Preschool and Beyond - A Podcast About Raising Preschoolers

Preschool and Beyond Podcast

Practical conversations with teachers, researchers, and early childhood experts for parents of preschoolers. Guests include North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, and Rae Pica.

Featured episode

Start here for what Discovery means by learning through play and how to bring it home.

Episode page

Featured guests include:

Jeff Jackson Dr. Tina Payne Bryson Rae Pica

All episodes

Ep 51 & 47: More Learning Through Play — Lisa Murphy

Why play is essential and how families can bring more of it home.

Ep 50: Avoiding Challenging Behavior — Rae Pica

Active learning and movement to prevent behavior issues.

Ep 49: Advocating for Early Childhood Education — Jeff Jackson

Why advocacy matters for families, educators, and communities.

Ep 46: Teaching Kids to Think

Building patience, problem-solving, and independence.

Ep 45: Educational Rights

Understanding families’ rights and supports in education.

Ep 44: Building Emotional Vocabulary

Helping preschoolers name and navigate feelings.

Ep 43: Understanding Child Development — Rae Pica

Movement, intrinsic motivation, and developmentally appropriate practice.

Ep 42

Listen on Spreaker (site page coming soon).

Ep 41: Successfully Starting School

Routines and transitions for a confident start.

Ep 40: Developing Your Child’s Yes Brain — Tina Payne Bryson

Resilience, insight, empathy, and balance at home.

Ep 39

Listen on Spreaker (site page coming soon).

Ep 38: 10 Strategies to Promote Positive Behavior

Tips families can start using right away.

Ep 37: Bilingual Children

Supporting two languages in early childhood.

Ep 36: Parenting Without Power Struggles

Calmer approaches that strengthen relationships.

Ep 35: Language and Speech Development

Milestones and early support strategies.

Ep 34: Toddlers

Understanding behavior and supporting growth.

Ep 33: ADHD

What to watch for and how to help.

Ep 32: Family Dinner Reboot

Make meals healthier and more enjoyable.

Ep 31: Who’s the Boss?

Setting limits and changing unhelpful dynamics at home.

Ep 30: Self-Regulation

Tools that help young children manage big feelings.

Ep 29: Let Them Eat Dirt

Why being too clean may harm kids.

Ep 28: Importance of High-Quality Pre-K

How top-tier programs set children up to thrive.

Ep 27: Early Kindergarten Entry

Considerations for starting school ahead of schedule.

Ep 26: Sibling Relationships — Laura Markham

Nurturing positive bonds at home.

Ep 25

(Temporarily linked to Ep 24 page — update when Ep 25 page is ready.)

Ep 24: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Preparing for productive conversations with teachers.

Ep 23: Transitioning to Kindergarten

Helping kids step up with confidence.

Ep 22: The Anxious Child

Ways to support worried kids and build coping skills.

Ep 21: Estate Planning

Key documents and decisions for families with young children.

Ep 20: Children with Challenging Behaviors — Ross Greene

Collaborative, compassionate approaches that work.

Ep 19: Managing Screen Time

Using technology effectively at home.

Ep 18: How to Talk

Practical language strategies for everyday moments.

Ep 17: Kindergarten Redshirting

Considering whether to delay kindergarten start.

Ep 16: Mindfulness

Simple practices to reduce stress and increase connection.

Ep 15: Children and Pets

Keeping kids and pets safe—and happy—together.

Ep 14: The Shy Child

Support strategies for quieter, sensitive kids.

Ep 13: Rethinking Discipline

Compassionate approaches that truly teach.

Ep 12: Cooking with Kids

Kitchen activities that build skills and confidence.

Ep 11: Toy Rotation

Keeping play fresh without buying more toys.

Ep 10: Potty Training

Make the process smoother for kids and parents.

Ep 9: The Power of Music

How music supports language, movement, and joy.

Ep 8: Healthy Sleep Habits

Routines that help families get better rest.

