Raising Innovators

Marnie Forestieri
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This is your dedicated space for parents, grandparents, and caregivers navigating the joys—and yes, the challenges—of raising young children. We believe every child is born an innovator. They're naturally creative, full of curiosity, unafraid of failure, and natural communicators. But how do we nurture these incredible traits as they grow? That's what we'll explore together. Through thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and relatable stories, our episodes are designed to help you unlock your child's full potential. We'll give you practical tools to preserve the magic of those early years while preparing them for a fast-changing world. Parenting is an adventure filled with twists, turns, and triumphs—and you don't have to go through it alone. Join us, and together, we'll celebrate the future innovators in your life. Tune in now and discover how to keep their spark alive!

  1. 2025-12-11

    Smart Door-Slam Safety with Moshun (Protecting Little Fingers)

    Door slams are not "little accidents." Each year, an estimated 300,000 children visit the ER due to door-related injuries. In this episode of Raising Innovators, host Marnie Forestieri talks with Tim Boundy, Co-Founder & CEO of Moshun, about a smart, mechanical way to stop slams without permanently closing a door. Why this matters (for schools & families) Classrooms and childcare centers need safety that works with real life—open when it's calm, protective when it's not. Moshun's device uses non-Newtonian fluid to let a door close normally at slow speed and instantly resist if slammed by wind or force. It's simple, retrofit-friendly, and built to safeguard tiny fingers. What you'll learn The origin story: a windy vacation that sparked an invention How rheology (fluid science) powers a "smart" mechanical closer Practical installs for schools now, and home versions coming Future innovations: hidden hinges, sliding doors, movable walls Pro tip for directors: show proactive safety on every school tour Now on YouTube — watch now. If this episode helped you, subscribe, share it with another parent or school leader, and follow for weekly future-ready practices.

    7 min

  2. 2025-12-09

    Hands-On Learning & Healthy Tech: Raising Future-Ready Kids with Illumine | Lenita Flores

    Early childhood is changing fast — and so is the world our children are growing up in. 🌎✨  In this episode of Raising Innovators, Marnie Forestieri sits down with Lenita Flores, Director of School Success at Illumine, to explore what it truly means to prepare young children for the future. From hands-on learning and child development milestones to AI-powered tools that support teachers, this conversation uncovers how to balance play-based learning, leadership, and healthy technology in early education. If you're a parent, school owner, director, or early-childhood educator, this episode will challenge old assumptions, answer big questions, and offer practical insights you can use today. 🌱 What You'll Learn Why early learners must move, explore, and play — not sit still The biggest mistake parents make with developmental milestones How hands-on experience shaped Lenita's leadership as a school director How Illumine uses AI and multilingual tools to support teachers and families Why technology should be an active tool, not passive screen time How to prepare children for the world of tomorrow, not the past Website: https://marnieforestieri.com  Facebook: /marnieforestieri  LinkedIn: /marnie-forestieri  Instagram: /marnie_forestieri 🎙️ Guest — Lenita Flores (Illumine) Email: lenita@myillumine.com  Website: https://illumine.app 🏫 Young Innovators Schools Website: https://yiaschools.com  Facebook: /younginnovatorsSchools  Instagram: /younginnovatorsSchools  YouTube: /younginnovatorsSchools 🎧 Raising Innovators Podcast 💡 Helping parents raise resilient, confident, future-ready kids.

    12 min

  3. 2025-11-11

    The "Steady Beat" Hack: 5-Minute Games to Boost Focus & Math With Dr. Debby Mitchell

