of imagination, play, and storytelling. As a now-emeritus professor,
Episode 71: Bringing Families to the Library with Play (with Tammie Benham)
Most people associate the library with silence. But what if we associated it with play? In this episode, I'm talking with Tammie Benham, Youth Services Consultant for the Southeast Kansas Library System. Tammie believes that where libraries, children, and families intersect, magic is possible. And she's set out to make that magic through a family engagement program focused on using play to tea
Episode 70: Why We Need Play for All
We started this series with the overall argument for why play is essential for human development. The next three episodes dug deep into three main themes: Why we need play for mental health and wellness, for brain development and real learning, and for soft skill development. Then, we shifted to several shorter episodes, touching on specific types of play and how they contribute to development.
Episode 69: Why We Play with Art
What does fingerpainting have to do with the Space Race? In this episode, we're talking about art and creative play and their role in learning, thinking, and innovating. Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode69
Episode 68: Why We Play Pretend
This episode's focus is the dress-up area and dramatic play. We'll talk about the powerful developmental support that comes from preschoolers dressing up and playing pretend. Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode68
Episode 67: Why We Play at the Sensory Table
This episode's focus is sensory play. We'll take a look at why these bins full of rice, water, goop, and other media aren't just a big mess waiting to happen, they're a really important key to supporting healthy child development. Find Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode67
Episode 66: Why We Play with Blocks
This episode's focus is the block area. We look at what's going on in those busy building centers of the early childhood classroom, and why it's important to keep those big spaces open for construction, even when there's pressure to move the blocks out to make room for "real school". Don't underestimate the simple nature of a collection of rectangles, squares, and triangles made out of hardwood m
Episode 65: Why We Play for Soft Skills
While some schools may claim they're moving away from play and toward more direct academic instruction as a way to prepare children for their future careers, business leaders repeatedly share that soft skills are becoming increasingly relevant in the workplaces of today and of the future. In this episode, we'll talk about how pushing out play also pushes out prime opportunities for building essen
Episode 64: Why We Play for Brain Development and Real Learning
This is the third episode in a nine-episode series! (Find them all here.) In this episode, we're digging into why we play for brain development and real learning. There are many people who say they support play for young children, but question whether or not we need play in school, or who might argue that play is important, as long as we get the work of learning done first. So today, we'll tal
Episode 63: Why We Play for Mental Health
In this episode, we're digging into why we play for mental health. It's not just something we think is true or that sounds nice, it's a claim that's backed up by science and statistics. There's something about play that is essential to developing and maintaining our mental health. We'll dig into those findings and what they mean for our youngest learners. Find show notes at https://notjustcute.c
Episode 62: The Why We Play Special Series
I'm excited to be kicking off something special today. For years, I've been speaking at workshops and conferences about the power of play in the early learning environment, which sparked the series of parent letters I've written, called Why We Play. This month, I'll be sharing a special podcast series with the same name: Why We Play. Every Tuesday and Thursday in February, you'll find a new epi
Episode 61: Getting Curious About PreK Research (with Dr. Dale Farran)
Find Show Notes Here Dr. Dale Farran has spent the better part of the last 50 years researching early childhood education. But some of her most famous research has come about rather recently, as she directs the evaluation of the Tennessee Voluntary PreK Program. This study is one of the most fascinating pieces of recent research in early childhood education. With a randomly controlled trial,
Episode 60: Calm the Chaos (with Dayna Abraham)
Challenging behaviors are nothing new in early childhood education. And yet, there's something different going on. For a variety of reasons, challenging behaviors seem to be increasing both in intensity and frequency. Dayna Abraham is no stranger to challenging behaviors. As a board certified teacher and a mom to 3 neuro-divergent children, Dayna has sat on both sides of the table when it c
Episode 59: Preparing Preservice Teachers (with Kelli Barker)
I'm talking to someone I've wanted to share with you for a long time. One of my best friends from grad school, Kelli Barker. She's now the director of the Adelle and Dale Young child development lab school at Utah State University. She's sharing what a lab school is as well as what she's learned about helping college students and preservice teachers understand human development and apply th
Episode 58: The Science of Reading in Action K-2 (with Malia Hollowell)
Malia Hollowell is the author of The Science of Reading in Action and the creator of the site Playdough to Plato. She's a National Board Certified educator who's helping to put the science of reading into action with playful, hands on experiences. Her book, website, and Instagram are full of fantastic examples and resources. Her primary focus is grades K-2, but depending on where your littles
Episode 57: Science of Reading in Preschool?
