Strength Based Parenting / Teaching

OFS Program Directors Alex and Lizz are joined by strength-based coach and educator Emma Tempest to discuss how strength-based teaching/parenting can change your perspectives. We all have a negativity bias that highlights things that we don't like or that go wrong, but what if we instead looked for strengths in ourselves, and in our children? Her ideas help us to see how teaching and parenting can be more joyful for us and for our children.

Find your strengths: https://viacharacter.org/account/register

Learn more about Emma's work: www.makeyourownrainbows.com/meet-emma/

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COVID Vaccines for Kids

With Covid vaccines finally being approved for children under the age of 5, we have a lot of questions! Alexandra Dutton (OFS Lafayette) is joined by Lizz Nolasco (OFS San Rafael) to talk to Dr. Yasuko Fukuda. Dr. Fukuda is a pediatrician in San Francisco who is the current chair of the California AAP, and has been on the board of the California Immunization Coalition. She will answer questions about the new vaccines and help us understand how Covid has affected young children's health.

Want to get your child vaccinated for Covid? Check out covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/ to learn more!

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Dual Language Learners

Ever wonder how children learn language? What about children learning more than one language? Alexandra Dutton, OFS Lafayette Program Director, is joined by OFS San Rafael Program Director Lizz Nolasco and Elodie Resurrection from Ecole Bilingue to discuss the way dual language learners acquire language. They put to rest some of the myths about learning multiple languages as young children, and share ways to support language development at home.

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Growth Mindset with Michele Bailey, MA Ed.

What do you do when you're frustrated and can't complete a task? How do you model resilience and perseverance to your children? Michele Bailey, MA Ed. joins OFS Program Director Alexandra Dutton, MA Ed. to discuss Growth Mindset. Growth Mindset is an idea coined by Dr. Carol Dweck about helping children see the value in their potential and their efforts, rather than only in their results. It's a game changer for both children and adults.

The books discussed were:

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

• Ish by Peter H. Ray

• Fantastic, Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak

• After the Fall by Dan Santat

• The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

• Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg

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COVID and Preschoolers with Dr. Monica Gandhi

If you have children under the age of 5, January 2022 may have been one of the most stressful months since the beginning of the pandemic. The Omicron variant shuttered classrooms and left families and educators with questions about vaccines, masking, and the safety of being at school. Dorothy and Alex talk with UCSF COVID expert Dr. Monica Gandhi about how COVID has impacted families with children who can't be vaccinated against COVID yet, and what may be coming in the near future as we continue to navigate this pandemic.

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How Do You Find Quality Childcare?

Finding the right preschool for your child is a daunting experience. Dorothy and the directors, Alex, Judy, Lizz and Danielle, share what they think families should look at when they are exploring childcare and preschools. Does curriculum matter more than the educational level of the teachers? Why is it so hard to find good schools?

Childcare is also being impacted by the Transitional Kindergarten expansion. You can read the full letter from the podcast written by Holly Gould owner of Rockridge Little School here: bit.ly/3lPMRKM

How Are Preschools Faring Right Now?

We keep hearing about the ways that child care programs and preschools are struggling right now. Listen as Dorothy, owner and executive director of Old Firehouse Schools, talks with educators Judy Haus, Lizz Nolasco, Danielle Roach, and Alexandra Dutton about the state of the Old Firehouse Schools. How are teachers really doing? How are children handling starting school after being mostly at home for the last year? We discuss what we have noticed in our programs and lessons we have learned.

Importance of Play with Deya Hill

Why is play so important? Dorothy Stewart and Alexandra Dutton are joined by Deya Hill, author, former preschool director and college professor. Deya explains the value of play and what children are learning from play.

Recommended Books:

Dribble Drabble: Process Art Experiences for Young Children. Hill, Deya Brashears. (2016)

Why Play? The Role of Play in Early Childhood Education. Pancoast, Christopher K. (2017)

Trauma Podcast with Julie Kurtz

This episode has it all -- neuroscience, parenting, and real life stories. Dorothy Stewart and Alexandra Dutton are joined by Julie Kurtz, MFT who has written two books on trauma. She works with young children who have experienced trauma as well as their teachers and caregivers. Trauma is experienced by 50% of children under the age of 8. The good news: With knowledge of how to help children feel safe and discuss their emotions, we can help them move past events that can otherwise permanently affect their brains.

