High five! One little learner, previously labeled “the biter,” went from the brink of expulsion to the benefits of inclusion .Another little learner, whose parents were told they were a “disruption,” became a cherished member of a new class. One little learner even said “I love you!”
Read MoreLearn Play Grow is about more than learning through play. At its heart, it about honoring the dignity of children and the worthiness of childhood. The Renegade Play Summit with Kristen Peterson, Mr. Chazz, That Early Childhood Nerd, and more, has clarified my commitment and strengthened my practice.
Read MoreIt's ok to not be ok. Getting comfortable with discomfort, our own and our little loves' and learners', is an important life skill...one I am learning and teaching a lot these days. It's hard, and I'm here for it.
Read MoreDo family gatherings, especially around the holidays, feel like dysfunctional family bingo? You are not alone, and change is possible. Here are some brilliant mindsets and practices from Margaret Webb's interview on the Tilt Parenting podcast and some that I share with my clients.
Read MoreMy understanding and practice of gratitude are ever evolving. I started with 3 things I was grateful for at the end of the day, and now I savor dozens of moments of gratitude throughout the day. I also have a gratitude jar with notes to savor the good days and ground me on the challenging days. Here’s the wisdom gratitude has brought me.
Read MoreOne of my little learner has been telling me about his “wedgies,” or so I thought. See how play unlocked connection, communication, and clarity about what were in fact “red Jeeps.!”
Read MoreYou can maximize family-school collaboration and have productive conversations during conferences by getting connected, curious, perspective, insight, and commitment. Read on to learn how!
Read MoreBack to school brings up all the feels…for children and grownups. Your feels are real, and YOU deserve support. Here are 5 mindsets and strategies, including holding space for feelings, getting support from other adults, normalizing challenges, learning from mistakes, and giving grace for new beginnings, to support YOU during back to school.
Read MoreStructured choice empowers parents and teachers to define finite options and empowers children to choose among them. This strategy can transform power struggles and smooth transitions at home, in the classroom, and beyond!
Read MoreI’m moving! After years of thinking, I am taking action! For years, I have thought about having more space, but I convinced myself I did not want it. Owning our wanting means we are accountable for (in)action. Instead, I told myself I was not worthy of spending the money or taking up more space in the world. This is a pattern I see in my life and in the lives of the parents and teachers I support.
Read MoreAre you tired of repeating directions? Do you feel like you are nagging? Does everything turn into a power struggle? There has to be a better way! It’ called connection. Connection comes before compliance.
Building connection is more powerful and effective than trying to convince children to do something or demanding their compliance. Here's a boost of confidence and 3 strategies you can use today to build the connection your children need to support the compliance you are seeking.
Read MoreWe found a resource that specialized in child-centered play, classroom inclusion, and parent coaching, all in one! Rebecca supported Samir and Aryan in the classroom, our living room, the playground, the bookstore, the fire station and more! She met the boys where they were, always at eye level, and offered guidance and modeling for positive ways to engage. Her guidance supported not only the boys, but also us as parents, their teachers, and their peers.
Read MoreThere are so many life lessons in the telenovela Jane the Virgin. The importance of inclusion is one that really spoke to me. When Jane's son Mateo was struggling at school, she was overwhelmed and uncertain about how to support him. Sound familiar?
Jane was a true champion for Mateo! She engaged the support of a professional to work one on one with him at school, build on his strengths, and help him experience success. The family's story transformed from overwhelm to order, bad reports to building rapport, and almost needing to leave the school to finding a sense of belonging.
Read More“He’s just naughty” said the teacher. “The teacher hates my child” thought the parents. How do you transform judgement into trust to rebuilt the sacred family-school relationship? You ask for help, and you benefit from an objective expert who can observe, reflect, and make recommendations. I am that help, and this is the story of how judgement transformed into trust that benefited a little learner, his family, a teaching team, and the whole class.
Read MoreTeacher appreciation gifts one week a year are nice. Honoring teachers as people and professionals is necessary EVERY day. Teachers are people, too. They have thoughts, feelings, and experiences that deserve to be respected. Teachers are also life-long learners. They are brilliant not only for what they teach, but also for how they learn and grow! Teachers deserved to be honored as people and elevated as professionals. Here’s how I think it can happen and how I’m helping.
Read MoreWhen I launched the Power of Play Guide, parents and teachers reached out asking "What about adults?" Adults need to play, too! Our lives literally depend on play. When we play, we nurture our relationships, support our physical and mental health, and increase creativity and productivity. And yet, most adults treat play as a luxury or a sin. We tell ourselves that play is something we earn, not something of which we are intrinsically worthy. We burn ourselves out rather than igniting our sparks. It's time for adult swim, and the genius of my grown up play models will be our launchpad for reaching our greatest potential and living our greatest life through PLAY!
Read MoreYou are enough. Shame, judgment, and pushing won’t help you feel like enough. Compassion, empathy, and grace will. You can (re)define “enough” and what success means to you. You can break out of overwhelm and stop the shame spiral. You can step into your power. I know you can!
The magic happens when you step away from living, parenting, and teaching as extreme sports. That’s not for you, and it’s not how you shine. Your shine comes from building on your strengths
Read MoreWe have all experienced a little one screaming because another child took a toy. You are not alone. It’s universal.
Validation is also universal. BOTH the screaming child AND the child who took the toy need validation to move forward. This 4 step process validates each child’s emotions, helps children understand each other, and works collaboratively to problem solve.
Read MoreEven when we don’t understand, we can help our children feel seen and safe. We can hold space. We can validate. We can encourage expression. Holding space means acknowledging that everyone has a right to feel what they feel. There are no bad or wrong feelings. Feelings are ours to feel without judgement. It’s especially important to hold space for ourselves as people, parents, and partners, especially when we’re stretching outside our comfort zones.
Read MoreWhen parents ask me “How can I get my child to talk?” I reframe the question to “How can we support communication?” And I answer them with “Promote, don’t prompt.”
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