My New Life

The early years of a child’s life are the most important for their long-term development. Sometimes, the abundance of information out there can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. My New Life is here to support parents and help make sense of the science behind early learning. I’m Jessica Rolph, mother of three and CEO of Lovevery. With the help of experts from around the world, we break down all the child development science into usable nuggets of knowledge that you can put to the test in your own home.

Montessori math 05/15/2024

Montessori math Math is all around us. When it comes to teaching it, the challenge lies not in creating the opportunities, but in recognizing them. Counting grapes while they disappear is a fun one! Around the age of 4, a child’s mathematical knowledge takes a big leap forward. They go from counting and recognizing numbers, to understanding 1:1 correspondence and being able to complete simple addition. As parents, we can support them in this leap by providing things to count, line up, and compare. Lovevery’s Montessori Math Bars & Number Tiles for months 43-45 are a great place to start. On this episode, My New Life Host Jessica Rolph is joined by the principal investigator for Boston College’s Thinking and Learning Lab, which studies cognitive development with a primary focus on mathematical knowledge: Dr. Elida Laski. Dr. Laski is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Montessori Research. Takeaways: By supporting early math, we’re activating the same pathways in the brain that will support literacy. For example, knowing that the symbol 3 refers to three objects is the same thing a child has to do in early reading when they look at an arbitrary combination of lines that represent a B and know that it makes the sound buh. Beyond learning the numbers, exposing children to early visual repeating patterns like red, blue, red, blue, also builds a foundation for later math learning. There’s research that shows that labeling the count set after you’ve counted with your child can make a big difference. So don’t just count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and assume your child knows that represents five. Go the extra step, and say: “So we have five pegs.” This concept is demonstrated in the Lovevery wooden counting box. The Lovevery Montessori math bars not only show that numbers represent a larger quantity as you move up the count sequence, but also visually show how much more. You can reinforce this in the day-to-day, by asking your child: How many more floors do we have to go to get to number 6? Rather than leaning on tools like flashcards, Elida recommends more authentic math activities, where you’re: counting real things; comparing who has more crackers, who has fewer; and placing things in order so that you can see their relation to the count sequence. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/30973883

Montessori handwriting 05/08/2024

Montessori handwriting The Montessori method is rooted in the idea that children can—and should—be empowered to do things on their own. On this episode of My New Life, we consider handwriting through a Montessori lens. But how much independence can we truly expect from a child who is forming words on paper for the first time? You may be surprised to learn that a toddler can start practicing handwriting as early as age 3. It all comes down to building the foundations through play! Host Jessica Rolph is joined by Julia Volkman, who wrote her thesis at Harvard on the moveable alphabet. Julia, founder of , says writing comes online for developing brains before reading. Takeaways: Julia points out that a child’s capacity to understand letter sounds is there before their capacity to write them or read them. The Montessori moveable alphabet is extremely helpful in familiarizing children with how these sounds fit together. They move into place the tiles that make the sounds mmm — ooo — pp and, voila, they have a word! MOP. The more a child succeeds at building these words, the more readily they will start to read, and then write… and over time, their spelling will refine. This is the gradual, organic process that happens when they have the right conditions and the materials to support their learning. When it comes to handwriting, the physical aspects are often what we think about: for example, the muscular ability to hold the pencil. But there are also intellectual aspects like the desire to write — and knowing enough about the world around them to find inspiration. Vocabulary and sequencing also play important roles. Vocabulary development comes naturally with your child’s exposure to lots of songs, rhymes and books. Give them the words for everything — and remember to keep it playful! Montessori uses lots of indirect preparation, like scrubbing and preparing food to strengthen hand muscles and coordination. You can also practice sequencing in the kitchen by laying out ingredients from left to right, in the order you will use them. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/30973843

