Jesse Coffino is an educator, author, translator, dad and CEO of Anji Education, Inc. The guy who has spent the last decade introducing True Play and the practices of Anji Play to the world outside of China.

Key Takeaways:

1. Reflective Practice: Teachers benefit significantly from observing and reflecting on videos of children's play. This practice helps educators understand and improve their teaching strategies.
2. Cultural Context of Napping: Kristen and Jesse talk about how in China, extended nap times for children are culturally supported and integrated into the daily routine, contrasting with the U.S. where nap times are often limited.
3. Importance of Care: Successful education systems prioritize care, safety, and responsiveness to individual needs, aiming to create supportive and nurturing learning environments.
4. Global Spread of Anji Play: Anji Play principles, introduced by Jesse Coffino, emphasize joyful discovery and reflection, influencing educational practices globally.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Jesse here: @anjiplay or at anjiplay.medium.com or facebook: Anji Play World

Find the Year long scope and sequence here: anjiplay.com

Samuel and Kisa are fierce childhood advocates and the authors of Rethinking Weapon Play in Early Childhood.

Key Takeaways:

1. Reflect on Decisions: Educators should regularly examine their reasons for saying "no" to certain play, ensuring they align with the children's best interests.
2. Value Unrestricted Play: Allow diverse forms of play, like weapon play, to support children's learning and development, while maintaining safety.
3. Recognize Adult Biases: Avoid letting personal traumas or biases limit children's play; seek support if needed to manage these feelings.
4. Evolve Practices: Be open to new research and ideas, moving beyond outdated educational practices to better support children's growth.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Kisa here: @iam_still_learning or at Contact here

Find Samuel here: honoringchildhood or at honoring childhood.org

Find their book here: Rethinking Weapon Play in Early Childhood

Kara is a Play and Mindset Coach and your partner-in-fun on the path to healing perfectionism and rekindling your playful, creative spirit. Kara’s message is that play is anything but fluffy; it’s the secret sauce to more health, confidence, creativity, and joy (science says so too!). It's also a powerful healing tool to help us release perfectionism and connect with our inner child.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Play in Adulthood: Play is essential not just for children but also for adults. It helps in reconnecting with our inner child, alleviating stress, and fostering creativity.
2. Healing Through Play: Engaging in playful activities can be a healing process, especially for those who have experienced trauma or high levels of stress. Play can help in processing emotions and releasing tension.
3. Barriers to Play: Many adults struggle with incorporating play into their lives due to societal expectations, self-imposed limitations, or the belief that play is not a productive use of time.
4. Practical Tips for Embracing Play: Simple strategies like setting aside time for spontaneous activities, being open to new experiences, and allowing oneself to be imperfect can help adults invite more play into their lives.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Kara Here: @theplayfulwarrior

Discover your playful personality here: Take the Quiz

Anande Ferreira is a mama and pediatric occupational therapist with a special interest in playfulness and sensory integration. She has over 10 years experience supporting children and their families. Upon completion of her Masters degree focused on playfulness, she presented her research at the World Federation of Occupational Therapy Congress and has published in the Occupational Therapy International Journal. On this podcast Her and Kristen talk about what play looks like and what people's expectations are of play.

Key Takeaways:

1. Misconception of Play: Play can look different for everyone and sometimes caregivers think it should look a certain way with children. This can sometimes create concerns that may not need to be concerns.
2. Play in Diverse Settings: Integrating play in various settings, including structured and unstructured environments, supports different aspects of development and learning.
3. Role of Adults: Adults should facilitate and support play without overly directing it, allowing children the freedom to guide their own play experiences and creativity.
4. Play and Emotional Health: Play provides a safe space for children to manage their emotions, build resilience, and develop coping strategies in a non-threatening way.

Do you find yourself wondering what play really looks like? Then this episode is for you.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Anande here: @playmoreot

Find Anande’s course here: Making sense of It

Find Anande’s Book here: Born to Play

Beth Duttera from Aut2ask, an autistic woman-led initiative uplifting autistic voices. Her support survey has over 2k voices from the autism community (inc educators!) speaking on how the current system and supports are failing us all. Listen as Kristen asks questions about autism to help others have a better understanding.