Have you been asked how your preschool room aligns with the Science of Reading? Or maybe you've seen videos of two year olds reading and the sales page headlines saying that simply applying the *science* can give all toddlers the advantage they deserve? Well, in this episode, we're adding on to the basic background and history of the science of reading found in the previous episode, and digging
Episode 56: Exploring the Science of Reading
I've talked and written a lot about early literacy over the years, but I've avoided one very popular term: The Science of Reading. I decided to keep my head down and my work research-based and just stay out of the fray of nailing down the specific jargon. But with more and more states and districts requiring "Science of Reading compliant curriculum," it's important for early childhood educato
Episode 55: Finding Your Voice for Advocacy & Writing (with Rae Pica)
Rae Pica is a force. As a speaker, consultant, and the author of over 20 books in addition to articles in many popular publications, Rae Pica has been an outspoken voice for children and childhood for more than 4 decades. Constant in that career has been her passion for protecting childhood and calling others to action. In this episode, she's talking with me about her newest book on advocating
Episode 54: Taking the Next Step for Your Program (with Shannon McGuire Bowman & Tara Beard)
Childcare Resources of Indian River in Vero Beach, Florida began with three tenacious educators going out of their way to create something better for 25 children. Today, the ripple effect of their efforts has grown into something that impacts 3000 children and still growing. In this episode I'm talking with Childcare Resources' executive director, Shannon McGuire Bowman as well as the directo
Episode 53: Whole Child Solutions to Brain Based Challenges with Dr. Nicole Beurkens
When holistic psychologist Dr. Nicole Beurkens attends to a brain-based challenge, she doesn't look only at the ways she could change the brain. She looks at the many things that impact the brain and starts there. Nutrition, sleep, environment, input. There's so much that contributes to the challenging behaviors we see -- and we have more control over many of them than we think we do! If you're
Episode 52: Beyond the 30 Million Words (with Dr. Rachel Romeo)
I'm talking with Dr. Rachel Romeo about her follow up research to Hart & Risley's famous 30 million word gap. She's sharing how language shapes development and why interactions matter beyond word counts. Show notes and links at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode52
Episode 51: The Legacy of Fred Rogers (with Dr. Dana Winters)
In this episode, I'm talking with Dr. Dana Winters, executive director of the Fred Rogers Institute about how the work of Fred Rogers continues today. It's one of my favorites. You'll want the show notes. Find them at: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode51
Episode 50: Rethinking the Entire Approach to Preschool (Diving into the NPR Article)
Early last month, NPR published an article with the title, "A top researcher says it's time to rethink our entire approach to preschool". Maybe you saw it, or like me, maybe you had several people send it to you because they knew you'd find it fascinating. The article featured developmental psychologist and researcher Dr. Dale Farran and her reflections on the most recent round of startling out
Episode 49: Leaders Lounge with Beth Cannon
Find Show Notes at notjustcute.com/podcast/episode49 This episode comes from a livestream I did with Leaders Lounge summit organizer, Beth Cannon. We talked about her experience helping early education teams get clear about their purpose and about their process. We take on a topic that makes many educators uncomfortable – business – and talk about how certain business concepts, help us build
Episode 48: Connecting Through Music (with Laurie Berkner)
If you've spent much time listening to children's music, you've likely heard of Laurie Berkner. And if you haven't, you'll be thanking me for the introduction later. Laurie Berkner has a gift not only for creating engaging music that even adults actually like, but for truly seeing, hearing, and respecting children in the process. For her, each performance is really about connection first. If y
Episode 47: Supporting New Teachers (with Vanessa Levin)
I'm talking with Vanessa Levin of PreK Pages and Teaching Trailblazers about how we can better support each other as educators!
