Rediscovering Childhood

Mireia Lopez
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Rediscovering Childhood is a refreshing podcast that invites listeners to explore the world of parenting and education through genuine conversations. Each episode features insightful discussions with parents, teachers, therapists, and experts who share their experiences and wisdom. The podcast encourages a re-examination of traditional approaches to raising children, offering practical tips for fostering deeper connections. With a focus on finding joy in everyday moments, "Rediscovering Childhood" celebrates the magic of childhood empowering listeners to nurture meaningful relationships.

  1. Aug 31

    Ep72 - Why Your Classroom Might Be Working Against You

    If you've ever set up what should be the "perfect" reading corner and watched children walk straight past it, or found yourself giving the same reminder for the fifth time that day, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I share a different way to look at what's actually going on. Your classroom's environment is shaping children's thoughts, emotions and behaviour long before you ever say a word. Once you see it this way, managing behaviour stops being something you're constantly firefighting and becomes something you can shift by changing the space itself. I walk through a simple three-question process you can use any time something in your room isn't working, the six areas of development I use to check whether a space is really supporting every child, and four practical feelings you can build into your classroom this term, each with a takeaway you can act on straight away. If you're looking for something practical rather than more theory, this episode gives you a repeatable way to read your room and know what to change. In this episode: Why behaviour is the last clue, not the first, and what to look at insteadThree questions to ask when a space isn't working: what am I noticing, what might the child be communicating, what could I change?Six areas of development, and how to use them to read a roomFour feelings every classroom space can create, and simple ways to build each oneHow this connects to Aistear's reflective cycle Want to go further? I run a full webinar for early years educators on creating environments that support children's development. Get in touch through Discovery Playtime to find out more: www.discoveryplaytime.ieReady to set up the right resources and furniture for your space? Clever Kids can help: www.cleverkids.ie

  2. Aug 3

    Ep. 71 - Are We Preparing Kids For The Future, Or The Past?

    The world has changed dramatically in just a few decades. Technology, careers, and the skills children need to thrive are evolving faster than ever, yet our education system still looks remarkably similar to the one designed generations ago. In this episode, host Mireia Lopez sits down with Dr. Enrique Cachafeiro, educational researcher, former high school teacher, and training coordinator at Duke University, to explore a bold question: if we were designing education today, would we create the system we currently have? Enrique traces how our modern classroom was built on a 200-year-old Prussian model designed to produce obedient factory workers, not curious, adaptable thinkers. He breaks down the difference between improvement (a fancier version of the same old thing) and true innovation (rethinking the whole system from the ground up). 💡 In this episode, you'll learn: 🕰️ Why our education system hasn't changed since the industrial revolution, and why that's a problem 🎓 The difference between improving school and truly innovating it 🧠 Why grades and standardized tests often measure compliance, not potential ✏️ Small, practical ways teachers can start innovating in their own classrooms today Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or parent who's ever wondered why school feels so disconnected from real life, this conversation will challenge what you think you know about education, and leave you asking the most important question of all: are we really preparing our children for the world they'll actually grow up in? 🎧 Listen now and start rethinking what education could be. Connect with Dr. Enrique Cachafeiro: 💼 LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-cachafeiro/ Rediscovering Childhood is hosted by Mireia Lopez,founder of Discovery Playtime.

    Ep. 71 - Are We Preparing Kids For The Future, Or The Past?

  3. Jul 13

    Ep. 70 - How Martial Arts Can Rebuild A Child's Confidence

    🥋 What if the "difficult" child in your classroom or home isn't misbehaving, they're just waiting for someone to see what they're capable of? In this episode of Rediscovering Childhood, host Mireia Lopez sits down with Amie Weaver, two-time world kickboxing gold medalist, founder of AW Kickboxing, and former high school teacher, for a raw and deeply personal conversation about confidence, belonging, and the power of being truly seen. Amie shares how martial arts became a turning point in her own childhood, growing up as a "hyperactive," misunderstood kid who was constantly told to sit down, stop talking, and behave. She opens up about the teachers who dismissed her, coaches who believed in her, and how she now uses her own story to help hundreds of children, especially those with ADHD, autism, or difficult home lives, find their strength. 💡 In this episode, you'll learn: 🗣️Why "disruptive" behaviour is often a child communicating something deeper 🎯How martial arts gives kids (and adults) a healthy outlet for release and self-regulation 🌟The simple "Confidence Circle" technique Amie uses to help even the most shy child feel seen 🚫Why using activities like sport as punishment can backfire, and what to do instead Whether you're a parent, teacher, or anyone who works withchildren, this conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest moment of belief can change the entire course of a child's life.   🎧 Listen now to discover how a simple change of perspective on how we view a struggling child, can create positive change that can last a lifetime.   Connect with Amie Weaver: 📸 Instagram - @ awkickboxingteam @ boudicapromotions 💼 LinkedIn  - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amie-weaver-98424b229/   Rediscovering Childhood is hosted by Mireia Lopez,founder of Discovery Playtime.

