Making Learning Special

It may be me and all the pregnancy hormones during the time of this recording (haha)--I'm in the very last few weeks of my second pregnancy--BUT just in case it's not just me, remember to have some tissues close by. Because in this sentimental discussion, we talk about the realities of parenthood. Is time on our side? That's the ultimate question. This is one of those episodes you'll for sure have to save, share and re-listen to, especially during those hard days!

In this episode we answer questions from a couple, one of our listeners who contacted us and are expecting their first child. Congratulations to them! Seeing their questions, we decided to do a whole episode about it, because you or someone you may know may also benefit from them. So today, we're talking all about babies and parenting! We touch on topics like how to incorporate language early on, how to interact and connect with your baby, diaper changing, toy and book recommendations, screen time, and more! Show notes and mentions: Recommendations of books, materials, soft-toys, etc. Quick Ideas during diaper changing Episode 008: What About Screen Time? Episode 036: My Top 5 Toys & Toy Alternatives for Toddlers Episode 050: Parenting Myth Episode 054: For the Soon-To-Be Parent

Whether your child is going into preschool or kindergarten, here are five suggestions we have to help maximize his/her overall school readiness. Our little ones learn lots of skills while they're in an academic setting, but why not equip them and start building these vocabulary words, tools, strategies, understanding, etc. even before they start school? Check out how we can proactively help set them up for success in this episode. Show References: 002: Components of Communication 006: Potty Training: the good, the bad, and the ugly 007: Creating a Healthy Social-Emotional Environment For Your Child 016: Why you Need to Know About Joint Attention 023: Transitions & Changes 035: When Our Little Ones Deal with Adversities & Challenges 038: Different Responses Our Kids Give Us

In this episode we're joined by one of Ace's favorite people, his one and only Pops. Ace is the first grandchild in both sides of the family and that being so, we dive into what it's like being a grandparent and the similarities and differences between parenting and grand-parenting. How is this generation of parenting different from the previous generation, how were our parents raised by our grandparents, how are we now raising our own kids, and what are we doing or not doing to maximize our little one's development are examples of the topics we touch on. Take a listen as we have this insightful and honest conversation about the past and present. Show References: Episode 008: What About Screen Time? Episode 013: Let's Chat About Co-Parenting Episode 039: Having Healthy Boundaries with Others Episode 053: The Importance of Turn Taking in Development

What do we even mean by "valuing disorganization" as it relates to our child's development and parenting in general? Well, you've heard of those sleep regressions and other changes that our little ones go through? As a educator and an early intervention provider, over the years I've heard tons of parents tell me how their child used to be a good eater but now he's not, or she used to be a good sleeper but now she's not. Did you know, regression in our child's behaviors can cause disorganization for us as parents? But how do we find value and learn in times like this? Tune into the episode now as we dive into this topic. Show references: Zach's example of responding and pausing My Amazon List - suggestions for parents, caregivers, and educators of materials that you can use with your little ones.

Do you have concerns about your child's speech development, motor development, or just his/her overall development and want to get him/her formally assessed but don't know where to start? Or was your child recently recommended for an evaluation or an assessment but you feel overwhelmed by all the information given to you and want to gain more understanding about it? Provided in a parent-friendly way, this episode will help you figure out what your first steps can be and help clear up information as you go through the process.

This episode is dedicated to new parents, soon-to-be parents, and those who plan on having a little one in the future. Share with your loved ones who are about to embark on the journey of parenthood. We know that becoming a parent can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time, so we want to be here to support you, tell you as is, and just be that soundboard for you, especially since it really does take a village to raise a child. Come join us now as we talk about strategies that helped us ease the anxiety as we stepped into the world of parenting. We hope these tips will help you as much as they've helped us!

Why are we spending a whole entire episode on this you ask? Well, did you know that turn taking is a critical, CRITICAL part of development? We dive into why this is so and the elements of turn taking. Tune in now! Show notes/show reference: I had briefly mentioned a video I dueted on TikTok showing how early babies respond and turn take with you. Here are a few examples. Enjoy! Turn Taking Example 1 Turn Taking Example 2 Turn Taking Example 3 Turn Taking Example 4 Turn Taking Example 5 Turn Taking Example 6

WARNING: You may get triggered. We wholeheartedly love our little ones, but they can also drive us wild. What does your little one do that pushes your buttons? This is the nitty grittiness of parenthood! How can we stay calm, collected, and sane-- AKA regulated--during times when we feel like losing our cool or about to pull our hair out??? Don't worry parents, these are all natural feelings. So we take the time to discuss them, and ways to get through these oh-so-tricky times.