Episode 46: The Power of Nature Play (with Meghan Fitzgerald of Tinkergarten)
Meghan Fitzgerald has combined her many professional and personal experiences with her passion for learning, play, and nature, to create Tinkergarten, a program that supports caregivers in providing children with powerful outdoor play experiences. In this episode, she shares her insights on how and why playing in nature benefits every child's development and supports healthier, happier growth. Sh
Episode 45: Getting Parents on Board with Play (with Rae Pica)
I had a great conversation recently with my friend, Rae Pica, about how and why we should get parents on board with play-based, developmentally appropriate education. Show Notes: www.https://notjustcute.com/podast/episode45
Episode 44: Fairy Dust Teaching (with Sally Haughey)
You may be familiar with Sally Haughey's amazing work through Fairy Dust Teaching, a site committed to respecting the whole child, community, play, and education as a living, breathing art form. She began the site in 2010, as a place to collect and share her own thoughts as an early childhood educator. In the eleven years since then, it has grown into a global community and has been the springbo
Episode 43: "The Uncontrollable Child" (with Matis Miller)
Matis Miller is the author of the new book, The Uncontrollable Child. He's a licensed clinical social worker and therapist and the founder, director, and supervisor of The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of New Jersey. Certified in both cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies, Matis brings a unique perspective on the balance point between extremes – something that is often missing i
Episode 42: Thrivers (with Dr. Michele Borba)
Dr. Borba's newest book, THRIVERS: The Surprising Reason Why Some Kids Struggle While Others Shine, combines scientific studies, input from dozens of researchers/experts focusing on resilience, and interviews with more than 100 young people from all walks of life. Through all of that research, Dr. Borba found something surprising: the difference between those who struggle and those who succeed co
Episode 41: Lessons from Remote Teaching (with Allison McDonald)
One year ago, Allison McDonald was teaching preschool in the state of Washington and writing her popular blog, No Time for Flash Cards. Like many other teachers, her class was suddenly canceled when the pandemic hit and the world shut down. After the initial shock, her school began talking about how they could safely move forward and continue serving children and families. While working with h
Episode 40: What's New with DAP?
Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode40 After the U.S.- based National Association for the Education of Young Children – or NAEYC – launched its national accreditation system for early childhood learning programs in the early 1980s, they made an interesting observation. While their accreditation criteria frequently referenced the term "developmentally appropriate practice", when t
Episode 39: Let's Play, America! (with Pat Rumbagh)
Several years ago, Pat Rumbaugh was nicknamed "The Play Lady." And the nickname stuck. After spending 25 years getting young people to play through her work as a PE teacher and tennis coach, she co-founded Let's Play America and took on the task of encouraging people of ALL ages across the nation to prioritize play. We'll be talking about why play matters and how we can do a better job of setti
Episode 38: Finding the Verbs and the Magic in Early Childhood Education (with Heather Jackson)
I'm so excited for you to meet Heather Jackson, director of the Reggio-inspired Sunflower School. In this episode she shares her thoughts on verbs as thematic units, slowing down to capture the true intentions of the children we work with, and the beauty and importance in the magical thinking of childhood. Whether you aspire to teach specifically from the Reggio philosophy or not, you will find so
Episode 37: What if We Taught the Way Children Learn (with Rae Pica)
Rae Pica is a force to be reckoned with. With her unapologetic straight-talk, she has been advocating for children and for whole child education for decades, filling shelves of books with her words and inspiring educators around the world. Her latest book, What if We taught the Way Children Learn, fits the pattern, calling into question the many instances where our common practices seem to be
Episode 36: Resilience (with Dr. Nefertiti Poyner)
Today I'm talking with Dr. Nefertiti Poyner of the Devereaux Center for Resilient Children and I'm going to to tell you right now, she is an absolute delight. Educators and the children they love and teach are being stretched in every direction, Dr. Poyner shares some of the principles that create the "ordinary magic" that helps us all to bounce back. She shares a fantastic script for building
Episode 35: A Back to School Pep Talk
It's back to school time, and normally that means getting back to the structure of something familiar….but this year is totally different. And it's different for each of you. I've been thinking about how to kick off this new school year, with a pep talk of sorts, and somehow address all of the challenges and all of these differences in a way that applies to each of you in your unique circumstanc
Episode 34: Play, Standards, and Literacy (with Vanessa Levin)
Today I'm talking with Vanessa Levin, experienced early childhood educator and creator of the wildly popular site Pre-K Pages, which is chock full of activities and resources for early childhood teachers. She's an accomplished trainer and advocate who's passionate about helping educators teach well AND save time. I asked her to talk with me today about the importance of play in early childhood e
Episode 33: Grieving the School Year We Thought We'd Have
As states and districts begin this trickling process of making final announcements about the school year, many closing -at least physically – for the remainder of the school year, I've seen heartbreak reflected over and over in educators around the country. These feelings of loss. Over the progress we were making. Over the plans we'd set out. Over the routine we loved – a hundred little precio
Episode 32: How Interactions Build Young Brains
In this episode, we'll cover a quick review of what serve and return interactions are as well as what the newest research tells us about why they're so important. Find Show Notes at: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode32
Episode 31: Engaging Young Scientists, with Asia Citro
Author of Zoey & Sassafras and creator of the publishing house, Innovation Press, Asia Citro is truly a woman on a mission to help young children think creatively and see themselves as scientists. You'll want to catch what Asia has to say about helping children see themselves as scientists and how we can all learn to see that science is truly everywhere. I think she'll give you a lot to think ab
Episode 30: Kids in the Kitchen, with Tiffany Dahle
Cooking can be a powerful activity for young children. From literacy skills, math skills, fine motor skills, and sensory and science experiences, along with the confidence that comes from taking risks, learning from failures, and sharing time and food with others, time in the kitchen with kids is time well spent. I've invited my friend, Tiffany Dahle to talk with us about her experiences with teac
Episode 29: Acting Out (with Rae Pica)
Why are there so many reports of children frequently falling out of their seats? Why is behavior becoming more and more of a challenge in the classroom? And why are delayed fine motor skills becoming more and more prevalent? One common thread, as my guest Rae Pica will explain, is movement. In Rae's new book, Acting Out, she addresses not only why a lack of movement is causing serious problems
Episode 28: Second Read - Advanced Content at Kindergarten - What can we really learn from this controversial new study?