    Ep. 70 - How Martial Arts Can Rebuild A Child's Confidence

  4. Jun 29

    Ep. 69 - What No One Teaches Teachers About Children's Behaviour

    What if the most challenging behaviour you've ever seen in a classroom or at home wasn't a problem to be managed, but a message to be understood? 🧠 In this compelling and hopeful episode, Mireia sits down with Yvonne Power, Director of the Irish Play Therapy Community Association, accredited play therapist, certified Sand Play therapist, NLP practitioner, clinical creative supervisor, and Amazon number one best-selling author. With years of experience supporting children, families, teachers, and therapists, Yvonne brings a perspective that is both grounded in neuroscience and deeply human. This is one of those conversations that will make you stop, reflect, and see children, and yourself, completely differently.💛 In this episode you'll discover: • 🧠 Why behaviour is always communication, and what children are really trying to tell us • 👩‍🏫 What is genuinely missing from teacher training, and why it urgently needs to change • 💛 Why connection must always come before correction, and how to alter that today • 🌿 How a teacher's own nervous system directly impacts every child in the room • 🎯 Simple, practical tools you can bring into your classroom or home starting right now This episode is not about adding more to your already full plate. It's about rethinking how you show up, and discovering that small, intentional shifts in connection can transform everything. 🌟 🎧 Listen now and share with a parent, teacher, or school leader who needs to hear this. This episode is proudly sponsored by: Little Vista, a tablet-based childcare tool that simplifies activity recording, eliminates paperwork, connects parents, and frees childcare professionals up to do what they do best…care for children! Find out more by clicking the links below. 🌟 Website - littlevista.ie 💼 LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/company/crechecom/ 👥 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LittleVista/ Connect with Yvonne Power: 📸 Instagram - @seedsofgrowthtraining 💼 LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-power-250405212/ Rediscovering Childhood is hosted by Mireia Lopez,founder of Discovery Playtime.

    Ep. 69 - What No One Teaches Teachers About Children's Behaviour

  5. Jun 1

    Ep. 68 - Is Finland's Education System Really That Good?

    Finland's education system is famous. But what does itactually look, feel, and sound like from inside a classroom? In this episode, Mireia sits down with Heidi Verkama, a primary school teacher in Northern Finland specialising in Swedish and English, to go beyond the headlines and uncover what really makes Finnish schools work, and what parents and educators everywhere can take from it today. From the 45-15 rule that transforms concentration andbehaviour, to a school culture built entirely on trust, Heidi shares the daily rhythms, values, and quiet habits that create calmer classrooms, more confident children, and a completely different relationship with learning. You'll discover: • 🕐 Why Finland doesn't start formal school until age 7, and what children do instead that sets them up for life • 🌿 How structured outdoor breaks every hour builds self-regulation, focus, and genuine joy in learning • 📝 Why continuous assessment and self-reflection outperform high-stakes testing • 🍽️ How free school lunches became an educational moment, teaching social skills, healthy habits, and connection • 💛 What happens in a classroom where children are truly trusted This episode won't tell you Finland is perfect. It will ask you something more important: what kind of childhood are we creating, and what becomes possible when schools value play, trust, and wellbeing as much as academic achievement? 🎧 Listen now and share with a parent, teacher, or school leader who needs to hear this. This episode is proudly sponsored by: MAIA Purposeful Play, a business that offers sensory play sessions for families, schools and events, creating rich, open-ended environments where babies, toddlers and children are trusted as capable, curious learners who explore at their own pace. MAIA Build Lab is a six-week programme delivered in primary schools, using KEVA planks and the Dream Design Do approach to invite children into collaborative construction, problem-solving and creative design in line with the Irish Primary Curriculum. Find out more by clicking the links below. 🌟 MAIA Purposeful Play - https://www.maiapurposefulplay.ie/ 📸 Instagram @maia_purposefulplay 🌟 MAIA Build Lab - @maiabuildlab 👥 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/maiapurposefulplay/ Connect with Heidi Verkama: 📸 Instagram - @heidiverkama Rediscovering Childhood is hosted by Mireia Lopez,founder of Discovery Playtime.

    Ep. 68 - Is Finland's Education System Really That Good?

