Think Like a Kid

Getting ready for a new school year doesn't have to mean endless worksheets or flashcards. One of the best ways to prepare your child is by helping them build confidence in who they are. In this episode, I share one of my favorite back-to-school activities that I used in my classroom and now do with my own children. The "All About Me Bag" helps kids practice self-expression, communication, and con...

Have you ever wondered if your child's "quirky" behaviors are actually signs of something more? Some of the traits that can be frustrating in everyday life—like endless questions, intense emotions, or taking toys apart—may actually point to a highly curious and gifted mind. In this episode, I share five common behaviors I've seen in gifted children throughout my years as a teacher and as a mom. I'...

Wondering if your child is ready for kindergarten? It’s easy to focus on ABCs and counting, but I believe the most important readiness skills go far beyond academics. In this episode, I share the three areas I would prioritize before your child starts kindergarten: independence, social-emotional skills, and a love of learning. I'll explain why these foundational skills matter so much in the classr...

Have you ever left a school meeting feeling like no one truly sees your child? Maybe the conversation focused on everything they're doing wrong. Maybe you walked away with more questions than answers. In this episode of Think Like a Kid, I sit down with school psychologist and special education advocate Mariah Choate to discuss how parents can advocate for their children confidently, effectively,...

Do you ever feel responsible for keeping your child entertained all day long? Between summer break, sports, camps, screens, and endless activities, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you need to be your child's personal cruise director. In this episode, I share why boredom is actually one of the most powerful tools for your child's development. We'll talk about how boredom builds crea...

Have you ever wondered if you're challenging your child enough when it comes to learning? I recently received several questions from parents who were worried that their child was bored, frustrated, or simply not making progress. In this episode, I'm sharing one of my favorite teaching concepts: the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). I'll explain how to recognize the sweet spot where real learning...

Here's something I think about a lot: we know, as parents and teachers, that kids aren't born knowing how to regulate their emotions and yet we still expect our two-, three-, and four-year-olds to just calm down on command. It doesn't work that way, and it never will. That's exactly why I'm pulling back the curtain on my bestselling Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids eBook and showing you what's...

Have you ever felt like you were forcing a lesson, a conversation, or even just homework on your child, only for it to completely fall flat? When I started STEAM Made Simple, I realized that I had to simplify complex concepts not just for my students, but for myself. Out of that necessity, I developed the SIMPLE Framework . It is the exact blueprint I follow for every single thing I teach, whether...

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the transition from "sweet little kids" to the "big kids" in upper elementary, this episode is for you. I’m joined by my lifelong teaching mentor and 5th-grade expert, Maura Vivona, to debunk the stigma that older kids are "mean" or "scary". We dive into the magic of the "House System" inspired by the Ron Clark Academy and how it builds an undeniable sense of bel...

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) might be a trendy term in schools today, but it’s actually the heartbeat of everything I’ve ever done as a teacher and a mom. In this episode, I’m getting real about my early teaching days even including the time I was actually shamed for "wasting" instructional time by letting my students talk about their feelings. I’m sharing why I refused to stop, and how those m...

If you feel like you are constantly putting out fires and stuck in a "hamster wheel" of survival mode with your toddler, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the raw truth about my own journey with an extreme high-energy child. A battle that led me to develop a proven system called the CCP model. This isn't just another set of Pinterest crafts; it’s a brain-based approach to channeling that "super...

When our kids are having an epic meltdown, our first instinct as adults is usually to start talking, rationalizing, or explaining. But what if trying to teach a lesson during a tantrum is actually making things worse? In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Courtney English, a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two. Courtney explains that talking to a dysregulated child is like tryi...

If we continue to parent and teach the same way we were raised, we are preparing our children for a world that no longer exists. With AI and automation rapidly changing the landscape, our goal has to shift from memorizing cold facts to teaching kids how to think. That is exactly what STEAM is all about and it is far simpler than you think. In this episode, we break down why the "A" in STEAM (Arts)...

"I was the 'she's fine' kid. The one who wasn't failing, but certainly wasn't thriving." In this inaugural episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why I became a teacher and why I’m so obsessed with helping you understand the kid in front of you. I didn’t grow up dreaming of a classroom; I grew up feeling invisible in a system that didn't know what to do with "average". Today, I’m sharing how a p...

"Your goal is not to fix the behavior. Your goal is to make their brain feel safe again." In this episode, we dive into a concept I believe every child has a right to know. We explore why emotional intensity is developmentally normal, but often overstimulating for the adults in the room. By giving children a picture of what is happening in their brains, we help them feel more connected to themselv...

Anxious tendencies and perfectionism often live in the same "safety system" of the brain as the watchdog we discussed in the last episode. For many high-capacity kids, making a mistake isn't just a small error, it actually feels like a total loss of control and a "danger, danger" signal to their entire system. This can lead to kids who refuse to even pick up a crayon or start a task because they c...

Do you ever feel like your day is just one long power struggle? Whether it’s over a favorite plate or a standard request, kids crave a sense of control. When they feel powerless, that "watchdog brain" we’ve been talking about takes over, and that's where the rebellion starts. In this episode, we’re talking about how to flip the script by giving kids agency before they demand it. I’m sharing one of...

Whether you’re in the classroom, the carpool lane, or halfway through your coffee, let’s stop guessing and start teaching the way kids actually learn. Think Like a Kid is your weekly chat to unlearning the "sit still and listen" methods of the past and giving your child a true educational advantage. Hosted by Danielle Mimbs–mom of three, former teacher, and Learning Behavior Specialist, each episo...