    What if a simple clapping game could make your child better at math and reading? 💡 In this super hands-on workshop episode of Raising Innovators, Marnie Forestieri sits down with kinesthetic learning specialist and author, Dr. Debby Mitchell, to unpack the power of "Steady Beat." Discover the powerful, research-backed correlation between a child's ability to keep a simple beat and their future academic success. This isn't just about music—it's a foundational brain-building skill that starts in the womb and enhances everything from problem-solving to emotional regulation. Learn how to use everyday household items to: ✨ Build the foundational brain pathways for math and literacy 🧠 Send direct signals to your child's brain to improve focus (especially for short attention spans) 👏 Use simple tools like paper plates, bean bags, and cups as brain-boosters 🧘 Teach patience, social skills, and even leadership through fun "copy me" games Whether your child is a toddler or in first grade, this episode provides practical, fun, and free activities to build a smarter, more focused brain. 🔖 EPISODE MENU (CHAPTERS)  0:00 Intro: The research behind movement, music, and academic achievement  0:45 Welcoming "Steady Beat" expert Dr. Debby Mitchell  1:24 What is "Steady Beat"? (It's not just rhythm)  1:32 The "Steady Beat" is your heartbeat, your breathing, and windshield wipers  2:00 Why Dr. Mitchell built her dissertation on Steady Beat  2:30 The proven correlation: Steady Beat, Math, and Reading success in first-graders  2:54 When does Steady Beat start? (Spoiler: In the womb)  3:05 How to build Steady Beat in infants (rocking, patting, etc.)  4:05 Why are some people "off-beat"? (The 'Aerobics Class' problem)  4:20 It's not natural ability, it's a "foundational skill" that was missed  4:50 HANDS-ON WORKSHOP: Let's Do It!  4:55 Demo 1: Why we use paper plates (They make noise!)  5:10 Steady Beat vs. Rhythm (Irregular Beat) Explained  5:25 Game 1: "Copy Me" with different speeds  6:10 Why noise (like a paper bag) "sends a signal to the brain"  6:25 When to start these games with your toddler  7:00 How to add counting to build math skills  7:15 Demo 2: Using DIY Rhythm Sticks (from paper bags)  8:20 The 3 Main Benefits: Mathematical patterns, repetition, and problem-solving  8:42 The hidden benefit: Teaching children "to wait"  8:50 How this builds social skills and language development  9:20 Demo 3: Using Bean Bags (for short attention spans)  9:50 Demo 4: Using Steady Beat to teach body parts  10:35 Demo 5: Using cups for different sounds  11:30 Why you MUST let your child be the leader 12:20 When is a child ready for rhythm? (Hint: After age 4)  13:00 How to use nursery rhymes ("Twinkle Twinkle") to teach beat  13:30 The power of being a "mindful and immersive" parent  14:30 Are some kids just "natural" drummers?  15:10 Why musically-inclined children often excel in math 16:00 "I'm good at math, but bad at aerobics!" Why?  16:15 The difference between fine motor, gross motor, and movement experience 18:00 How many minutes a day? (Dr. Mitchell's #1 Rule)  18:15 "I always stop when they're having fun."  19:45 Dr. Mitchell's final advice: "Be creative" and "Make it a family affair"  20:20 Final thoughts & How to support the podcast 👩‍💻 Hosted by Marnie Forestieri  Website: https://marnieforestieri.com/  Facebook: /marnieforestieri  LinkedIn: /marnie-forestieri  Instagram: /marnie_forestieri 🎙️ Guest: Dr. Debby Mitchell (Puedes agregar aquí los links de la Dra. Mitchell si los tienes) 🏫 Connect with Young Innovators Schools Website: https://yiaschools.com  Facebook: /younginnovatorsSchools  Instagram: /younginnovatorsSchools  YouTube: /younginnovatorsSchools 🎧 Raising Innovators Podcast 💡 Helping parents raise resilient, confident, future-ready kids.

    18 min

  4. 2025-11-06

    Inside the Montessori Mindset | Tim Seldin & Marnie on Raising Confident, Independent Kids

    What if education wasn't about control  but confidence, independence, and joy? 💡 In this powerful episode of Raising Innovators, Marnie Forestieri sits down with Tim Seldin, author, consultant, and President of the Montessori Society, to unpack the timeless wisdom of the Montessori philosophy. Discover how this 120-year-old approach continues to shape today's most creative, compassionate, and independent thinkers  from classrooms to boardrooms around the world. 🌍 Learn how Montessori education empowers children to: ✨ Develop self-motivation and focus through hands-on learning 🌱 Build independence and confidence from a young age 💬 Cultivate respect, empathy, and problem-solving 🏫 Thrive without rigid tests or grades Whether you're an educator, parent, or simply curious about how children learn best, this episode will transform the way you see education and parenting.   👩‍💻 Hosted by Marnie Forestieri Website: https://marnieforestieri.com/ Facebook: /marnieforestieri LinkedIn: /marnie-forestieri Instagram: /marnie_forestieri 🎙️ Guest: Tim Seldin Instagram: @imseldin Facebook: @tim.seldin 🏫 Connect with Young Innovators Schools Website: https://yiaschools.com Facebook: /younginnovatorsSchools Instagram: /younginnovatorsSchools YouTube: /younginnovatorsSchools 🎧 Raising Innovators Podcast 💡 Helping parents raise resilient, confident, future-ready kids.