In this episode we discuss five common parenting myths and why they're not true. Listen in, because the answers might surprise you, especially myths #4 and #5. Episode reference below: Episode 032: What About Self-Care? With Special Guest, Renata Trebing

In this episode we discuss three real life scenarios and questions that come along with them as it involves parenting. Even with three very different scenarios we realized that there are underlying related themes that we can really learn from and take away. Check out these key points and let's learn and grow together as we raise our little ones!

That wraps up our 10 of 10 mini podcast episodes! We wanted to bring you simple, functional, tangible, and practical tips and strategies that you can implement right away with your little one. Again, this is meant for parents, grandparents, educators, aunts, uncles, etc. You name it! Basically anyone interacting with littles. In this last episode we even have an extra strategy for you, so you get a two in one tip from us. How we can be and why we should be our little one's personal commentator, what does it mean to be their interpreter, and how can we use this to make learning special in minutes? Tune in and see! If you haven't yet checked out the other 9 "Making Learning Special in Minutes Mini Podcast Series" or if you'd like to share them with others, the links are below. Enjoy! Strategy #1: General Vs. Specific Words Strategy #2: Help Your Little One Healthily Struggle Strategy #3: Leveling Up Your Naming Game Strategy #4: The Rule of 3 Strategy #5: Communication Temptation Strategy #6: The Follow Through is Crucial Strategy #7: Be Silly & Be Forgetful Strategy #8: Expansion Strategy #9: Verbal & Play Routines

What does peekaboo, a line from your child's favorite song, and the phrase "ready, set, go!" have in common? They're all routines! Whether it's a verbal routine or a play routine, there's lot of power behind them. You may already be doing this strategy with your little one, but now it's time to level up by knowing exactly the reason behind why it's helpful for development, and also, how to expand your verbal and play routines to continue making learning special in minutes.

Here is strategy number eight of ten as we're winding down on our "Making Learning Special in Minutes Mini Podcast Series." What is expansion and how can you put it into practice as you're interacting with your little one? This is one of our longer mini-episodes, but well worth the listen as you learn a handful of nuggets within this one strategy. Now go out there and expand your parenting toolbox and tune in.

Here's another underrated but very powerful strategy that you can implement in minutes! This requires a bit of self-reflection. How silly and playful are you when interacting with your little one? And if you're not too silly and it's out of your character or if your personality is more serious in general, how can you still implement this strategy to get your child's mind learning and growing? Tune into the mini-episode now to learn how.

How are you following through with things that you're saying? Continue to include your child in the process using this strategy. We focus on the importance of follow through and how that looks like in child development, more specifically when helping your little one develop his/her language skills.

We're continuing with our mini series episodes with strategy #5, which is communication temptation. What does this strategy mean, what does it provide, and how can you implement it? In this quick and informative episode, we go over family-friendly ways to use this strategy during your little one's routine activities. Check it out now!

In this mini episode, we cover "The Rule of 3" and what that means when helping our children learn to imitate and process information. Tune into this simple but powerful strategy that you can implement right away. PLUS, we even have a bonus tip for you towards the end of the episode.

Help level up your child's vocabulary and make learning special in minutes with strategy #3. Naming items in your child's environment is a great start, but what can you intentionally and mindfully do next? Start talking about object functions and let the five wh-questions guide you. Check out what we mean by all this by tuning into this quick episode now.

Ready to make learning special in minutes with strategy #2? Today we talk about how to help our little ones healthily struggle to maximize their development. We give you real-life examples of what we're experiencing right now with our 3 year old, while also giving you a perspective from a developmental and growth-minded standpoint. Check out this quick episode packed with simple and actionable suggestions.

Welcome to the first episode of this mini-series! If you're on the go or only have a few minutes to spare but want to make it productive, these episodes are perfect for you! I'll be giving quick tips that you can implement right away with your little one. Whether you're a parent, future parent, educator, grandparent, caregiver, auntie, uncle, etc. these are simple, functional, tangible, and practical tool for you to use to maximize the development of little children. Check out our first strategy talking about general versus specific words, and how this is making learning special in minutes.

