What does it take to ensure every child starts kindergarten ready to learn, and whose responsibility is it?

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Dr. Crystal Loose and Dr. Aimee Ketchum welcome Kristy Craig, Executive Director of ReadyKids!, and Kari, a former classroom teacher and ReadyKids! team member, to explore how one Florida community is working together to give children a stronger start.

With approximately half of children in Escambia County entering kindergarten without the skills they need to succeed, ReadyKids! is tackling school readiness through early literacy, family engagement, mentoring, and community partnerships.

Kristy and Kari share insights into the skills children need beyond letters and numbers, the impact of their ReadingPals mentoring program, and how their Kindergarten, Here We Come! initiative helps children and families navigate the transition to school.

Together, they discuss why kindergarten readiness is about much more than academics and how educators, families, businesses, and policymakers can work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Because kindergarten readiness isn't just a school issue. It's a community responsibility.

Connect and Learn More:

• ReadyKids!: https://readykidsfl.org/

• Plant the Seed of Learning Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

• My First Desk™: https://myfirstdesk.info/

  ReadyKids! Website: readykidsfl.org

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  • Kristy Craig: Kristy@ReadyKidsFL.org

  • Kari Lindemann: Kari@ReadyKidsFL.org

  • ReadingPals Program: Learn more or volunteer

  • Kindergarten, Here We Come!: Program information

Is play just a break from learning, or is it one of the most powerful ways children learn?

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Dr. Crystal Loose and Dr. Aimee Ketchum welcome Dr. Subarna Basu, educator and researcher, to explore the role of purposeful play in kindergarten classrooms and why play-based learning matters more than ever.

Drawing from her doctoral research at West Chester University, Dr. Basu shares insights from kindergarten teachers about the benefits and challenges of incorporating purposeful play into everyday instruction. The conversation explores how play encourages student ownership, persistence, creativity, and meaningful learning, while addressing the growing pressure on teachers to prioritize academic instruction.

Dr. Basu also introduces Photovoice, a unique research method that uses photographs to capture teachers' experiences and perspectives on play-based learning.

Together, they challenge the idea that play and academics are competing priorities and explore how intentional, hands-on experiences can support both academic achievement and whole-child development.

Because play isn't a distraction from learning. Play is how children learn.

October is National Head Start Awareness Month, and we're celebrating the incredible impact Head Start has had on children and families for more than 60 years!

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Dr. Crystal Loose and Dr. Aimee Ketchum welcome Christina Dimitriou, Head Start Director at Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13), to explore what makes Head Start so much more than a preschool program.

Christina shares how Head Start supports the whole child through early education, health, nutrition, developmental services, and family engagement. Together, they discuss the importance of early intervention, preparing children for kindergarten beyond academics, and empowering parents as their children's first teachers.

The conversation also explores the lasting impact of early childhood education, challenges facing Head Start today, and how families can access these valuable services.

Because giving children a strong start isn't just about preparing them for school. It's about preparing them for life.

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Crystal and Aimee talk with pediatric sleep consultant and behavior analyst Sarah Bossio, founder of Your Zen Baby Sleep, about one of the biggest challenges for families with young children: getting everyone the safe, healthy sleep they need.

Sarah separates evidence based sleep guidance from the overwhelming amount of advice parents encounter online. She discusses common misconceptions about infant sleep, safe sleep recommendations, sleep training without “cry it out,” frequent night waking, and signs that a child’s sleep concerns may warrant a conversation with a pediatrician.

The conversation also explores practical questions many parents have, including room sharing, smart bassinets, bedtime routines, and how to establish healthy sleep habits from the very beginning. Most importantly, Sarah offers realistic strategies for exhausted parents and reassurance that healthy sleep does not have to look the same for every family.

• Safe sleep and good sleep habits can go hand in hand.
• Not all sleep advice shared on social media is evidence based or safe.
• Babies can learn healthy sleep habits without relying on a one size fits all approach.
• Frequent waking can be developmentally normal, but some sleep behaviors should be discussed with a pediatrician.
• Simple, consistent routines can help establish healthy sleep patterns from infancy.
• Parents should consider both safety recommendations and their individual child’s needs when making sleep decisions.
• Sleep challenges can feel overwhelming, but they are not necessarily permanent.

