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.

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E-mail srstraley2013@gmail.com

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The Body Keeps the Score

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

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum explore the physical and emotional journey into parenthood with a Lancaster-based licensed clinical social worker, certified perinatal mental health specialist, doula, and pregnancy and postpartum athleticism professional.

The conversation takes a closer look at what a doula really does and how this support can help families navigate pregnancy, birth, and the often-overlooked postpartum period. Drawing on both mental health expertise and hands-on birth support, the discussion explores how parents can prepare for the unexpected, advocate for themselves during birth, and create a postpartum plan before their baby arrives.

The episode also addresses maternal mental health, including how to recognize when the typical emotional adjustments after birth may be something more than the “baby blues” and when it is time to seek additional support. The conversation also explores safe, individualized approaches to exercise and fitness during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Key Takeaways

• Doulas can provide emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
• Preparing for parenthood should include a postpartum plan, not just a birth plan.
• Flexibility can help parents feel empowered even when birth does not go according to plan.
• Understanding perinatal mental health can help families recognize when a new parent needs additional support.
• Exercise and movement can be an important part of pregnancy and postpartum wellness when approached appropriately.
• Building a support system before the baby arrives can make the transition into parenthood feel more manageable.

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum welcome Amy Reyes-Hauff, an early childhood education leader with more than 26 years of experience as a Montessori director, Head Start director, kindergarten teacher, and state administrator with the Wyoming Department of Education.

Amy shares why joy, play, movement, and time outdoors aren’t extras in early childhood education—they are essential ingredients for healthy development and meaningful learning. Drawing from her work with the Get Wild Wyoming initiative, which has reached more than 300 classrooms and 6,000 children, she discusses how nature-based, screen-free experiences can strengthen self-regulation, curiosity, resilience, physical health, and emotional well-being.

The conversation also explores kindergarten readiness, the growing impact of digital technology on young children, and how early childhood classrooms have changed over time. Amy challenges educators and families to consider whether increasing academic expectations and screen use are crowding out some of the experiences children need most.

Looking toward the future, Amy shares what she would prioritize in professional learning for early childhood educators and the changes she believes could have the greatest impact on the next generation of children.

Key Takeaways

• Joy is an important foundation for learning, helping children develop curiosity, resilience, confidence, and agency.
• Outdoor play supports physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
• Kindergarten readiness is about much more than early academic skills.
• Children need opportunities for active, hands-on, screen-free experiences.
• Early childhood classrooms can maintain high expectations while still protecting play, movement, exploration, and joy.
• Supporting educators in understanding child development is essential to creating learning environments where young children can thrive.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-reyes-hauff-a1b15844/Whether you are navigating meltdowns at home or managing a bustling preschool classroom, Why Did They Do That? turns everyday behavioral challenges into powerful opportunities for connection, co-regulation, and healthy cognitive development. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN9355J5?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum welcome Dr. Orinthia Harris, known as Dr. OH, an early childhood educator, national speaker, and founder of STEMearly LLC.

Dr. OH shares what it really means to create spaces where every young child feels seen, valued, and included. The conversation explores how belonging, STEM learning, social-emotional development, mindfulness, and equity are interconnected in the early years. She also offers practical ways educators and families can nurture children's confidence, curiosity, empathy, and respect for differences through simple everyday interactions.

From recognizing what a thriving early childhood classroom looks like to having age-appropriate conversations about diversity, Dr. OH reminds us that creating a sense of belonging doesn't require a complicated program. It begins with the relationships, environments, and experiences we create for children every day.

Key Takeaways

• Children notice differences, and talking about them openly and positively can help build empathy and respect.
• A true sense of belonging means every child feels seen, valued, safe, and included.
• STEM and social-emotional learning naturally work together through curiosity, problem-solving, collaboration, and persistence.
• Creating an inclusive classroom begins with educators reflecting on their own practices and perspectives.
• Everyday play and interactions at home can build children's confidence and curiosity without expensive toys or structured programs.
• Small, intentional changes by parents and educators can have a lasting impact on how children see themselves and others.

Links:https://stemearly.org/
https://stemearly.org/teaching-beyond-labels

In this episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, Aimee Ketchum and Crystal Loose welcome renowned lactation consultant, birth and postpartum doula, and maternal health advocate Donna "Boob Donna" Sinnott. With experience supporting more than 40,000 families, Donna shares practical, evidence-based advice on breastfeeding, donor milk, maternal mental health, and the power of responsive feeding. She explains why breastfeeding often takes practice, how parents can recognize when they need professional support, and why there is no "perfect" feeding journey. The conversation also explores the critical role feeding plays in brain development, attachment, and lifelong learning, while highlighting the importance of policies that better support families during a child's first year.

The Donor to Door: Bridge Milk for Home relies entirely on community support and costs approximately $60,000 a year. During #WorldBreastfeedingWeek, consider donating to this program: https://giving.mainlinehealth.org/support-a-priority/donor-to-door

In this research scramble episode of Plant the Seed of Learning, hosts Crystal Loose and Aimee Ketchum dive into one of the most debated topics in early childhood today: screen time.

Drawing from current research in education, pediatrics, and occupational therapy, Crystal and Aimee explore what we know—and what we still don't know—about the impact of screens on young children's development. They discuss parents' mixed feelings about technology, the benefits and risks of digital media, the relationship between screen use and sleep, and the importance of family connection in a digital world.

The conversation highlights findings from leading researchers including Jenny Radesky, Dimitri Christakis, and others who have examined how screen media influences learning, imagination, sleep quality, self-regulation, and family interactions. The hosts also unpack recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and share practical strategies families can use to support healthy media habits.

Most importantly, Crystal and Aimee emphasize that this is not an anti-screen conversation. Instead, it's a pro-sleep, pro-play, and pro-connection discussion focused on helping children thrive in a technology-rich world.

In this episode, you'll learn:
• What current research says about screen time and child development
• Why children under age two learn best through human interaction
• How screen use can affect sleep quality and bedtime routines
• The role parents play in helping children navigate media
• Evidence-based sleep hygiene strategies for babies and preschoolers
• Alternatives to screen time that foster creativity, problem-solving, and STEAM learning
• How families can create healthy, balanced relationships with technology

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or policymaker, this episode offers practical, research-based guidance for raising and teaching children in the digital age.

American Academy of Pediatrics Screen Time Guidelines
https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/screen-time-guidelines

Radesky et al. (2016)
Overstimulated Consumers or Next-Generation Learners? Parent Tensions About Child Mobile Technology Use
https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1976

Radesky & Christakis (2016)
Increased Screen Time: Implications for Early Childhood Development and Behavior
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006

LeBourgeois et al. (2017)
Digital Media and Sleep in Childhood and Adolescence
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1758J

Waller et al. (2021)
Screen Time Use Impacts Low-Income Preschool Children's Sleep Quality, Tiredness, and Ability to Fall Asleep
https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12869

Domoff et al. (2019)
A Naturalistic Study of Child and Family Screen Media and Mobile Device Use
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1275-1

"We're not anti-screen. We're pro-sleep, pro-play, and pro-connection. Technology is a tool—but relationships are the foundation of learning." – Aimee & Crystal

Resources & Research MentionedKey Takeaway