Raising Healthy Kid Brains Amy Nielson

Bryn Lottig is an educator who uses the wilderness and adventure as a medium to teach children character development. Written for educators, parents, and leaders, her book, No Child Left Inside: Transforming the Next Generation Through Experiential Learning, explores how we can create an experiential learning cycle for kids where they can develop skills and safely explore personal strengths as well as limitations. 
 
Bryn walks us through the concept of the experiential learning cycle and how leading kids through immersive outdoor experiences amplifies their social, emotional, and communication skills. We’re also exploring the importance of giving our children autonomy and choice, why kids need to engage in healthy risk-taking behaviors, and what happens when you make stressful patterns predictable, moderate, and controlled.
 
Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/79

Welcome to my first co-hosted podcast episode with my dear friend, Kelsey Sorenson. Kelsey is a former teacher, current homeschool mom to three kids, founder of Educate & Rejuvenate, and a certified life coach. She's also the host of the Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Conference: the virtual education event of the year that will have you ready to take on the next school year with joy and ease, and we’re inviting you along.
 
Kelsey and I are diving into what you can expect from the Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Conference 2024 happening in July, and how we’re on a mission to create a win-win-win for all parents, educators, and kids by reaching more people. 
 
Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/78

My guest this week is legendary children’s musician and global troubadour, Raffi. In addition to his five-decade-long career as the most popular children’s entertainer in the English-speaking world, Raffi has started a global movement called the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, where he shares his philosophy on valuing and respecting children. He’s here to give us a brief introduction to his work.
 
Raffi shares his insights on the importance of respectful love and his nine guiding principles of child honoring. We’re discussing the beauty of treating our children with respect, how it grows our compassion in challenging moments, and Raffi’s tips for cultivating a safe, caring community for your children. 
 
Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/77
 
 
 

Karen DeLoach grew up directing plays on the playground with no idea that one day she’d make her own independent films and teach others how to do the same. As both a university instructor and a homeschool teacher, Karen has seen how art can impact both physical and mental health firsthand. She also shares some really powerful stories about how art has changed lives.
 
Join us for a wonderful conversation about discovering new ways to get creative, finding our ability to express ourselves through art, and the science behind what art can do for our kids—and for us! We discuss how the right and left brain are different, how art helps people who are neurodiverse, and what you can do to support your kids and their love for art.
 
Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/76

Michelle Steiner is a writer, speaker, and photographer who writes about living with an invisible disability. She believes knowledge is what helps us all be more supportive of one another, and she’s on the show this week to shed light on identifying invisible disabilities in children. Whether you know someone with a learning disability or are wondering what to look out for in your own children, this is going to be a super helpful conversation to keep coming back to.
 
Michelle shares her experience of getting diagnosed as a child and why she feels empowered by her disability rather than held back by it. We’re exploring the pros and cons of labeling someone with a disability, when it might be time to seek professional help, and how you can best empower your children if they have an invisible disability.
 
Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/75

April Rehrig is a mom, school psychologist, and teacher whose collaborative approach combines special education advocacy with real-world strategies that work. She decided to take parents behind the scenes In the world of special education through online workshops and IEP coaching so they can make informed decisions for their children, and she’s here today to walk us through the world of special education.
 
April lifts the veil on IEPs and 504s so you can develop a solid action plan for your child. Learn how to identify when to seek out an IEP or 504 plan for your child, the pros and cons of getting a special education assessment through your child’s school versus going private, and April’s top tips for preparing yourself for an IEP meeting. 
 
Get full show notes and more information here: https://planningplaytime.com/74