See Julie's websites: www.optimalbrainintegration.com/ and www.juliekurtz.com/

Her books:

Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators. Nicholson, J., Shimpi Driscoll, P., Kurtz, J., Marquez, D., and Wesley, L. (2019)

Trauma-Informed Practices for Early Childhood Educators: Relationship-Based Approaches that Support Healing and Build Resilience in Young Children. Nicholson, J., Perez, L., & Kurtz, J. Routledge. (2018)

Some recommended books: www.optimalbrainintegration.com/children-s-books

Also, yes, that's Alex's son trying to get her attention whispering "Mama!" Sorry :)

Preparing for Emergencies

With the new reality of fire season and power shutoffs, the discussion of emergency preparedness is important. Dorothy and Alexandra Dutton talk with an OFS family, Annette and Dan McCormick, who had to evacuate their home due to the fire in Lafayette in October. They share their experience, what they learned, and what they will do differently -- and we hope their experience helps all of us be more prepared.

Navigating the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family and friends, and to introduce your children to special traditions. Sometimes all of these new people, new expectations, and new foods are a bit overwhelming for young children, so what is a parent to do? Dorothy, Judy Haus (OFS Walnut Creek Director) and Alexandra Dutton (OFS Lafayette director) share ways to make the holidays more enjoyable to for everyone, relatives and children included!

We referenced this fantastic video from the Child Mind Institute: Ways to Make the Holidays Kid-Friendly

Traveling with Children

Are you traveling with your children soon, or thinking about how to take a vacation with your little ones? Let us help you! Dorothy speaks with Alexandra Dutton, OFS Program Director, and Lisa Kallen from Alamo World Travel and Tours, about all the things to consider when traveling with children. From tips on flying, to tips on hotels, Lisa covers all the bases.

For more information about Alamo World Travel, please see their website: www.alamoworld.com

Making Doctor's Visits Easier

Do you have a dreaded doctor's visit coming up and you already know your child will scream like a banshee when getting a shot? We are here to help! Dorothy speaks with Rachel Turtledove and Alexandra Dutton on the best ways to prepare children for routine doctor's visits as well as more serious ones. Rachel and Alexandra both have children who have required special medical care and have tried many of these strategies to soothe their children. You'll be all ready for your child's flu shot after listening to this episode!

Making Transitions Easier

The new school year is under way, and if you're having a hard time saying goodbye at drop off at preschool or daycare, this podcast is for you! Dorothy is joined by Judy Haus and Alexandra Dutton, and they share some strategies to help ease the pain of saying goodbye. The most important rule: Never sneak out!

Introducing Young Children to Nature

Listen to this while you're on a walk! Dorothy and Alex talk with Sharol Embry (naturalist with East Bay Regional Parks) and Cindy Margulis (Executive Director of Golden Gate Audubon Society) about how to explore nature with young children. Nature can be a destresser and offers ways to build compassion -- but only when you allow your children time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Sharol and Cindy share stories that show it's simple to get children to love nature.

The Importance of Grandparents

Dorothy speaks with Alexandra Dutton and Dr. Judith Van Hoorn, author and professor, about the art of grandparenting. As a grandparent herself, Judith is writing a book about the role of play and the art of being present and available to support both her children and grandchildren. They share insights on how powerful grandparent figures can be in the lives of children.

Separation

Shakespeare wrote, "Parting is such sweet sorrow," but it's not always sweet when you have children who are loathe to let you go! Dorothy speaks with Alexandra Dutton and Judy Haus about ways to ease separations, whether you're going to be apart for just the school day, or gone for a longer trip. (And pardon the noise of the fan in the background -- it was 100 degrees when we recorded this!)

Books Judy mentioned:
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Bye Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick

How to Handle Grief with Preschoolers

Grief is something we don't want to have to talk about with young children, but saying the right thing can make a difference in how children process a sad event. Dorothy talks with Judy Haus and Rachel Turtledove about handling grief with young children, both as parents and as educators. They discuss why it's important to NOT say that someone has "passed away" or "We lost him," and how parents serve as the model for this challenging emotion.

For more resources, check out these websites:
https://www.thesharingplace.org/
https://www.artwithheart.org/
www.dougy.org/

Some books that were mentioned were:
Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley
When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown
If Nathan Were Here by Mary Bahr
The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst

Technology With Preschoolers

Do you feel guilty about how much your child uses technology? Dorothy talks with Alex Dutton and Danielle Roach about the ways preschoolers and parents can use technology -- and you may be surprised at what they say! The truth is, the more educators and parents know, the more they can make informed decisions about appropriate use of the technology in our world.

Keeping Kids Healthy with Dr. Nazia Sheriff

Dorothy is joined by Dr. Nazia Sheriff of Olive Leaf Pediatrics, who shares some hints about keeping healthy all year long, which can be challenging when you have little ones! Learn about what you can do to prevent illnesses in your children, and when you should bring your child to the doctor vs. just riding it out.

Learn more about Dr. Sheriff's practice, which includes doing house calls, at www.oliveleafpeds.com