Montessori literacy 05/01/2024

Executive function: Empathy 03/27/2024

Executive function: Empathy Empathy can be a puzzling concept for a young child. They often need adults to model it for them. When reading stories or playing with the wooden peg people together, ask your child: “How do you think that person is feeling right now? How can you tell? How would you feel in his place?” Encourage your child to notice the clues in their environment and use them to draw conclusions. In this final episode in the executive function series, Senior Director of Programs at Rebecca Parlakian joins Host Jessica Rolph to look at how empathy fits into the critical thinking skills coming online for your 4 year old. Takeaways: Empathy is caught not taught. We are teaching our child what empathy is when we model it, but also when we empathize with them. Empathizing with our child doesn’t mean that we’re agreeing with them or doing exactly what they want us to do. Rather, it involves acknowledging that what we’re asking them to do is hard for them. In order for a child to recognize that what they did was wrong, they have to accept some degree of shame. That’s asking a lot of a 4 year old. Rebecca recommends shifting 100% of the attention to the child who has been hurt, and only later (in private), asking your child questions like: How did you know she didn’t like it? Rebecca has 3 suggestions for building empathy in the day-to-day with your child: Try to imagine how your baby is interpreting a situation and put that into words. For example: “It’s so frustrating when you can’t reach your pacifier!” Suggest ways that your child can show empathy. Something like: “Your cousin fell and hurt his knee. Would you like to help me get the ice pack for him?” Explore empathy in pretend play. So if we’re playing veterinarian, we can say: “The doggy has to have a shot, but look, he’s feeling a little scared…” Finally, Rebecca suggests using the Imagine-if cards in the Examiner Play Kit as a way to build empathy. For example: “Let’s imagine you’re at preschool. What if a friend is feeling sad about saying goodbye to their mom or dad? What could you do to help them?” Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/30051003

Executive function: Flexible thinking 03/20/2024

Executive function: Managing frustration 03/13/2024

Executive function: Managing frustration Success in life — that looks different for everyone. But skills like persistence, managing frustration and emotional regulation tend to scaffold that success, no matter what the end result looks like. These skills are all part of what scientists call executive function, something we’re focusing on this season. We like to talk about executive function, because young children have lots of chances to practice these skills! In this episode, we look at how to build frustration tolerance. One of the best ways to do that is to play games — games where your child occasionally loses! Joining My New Life Host Jessica Rolph is Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of . She is a ambassador and has contributed to the . Takeaways: Our brains develop back to front over our lifespan, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive function, isn’t fully developed until age 30. So adjust your expectations accordingly! Play is a great place to start building these skills. Coach your child through losing a game, rather than avoiding your child’s unhappiness at all costs. Explaining that every game has a loser, can help develop appropriate expectations. Talia starts games with her child by explaining: “I can’t tell you who’s going to win. I can’t predict the future. We don’t know how this is going to go.” If your child’s frustration is mounting (particularly if siblings are involved) encourage them to take a pause and to recognize the signals in their body: “I can see you’re getting frustrated. And I can tell because I see you’re moving all your pieces around...” Then validate their feelings and encourage them to put their feelings to words: “Tell me about what’s making you feel frustrated about this game.” If children don’t have the language to express what they’re feeling, they will often resort to behaviors, some of them unwelcome. The Lovevery wooden emotion dolls can help with emotional coaching. Ask your child where they feel the frustration in their body and point it out on the figure. With children who prefer tasks and games that are easy for them, Talia likes to introduce the word “challenge”. “You’re so good at this game, why not go for something that’s going to be a little harder and see how you do? Challenges can be fun!” Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Talia Filippelli at Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/29995093

Executive function: Thinking ahead 03/06/2024

Executive function: Thinking ahead Executive functioning skills are important, because they help us achieve our goals. Children with strong executive functioning skills have the focus, patience, flexibility and resilience to succeed in—and out—of school. While children continue to develop these skills into adolescence, research shows they surge at 4 years old. And they can be really fun to practice! In this episode, My New Life Host Jessica Rolph welcomes Whitman Professor of Psychology Dr. Melissa Clearfield a second time. She first appeared on the show 3 years ago to discuss her research demonstrating differences in executive function in infants. This time, the focus is on executive function in older children, specifically a child’s ability to think ahead, a component of working memory. Takeaways: The three pillars of executive function are: impulse control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. The Lovevery Reach for the Stars Matching Cards — where you sort by shape, and then code switch to sort the same cards by color — are a great way to practice cognitive flexibility. Executive function stems from attention, being able to focus on the right things and block out distractors. This is challenging at ages 3, 4 and 5 because of a child’s still-developing impulse control. Working on that selective, sustained focus is primary at this stage, and is best achieved through play with an adult. The concept of time is still very vague before the age of 5. “We’re leaving in 15 minutes” has little meaning. Sequencing, however, is something they can do! “We have three things to do. Can we get them all done before your sister gets home?” The Lovevery countdown timer helps reinforce this skill visually. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/29881258

