In today’s episode, we have TWO Amys (Amy Cox your host and Amy Cambridge). 👯‍♀️

Our guest today - Amy Cambridge -  is a Member of Play Squad,  a mum to two active little boys and is also pregnant with her third child.

In today's episode, 'the Amys' talk about:

• how to adapt play ideas and suggestions with active children in mind
• how to cater for the individual needs and interests of YOUR children
• embracing 'imperfect' and dispelling the need to be 'insta square compliant' - and how much happier EVERYBODY becomes because of this
• meaningfully involving your kids in the general running of the house (in playful ways!)
• developing independence and confidence when children learn to do things themselves - no matter how messy it can get in the process
• ...and more!

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We are so thrilled to welcome the wonderful Maggie Dent to the show to dive into some of the things she’s written in her fabulous book, 9 Things, which is all about common sense parenting.

Listen in as Maggie shares:

• The difference between roosters and lambs temperaments in children, the characteristics of each one and how to help them as a parent.  
• How it's our challenge to work out how you fill each of your children's love cups up. What is it that makes them feel that you love them - that’s what you have to work out.
• The Five Love Languages book and how it can help relationships between parents and with your children. How we, as parents, try and give love the way we feel love.
• Embrace the 80/20 parenting rule: aim for about 80% of the time getting everything pretty much okay. But 20% of the time, you might end up with a high quality cereal for dinner or toasted ham, cheese, tomato sandwiches.
• The difference between men and women and how they each deal with ‘imperfect pa...

Today Amy chats with Kirsty from Learning Blocks Australia, and some tips for children who are just about to start their school journey.

Kirsty shares her background and how Learning Blocks Australia formed and has grown.

For parents that have got little ones that are about to embark on their school journey, Kirsty and Amy discuss the tips for school readiness.

Talking to your children about what they might do in the day. Explaining to your child who they can go to for help. Often little thing can sometimes upset a child.

Children often pick up our attitudes, even if we are not aware of it.

Kirsty has created learning tool kits to help children get ready for school. From fine motor skills to gross motor, social and emotional, oral language and listening are encouraged by parents to work on at home. 

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Welcome to the Play Squad Podcast's first episode for 2019!

Today, Amy speaks about some top tips for creating a space to play for your kids, revealing what has worked for her family.

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If you enjoyed this episode and it helped you in some way, we'd love to hear about it! Take a screenshot of you listening to this podcast and post it to your Instagram stories and tag @playfullittlelearners - we'd love to feature our listeners!

LINKS:

Join the free hub of play ideas, recipes, eBooks, printables, favourite stores and so much more over at Playtime Hub.

Join the next Play Squad Membership here.

CONNECT WITH AMY:

Web: www.playfullittlelearners.com

Instagram: @playfullittlelearners

Facebook: @playfullittlelearners

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode we have a fun and exciting chat with Shannon, the creative soul behind “Oh Creative Day” @ohcreativeday.

Shannon is a teacher, Mum of 3 and co-creator of @get.creative.with.

Amy and Shannon chat about getting creative with kids and Shannon’s top tips for play.

SHOW NOTES:

0:39 Amy welcomes Shannon to the Podcast.

1:10 Shannon talks through her journey of creating Oh Creative Day through her love of learning and creativity.

5:26 Amy and Shannon discuss top tips for getting creative with kids, and being able to let go of control and expectations.

9:01 Working within your limits with mess like glitter!

10:33 Shannon shares how she makes creative time with different age groups easier.

14:50 Insight into what is coming up next for Shannon (episode recorded late 2017)

17:08 Where to find Shannon on both Social Media and her website.

This episode of The Play Squad Podcast is proudly sponsored by The Creative Toy Shop - creative learning for all abilities...

In today’s episode, Amy chats with Lauren from Teacher Types.

Lauren is an Aussie teacher, Mum of two gorgeous children and a blogger.

They discuss Lauren’s best top tips for helping children start and transition smoothly into school.

SHOW NOTES:

0:39 Amy introduces Lauren.

1:21 Lauren shares her how she started her hobby 'Teacher Types' 4 years ago and all about her blog.