Back at the beginning of 2019 a study made a bit of a splash as headlines claimed that it demonstrated that the increased academic expectations in the early years don't compromise social and emotional development as some fear. I felt like there may be a bit of stretch from the data to the headlines, so I decided to nerd out on the actual study and break it down for all of you. https://notjustcute.
Episode 27: Planning a Parent Play Night at Your School
Today I'm talking about how to get parents on board with play in your classrooms, right from the start. Just like the children, each parent in your classroom comes with a different set of life experiences and perspectives. For some, the concept that their child's best learning will be through play is a new revelation. Some may be expecting more of a sit down and do worksheets environment. Other
Episode 26: The Artful Parent - Kids' Art and Creativity (with Jean Van't Hul)
Today I'm talking with the Artful Parent, Jean VanHult. She is what she calls an "art enabler", a term that I love! She's also the author of the book, The Artful Parent. You can find show notes for this episode at www.https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode26
Episode 25: Online Preschool- Panacea or Placebo?
Online preschool options are growing in popularity. Just this past spring, Ted Talk organizers created a bit of a stir in the early childhood community when they awarded a portion of their Audacious Project funding to an online preschool company, Waterford UPSTART. While proponents suggest this is an affordable and accessible option for families that may not otherwise have preschool options, det
Episode 24: Cribsheet with Emily Oster -- Making Decisions as a Parent
There are many decisions to make as a parent. Breastfeed or bottle? Cosleep or no? Where to find quality care? And when you reach out for more information while making these decisions, the waters sometimes seem to only get more cloudy. Emily Oster's new book, Cribsheet, tackles many common decisions make in the early years. But she's not here to tell you what to do. She's taking a different a
Episode 23: Brave Learner - Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life (with Julie Bogart)
Julie Bogart is an accomplished writer and the creator of a popular language arts program, Brave Writer. She's also mom to five (now grown) children, whom she homeschooled for 17 years. Her new book, Brave Learner – Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life, shares so many perspectives about inspiring wonder and engaging in responsive learning with your children. It's written spec
Episode 22: Inspiring Wonder, Awe, and Empathy - Spiritual Development in Young Children (with Deborah Schein PhD)
development can be talked about in an academic construct, I received Deborah Schein's book (Inspiring Wonder, Awe, and Empathy- Spiritual Development in Young Children) and found confirmation for some of those things that I had found in the research as well. That spiritual development takes us beyond ourselves and into something bigger. Wonder, awe, and a deeper sense of meaning in life and rela
Episode 21: Your Mistakes Aren't Ruining Your Kids - The importance of active repair.
This episode was inspired by a real-life conversation with a friend of mine who was venting about not handling a parenting situation the way she WISHED she would have….the way she KNEW she should have. But the morning was just too much and she snapped. She didn't handle the challenge the way she wished she had and the whole thing left her and her child feeling horrible. Now what? Sound familiar? I
Episode 20: Second Read -- Play is Efficient!