When parenting feels unequal 11/27/2023

When parenting feels unequal Our guest today is a mother of four children, ages 5 to 17. She knows well how the demands of parenting can run you into the ground. She made the choice to step off the “struggle bus of overwhelm” — as she calls it — but it was a move that took time, and conscious effort. The secret? Establishing clear boundaries. And choosing not to identify with the “mother as martyr” role. So many of us look for our partners to validate how hard we are working, before we give ourselves permission to delegate and take a break. Or hold onto resentment because we feel we are shouldering more than our fair share of the parenting burden. In this episode, Julie Tenner gives us permission to ask: What do I need to show up as the best version of myself in this family? She is an Australian-based relationship expert who shares her wisdom as co-host of the podcast . You can also find her at . Takeaways: If you find yourself resenting the people you love, it’s a sign you need to re-enforce your boundaries. Score-keeping is something we slip into when we’re feeling under-valued. Time to have a conversation with your partner about what you need out of each of your roles. This conversation around roles is constantly shifting. Revisit the agreements you make regularly because our needs as adults shift with the changing children around us. Julie likes to think about it as tending to the you, to the me, to the us and to the family inc. Julie talked about setting limits around breastfeeding and the inevitable resistance that a mother will come up against. Responding to your baby’s cries from a loving place, firm in your boundaries, can sound like: “Yeah, it’s really hard for you. I know you really want to have a feed, but I can’t give that to you right now, but I love you and I’m here.” Julie is a big fan of delegating. She reminds us that when delegating, we need to let go of how the task is executed. It’s not going to look exactly like it would have, if you had done it. But we can’t do this work on our own, so time to lean into the team! Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Julie Tenner at Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/28213463

Helping children deal with change 11/20/2023

Managing expectations as a mother 11/13/2023

Managing expectations as a mother For the most part, limits provide a framework that helps everyone move through the day more fluidly, and with less friction. But on this episode of My New Life, we discuss limiting beliefs — beliefs that interfere with our own wellbeing and that of our family. A big one is the notion that we can “have it all”. For parents who work outside the home, this can compound the pressure we already feel to be in more than one place at a time. And for parents who work inside the home, the line between family and professional needs gets easily blurred. Leaving everyone wondering: Am I a good enough fill-in-the-blank… parent? employee? boss? Psychologist and motherhood coach Yara Heary knows this dance all too well, and she’s here to help us explore how these limiting beliefs show up for us, because being aware of these thoughts is the first step toward changing them. You can find Yara . Takeaways: Host Jessica Rolph shared one of her own limiting beliefs: I’m not a present enough parent. Yara encouraged her to look at the standard to which she’s measuring her worth as a mother. Where did that standard come from? What is enough? This goes for any of the limiting beliefs we have. Yara ascribes to the notion that you can have it all, but not all at the same time. There are seasons when one or another role is going to take priority. Give yourself permission to settle into the current role, knowing that there will come a time when you can switch hats. When caring for young children, it can often feel like you haven’t “achieved” much. But that comes down to what we perceive as meaningful. If you write down all that you’ve ticked off in a day, it may be easier to re-evaluate those tasks as meaningful, valuable care-taking. If you’re working outside the home and finding the separation painful, focus on 10 minutes of special time with your child each day. This is a time where the phone is out of reach and you’re following your child’s lead. If your child has trouble saying goodbye when you leave for work, talk about this special ritual you will have, when it will happen and what it will look like. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Yara Heary Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/28213334

Expert in neurodiversity Dr. Billy on emotional regulation 10/30/2023

Expert in neurodiversity Dr. Billy on emotional regulation We welcome Dr. Billy Garvey to this episode of My New Life. He runs a clinic in Melbourne, Australia, that helps parents focus on their children’s strengths, and move through some of their challenges. The clinic has a 3-year waitlist and after listening to this episode, you’ll understand why: Dr. Billy is really good at helping caregivers and children connect in those moments when stronger limits are needed. He works with a lot of neurodiverse children, and brings that adaptive lens to our conversation. Dr. Billy is and has his own podcast, . Takeaways: When your child is elevated — hitting or lashing out — it’s not the time to build skills. Our role in that moment is to show them they are safe. Rather than instructing them to “settle down,” take that moment to be a calming presence for your child. You might be thinking: I can’t believe that set them off! But Dr. Billy reminds us that the same sensitivity that feeds the emotional dysregulation also makes them really receptive to positive feedback — so focus on their strengths and harnessing those. Look for opportunities to praise them when they are interacting positively with a sibling or doing what they’ve been asked. Struggling to get out the door in the morning? See if you can chunk the larger request into smaller ones. For example, start with a specific 2-step direction (put on your socks and shoes) and, once that is mastered, you can move onto more steps. If your child is repeating a behavior that you’d like to see less of, be sure to give them an alternative rather than simply asking them to stop. If the behavior involves another child, create some distance, whenever possible. They need time to cool off. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Dr. Billy Garvey Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/28205054