  6. May 25

    Ep. 67 - Stop Avoiding Your Child's Feelings: Do This Instead

    Are you accidentally teaching your child to avoid their emotions? 💛 Most parents instinctively say "you're amazing, don't worry" when their child is upset, and while it comes from love, it may be doing more harm than good. In this powerful episode, Mireia sits down with NLP trainer, mindset coach, and bestselling author Danielle Serpico, to explore why validating feelings, not dismissing them, is the key to raising emotionally resilient children. In this episode you'll discover: 🧠 Why reassuring your child too quickly teaches them to look outside themselves for validation, and how to break that cycle 💬 The simple Acknowledge, Validate, Reassure method you can use the next time your child comes home with big emotions 🔁 How unprocessed childhood feelings become reactive adult patterns, and what you can do immediately to change that 💪 Why the words "you are" are more powerful than you think, and how to use them to build your child's confidence and identity This conversation will completely change how you see yourchild's difficult moments, and how to respond, rather than react to them. 🎧 Listen now and start creating positive change in your child's emotional world today. 🔗 Connect with Danielle Serpico 🌐 Website: https://theblackbeltmastermind.com/ 📸 Instagram: @danielleserpico 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-serpico/?originalSubdomain=ie 📖 Book: The Blackbelt Mastermind: The Ultimate Guide to having a Fighter Mindset and Winning in Life 🔗 Connect with Mireia 🌐 Website: https://discoveryplaytime.ie/ 📸 Instagram: @rediscovering.childhood@discoveryplaytime 💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theparentingconnection/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoveryplaytime/ If this episode resonated with you, please take a momentto leave a review or share it with another parent or educator. Every share creates a ripple effect. 🌊

    Ep. 67 - Stop Avoiding Your Child's Feelings: Do This Instead

  7. May 4

    Ep. 66 - Are Your Everyday Words Quietly Damaging Your Child's Confidence?

    Are your everyday words damaging your child's confidence without you even realising it? 💛 As parents, we never intend to harm, but the words we use daily may be shaping our children's identity in ways we don't see. In this thought-provoking episode, Mia sits down with bestselling author Jody Hill to explore the science and heart behind how our voice becomes our child's inner voice, for better or for worse. In this episode you'll discover: ✅ Why speaking identity labels like "you're so messy" or "you're so shy" can silently reshape how your child sees themselves ✅ How to replace confidence-busting phrases with words that build resilience and self-belief ✅ What to do when your child says, "I'm stupid" or "nobody likes me" ✅ How to change your language patterns even if criticism is all you've ever known ✅ Why your words matter more than social media, peers, or any outside influence Whether you're a parent, teacher, or anyone who works withchildren, this conversation will make you pause, reflect, and walk away with tools you can use today. 🎙️ 🔗 Connect with Jody Hill: 🌐 Website: https://www.itsjodyhill.com/ 📸 Instagram: @JodyHillParenting 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsjodyhill/ 📖 Book: The Parent's Secret Superpower: 7 Simple Strategies to Raise Confident & Capable Kids With the Power of Your Words 📖 Featured Book: Because of You, This is Me 🔗 Connect with Mia 🌐 Website: https://discoveryplaytime.ie/ 📸 Instagram: @rediscovering.childhood @discoveryplaytime 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theparentingconnection/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discoveryplaytime/ If this episode resonated with you, please take a momentto leave a review or share it with another parent or educator. Every share creates a ripple effect. 🌊

    Ep. 66 - Are Your Everyday Words Quietly Damaging Your Child's Confidence?

  8. Apr 27

    Ep. 65 - The Thing Nobody Told You About Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys

    What if your biggest parenting trigger has nothing to dowith your child, and everything to do with your past? In this episode, Mia sits down with Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, psychologist and emotional intelligence expert, to explore how the emotional patterns stored in our brains from childhood shape the way we parent today, often without us even realising it. Dr. Vanderhorst reveals why so many men grow up emotionally disconnected, how well-meaning parents unconsciously limit their children's emotional lives, and what it actually takes to break those generational cycles. In this episode you'll discover: • Why naming an emotion is the single most powerful thing you can do for your child's development • How boys are systematically taught to suppress emotions, and the lifelong cost of that • What your triggers are really telling you about your own unfinished history • Practical ways to create emotional safety for your children starting today Whether you're raising a sensitive boy, navigating a partner who shuts down, or simply tired of reacting in ways that don't feel like you, this conversation will change how you see yourself and your children. 🎧 Listen now and start breaking the cycle. Connect with Gloria Vanderhorst: 🌐 Website: https://drvanderhorst.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloria-vanderhorst-ph-d-730826b/

    Ep. 65 - The Thing Nobody Told You About Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys
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About

Rediscovering Childhood is a refreshing podcast that invites listeners to explore the world of parenting and education through genuine conversations. Each episode features insightful discussions with parents, teachers, therapists, and experts who share their experiences and wisdom. The podcast encourages a re-examination of traditional approaches to raising children, offering practical tips for fostering deeper connections. With a focus on finding joy in everyday moments, "Rediscovering Childhood" celebrates the magic of childhood empowering listeners to nurture meaningful relationships.

Information

  • Creator
    Mireia Lopez
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mireia Lopez
  • Show Website
    Rediscovering Childhood