Ep 7: Healthy Sleep Habits

Sleep foundations for preschoolers and families.

Ep 6: Connecting to Nature

Why outdoor time and nature play matter.

Ep 5: Academically Gifted

Identifying needs and supporting advanced learners.

Ep 4: Raising Readers

Growing a love of books and stories.

Ep 3: Listening

Practical ways to build attentive, respectful communication.

Ep 2: Fostering Independence

Helping preschoolers take on new responsibilities with confidence.

Ep 1: Transition to Preschool

Preparing your child and family for a confident start.

Kindergarten teachers Aileen Clougherty and Scott Larson discuss ways to prepare children for Kindergarten, and how parents can best support them during school year.
New York Times Best Selling Author, Dr Ross Greene shares strategies to support children with behavioral challenges.
Dr. Gabriela Stein and Discovery  Director Dr. Alejandra Livas- Dlott discuss the pros and cons of having students wait an additional year before kindergarten.
Dr Gabriela Stein returns to the podcast to discuss shyness in children, and ways parents can support their social development.
Kara Curtis of First Daze and Nightzzz, is our guest this week to discuss how toy rotation can help keep your home organized.
Dr Alejandra Livas - Dlott, Director of Discovery Child chats with Mike about public and private school options and how to choose an elementary school.
Gifted Educator Lissy Wood shares her experiences identifying and working with academically gifted children.
Pre-K teacher Courtney Garver joins the podcast to discuss ways to foster independence in preschool children.
Dr. Suzanne Bouffard, author of "The Most Important Year: Pre-K and the Future of Our Children" discusses her research on why high quality programs are so valuable.
Dr. Heather Lampel of the Cary Dermatology joins us to discuss how to keep children safe while they are outdoors enjoying the sun. 
Dr. Kristin Olson discusses anxiety in young children, and offers ways parents and caregivers can help children manage it.
Mike is joined by Courtenay Garver and former school technology integration specialist, Ann Marie Dlott, to discuss how to use technology effectively at home.
Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, co-author of the NY Times bestseller, "No Drama Discipline" discusses the importance of discipline from a teaching and learning perspective.
Melissa Stephenson, preschool teacher at Discovery discusses ways to make the potty training process as smooth as possible for both the child and the parents.
Pam Diamond, baby sleep whisper and owner of First Daze & Nightzzz talks about common sleep problems and solutions to getting your child a full night's sleep.
Dr. Alejandra Livas-Dlott share ways and recommendations for helping children become excited about books.
Preschool teacher, Kate Curran discusses ways to help make the transition to school as smooth as possible.
Lara Kelly talks about importance of learning self-regulation and strategies to help children develop skills to manage their bodies, emotions, focus, and attention.
Dr. Kristen Wynns of Wynns Family Psychology in Cary, NC discusses the process of early entry into Kindergarten and factors parents should weigh when considering early entry.
Sarah Coeyman returns to Discovery to discuss how families can get the most out of parent teacher conference. Sarah is currently a teacher at Green Hope Elementary School in Cary. 
Attorney Orly Reznik of Reznik Law in Cary, North Carolina joins us to discuss wills and estate planning, and why preparing for un-forseen events is so important for families with young children.
Authors Joanna Faber and Julie King discuss their new book on how to talk so little kids will listen.
Dr. Erik Strunck of Grace Park Animal Hospital in Morrisville visits the podcast to discuss pets in homes with preschoolers and toddlers and how to keep children and pets safe.
Tammy Herr of Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios in Cary, NC joins us to talk about involving children in meal preparation, and other tips to help develop healthy eating habits.
Jessica Jenkins Davis, Director of the Community School of Music chats with Mike about benefits of music and how to introduce and instrument to your preschooler.
Joanna Snyder of Lawrence Hall of Science, joins us to talk about the importance of connecting children with nature and tips on how your family can get started outdoors.
Dr. Gabriela Stein discusses ways to improve your child's listening and increase their compliance.

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