Helping siblings with boundaries 10/23/2023

Behavior is a smoke alarm 10/16/2023

Behavior is a smoke alarm There are lots of parenting experts talking about choosing connection over discipline, but today’s guest on My New Life has a fresh take on limit-setting: She compares bad behavior to a smoke alarm going off. Punishment is like taking a hose and pointing it at the alarm. If the pressure is great enough, the alarm will stop. But we still don’t know why it went off in the first place. We need to find the fire! Obstetric Social Worker and Parent Educator Genevieve Muir joins Host Jessica Rolph to provide tips on finding the origin of these emotional flare ups. You can find Gen . Takeaways: Gen reminds us that you need to name it to tame it. There’s no modifying challenging behavior without figuring out the root cause. No matter what the behavior, children are never choosing to get it wrong. If they’re acting out, chances are good they need more connection with you. They are seeking that connection 24 hours a day, and they will seek it any way they can. If your child’s not okay, they probably don’t want us to fix it or solve it or make it better. They actually just want us to acknowledge their struggle: “You’re really not happy about the Nutella, huh?” It’s as simple as that. Or, for an older child, you can dig a bit deeper: “I can see you’re really struggling with this Nutella and I’m wondering if you’re a little bit nervous about going to a new camp today? That can feel scary.” Gen likes the phrase “I won’t let you hit” rather than something like “in this family, we don’t hit”. Not only does it clearly communicate to the child that they have crossed a boundary, it reminds you that your role is now to step in and keep everybody safe. She says setting boundaries with toddlers is most effective with a calm, but very much in control, physical presence. Remember, one-on-one time can go a long way toward diffusing sibling conflict. Rivalries generally stem from a child feeling like they aren’t getting enough of your attention. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Gen Muir Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/28182527

What you should know about men's and women's fertility 07/31/2023

What you should know about men's and women's fertility When it comes to starting or growing a family, many of us come face-to-face with a painful reality: Infertility. Even if you had an easy time conceiving, it doesn’t guarantee subsequent pregnancies will be just as easy. Problems in men’s bodies are the cause of around half of all infertility. Does that statistic shock you? That could be because women of child-bearing age are bombarded with marketing for expensive fertility supplements and treatments, while men remain largely in the dark about their reproductive health. Women’s lifestyle choices—what they eat, drink, and use on their bodies—are scrutinized and judged. Yet sperm is influenced by the same lifestyle factors. Here to educate us on fertility for both men and women, is Leslie Schrock, top-selling author of the modern guide to pregnancy “Bumpin’”. She has now written a second book called “Fertility Rules”. Learn more about Leslie’s books . Takeaways: Men are just as likely as women to have health complications that contribute to infertility. The good news: There is a lot that men can do to improve their sperm supply because they regenerate it so frequently. The first step, says Leslie, is to book a preconception appointment. Have an honest conversation with your doctor about any medications or supplements you may be taking. Some people think that supplementing with testosterone will make a man more fertile, but it actually drops a man’s semen parameters. Leslie recommends only two supplements for women and men trying to conceive: CoQ10 and a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. She cautions women away from products that claim to regenerate your egg supply, which is not medically possible. Focus instead on optimizing your overall health. It takes an average of three IVF cycles for a couple to have a baby. But fertility treatments rarely start there. Leslie spoke about kits for at-home insemination as well as timed intercourse as a first step you can try at home. While breastfeeding shouldn’t be relied upon for birth control, if you’re breastfeeding and trying to conceive, your body is not going to put its best foot forward to facilitate a second pregnancy. This is because the priority is feeding the human relying on your milk supply. When supporting those who are experiencing infertility, Leslie reminds us to listen. There is no greater gift. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Leslie Schrock Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/27525003