Key Takeaways:

1. Teacher Training Deficit: Kristen and Beth talk about how many teachers lack formal training about autism, hindering their ability to support autistic students.
2. Diagnostic Challenges: They talk about how teachers struggle to discuss developmental issues with parents due to a lack of diagnostic authority and parental awareness.
3. Harm of Masking: Beth and Kristen discuss how forcing autistic children to mask behaviors like avoiding eye contact or stimming can be damaging.
4. Inclusive Education Need: They advocate how more inclusive practices and better support systems are essential for accommodating all students.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges stigmas and highlights the beauty of neurodiversity in education.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Beth Here: @aut2ask

Take Beth’s Data Survey: Survey Link

Deborah MacNamara is a counselor, on Faculty at the Neufeld Institute and author of Rest Play Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (or anyone who acts like one), and Nourish: Connection, Food, and Caring for our Kids (and everyone else we love). Join Deborah and I as we tackle all things boredom.

Key Takeaways:

1. Boredom Boosts Creativity: Boredom fosters creativity and self-initiated play in children, encouraging imagination.
2. Parental and Educator Roles: Parents and educators should guide children through boredom, supporting their independence and self-entertainment.
3. Imaginative Play Benefits: Encouraging imaginative play with simple toys or self-created games enhances creativity and expression.
4. Balancing Screen Time: Limiting screen time and promoting physical and imaginative play is crucial for children's development.

I’m sure at some point in your life you have heard the words “I’m Bored!”. This podcast will cover the ins and outs of boredom and why it can actually be a good thing!

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Deborah here: @drdeborahmacnamara or at macnamara.com

Find Deborah’s books here: Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One) and Nourished: Connection, Food, and Caring for Our Kids (And Everyone Else We Love)

Find Deborah's Freebie here: infographic on how you can play out frustration

Alicia Highland and I talk about ways to make environments more inclusive and also touch on what that can look like in nature based settings. Alicia completed her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, with specializations in Environmental Education and Nonprofit Management, and a Master's in Elementary Education. Now that she is taking a break from the classroom to raise her two littles, Alicia is focusing her energies into creating a nature-based education community online and in her hometown.

Key Takeaways:

1. Equity and Inclusion: Alicia and Kristen talk about how to create environments where all children feel safe and have equal access to opportunities by addressing systemic barriers and ensuring inclusion.
2. Challenges: They talk about how early childhood education faces issues like low wages, lack of funding, and insufficient support, which hinder creating equitable educational spaces.
3. Nature-Based Education: Kristen and Alicia cover ways to also help make nature-based education accessible to all children.
4. Actionable Steps: They talk about how educators should educate themselves, use toolkits, have courageous conversations, and be open to feedback to create inclusive learning environments.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Alicia here: @tinygreenlearning or at www.tiny-green-learning.com

Find the implicit bias test: Project Implicit

Find the NAEYC toolkit here: Guide

Listen as Prerna and I pick up from where we left off from after our last episode together (Episode 56). We talk about what happens when there is an absence of play and how it can affect behaviors in different ways.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stress and Escalation of Behaviors: Kristen and Prerna talk about how the absence of play increases stress for both children and adults, leading to heightened and disruptive behaviors. Play is a natural way for children to process their emotions and reduce stress.
2. Connection and Regulation: They talk about how crucial it is to build connections and help children regulate their emotions through play.
3. Role of Educators: Prerna and Kristen give advice to educators about how to be present and respectful of children's play, waiting for invitations to join rather than controlling or directing it.
4. Adjusting Schedules: Learn how some small changes to schedules, such as adding more outdoor playtime, can significantly reduce stress and improve behavior.

If you are struggling with different behaviors with children, this episode will give you lots of insights that can help you shift your mindset and make changes to set children up for success.

Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com

Find Prerna here: @togetherwegrow.online or at togetherwegrow.online.com

Also find Prerna on: Linkedin, Facebook, or YouTube

Listen to the other episode with Prerna here: Episode 56