Plant the Seed of Learning

What happens after a baby leaves the NICU? For many children born prematurely, the journey is only beginning. In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , pediatric occupational therapist  Dr. Aimee Ketchum  and professor of education  Dr. Crystal Loose  welcome  Dr. Genevieve Guyol —a neonatologist, researcher, and former special education teacher whose career bridges medicine and education i...

In this thought-provoking episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , pediatric occupational therapist Dr. Aimee Ketchum and professor of education Dr. Crystal Loose welcome renowned developmental psychologist and author  Dr. Susan Engel  to discuss her newest book,  American Kindergarten . Drawing from visits to 29 kindergarten classrooms across 14 states, Dr. Engel shares what she discovered about...

As summer begins and children spend more time outdoors, many parents and educators find themselves asking:  How much risk is too much? In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , pediatric occupational therapist  Aimee Ketchum  and professor of education  Crystal Loose  explore the fascinating research behind  risky play —the thrilling, child-led activities that involve challenge, uncertainty...

Music isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s a powerful developmental tool that begins in infancy. In this episode, we challenge the idea that children should wait until elementary school for music instruction. With expert insights from Christyn Rutter, we explore how early music experiences support everything from brain development and motor skills to literacy and social connection, giving children a...

In this powerful episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , we sit down with internationally recognized child development expert Dr. Jacqueline Harding to explore the science behind why play is essential for healthy brain development. Drawing from her bestselling book  The Brain that Loves to Play , Dr. Harding breaks down what is actually happening in a child’s brain during play—and why it builds n...

In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , hosts Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum sit down with internationally renowned child psychologist and neuroscientist  Professor Sam Wass , one of the world's leading experts on attention, learning, and child development. As artificial intelligence, smart devices, and digital technology become increasingly integrated into children's lives, pare...

Before we dive into the research, we are playing a Fact or Myth game about brain development and some of the answers may surprise you. Is a baby’s brain fully developed at birth? Do children need special toys to grow their brain? Does talking to a baby really matter? In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we break down common myths and replace them with research-backed facts every parent s...

In this inspiring and eye-opening episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum welcome internationally renowned child development expert  Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek . A professor at Temple University, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Visiting Professor at Oxford University, parent of 3 amazing sons, and bestselling author, Dr. Hirsh-Pasek has spent decades transla...

Math is more than numbers—it’s a way of thinking that begins in the earliest years of life. In this episode, we explore how children develop foundational math skills from birth through age 8 and why these early experiences matter for long-term success. Featuring Kristine Culp, M.Ed., we discuss what math instruction looks like in elementary classrooms today, how teachers support diverse learners,...

In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , we sit down with renowned educator, author, and play advocate Jed Dearybury to explore why play is essential—not optional—in today’s classrooms. A former award-winning teacher and co-author of  The Playful Classroom , Jed has spent decades helping educators reimagine learning through creativity, connection, and joy. Together, we unpack the profound...

In this thoughtful and inspiring episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , Aimee Ketchum and Crystal Loose sit down with award-winning writer and educator  Ryan Rydzewski , co-author of  When You Wonder, You’re Learning . Together, they explore the enduring wisdom of Mister Rogers and what it truly means to nurture curiosity, creativity, and compassion in today’s fast-paced, screen-filled world. Fr...

In this special episode on the week of Earth Day, we welcome  Leslie Davenport , internationally recognized climate psychologist and author of  What to Do When Climate Change Scares You , to explore how climate change uniquely affects children and how adults can support them with care, honesty, and confidence. Leslie shares how she became a climate psychology educator and why children are especial...

In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , Aimee Ketchum and Crystal Loose tackle one of the most important, and often misunderstood topics in early parenthood: maternal mental health. From the rise of “real motherhood” on social media to the lingering pressure of the “bounce back” culture, Aimee and Crystal explore what’s  valid  versus what’s simply  viral . They’re joined by Jennifer Walk...

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Aimee Ketchum and Crystal Loose take a deep dive into the growing conversation around kindergarten redshirting. While many parents worry about whether their child is truly ready for school, especially with summer birthdays, the research tells a more nuanced story. Aimee and Crystal explore what redshirting is, why families consider it, and whether it...

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we continue our Kindergarten Readiness Series with elementary school counselor and former kindergarten teacher David Trout. With nearly two decades of experience in early childhood and elementary education, David brings clarity and reassurance to parents navigating kindergarten registration this spring. We explore what truly matters when preparing you...

Kindergarten registration season often brings excitement—and anxiety—for many parents. But what does it really mean for a child to be  ready  for kindergarten? In this episode, Crystal Loose, former kindergarten teacher and early learning specialist, and Dr. Aimee Ketchum, pediatric occupational therapist take a deeper look at what research says about kindergarten readiness and school readiness. D...

What does it really take to help children thrive from birth through the early years? In this episode, hosts Dr. Aimee Ketchum, pediatric occupational therapist, and Dr. Crystal Loose, early childhood educator, walk listeners through the key ideas in their book  The Early Childhood Promise: Sparking Change for Parents, Early Childhood Professionals, and Policy Makers. Chapter by chapter, Aimee and...

In Part 2 of our Movement Series, we continue the conversation about why movement is a powerful driver of child development. Many parents hear the advice:  “Just talk more to your child and they’ll learn to talk.”  While modeling language and repetition are important, communication development is much more complex. Speech and language are deeply connected to a child’s movement, sensory processing,...

Is the trend toward Type B parenting just another viral idea, or is there real science behind it? In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , Dr. Aimee Ketchum and Crystal Loose explore the growing conversation around laid-back parenting styles and why a less structured approach may actually benefit children’s development. When parents allow more flexibility, unstructured play, and independen...

In this research deep dive, we break down what the latest science says about how children learn to read—and why it matters more than ever. We explore the rise of  structured literacy , a term introduced by the International Dyslexia Association, and how it connects to decades of research known as the Science of Reading. Using a 2025 study from  Reading Research Quarterly , we unpack compelling evi...

Having a baby in the NICU can be overwhelming, especially when parents are flooded with conflicting information about newborn medications and vaccines. In this episode, we tackle common NICU myths and fears with evidence-based guidance from a multidisciplinary NICU team. We start with a popular misconception circulating on social media:  If a mother is healthy, her baby doesn’t need hepatitis B va...

In this episode,  Dr. Daris McInnis  pulls back the curtain on how literacy actually develops. He clearly breaks down early literacy into its core components—oral language, print awareness, alphabet knowledge, and phonological awareness—and explains why reading is not instinctual like speaking, but must be explicitly taught. Listeners walk away with a practical, empowering understanding of what’s...

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we welcome Allison Jandu, potty training consultant and author of The Adaptive Toolkit for Potty Training Children with Disabilities. Together, we take a developmentally informed look at potty training and why readiness, not timelines or pressure, is the key to success. Allison shares why she wrote her book and addresses common misconceptions that oft...

In this episode of  Plant the Seed of Learning , we explore a powerful and unconventional approach to child therapy with  Kate Beckwith , a psychodynamic psychotherapist and arts education specialist whose work challenges traditional therapy models. Kate shares how her practice, Kate’s Garden, integrates nature, animals, movement, art, and play to support children’s emotional well being and develo...

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, we take a global look at how culture shapes early childhood education through a conversation with Parul Sindhwani, Principal for Early Years at Nehru World School in India. We compare what early childhood education looks like in India and the United States, exploring how community values, family structures, and cultural expectations influence children...