When and how to stop breastfeeding 01/11/2023

When and how to stop breastfeeding Host Jessica Rolph breastfed all three of her children, but weaning the last has been an emotional experience. It’s hard to say how many mothers breastfeed beyond that first year or two, but often those mothers feel judged for choosing to continue. Lyndsey Hookway joins us to help demystify “extended” breastfeeding and offer tips on weaning for those who are ready. She is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant for The Maternity Collective, based out of the UK. Highlights: [1:14] Why do we refer to breastfeeding beyond age 2 as “extended”? [3:15] Jessica shares her personal experience feeding her daughter, even though it’s clearly not a nutritional experience anymore. [5:14] What are some of the benefits to the nursing mother? [7:02] Can breast milk lose some of its nutritional value over time? As volume decreases, why does the child still want to suck? [8:30] If a mother wants to continue breastfeeding her toddler when a newborn arrives, is there any reason why she shouldn’t nurse both children simultaneously? What does the science say about this? [11:20] Tender breasts are common with pregnancy and often initiate a natural weaning process. [13:11] Is there an optimum period to wean your child? [16:13] Lyndsey talks about hormonal fluctuations that can cause sadness after weaning, as well as temporary difficulty sleeping. [18:09] How to handle a toddler who keeps asking to be breastfed at night? [21:03] What is step one for a mother who wants to start the weaning process? [23:21] Lyndsey shares some additional tips for weaning during the day. [26:10] What to do if you’re feeling anxious about the weaning process. [28:54] Jessica shares takeaways from her conversation with Lyndsey Hookway. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find Lyndsey Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram Listen to with Jenny Best /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/25388295

Transitioning from crib to bed 12/28/2022

Co-parenting after a separation 12/14/2022

Talking about death 11/30/2022

Pacifiers: In or out? 11/16/2022

Coping with separation anxiety 11/02/2022

Coping with separation anxiety The stress of separation is real — it can be upsetting for both you and your child. Whether it be a child sobbing for you to stay when the babysitter shows up or clinging to your leg at drop-off, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing it all wrong when these raw emotions take over. My New Life’s Jessica Rolph welcomes Family Psychologist Ashleigh Warner to help parents navigate this tricky terrain. Ashleigh reassures us that these feelings are normal, and shares ways to make separations easier on everyone involved. Highlights: [1:45] What is causing our babies and toddlers to get so upset when we leave the room? [3:02] Ashleigh talks about Dr. Gordon Neufeld’s model of attachment. [5:15] Ashleigh explains why it is completely normal for a child to struggle at drop-off. [6:37] What happens if there are a few caregivers, who might even change day by day? [7:30] How to handle attachment in a daycare setting for a baby? [9:03] Is sneaking out recommended? How should parents handle separation? [11:21] What can caretakers do to make separation less traumatic? [14:45] What is the role of distraction? Are distractions recommended? [15:58] How long is it okay for a child to be crying and upset over a separation? [17:34] Is it ok to go back for your child if the crying is more than you can handle? [21:05] Should caregivers be practicing a few things at home before a big transition like starting daycare or preschool? [22:30] What are ways that caregivers can build trust in their children that they will always return? [23:30] Jessica presents the question of a listener. She’s a Navy mom who is gone a lot, and finds it painful when her child expresses a preference for Daddy. What advice does Ashleigh have for this mom? [25:02] How can a parent ease the transition when returning to work? [26:38] Jessica shares her takeaways from her conversation with Ashleigh Warner. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram. /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/24508935

Preventing screen-time meltdowns 10/19/2022

When potty training gets messy 10/05/2022

When potty training gets messy Is your child refusing to sit on the toilet? Or waiting until the pull-up is on to go poop? You’re not alone. For a lot of parents, the potty learning process is more drawn out than we anticipate. For some, it takes months or even years. In previous episodes, you heard some common potty-training scenarios. We shared the advice of the author of and Nicole Kavanaugh’s Montessori approach. In today’s episode, Host Jessica Rolph welcomes Quiara Smith, an occupational therapist specializing in pediatric pelvic floor health, to help with the trickier cases when it comes to learning potty etiquette. Highlights: [1:42] What scenarios are most common in Quiara’s practice? [2:28] What are Quiara’s recommendations for a child who is withholding poop until nap time or night? [3:25] What if the child’s sensory system is overwhelmed? [4:55] Is there anything that parents can do to create a more favorable environment in the bathroom for their child? [6:46] A specific potty challenge scenario from one of Lovevery's listeners. [8:42] How firmly should parents hold boundaries around the use of diapers to poop? [9:46] A listener asks a question about how we can help a toddler to differentiate between a diaper and pull-ups/training pants. [12:26] How can parents help their children to transition from the potty to the toilet? Listen to a parent whose child has been rejecting the regular toilet for almost a year. [15:24] What to do when your child uses the potty at school, but not at home? Or visa versa. [17:33] What can parents do when their child is withholding to the point of constipation? [20:09] What is the average time frame for learning to use the potty? Is there a point at which parents should seek outside help? [21:40] What do parents do if their child is potty trained and then experiences a regression? [22:36] Quiara shares tips to continue potty training while traveling. [24:09] Quiara’s final advice. [25:37] Jessica gives her takeaways from the conversation with Quiara Smith. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram. Listen to and . Find additional tips on potty training on the Lovevery blog at . /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/24473688