Everybody has their own parenting style. So in this episode we decided to discuss what we can do when others are involved in our little one's care, and how we can respectfully communicate to them certain boundaries that we have as we raise our child. Because ultimately, we are our child's primary caregivers. This goes for grandparents taking care of our little one, aunts and uncles we might not see often, a babysitter who's coming over so we can have a date night, and the list goes on. How can we all be aligned and consistent in raising our little human being? Episode referenced in today's show. Episode 013: Let's Chat About Co-Parenting Spotify Apple Podcast

How does your little one respond to you when you ask him or her to do something? Does he/she follow through, ignore, does the opposite, or all or none of the above? Well, in this episode we talk about different responses our kids may give us and how it relates to development. Curious to find out more? Tune into the discussion now.

Given all the festivities with the holiday season we know how "off" routines are right now, especially for our little ones. Whether you're traveling, have visitors over, going to gatherings more than usual, or doing any out-of-the-ordinary outings, we're sure you'll be getting back to your routine sooner than later. But how do we help our little ones get back into that routine after vacation as we're also getting back into the groove of things? We talk about just that in this episode.

It's the holiday season, Happy Holidays everyone! It wasn't easy to narrow down, but I've listed 5 of my tried and true choices when it comes to toys that I've used in my profession as an educator and pediatric speech-language pathologist and personally with my own child as a parent. I broke it down as to how they're helpful for development AND other alternatives that (1) hit the same developmental targets and (2) that you can find around your house. We're all about connection first here in Making Learning Special, so our goal in this show is to emphasize that toys are a great tool to help connect with your child, but ultimately, YOU make the interaction worthwhile and meaningful with whatever you and your child are playing with, whether it's a plastic water bottle or a fancy fifty dollar wooden toy. Links: 1) Soft box https://amzn.to/3WlRRGP 2) Nesting Boxes/Nesting Cups https://amzn.to/3HDYPTv https://amzn.to/3HDZ15b 3) Board Puzzles https://amzn.to/3V2MIT4 https://amzn.to/3BD2dKo 4) Pretend Play Items (*there's a ton, but here are examples) https://amzn.to/3j91KcB https://amzn.to/3FW5R4K https://amzn.to/3BFEcm1 https://amzn.to/3PzrkU3 5) Busy Board https://amzn.to/3BGxtIu For more ideas, check out my full Amazon List here. Disclosure: I am a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com at no extra charge to you, and I receive commissions for purchases made through links here. If you do choose to purchase through these links, thank you so much for your support!

This is by far one of the most impactful and important episodes we have recorded thus far. Why? Because it dives into when our little ones are faced with challenges and in their eyes, adversities. Whether the occurrence is big or small in our eyes, different scenarios may impact our children in how they respond to situations, people, and their environment. We talk about our point of view as parents and provide insights to help continue mindfully parenting our little ones. This discussion goes deep into this topic, and we've only really scratched the surface. Come join us as we chat about it.

Are you traveling with your little one this month? Traveling with kids can add complexity to the experience, so in this episode we give you five friendly tips to help ease the possible stress that it can bring. Happy listening! As mentioned in the episode, check out a list of my My Travel Favorites. Here are great child-friendly videos that you and your little one can watch together to prepare for an airplane ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT8XZUZFuWE https://youtu.be/8-OzTvCzt2o https://youtu.be/AFIJfX_5tvE

Here comes the nitty grittiness of parenthood. Let's face it, getting sick is inevitable and it sucks. When we're feeling sick and/or when our little one's feeling sick it can definitely add to the challenges of parenting and life in general. Tune into our discussion as we talk about this reality and strategies to help you through this not-so-fun time.

How are you doing with taking care of yourself? And how is it impacting you, your child, your family, and your overall environment? I know as parents, we sometimes don't feel like we have enough time for ourselves. Well, in this episode we dive deeper into how we can make this happen and why we should make this happen as part of "making learning special." Joining us is Renata Trebing, an intuitive nutrition coach, global speaker, author, wife and a mom of 3 beautiful kids. We touch on multiple aspects of self-care not only for you as the parent but also for your little one with practical takeaways that you can implement right away. Where you can connect with Renata Trebing: Website - https://www.nourishwithrenata.com/about Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nourish_with_renata/ Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/nourishwithrenata Book -"Nourish with Renata" https://amzn.to/3hedV77 Book - "Heal Your Body, Mind and Spirit" *Release date Nov. 11, 2022 (link will be updated) Episodes referenced in the show: Episode 017: Gratitude, It Starts With Us With Marie Muratalla Episode 030: Five Things I Wouldn't Do as a Fitness & Nutrition Dad I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com at no extra charge to you, and I receive commissions for purchases made through links in this podcast episode. If you do choose to purchase through these links, thank you for your support!

