Big conversations about safety do not have to feel scary, and they do not have to wait until a child is old enough to "understand." In this live Summit Session, host Deej Jalal sits down with trauma-informed advocacy leader and board-certified mental health coach Ashley-Lauren Elrod to talk about what prevention-first child safety actually looks like in a working household. Ashley-Lauren walks through Maya's Magic Word, her story-based safety program for children ages two to six, and how it teaches body autonomy, consent, and the difference between safe and unsafe secrets through storytelling, simple affirmations, and everyday routines. She makes the case that professional nannies are household leaders and protectors who often co-create these systems alongside the families they work with, and she shares how clear, ongoing parent-caregiver communication keeps safety practices consistent across every adult in the home. The conversation also covers practical early warning signs of possible abuse in very young children, with attention to shifts in a child's emotional state around specific people or places, plus the case for a daily body scan that catches unexplained bruises or injuries. Ashley-Lauren points listeners toward resources from the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and the National Children's Alliance, and shares what is next for Maya's Magic Word, including an interactive curriculum and more accessible versions of the book, starting with Spanish. Timestamps 00:00 Summit Session with Ashley-Lauren Elrod00:22 Introduction02:01 Interview with Ashley-Lauren Elrod19:49 Live Audience Q&A27:07 Closing Remarks About Our Guest Ashley-Lauren Elrod is a trauma-informed advocacy leader, board-certified mental health coach, speaker, author, and survivor of child sexual abuse and domestic violence. She is the creator of Maya's Magic Word, a prevention-first safety education platform for ages two to six built in partnership with the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and Imagine Theater Chicago, combining an illustrated children's book, interactive theater, a trauma-informed early learning curriculum, and caregiver training. Ashley-Lauren partnered with Dove on an Emmy-nominated, Cannes Golden Lion-winning campaign, speaks nationally on abuse and trafficking prevention, and founded Visionary Woman Productions, a social impact storytelling company. Her mission is simple and bold: teach children that their voice is powerful, their body is their own, and that saying "no" is a form of magic. Connect with Ashley-Lauren: Website: ashleylaurenelrod.comMaya's Magic Word: ashleylaurenelrod.com/mayasmagicwordGet the book: ashleylaurenelrod.com/product-page/maya-s-magic-wordSupport the program: ashleylaurenelrod.com/mayasmagicaldonationsInstagram: @ashleylaurenofficialTikTok: @missrevolutionary About Your Host Deej Jalal is the Onboarding Coordinator at Adventure Nannies and a regular host of Adventure Nannies On Air Summit Sessions, where he guides conversations with the educators, clinicians, and advocates shaping the childcare industry. About Summit Sessions Summit Sessions are live virtual learning events hosted by Adventure Nannies for nannies, newborn care specialists, private educators, and the families who work with them. Each session brings in a guest expert, includes a live audience Q&A, and gets recorded and released as an episode of Adventure Nannies On Air. Register for an upcoming session or catch up on past ones at adventurenannies.com/summit-sessions. About Adventure Nannies Adventure Nannies is a nationwide placement agency connecting active, traveling, and adventure-loving families with career nannies, newborn care specialists, and private educators. Founded in 2012, we build personalized matches based on skills, personality, and lifestyle fit, and we support a growing community of caregivers through ongoing education, Summit Sessions, and Nanny Camp. Learn more at adventurenannies.com. Listen and Subscribe Adventure Nannies On Air is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe so you never miss a Summit Session, and share this episode with a caregiver or family who needs it. Have any questions? Reach out to us on Facebook, and Instagram, and check out the resources on our blog!If you’d like to join our newsletter to be the first to know about our new positions, click here.Are you looking for an exceptional nanny, newborn care specialist, or private educator? Get in touch!Do you have what it takes to be an Adventure Nanny? Apply Now!