    23 min

  5. 2025-11-06

    The Future-Ready Parent Mindset | How to Raise Confident Kids in an Uncertain World

    Parenting in the age of uncertainty can feel overwhelming. 🌎 We're raising kids in a world that changes faster than we can keep up  new technologies, new expectations, new fears. In this episode of Raising Innovators, Marnie Forestieri unpacks the Future-Ready Parent Mindset: how to replace control with curiosity, fear with adaptability, and anxiety with confidence. Learn how to model lifelong learning, emotional flexibility, and calm curiosity  the real skills our children need to thrive in an unpredictable world. 💫 ✨ Key takeaway: A future-ready parent doesn't have all the answers  they model the courage to keep learning. Your calm curiosity is your child's greatest stability. 👩‍💻 Hosted by Marnie Forestieri Website: https://marnieforestieri.com/  Facebook: /marnieforestieri  LinkedIn: /marnie-forestieri  Instagram: /marnie_forestieri Connect with  Young Innovators Schools  Website: https://yiaschools.com  Facebook: /younginnovatorsSchools Instagram: /younginnovatorsSchools YouTube: /younginnovatorsSchools 🎧 Raising Innovators Podcast 💡 Helping parents raise resilient, confident, future-ready kids. #FutureReadyParent #RaisingInnovators #ParentingMindset #MarnieForestieri #ParentingInUncertainty

    8 min

  6. 2025-10-25

    The Movement Chart: A Doctor's Play-Based Method to Boost Your Child's Brain

    Are you worried your child can't focus or spends too much time on screens? 🧠 Discover how movement and play can build your child's brain connections and focus. Join Dr. Debby Mitchell and Marnie Forestieri as they reveal The Movement Chart — a simple framework to boost learning through play. Why this matters Future-ready abilities focus, problem-solving, and pre-writing don't start at a desk; they start on the floor. When kids connect words like high/low and fast/slow to physical actions, they lay the neural groundwork for abstract thinking and literacy. What you'll get (busy-parent benefits) A simple Movement Chart to guide playful learning at home Screen-free activities using items you already have The clear bridge from gross motor to fine motor and pre-writing A fun weekly family challenge to get everyone moving and learning Try these 3 movement games this week Body Tag (Simon Says): "Touch head, shoulders, knees…" Naming parts builds body awareness + vocabulary. Shape Challenge with a Scarf: Draw big circles, squares, zigzags in the air gross motor that supports pre-writing. Bean-Bag Balance: Balance on head/shoulder/hand while walking focus + control in one playful drill. Weekly Challenge: Choose one Movement Chart concept (e.g., fast/slow or high/low) and say it out loud while your child moves. Watch how language + action link in real time. Connect with Dr. Debby Mitchell (Guest) YouTube: /@drdebbygeo  Facebook: /drdebbygeo  X: https://x.com/DrDebbyGeo  Pinterest: /drdebbygeo   Connect with Marnie Forestieri (Host) Website: https://marnieforestieri.com/  Facebook: /marnieforestieri  LinkedIn: /marnie-forestieri  Instagram: /marnie_forestieri Connect with Young Innovators Schools Website: https://www.younginnovatorsSchools.com/  Facebook: /younginnovatorsSchools  Instagram: /younginnovatorsSchools  YouTube: /younginnovatorsSchools 💬 Comment "MOVE" if you'll try one of these games this week! 👇 Subscribe for weekly Future-Ready Parenting episodes. #childdevelopment #playbasedlearning #raisinginnovators

