The PrinciPALS Podcast

The pals are back in the office and going back to basics on nutrition and movement. Join Emma, Brittney, and Conor as they discuss top-of-mind issues around nutrition (how worried do I need to be about my picky eater?) and why varied opportunities for movement are important for children.

Ask any parent: if your child is sleeping well, life just seems to run smoother. But when good sleep feels out of reach? The pressure (and exhaustion!) can be intense. In the first of a new batch of episodes going back to basics on raising children who thrive, the princiPALS are talking about sleep. Leaning on their own experiences as parents and educators, as well as a bit of sleep science, the p...

The princiPALS are back with an episode about the parenting book that seems to be everywhere right now: Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness . This episode features a panel discussion about the book, with four childhood experts weighing in on topics including balancing screen time with productive play, protecting chil...

It's part two of our Ask the PrinciPALS series. Join Emma, Brittney, and Conor as they discuss even more of listeners' top questions: how to teach kids about finance, how adults can help children understand that their actions impact others, how much support adults should provide when it comes to school assignments and projects, and how much families should really worry about summer slide.

This special episode is about you, our listeners. Join Emma, Brittney, and Conor as they discuss some of your top child-rearing questions: how to get habits and behaviors to stick, how to address distressing current events, how to get kids interested in activities and hobbies, and how to manage sibling rivalry during the elementary years. This warm, supportive conversation will help you feel seen,...

Screens are a necessary tool in today's world, but they can cause a lot of family anxiety. As parents themselves, Rowland Hall's princiPALS understand this struggle—and so they're tackling the topic. Join the pals for a discussion about current guidelines (and why it's understandable if you can't always adhere to them), high-quality programming, social media, the importance of balancing screen tim...

Behavior and discipline: no matter what kind of parent you are, they're two topics you think about often. And chances are, you're often wondering, "Am I doing this right?" In this episode of princiPALS , Emma, Brittney, and Conor focus on methods for recognizing children's behavior patterns, as well as share tips for how parents can best guide those behaviors in positive directions. Podcast resour...

COVID changed a lot about parenting, including how caregivers view the kind of risk-taking that helps build resilience in young children. Now that we are living in a different phase of the pandemic—one that's more focused on management instead of avoidance—it's an ideal time to revisit the topic of resilience: what it is, its many benefits, and how families can build it back into their routines. P...

In this episode, Rowland Hall princiPALS Emma Wellman and Jij de Jesus take on the topic of bullying. While parents and caregivers are undoubtedly familiar with this term, the definition can shift depending on who's talking. Knowing this, Emma and Jij explain what it means when educators use that word, as well as walk listeners through what's happening to kids developmentally during the early chil...

The princiPALS are back in the office to revisit one of today's most essential topics: how to talk to kids about race. Join Emma Wellman and Jij de Jesus as they discuss how to teach children to have thoughtful conversations about race and racial differences, as well as share tips on how to model antiracist behaviors for children. Podcast resources: Raising Race-Conscious Children PBS Utah's Let's...

In this episode of princiPALS , Emma and Jij discuss some of the most inspiring things they've learned (so far) while educating preschool- and elementary-aged children during the pandemic, with a hope that their perspectives on in-person learning may help other educators—as well as answer some of the many questions parents and caregivers have as schools readjust learning models in 2021. Emma and J...

In this episode of princiPALS , Emma and Jij discuss the importance of talking to kids about race. Join them to unpack common fears around discussing race and bias, including the role socialization plays, and explore studies on kids and race. Listeners will also get tips to help them feel more prepared for these necessary conversations. Further resources: National Association for the Education of...

The princiPALS are back in the studio to discuss academic rigor during the early childhood and elementary school years. While traditional education focused on the memorization and regurgitation of facts to display knowledge, Emma and Jij show how today's students succeed when they know how to seek, evaluate, and use knowledge. They also provide practical tips to help parents and caregivers inspire...

In the first episode of princiPALS , we're discussing resilience—that essential life skill that empowers kids to bounce back from challenges and stressors. Join Emma and Jij as they chat about what resilience in children looks and sounds like, and share ways that caregivers and educators can work together to build this skill. Further reading: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance , by Angela...