Get your baby talking with The Speech Sisters 09/21/2022

Get your baby talking with The Speech Sisters This week we are revisiting our most-downloaded episode from Dec. 1, 2021, as we prepare for our upcoming season: Transitions. In the new season of the podcast, we will take a look at transitions from diapers to potty, crib to bed, saying goodby to pacifiers, and lots more. Language milestones are a hot topic. When should my baby be speaking? And how many words? So much is tied up in our ability to communicate with our little people. On today’s episode of My New Life, we call in the experts to get your baby talking! While the timeline for those treasured first words varies from child to child, there are some time-tested tricks to help the process along. Spoiler: Don’t be afraid to sing to your child. Jessica Rolph, your host, is accompanied by speech language experts Bridget Hillsberg and Brooke Dwyer, aka the Speech Sisters. Key Takeaways: [1:54] How much is nature vs nurture when it comes to a child developing language? [3:13] Bridget and Brooke talk about their babies’ language development. [4:47] The Speech Sisters’ number one tip for parents: imitate. [6:05] What’s the difference between baby talk and imitating? [8:01] Another tip for parents: Act it out. [9:25] Listening, labeling, and demonstrating play an important role in encouraging language development. [12:37] What constitutes saying the first word versus babbling? If you know what they mean when they say it, does that count as a word? [13:23] How much should a child be talking? What’s typical? And when should we worry? [16:04] Bridget and Brooke share stories about children who received early intervention to assist in their language development. [18:25] Can a child learn language through screens? [21:17] How much of a child’s language development stems from parent intervention versus screens or some other outside service? [23:15] Parents have a tremendous impact on their children’s language acquisition. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Find more about Bridget and Brooke on /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/24366591

Simplifying: Why children benefit 09/07/2022

Supporting a positive sibling relationship 08/24/2022

How to boost your baby's biome 08/10/2022

Screens: What the research tells us 07/27/2022

Ready for more? Why birth spacing matters 07/13/2022

Normal fears vs. anxiety with Dr. Lockhart 06/29/2022

Normal fears vs. anxiety with Dr. Lockhart With everything we have to worry about in today’s world, it’s easy to lose sight of how our children can have their own big worries too. Things like getting nails clipped, night-time noises, strangers, doctors, even entering a pool can feel overwhelming to our children. How do we help them push through their fears? Which are normal, and which are extreme? And how do we validate their feelings without making their fears worse? Jessica Rolph, your host, welcomes Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to today’s episode. She is an expert in childhood anxiety and helps parents distinguish between appropriate behavior and something that requires more attention. Key Takeaways: [1:48] What should parents do and not do when it comes to soothing their children’s fears? [3:11] What’s the optimal way to handle fear? [4:22] How to tackle repetitive fears? [6:08] When does separation anxiety become a concern? [8:17] Where do parents draw the line between encouraging, strongly encouraging, or even making their child try something new, while also respecting their fears? [10:35] How can we help a child push through their fear? [13:15] Do we push through the first time they face a fear, or can gradual exposure begin the second or third time? [15:07] What is a normal level of apprehension towards strangers for toddlers and what is extreme? [18:30] How do parents avoid over-pathologizing their children? [21:17] Where can parents get help with their questions about anxiety? [22:03] Dr. Lockhart suggests parents be aware of what we are consuming. [23:33] Jessica shares the highlights of her conversation with Dr. Lockhart. Mentioned in this episode: Brought to you by Receive weekly emails about your child’s development, and stay in the know about new play essentials, promos, and more by signing up at Follow and on Instagram. Connect with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart on /episode/index/show/mynewlife/id/23556125

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My New Life

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