    22 min

  7. 2025-10-14

    The Future-Ready Family: Turn Everyday Moments into Innovation Labs

    Busy between work, school, and chores? You don't need extra hours or complicated projects to raise creative, confident kids. In this episode of Raising Innovators, Marnie Forestieri shows you how to transform routines you already have—meals, chores, and bedtime—into "mini innovation labs" that build real-world skills in minutes a day.   Why this matters Future-ready skills—creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability—don't only grow in classrooms. They grow in the in-between moments at home. When kids connect learning to daily life, they see innovation as something they can practice and live, every single day.   What you'll gain (benefits for busy parents)   A simple "no-extra-time" framework to spark creativity at home   Three repeatable family rituals that build confidence and teamwork   Conversation starters that reduce screens and increase curiosity   A weekly challenge to make change doable (and fun)   Research-backed perspective (authority in plain English)   Predictable family routines are consistently linked with better self-regulation and social-emotional growth.   Open-ended questions ("What if…?") strengthen divergent thinking and flexible problem-solving.   Storytelling at bedtime boosts language development, narrative skills, and empathy. In short: small, consistent habits > occasional big activities.   Episode Menu (Timestamps)   00:00 — The surprising solution: you don't need more time 00:19 — The real parent problem: the time squeeze 00:33 — The core idea: turn routines into mini innovation labs 00:59 — Everyday examples that become learning opportunities 01:47 — Ritual #1: Family table question games 02:12 — Ritual #2: Chore team-up challenges 02:33 — Ritual #3: Bedtime story flips 03:06 — Key message: transform, don't add 03:20 — Weekly challenge: pick one routine and add a playful twist   Try these 3 micro-rituals this week   Table Question Game: One creative question at dinner ("If our house could fly, where would we go first?"). Builds imagination + psychological safety to share ideas.   Chore Team-Ups: Pair people and gamify ("clean-up crew vs. the clock"). Trains collaboration, roles, and accountability.   Bedtime Story Flip: Your child invents a short story with a simple prompt ("What happens if the moon turns green?"). Grows language, confidence, and creativity.   Your weekly challenge: Pick one routine and add a playful twist. Watch confidence and curiosity grow.   Connect with Marnie Forestieri (Host) Website: https://marnieforestieri.com/   Instagram: /raising.innovators LinkedIn: /marnie-forestieri   Connect with Young Innovators Academy Website: https://www.younginnovatorsacademy.com/   Instagram: /younginnovatorsacademy Facebook: /younginnovatorsacademy YouTube: /younginnovatorsacademy   If this helped your family, hit Subscribe, share it with another parent, and follow us on all platforms for weekly future-ready rituals. 🚀 SEO Tags / Etiquetas (para YouTube)   future ready kids, innovation at home, creativity for kids, family routines, parenting tips, raising innovators podcast, young innovators academy, dinner questions for kids, bedtime storytelling, chores teamwork, problem solving for kids, parent hacks, STEAM at home, early childhood learning, social emotional skills, curiosity activities, confidence building for kids, practical parenting, Marnie Forestieri, everyday learning, no extra time parenting, mini innovation labs, family rituals, communication with kids, creativity questions

    4 min

  8. 2025-10-13

    3 Digital Parenting Strategies That Work

    😱 How do we find the right balance between technology and parenting? A mother asked the one question we ALL have. We want our kids to be ready for a digital future, but we worry about too much screen time. Is more tech the answer? In this episode, Marnie Forestieri reveals why preparing kids for the future DOESN'T mean more hours on a tablet. The key is to turn them into CREATORS, not passive consumers. Discover 3 practical strategies you can apply THIS WEEK to: 🧠 Use technology as a creative tool, not just a toy. 🧩 Foster "unplugged" problem-solving to build the foundations of critical thinking. 💡 Spark "curiosity conversations" that awaken their ingenuity and teach them to wonder how the world works. 🔔 If this episode was helpful, please SHARE it with another parent navigating these questions! And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a strategy. Let us know in the comments: Which of the 3 ideas will you try first?   Digital Parenting, Digital Balance, Screen Time, Digital Natives, Creators vs Consumers, Digital Literacy, Future-Ready Kids, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Kids Creativity, Parenting, Fatherhood, Parenting tips, Marnie Forestieri, Raising Innovators, Kids and Technology, Responsible tech use, Educational toys, Screen-free activities, Empathy in children

    6 min
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About

This is your dedicated space for parents, grandparents, and caregivers navigating the joys—and yes, the challenges—of raising young children. We believe every child is born an innovator. They're naturally creative, full of curiosity, unafraid of failure, and natural communicators. But how do we nurture these incredible traits as they grow? That's what we'll explore together. Through thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and relatable stories, our episodes are designed to help you unlock your child's full potential. We'll give you practical tools to preserve the magic of those early years while preparing them for a fast-changing world. Parenting is an adventure filled with twists, turns, and triumphs—and you don't have to go through it alone. Join us, and together, we'll celebrate the future innovators in your life. Tune in now and discover how to keep their spark alive!

Information

  • Creator
    Marnie Forestieri
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Raising Innovators