Episode 42: Thrivers (with Dr. Michele Borba)
Release Date: 03/25/2021
Not Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
Most people associate the library with silence. But what if we associated it with play? In this episode, I’m talking with Tammie Benham, Youth Services Consultant for the Southeast Kansas Library System. Tammie believes that where libraries, children, and families intersect, magic is possible. And she’s set out to make that magic through a family engagement program focused on using play to teach, encourage, and support families in the communities she serves.
info_outline Episode 70: Why We Need Play for AllNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
We started this series with the overall argument for why play is essential for human development. The next three episodes dug deep into three main themes: Why we need play for mental health and wellness, for brain development and real learning, and for soft skill development. Then, we shifted to several shorter episodes, touching on specific types of play and how they contribute to development. In this final episode, I’m talking about why ALL children need play, even when others may think it’s time to help children “catch up” instead.
info_outline Episode 69: Why We Play with ArtNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
What does fingerpainting have to do with the Space Race? In this episode, we're talking about art and creative play and their role in learning, thinking, and innovating.
info_outline Episode 68: Why We Play PretendNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
This episode’s focus is the dress-up area and dramatic play. We’ll talk about the powerful developmental support that comes from preschoolers dressing up and playing pretend. Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode68
info_outline Episode 67: Why We Play at the Sensory TableNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
This episode’s focus is sensory play. We’ll take a look at why these bins full of rice, water, goop, and other media aren’t just a big mess waiting to happen, they’re a really important key to supporting healthy child development.
info_outline Episode 66: Why We Play with BlocksNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
This episode’s focus is the block area. We look at what’s going on in those busy building centers of the early childhood classroom, and why it’s important to keep those big spaces open for construction, even when there’s pressure to move the blocks out to make room for “real school”. Don’t underestimate the simple nature of a collection of rectangles, squares, and triangles made out of hardwood maple. When children play with construction toys (which include the ever-present unit blocks, of course, but also other open-ended building toys like Legos, magnet tiles,...
info_outline Episode 65: Why We Play for Soft SkillsNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
While some schools may claim they’re moving away from play and toward more direct academic instruction as a way to prepare children for their future careers, business leaders repeatedly share that soft skills are becoming increasingly relevant in the workplaces of today and of the future. In this episode, we’ll talk about how pushing out play also pushes out prime opportunities for building essential soft skills. Soft skills that not only enhance careers, but improve life. FInd show notes at:
info_outline Episode 64: Why We Play for Brain Development and Real LearningNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
This is the third episode in a nine-episode series! In this episode, we’re digging into why we play for brain development and real learning. There are many people who say they support play for young children, but question whether or not we need play in school, or who might argue that play is important, as long as we get the work of learning done first. So today, we’ll talk about why play and learning aren’t as separate as people might think. Find show notes at
info_outline Episode 63: Why We Play for Mental HealthNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
In this episode, we’re digging into why we play for mental health. It’s not just something we think is true or that sounds nice, it’s a claim that’s backed up by science and statistics. There’s something about play that is essential to developing and maintaining our mental health. We’ll dig into those findings and what they mean for our youngest learners.
info_outline Episode 62: The Why We Play Special SeriesNot Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children
I’m excited to be kicking off something special today. For years, I’ve been speaking at workshops and conferences about the power of play in the early learning environment, which sparked the series of parent letters I’ve written, called Why We Play. This month, I’ll be sharing a special podcast series with the same name: Why We Play. Every Tuesday and Thursday in February, you’ll find a new episode sharing the science and stories behind why we play, evidence that play is not just cute, it’s incredibly powerful. This Why We Play podcast series is long overdue –...
info_outlineDr. Borba's newest book, THRIVERS: The Surprising Reason Why Some Kids Struggle While Others Shine, combines scientific studies, input from dozens of researchers/experts focusing on resilience, and interviews with more than 100 young people from all walks of life. Through all of that research, Dr. Borba found something surprising: the difference between those who struggle and those who succeed comes down not to grades or test scores, but to seven character traits that set Thrivers apart (and set them up for happiness and greater accomplishment later in life).
Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode42