Family Engagement Fridays Podcast by ELV

Send us Fan Mail Christie Caster from the Western Colorado Red Cross shares essential tips to keep kids safe around water. 💧 Water is fun—but it can be dangerous without the right precautions. 👀 Check out age-appropriate videos at redcross.org that you can watch with your kids to teach them water safety in a fun, meaningful way! Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children | Red Cross Lear...

Send us Fan Mail We all teach our kids to say “please” — but what if there are times when it’s not the right word to use? 🤔 In this eye-opening episode, Julie Mendenhall dives into the power of language and explores when using “please” might actually weaken your message — especially in moments of conflict or correction. Julie shares practical strategies for helping children navigate tough social...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Christie Caster from the Western Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross shares practical tools, apps, and strategies to help you get ready before disaster hits. From wildfires to floods, Christie walks us through how to build a family emergency plan, why it’s crucial to involve your kids in preparedness, and how to turn drills into empowering family routines. Whether y...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode, Julie Mendenhall joins Colleen Roahrig to explore how parents can respond to their children’s rude behaviors in ways that are calm, constructive, and rooted in teaching—not just correcting. Learn more about Early Learning Ventures !      ELV Monthly Newsletter - Early Learning Ventures

Send us Fan Mail Join this discussion with Katie Griffin the supervisor of community education at ENT credit union. She shares some great ideas on family activities and realistic ways to save money, even when on a tight budget.  Resource:  ENT.com for free financial education  Learn more about Early Learning Ventures !      ELV Monthly Newsletter - Early Learning Ventures

Send us Fan Mail Growing flowers at your home with young children can be a magical experience, especially in the beautiful and diverse landscapes of Colorado. From the rugged mountain to the windy plains and high desert; these climates present unique challenges, but with the right tools, safe flower choices, and some creative planning, your young child can thrive alongside the blooms.  Learn more...

Send us Fan Mail Join Jennifer Garcia Rosendo and Dr. Katie Richardson as they talk about Lantern.   Lantern is a national nonprofit specializing in delivering childhood development resources to parents through an innovative text messaging platform providing information from prenatal to 11 years old.   Tune in to learn more.     Learn more about Early Learning Ventures !      ELV Monthly Newslette...

Send us Fan Mail Join first-time moms Faith and Elsa as they dive into the journey of pregnancy and motherhood. In this episode, they reveal the invaluable role of friendship and family support during and after pregnancy. Discover how they navigated the challenges of childcare, financial hurdles, and emotional ups and downs with the help of their loved ones. Plus, get their top tips for new moms o...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the joy of gardening, whether you have a small balcony or a big backyard! Vail Shoultz-McCole will share creative ways to garden in any space and fun activities to get your kids involved. Learn fascinating facts about fruits and veggies, and find out how to start affordable gardening projects. Gardening with your children is a wonderful way to "Plant Memories" t...

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, we are thrilled to have Tracey Maruyama, Health Promotions Manager for the American Lung Association in Colorado, join us. Tracey will share valuable resources for parents and caregivers to help keep children's lungs healthy, especially when they are around people who use tobacco, smoking, and vaping products.  Learn more about Early Learning Ventures...

Send us Fan Mail Colleen Roahrig had a conversation with Christie Caster who is with the Colorado/Wyoming Region of the American Red Cross and the Western Colorado Chapter Executive Director. Christie shared about the American Red Cross’s National Free Smoke Alarm Program. The American Red Cross provides needed smoke alarms to individuals, installs the alarms and provides free home safety tips inc...

Send us Fan Mail In honor of National Nutrition Month we are replaying this great episode.   Jennifer talks to Paul Soderstrom and Brigid Hunt, Cooking Matters facilitators, about how to feed your family healthy foods on a budget.   The conversation includes talk about comfort food and how we can embrace all ways of eating for balanced health.     Mentioned in this conversation:     SNAP/Double Up...

