Play Skillfully

In this engaging conversation, Kathy Eggers and Keri Vasek discuss the profound impact of reading aloud to children. They explore the emotional and educational benefits, including building connections, enhancing language development, and fostering a love for stories. Practical tips for incorporating reading into daily routines are shared, along with insights on how to engage children during read-a...

In this podcast episode, Kathy Eggers discusses the importance of faithfulness as a character trait in parenting. She reflects on the challenges of parenting and offers support to parents navigating their journeys. Kathy emphasizes the significance of modeling faithfulness for children, providing practical strategies to teach this value, and the need for flexibility in parenting. The episode concl...

In this engaging conversation, Kathy and Keri explore the complexities of homeschooling, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and personal growth for parents. They reflect on their own journeys, discussing the need for understanding one's teaching style, emotional triggers, and the impact of social media on perceptions of homeschooling. The dialogue encourages parents to prioritize their w...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers discusses the importance of teaching patience to children, especially during the spring season. She emphasizes that patience is a challenging trait for parents to instill, as it requires modeling behavior and understanding child development. Kathy shares practical activities and strategies for parents to help their children learn patience, such as involving them...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers and Keri Vasek explore the often negative perceptions surrounding math education. They discuss how math can be viewed as a puzzle and emphasize the importance of teaching math through play and real-life applications. The conversation highlights the significance of a positive attitude towards math, the role of readiness in learning, and the need for parents to mod...

In this engaging conversation, Kathy Eggers, Keri Vasek, and Laurie Von Holdt discuss the nuances of teaching reading, emphasizing the importance of waiting until a child is ready to learn. They explore individual learning styles, the significance of storytelling, and the impact of parental pressure on children's self-esteem. Lauri shares her extensive background in education, particularly in help...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers explores the concept of love as a fundamental trait to teach children, particularly preschoolers. She emphasizes that love is best taught through actions rather than words, highlighting the importance of modeling love in everyday life. Kathy discusses practical ways to show love, including self-love, emotional presence, and creative expressions of affection. She...

In this episode, Kathy Eggers discusses the character trait of peacefulness, particularly in the context of parenting and family life. She reflects on the chaos of the holiday season and emphasizes the importance of modeling peacefulness for children. Kathy shares practical strategies for creating a peaceful home environment, establishing calm routines, and teaching conflict resolution skills. She...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers emphasizes the significance of kindness as a fundamental character trait that should be instilled in children. She shares personal experiences and practical advice on how to model kindness in everyday life, encouraging parents to be intentional in their actions and words. The discussion highlights the importance of kindness not only during the holiday season but...

In this episode, Kathy discusses the importance of introducing children to thankfulness from a young age. From modeling thankfulness to encouraging thankfulness through family activities, Kathy shares the value in being intentional with this character trait throughout your home. Webster defines thankfulness as "Impressed with a sense of kindness received and ready to acknowledge it." Kathy encoura...

In this podcast episode, Kathy Eggers discusses the importance of finding a family rhythm that works for each unique household, especially when it comes to homeschooling children of various ages. She emphasizes the significance of engaging children in sensory and physical activities in the morning to prepare them for learning. Kathy advocates for a play-based approach to education, encouraging par...

In this episode, Kathy shares the value of using play to teach children to read, write, and enjoy math. Through stories and encouragement, Kathy conveys the message of waiting until children are ready before tackling these subjects. This episode will help you feel confident and prepared as you strive to teach these basic learning skills to your young learner. For more information, check out Kathy'...

In this podcast episode, Kathy Eggers discusses the importance of orderliness as a character trait for children, highlighting its cognitive, emotional, and social benefits. She shares personal experiences and practical strategies for creating order in the home, emphasizing the role of routines and systems. Kathy encourages parents to involve their children in the process of maintaining orderliness...

In this engaging conversation, Kathy Eggers and Hugh Hanley explore the profound impact of music on early childhood education. They discuss their personal journeys, the importance of musical play, and how music fosters social and emotional development in children. Hugh shares practical tips for parents and educators on incorporating music into daily routines and adapting songs based on children's...

In this episode of the Play Skillfully podcast, Kathy Eggers discusses the significance of character traits in children's development, focusing on the trait of wonder. She emphasizes the importance of allowing children to discover, experience, and explore the world around them to cultivate their curiosity and creativity. Kathy shares practical tips for parents on how to encourage a sense of wonder...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers and MaryAnn Kohl discuss the importance of process art and its benefits for children. They emphasize the need for self-expression, creativity, and trust in oneself. Maryann shares her journey into art and how she became an advocate for process art. They discuss the purpose of art and how it builds better humans who can think, solve problems, and lead society forw...

Ya'll, this new podcast is going to be AMAZING. Gray Roots officially launches 10/01, but you all get a sneak peak and get to know Kathy a little better at the same time. In this conversation, Kathy Eggers shares her journey to becoming a mother and her experiences as a parent and grandparent. She discusses her initial impressions of her friends and how they met, as well as her unique path to moth...

Hey all, I am getting ready to launch our new season of the Play Skillfully podcast so I thought I would re-release this timely one from last year, Enjoy!!! In this episode, Kathy talks about the approaching school year and offers tips and suggestions for making the transition a smooth one for preschoolers.  1. Start by setting goals for you and your family. Kathy’s favorite way of doing this is t...

Dr. Christy Montes joins Kathy to discuss the impact of food on children's brain function, learning, and emotional well-being. She emphasizes the importance of providing the body with unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods to fuel optimal brain function. While it can be challenging to navigate social situations and balance healthy eating, Dr. Montes suggests finding a balance and providing alternatives...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers and Keri Vasek discuss the joys and challenges of parenting and homeschooling. They reflect on the importance of trusting one's intuition and not letting outside voices dictate parenting decisions. They also explore the bittersweet experience of watching children grow up and the grief that comes with it. The conversation touches on the duality of parenting, the n...

In this conversation, Kathy Eggers, Alecia Warneke, and Kari Oakley-Miller discuss the dynamics of grand-parenting and mothering adult children.  They explore the importance of maintaining a nurturing relationship with their children even after becoming grandparents. The conversation touches on topics such as setting expectations, communication, and finding a balance between supporting and respect...

In this episode, Kathy Eggers and Rachel Ryder discuss the decision to homeschool and provide resources and advice for getting started. They emphasize the importance of understanding your why and finding support from other homeschoolers. They also recommend resources such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Instagram accounts like Days with Gray and The Work...

To get a copy of Dr. Roger Smith’s book Parenting with Influence or to learn more about their ministry, check out their website, rogersmithmd.com .  In this episode, Kathy interviews Dr. Roger Smith and his wife Jan about raising kids with an adventurous spirit. The Smiths share stories of their own children’s adventurous experiences, such as starting businesses, giving speeches, biking across Fra...

This week Kathy had the privilege to speak with Dr. Kathy Koch, founder of Celebrate Kids and discuss several hot topics for parents today. They talked about Kathy’s books 8 Great Smarts and Start with the Heart. Dr. Kathy shared some amazing wisdom about getting to the hearts of your little ones as well as your teens.  You can learn more about Dr. Kathy Koch at celebratekids.com . Check out her b...

Recently, Kathy had the privilege of spending the weekend with Rachel and Keri. During the visit they decided that their topics of conversation would make a great podcast, so they grabbed a computer and pushed record.  In this episode, Kathy discusses many “hot” topics of today. They talk about reading, parenting, self-care, podcasts, and the balance of it all. You will want to listen to this podc...