How do you respond to change? How do you demonstrate dealing with curve balls with your little one? And in turn, how are you helping your little one become flexible with things outside of the norm or out of his routine? In this episode we have an honest discussion about flexible thinking, adjusting, and pivoting, and how we can translate this to our children and maximize their overall development.

Piggybacking on our previous episode with the "5 things I wouldn't do as (insert profession/specialty here)," today we're diving into Zach's--the episode cohost's--background and area of expertise. In this episode he takes the lead as we talk about how these five areas can affect our children's overall development and how we can ultimately maximize their individual potential. Tune into this value-packed episode now. You can find Zach on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/zachsmithfit/ You can find Madonna on Instagram and TikTok @MakingLearningSpecial Other show notes: -It may take 8 to 15 exposures to enhance the acceptance of a certain food (Carruth et al., Jour Am Dietetic Assoc 2004) -Expose, Expore, Expand: Three Essential Steps to Tasting New Foods (Melanie Potock, M.A., CCC-SLP from My Munch Bug LLC, 2017)

This was a trend on TikTok, and I thought it would be a great way to breakdown five things from the top of my head that I wouldn't do as a speech-language pathologist, and more specifically, a pediatric speech-language pathologist mom. We talk about the what, why, and how-- what do we mean by sprinkling questions and commands around, why not use the wait and see method, how can we use "no" and "good job" more effectively, and other relatable and pertinent topics for parents, grandparents, educators, and aunts/uncles. Tune in now as we dive into this!

What does follow through have to do with our kids and their development? Come join us as we have a thoughtful discussion about the meaning and the importance of following through.

Join us and our special guest, registered music therapist, Monique Bathis as we discuss the role that music can play in development and connection, what we can do as parents/caregivers, and how we can use this information to make learning special with our little ones. Connect with Monique on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/moniquebathis.rmt/

Are you planning to have your little one attend a daycare or preschool, whether in-home or a facility? In this episode we talk about what to consider as you look for a place you trust, feel comfortable with, and feel excited about, so your little one can continue to grow, learn, and develop in an enriching environment.

In this episode we discuss common questions and concerns that families have regarding this service model and the current research surrounding it. References: Akemoglu, Y., Hinton, V., Laroue, D., & Jefferson, V. (2021). A parent-implemented shared reading intervention via telepractice. Journal of Early Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538151211032211 Hao, Y., Franco, J.H., Sundarrajan, M., & Chen, Y. (2020). A pilot study comparing tele-therapy and in-person therapy: Perspectives from parent-mediated intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04439-x Quinn, E. D., Kaiser, A. P., & Ledford, J. (2021). Hybrid telepractice delivery of enhanced milieu teaching: Effects on caregiver implementation and child communication. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-20-00430 Retamal-Walter, F., Waite, M., & Scarinci, N. (2022) Identifying critical behaviours for building engagement in telepractice early intervention: An international e-Delphi study. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. https://10.1111/1460-6984.12714 Retamal-Walter, F., Waite, M., & Scarinci, N. (2022). Families' and professionals' perspectives of building and maintaining engagement in telepractice early intervention for young children with communication disability. Disability and Rehabilitation. https://​​10.1080/09638288.2022.2055161 Sadeghi, S., Pouretemad, H. R., & Shalani, B. (2021). Internet-based versus face-to-face intervention training for parents with excessive screen-time and autism spectrum disorder-like symptoms: A comparative study. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2021.1895699 Sutherland, R., Trembath, D., & Roberts, J. (2018). Telehealth and autism: A systematic search and review of the literature. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2018.1465123

Have you thought of teaching your baby sign language or baby signs but don't know where or how to start? Or do you have more questions about it, such as will it hinder my child from talking? Or are you trying to share with your spouse or baby's grandparents the reasons why you're teaching your little one signs in the first place? Well, this is the perfect episode for you to listen to and share!

We all know that changes are a part of life, and there are events and things that can be out of our control. But what we do have control over is how we respond to these events and changes. Of course as the grownups we know this, but our little ones are still getting the hang of it. And in reality, in toddlerhood and parenthood, these transitions and changes can make or break you some days. So why not help our little humans--which can also in turn help us--with these big and little changes and transitions? Take a listen as we dive into this subject, giving you some insight and strategies to take away and implement.