Play isn't what we do when we're done with the curriculum. Play IS the curriculum. Listen to a second read of the post, Play is Efficient. Learn more about the project, WHY WE PLAY >> www.notjustcute.com/whyweplay
Episode 19: Positive Discipline for Today's Busy (& Overwhelmed) Parent (Kristina Bill & Joy Marchese)
I am so excited today to be talking with Kristina Bill and Joy Marchese, who, along with Jane Nelsen, co-authored the book, Positive Discipline for Today's Busy (& Overwhelmed): Parent How to Balance Work, Parenting, & Self for Lasting Well-Being. Both women share wonderful insight in our conversation, as they talk, not only about the book, but how the principles they're writing about have changed
Episode 18: Ten Minutes for Early Childood Education
I was recently invited to speak for 10 minutes on the importance of early childhood education as part of a local private preschool's annual fundraiser. I was more than happy to do so. But I'll be honest – it's harder for me to only speak for 10 minutes than it so for me to do a one or two hour presentation. What do you say to a room full of parents and community members? What's the message you wis
Episode 17: Bounceback Parenting with Alissa Marquess
Alissa Marquess is adamant that she is not a parenting expert. She's a mom who makes a lot of mistakes like we all do – but she's learned something along the way that has helped her step back from the emphasis on perfection in today's parenting culture and focus on learning, growing, and connecting in the process. Even in the messy parts. She's sharing her insight a new book to be released on Apr
Episode 16: Advocating for Movement with Rae Pica
Many of us are seeing that grief in the classroom as different policies and practices seem to forget that our children have bodies. As one of the foremost child development experts in education, Rae Pica has devoted nearly 40 years to advocating for more play and more movement. She's sharing what she's discovered about movement and whole child development throughout her career and giving tips for
Episode 15: Discovering the Culture of Childhood (Conclusion)
In today's episode, I'm sharing the fifth and final installment in a series of conversations with Emily Plank, author of Discovering The Culture of Childhood. Instead of one broad overview, we've been diving in deep over the course of several months. You can get caught up with previous episodes by going to the podcast homepage at notjustcute.com/podcast or searching on iTunes or Stitcher. If you H
Episode 14: Finding the Right Preschool for Your Child with Deborah Stewart
In this episode, I asked Deb to join me for a conversation about how to choose the right preschool for your child. My hope is that what we share will help parents have more clarity and confidence in making this sometimes overwhelming decision, and that it will also help schools to guide parents through that process as well. What should you look for? What questions should you ask? We'll dive int
Episode 13: The Preschool Reading Dilemma
Today, I'm taking on a couple of common questions about early education and reading. The questions seem to be opposites, but are really two sides of the same coin. In one form, I hear, "Why don't you teach reading?" The other, "Isn't it damaging to teach kids reading in preschool?" Both questions are well-intended, but hinge on some common misunderstandings I hope to address today. You can find th
Episode 12: Discovering the Culture of Childhood with Emily Plank (Chapters 5 & 6)
This is the fourth installment of my book talk with Emily Plank, author of Discovering The Culture of Childhood. It's the read-along selection this year, for Not Just Cute readers. That means instead of one overview, I've been having several in-depth chats with Emily. You can get caught up with previous episodes by going to the podcast homepage at notjustcute.com/podcast . I've enjoyed all of o
Episode 11: Second Read- Performance Hang Ups
Performance is the currency of education today. While assessments will always be important, I can't help but wonder about the overemphasis on performance to the detriment of real assessment, and ultimately our kids. Today I'm sharing a Second Read and also talking about some things I've observed lately that leave me scratching my head. You can get show notes at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode1
Episode 10: Puzzling Out the Science of PreK
Today, I'm talking about the Consensus Statement released by the Brookings Institute on the Current State of Scientific Knowledge on Pre Kindergarten Effects. Ten of the top scholars on issues of early learning came together and outlined what they agree is known and needs to be known about the pre kindergarten experience. They're tackling questions like what outcomes can we expect in the long and
Episode 9: Second Read - The Vital Importance of a Strong Foundation
This second read goes back all the way to 2014, but it's a concept I still use frequently when speaking to groups about the importance of the foundational work in early childhood, and how it can -unfortunately- often be overlooked. Just like the foundation of our homes, foundational learning may sometimes be hard to see, but is critical to supporting everything that follows.
Episode 8: Discovering the Culture of Childhood (Chapters 3&4) with Emily Plank
Today, I'm talking again with Emily Plank, author of Discovering The Culture of Childhood. It's the read-along selection this year, for Not Just Cute readers. That means instead of one overview, I get to have several in-depth chats with Emily. It's been an eye-opener for me, and I know I'm not the only one because I've been hearing a lot of great things from listeners as well! In this episode, we'
Recommended
Learn English B1 with Daily News | English Listening Practice
Bad Friends
The Swerve Podcast: Obscure Topics | Conspiracy Theories
The Bread and Banter Podcast
The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament
Deadline: White House
English Vocabulary Help
این نقطه
Solved Murders - True Crime Stories
紐約鳥｜New York Aperture
Doctor Zhivago Slow Read
Apple News In Conversation