Send us Fan Mail Join first-time working moms Faith, Morgan, and Elsa as they share their personal journeys of navigating birth plans amidst the guidelines and recommendations from doctors and nurses.  They discuss the challenges, surprises, and triumphs they faced while balancing their own preferences with medical advice. Tune in to hear their stories, gain valuable insights, and feel empowered t...

Send us Fan Mail Join Julie Mendenhall and special guest Colleen Roahrig as they explore effective strategies for teaching children how to respond when others are mean to them. In this insightful episode, Julie introduces the powerful skill of "Look at them, name it, and walk away," a simple yet effective technique that children of all ages—and even adults—can use to handle confrontation...

Send us Fan Mail Mary and Andy, Early Literacy Librarians from Arapahoe Libraries , discuss ways that caregivers can help young children get ready to read.  They share Five points: Read, talk, sing, write  and play.  Vroom: https://www.vroom.org/   A free resource for helping adults build strong brains in their little ones. Hundreds of example activities that are research-based and include how the...

Send us Fan Mail ELV's first time moms are back!   This week, they're diving into the world of teething. From the first signs to the sleepless nights, join them as they share their personal experiences, tips, and tricks to help you and your little one navigate this challenging phase. Whether you're a new mom or just looking for some extra support, this episode is packed with practic...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Early Learning Venture’s podcast, Family Engagement Fridays! In this episode, we are excited to have Monica DeWitt from the Community Resource Center join us to discuss valuable resources for tax preparation. Monica will share insights on federal and state tax credits, as well as free and secure tax filing options available for 2025. Tune in to learn how you can ma...

Send us Fan Mail Julie Mendenhall is joined by Colleen Roahrig to discuss “Two techniques to help children calm down”. These two techniques help children to calm down and be better thinkers in order to solve problems. Julie will discuss the importance of children being calm in order to hear instructions and be able to communicate with the child during times of stress. Please below attachments for...

Send us Fan Mail Our first-time working moms are back to share experiences of postpartum, how they take care of their mental health and maintain their identify. They also discussed how their social life changed after having a child.  Learn more about Early Learning Ventures !      ELV Monthly Newsletter - Early Learning Ventures

Send us Fan Mail Julie Mendenhall is back and joined by Colleen Roahrig to discuss “Helping our children understand these words: Stuck, Shift and Think.  These words can easily be taught to children to help them to understand what is going on with their brain. Julie has helped children understand that they are in charge of their brain and that it is very important that they take care of their brai...

Send us Fan Mail They're baack !!!!   Faith, Elsa and Morgan, first time moms from ELV, discuss feeding their babies and their experience of breast feeding. They share many insights for first time moms and the importance of doing what is right for yourself and your baby.  Learn more about Early Learning Ventures !      ELV Monthly Newsletter - Early Learning Ventures

Send us Fan Mail Join Julie Mendenhall and Colleen Roahrig as they delve into the concept of the "Four Goals of Misbehavior," based on the work of Rudolph Dreikurs. Discover how children's misbehavior often stems from feelings of discouragement or a desire to belong. When they can't find positive ways to fit in, they may resort to negative behaviors. In this insightful episode,...

Send us Fan Mail As we come to the close of the year, we are taking this time to highlight our favorite episodes from this year!    This one was our most listened to episode.  Tune in for a great conversation  Join us for a heartfelt episode as we dive into the lives of five incredible women at Early Learning Ventures who are not only dedicated employees but also first-time moms. Malana Miner, Els...

Send us Fan Mail As we close out 2024, we are highlighting our most popular episodes.  This one comes in at number 2 Jennifer García Rosendo talks to Arapahoe County Public Health about their Healthy Beverages Program.   Joining us today is Hannah Oshner an Arapahoe County Public Health Registered Dietician, Lactation Counselor, and WIC Supervisor and Leslie Levine, Arapahoe County Public Health’s...

Send us Fan Mail As we close out 2024, we are highlighting our most popular episodes.  This one comes in at number 3 In this conversation, Lisa Rodriguez defines Autism and shares the signs and symptoms of Autism.  She discusses what parents can do at home to support their child and the diagnose process.   Resources:   Case management services     local parent facebook page   Autism Society – each...