In this short and sweet episode I give a brief overview of the 6 developmental domains and a few examples that go along with them. If your child's going in for her wellness checkup and the pediatrician gives you a checklist to fill out or your little one's going through a developmental or speech-language assessment/evaluation, this is a great episode to reference along the way for more insight of the different areas that are often considered.

Is your little one throwing, biting, and/or hitting? These are some of the common "misbehaviors" I often hear parents mention. So you're not alone! In this episode we dive into possible causes and reasons to why our little ones might be doing this, because knowing the "back story" can be helpful in how you look at the situation and how you can react to it. We also give you tangible strategies that you can take with you and implement right away.

We continue our discussion about core values and actionable ways to integrate them within our daily lives and how to ingrain them in our little ones. Resources mentioned in the show: Otis & Charley Books by Andy Frisella and Vaughn Kholer (books that demonstrate growth mindset in fun and playful stories) A Little Spot of Feelings Book Series (books that use child-friendly language to talk about different emotions and healthy strategies to use with big feelings) A Little Spot of Takes Action Series (books that use child-friend language to talk about values, such as kindness, patience, and responsibility, in a relatable way) A Little Spot of Flexible Thinking Song (YouTube Video talking about how to handle change, being persistent, problem solving, etc.) *Note: Making Learning Special is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com at no extra charge to you, and I receive commissions for purchases made through links provide here. If you do choose to purchase through these links, thank you for your support!

Why are core values such an important part of parenting and raising our little ones? This is all part of building strong minds and strong relationships. How do we instill these values in our kids and create good, well-rounded, and fulfilled humans? Tune into the episode as we expand on this topic.

What are the little things you're doing within your little one's daily routines that help with different areas of development? In this episode we dive into doable strategies and simple activities that encourages brain connections and keeps making learning special from diaper changing to mealtime to bedtime.

Join us with our special guest, Marie Muratalla from @ThanksMorris, as we dive into how gratitude plays into our children's development and practical ways to continue making learning special through meaningful connections and mindfulness. Mentioned in the podcast: TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_steindl_rast_want_to_be_happy_be_grateful?language=en Gratitude Resources: https://www.thanksmorris.com/kfi

In this episode we discuss joint attention--what is it, why it's important to know, and strategies to help with it as your little one is developing. Joint attention is a CRITICAL part of language development and social development. Tune in and learn why.

Did you know there's a difference between speech and language? So why is this information important for you to know as your child's developing? This is what we cover in Episode #15. Join us as we have a few laughs here and there with some interesting and fun facts throughout our discussion.

Why is knowing the difference between a delay or a disorder important and helpful? If you're a parent with a child who's going to speech therapy, getting early intervention, or going through some type of assessment/evaluation right now, this episode is for you. If you have concerns about your child's development and don't know what to do, or if you're simply curious, this episode is also for you. We bring you both the professional insight and the parent perspective.

We all have different personalities and different ways to go about things. But what happens when we're bringing up our child with our significant other or grandparents are helping us bring him/her up or you're co-parenting with someone else? How are we co-parents? What is co-parenting? And how do we co-parent successfully to help maximize our child's full potential? In this episode we touch on five key points to consider.

Does it feel like you're repeating yourself over and over again? Or do you feel like you're talking to a wall some days? Or do you have a toddler who's headstrong or practicing his/her independence and often saying no? Well let us tell, you're not the only one! There are plenty of parents going through the same thing, because let's face it, this is (can be) all part of development. But how can we get our child who isn't listening to LISTEN. How can we limit those tantrums or those "protests"? How can we get "buy in" from our little growing human full of personality? Well we have some tips and tricks up our sleeves that we want to share with you. Of course there will always be those days where it feels like nothing's working BUT here are strategies that you can pull out of your parent toolbox.

This is definitely a must-listen-to episode if you have a little one and especially more so if you're going through this stage right now. Join us as discuss the "tantrum stage," why it's part of development, when is it not part of typical development, and the biggest part, insightful tips and strategies for you to add in your parent toolbox as your child goes through these big emotions.

In this part-two episode we continue our discussion on resilience. We chat about five implementable parenting tips and tools to help develop this skill in our little ones. Come join us as we walk through how we can mindfully use these strategies with our kids. We're on a mission to help build strong minds and strong relationships, and as C.S. Lewis said, "children are not a distraction from more important work. THEY are the most important work."