Social Emotional Learning (SEL) might be a trendy term in schools today, but it’s actually the heartbeat of everything I’ve ever done as a teacher and a mom. In this episode, I’m getting real about my early teaching days even including the time I was actually shamed for "wasting" instructional time by letting my students talk about their feelings. I’m sharing why I refused to stop, and how those moments of connection are the only reason the academic lessons ever actually "stuck".

We’re diving into the practical ways you can lead with connection instead of just instruction, whether you are in a classroom of 30 or at home with your own kiddos.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Foundation of Learning: Why an unregulated or emotionally overwhelmed child literally cannot process an academic lesson.
• The "Waste of Time" Myth: My personal story of being told to "stick to the PowerPoint".
• Discreet Connection Tools: How to use morning check-ins and Google forms to find out what your kids are actually carrying before you start the day.
• Morning Meetings & Closing Circles: Simple, silly, and low-pressure ways to build a sense of belonging through "Would You Rather" games and shared stories.

Featured Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• The STEAM Made Preschool Curriculum: Built on the foundation of connection and emotional safety so real learning can happen.
• Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids eBook: My deep-dive guide into the regulation strategies that help you connect with your child on an emotional level.
• SEL Book Recommendations: I love using books to help kids see themselves and their big feelings in characters. Here’s a bunch of my favorites: https://www.amazon.com/shop/steammadesimple/list/13AB070HTU58I?ref_=aipsflist

Your "Think Like a Kid" Homework This Week:

Try leading with Connection before Instruction today. Choose just one of these four phrases to use with your child or student when you notice they are struggling:

1. "That looks really frustrating".
2. "I can tell something’s off today. Do you feel that too?".
3. "Do you want me to sit with you for a second before we start, or do you want to be alone?".

Recommended Episodes:

• Episode 1: Why I Didn't Like School (My "Why")
• Episode 2: The Watchdog Brain (Why "Calm Down" Doesn't Work)
• Episode 3: Anxiety, Perfectionism, and the “Smoke Detector Analogy”

If you loved this conversation, make sure to follow and subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode or a quick win. And hey, if you’re looking for a way to bring this 'think like a kid' energy into your daily learning, check out my The STEAM Made Preschool Curriculum. It’s the best way to give your child a head start with an educational advantage that actually feels like play.

You can also connect with me on Instagram @STEAMMadeSimple for daily tools, behind-the-scenes stories, and playful learning ideas.

When our kids are having an epic meltdown, our first instinct as adults is usually to start talking, rationalizing, or explaining. But what if trying to teach a lesson during a tantrum is actually making things worse? In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Courtney English, a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two.

Courtney explains that talking to a dysregulated child is like trying to have a casual conversation with a fearful flyer during heavy airplane turbulence—their brain simply cannot process your words because it is focused on survival. Instead, we dive into the magic of proactive regulation, how to properly transition your kids after a long day at school, and how to use "heavy work" to ground a disorganized brain.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Airplane Analogy: Why trying to teach a lesson or logic with a child during a meltdown is perceived as a threat to their nervous system.
• The After-School "Recipe": Why kids fall apart the second they get home and how to lower the demands using crunchy snacks and connection.
• The Power of Heavy Work: How active movements like jumping and crashing provide proprioceptive input, sending clear signals of safety to the brain.
• Connection Through Play: Why getting down on their level for just five minutes of child-led play can fill their cup and completely shift the tone of your day.
• The 3-Step Bedtime Circuit: A simple red, yellow, and green sensory circuit to help transition your child from high-arousal energy to a calm state.

Your "Think Like a Kid" Homework This Week: Try Courtney’s 3-Step Bedtime Sensory Circuit tonight!

1. Red (Meet the Need): Make a Blanket Parachute. Put some stuffed animals on a blanket and shake it together to get that last bit of high energy out.
2. Yellow (Organize): Toss the stuffed animals onto the bed. Having a visual target starts to slow down their brain and organize their system.
3. Green (Calm): Finally, tuck them in. Use the stuffed animals to give your child deep pressure squeezes on their arms or legs to down-regulate their nervous system for sleep.

Recommended Episodes:

• Episode 2: The Watchdog Brain (Why "Calm Down" Doesn't Work)
• Episode 3: Anxiety, Perfectionism, and the “Smoke Detector Analogy”
• Episode 4: The Power to Choose: Turning Power Struggles into Problem Solving

Featured Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Connect with Courtney English: Follow her on Instagram and check out her website for incredible, easy-to-understand regulation tips.
• Courtney's Regulation Posters: Grab her visual guide posters to help identify Red (meet the need), Yellow (organize), and Green (calm) activities.
• The best way to build strong foundational skills for 4 and 5 year olds through hands-on play.
• Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids eBook: A deeper look into the regulation strategies that help you connect with your child on an emotional level.

If you feel like you are constantly putting out fires and stuck in a "hamster wheel" of survival mode with your toddler, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the raw truth about my own journey with an extreme high-energy child. A battle that led me to develop a proven system called the CCP model. This isn't just another set of Pinterest crafts; it’s a brain-based approach to channeling that "superpower" energy into confident, independent play.

We dive into why toddlers are obsessed with control and how giving it to them appropriately through "Choice, Choice, Play" can transform your daily routine.

In this episode, we cover:

• Extreme High-Energy vs. "Typical" Toddlers: Why some kids need a more specific, high-intensity approach to regulation and play.
• The CCP System Explained: Breaking down the acronym: Choice (Snack), Choice (Connection Choice), and Play (Independent Play).
• Regulation Through Oral Input: How a simple crunchy snack choice organizes the nervous system before learning starts.
• Child-Led Connection: The vital importance of 5–15 minutes of uninterrupted, adult-followed play to fill their emotional cup.
• Transitioned Independent Play: Using open-ended "play invitations" to build critical thinking and STEAM skills without adult direction.

Featured Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• High Energy Toddler Activity Guide: My complete guide featuring 52 play invitations and the exclusive CCP visual system.
• The STEAM Made Preschool Curriculum: For parents ready to build a strong foundation of independent learning through hands-on exploration.

Your "Think Like a Kid" Homework This Week: Implement the CCP Model at home today, even if you just use items you already have.

1. S (Snack Choice): Offer two crunchy, healthy options.
2. C (Connection Choice): Set a timer for 10 minutes, put your phone away, and follow their lead in whatever they want to do! No directing allowed.
3. P (Play): Set up a "Splish Splash Car Wash" a bucket of soapy water, a few sponges, and their favorite waterproof vehicles. Phrase it as a question to pique their interest, like "I wonder how we could get all these dirty cars clean?" then step back and let them take the lead.

Recommended Episodes:

• Episode 2: The Watchdog Brain (Why "Calm Down" Doesn't Work)
• Episode 4: The Power to Choose: Turning Power Struggles into Problem Solving
• Episode 5: STEAM for the Future: Raising Problem Solvers in an AI World

If you loved this conversation, make sure to follow and subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode or a quick win. And hey, if you’re looking for a way to bring this 'think like a kid' energy into your daily learning, check out my The STEAM Made Preschool Curriculum. It’s the best way to give your child a head start with an educational advantage that actually feels like play.

You can also connect with me on Instagram @STEAMMadeSimple for daily tools, behind-the-scenes stories, and playful learning ideas.