2:48 Amy and Lauren discuss their top tips for parents who have kids starting school for the first time.

4:28 What questions to ask your kids and the teacher so you can gauge how they’re going.

5:30 Lauren explains what parents should expect their kids to be doing in the first few weeks of starting school.

7:05 Lauren shares how to best prepare your child for starting school.

8:40 Insight into what is coming up next for Lauren.

10:23 Where to find Lauren on both Social Media and her website

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Today, Amy shares her top tips for setting up playful invitations at home.

She shares how it is NOT about the 'picture perfect' image - but more importantly, creating realistic expectations.

Amy shares her experiences with her own four children and the learning curves they have gone through.

SHOW NOTES:

0:51 Learn Amy’s top tips if you'd like to set up an 'invitation to play'.

1:04 Amy shares her story of setting up her own very first sensory play experience for her son (and the disaster that followed!)

2:20 Tip number 1: Keeping it simple.

3:50 Easing your child into new play experiences. How to get started.

5:08 Tip number 2: Keeping it age appropriate.

6:36 Tip number 3: Having realistic expectations. Removing the visuals of the perfect picture. Removing comparison.

8:25 Tip number 4: Meaningfully embracing mess.

9:53 Tip number 5: Modelling desired behaviour to help develop new skills and help children engage with different - and new -  materials.

12:13 Creati...

In this episode (recorded at the end of 2017), Amy speaks with Brianna from Notes From A Home Educator (now Teacher with a Toy Shop).

Brianna is a teacher, turned at home educator to four amazing boys.

Brianna’s journey searching for products that met the individual needs of the boys in her care lead her to opening The Creative Toy Shop.

SHOW NOTES:

0:39 Amy welcomes Brianna to the podcast.

1:05 Brianna shares why she started her Instagram page “Notes from a home Educator” (now Teacher with a Toy Shop) which then lead to opening The Creative Toy Shop. 

3:06 Brianna shares how The Creative Toyshop grew so quickly.

4:42 Amy and Brianna discuss popular toys for some age groups and the benefits of choosing open ended, quality toys.  

10:20 Insights into what is coming in 2018 from The Creative Toyshop (conversation recorded in 2017).

11:45 Where to find Brianna on both social media, facebook groups and website.

The Play Squad Podcast is proudly sponsored by The Creati...

Today, Amy chats to Anna from The Imagination Tree.

Anna shares her journey as a Mum and the joy she - and her children- have discovered though play.

Anna is a Mum of four, Early Childhood teacher and the amazing owner and creator of both The Imagination Tree & The Kindness Elves.

SHOW NOTES:

0:39 Amy introduces Anna from The Imagination Tree. Anna shares her own personal journey with play, her website and blog.

1:06 Anna shares the background behind her award winning website - The Imagination Tree.

2:59 Amy asks Anna to share her favourite topics that she has written about over the years - sensory play and small world play.

3:49 Anna talks about which ideas her own children have loved love doing over and over again - playdough!

4:59 Amy and Anna discuss The Kindness Elves and how they came about. Spreading random acts of kindness, building kindness through positive language and actions. Encouraging empathy.

8:32 The Kindness Elves store and the magical things peop...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Play Squad Podcast!

Join your host Amy Cox, Aussie Mum of four and teacher-turned-entrepreneur on a mission to champion play in the early years of children’s lives.

In this first episode (first launched at the end of 2017), Amy introduces herself and we learn about how the Play Squad Podcast came to light.

Amy shares her own personal journey, the three goals for the Play Squad Podcast, and starts the discussion on real and raw conversations around PLAY.

SHOW NOTES:

0:39 Meet Amy and her family and find out why the Play Squad Podcast was born.

4:09 What you can expect from the Play Squad podcast.

4:50 Creating a community that comes together to extend their children’s learning, get playful and spend quality time in meaningful ways.

5:50 Removing the picture perfect image.

6:13 Amy shares her first goal: to share simple meaningful ideas for play, presented through real and raw conversations.

6:30 Amy shares her second goal which...