Website: www.yourzenbabysleep.com

Instagram: @yourzenbabysleep

YouTube: youtube.com/@yourzenbabysleep

Key TakeawaysSarah's Information:

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Dr. Aimee Ketchum and Dr. Crystal Loose welcome children’s author, educator, and literacy advocate Stefanie Hohl, creator of ABC See, Hear, Do.

Stefanie shares how her experience helping her own active child learn to read inspired her to develop a multisensory approach that combines visuals, sounds, and movement to make early literacy engaging and accessible. The conversation explores how ABC See, Hear, Do aligns with the Science of Reading and why young children benefit from learning experiences that involve their whole bodies.

Together, they discuss the connections between letter formation and letter-sound learning, phonemic awareness and movement, rhythm and language development, and physical activity and attention. Stefanie also shares practical strategies parents and educators can use to strengthen early reading skills while helping children—especially wiggly or struggling learners—build confidence and experience success.

This episode reminds us that learning to read doesn’t always have to mean sitting still. When children can see it, hear it, say it, and move with it, literacy comes to life.

Connect with Stefanie Hohl:
Website: abcseeheardo.com
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook & X: @stefaniehohl and @abcseeheardo

Are AI-powered toys helpful learning companions or could they pose risks for young children? In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum explore new research from the University of Cambridge examining how generative AI toys affect children’s play, communication, emotional development, privacy, and safety.

Drawing on observations of young children interacting with an AI-powered toy, the research found that these toys can struggle to understand children, respond appropriately to emotions, support pretend and social play, and provide meaningful emotional connection. The researchers also raise concerns about children developing parasocial relationships with AI toys, as well as unclear privacy practices and the potential for AI to replace, or interfere with important interactions with adults and peers.

Crystal and Aimee discuss what these findings mean for parents, educators, therapists, and policymakers, including recommendations for stronger safety standards, clearer privacy policies, responsible toy design, and active adult involvement when children use AI toys.

Bottom line: AI toys may have potential, but when it comes to children under five, thoughtful design, regulation, and adult guidance are essential.

What do children need before they are truly ready to learn? In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Dr. Aimee Ketchum and Dr. Crystal Loose welcome Dr. Bryan Pearlman, author, mental health therapist, educator, and former school principal, for a conversation about the foundations children need to thrive in school and in life.

Drawing on his experience in education and mental health, Dr. Pearlman explores how influential theories of child development can help parents, educators, and professionals better understand children’s behavior and learning. The conversation examines the importance of meeting children’s emotional and developmental needs before expecting academic success, the role of trauma-informed practices, and how cognitive behavioral therapy can support children’s mental health.

Dr. Pearlman also discusses ADHD, including concerns about over-identification and the influence of technology, and shares the perspective behind his book ADHD Is My Superpower. He explains the work of the Distinguished School of Mental Health & Wellness and offers practical strategies educators can use to help children feel safe, supported, seen, and ready to learn.

This episode is a reminder that supporting the whole child isn’t separate from education—it creates the foundation that makes learning possible.

Connect with Dr. Bryan Pearlman:

Website: BryanPearlman.com
STL Mental Health: STLmentalhealth.com
X/Twitter: @drp_principal
Facebook Group: Maslow Before Bloom
Distinguished School of Mental Health & Wellness: DSMHW.org

Music is much more than entertainment—it is a powerful tool for brain development, language, movement, and lifelong learning. In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Aimee Ketchum and Crystal Loose welcome veteran music educator Sonia Straley, who shares how music education has evolved over the past two decades to become more engaging, culturally responsive, and rooted in neuroscience.

Together, they explore the best approaches to early childhood music instruction, including Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, Gordon's Music Learning Theory, Feierabend's First Steps in Music, and Kindermusik, discussing how each supports young learners. Sonia explains how families and educators can nurture children's musical development from infancy, why the early years are a sensitive period for music learning, and how music strengthens literacy, executive functioning, and social-emotional skills.

The conversation also examines the role of growth mindset in the music classroom, the influence of culture on musical experiences, the use of movement and music throughout the school day, and how emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—are changing music education. Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or simply someone who believes every child deserves opportunities to thrive, this episode will inspire you to see music not as an extracurricular activity, but as an essential part of healthy child development.

LinkedIn

Youtube

E-mail srstraley2013@gmail.com

Facebook

The Body Keeps the Score

Links:
Born Musical: Early Musical Experiences Shape the Developing Brain