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What if the solution to many childhood developmental challenges was literally right outside our windows? Naturalist and author Susie Spiegel reveals how unstructured nature play creates the perfect environment for children to develop crucial life skills that structured indoor activities simply can't replicate.

Drawing from her book "Forest Magic for Kids: How to Find Fairies, Make a Secret Fort, and Cook Up an Elfin Picnic," Spiegel shares how simple outdoor activities like mixing "potions" from natural materials or creating miniature fairy villages foster imagination while simultaneously developing communication skills, risk assessment abilities, and emotional regulation. These activities don't require specialized knowledge or expensive equipment—just the willingness to step outside and model curiosity.

Perhaps most fascinating is how outdoor environments can transform children who struggle in traditional classroom settings. Those labeled as "troublemakers" indoors often become leaders in nature, where their heightened awareness becomes an advantage rather than a distraction. As Spiegel explains, "A lot of times kids that are hyper aware—somebody who might have ADHD—they're seeing a million things outside. They're the kids spotting the cardinal because they're seeing things in a really fast and exciting way."

The good news? Nature-based play is accessible even in urban environments. From the "sliver" between buildings to cracks in sidewalks, children can find wonder anywhere with the right guidance. With simple tools like buckets, magnifying glasses, and journals, families can start small and gradually build confidence in outdoor exploration—creating not just cherished memories but crucial developmental opportunities our screen-centric world increasingly lacks.

Ready to discover the transformative power of unstructured outdoor play for the children in your life? This episode provides a practical roadmap for bringing the magic of nature into everyday childhood experiences, no matter where you live.

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Support the show

If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.

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"Books are the key to unlocking your soul's true potential." These aren't the words of a veteran educator or bestselling author – they come from nine-year-old Ishara, host of Ishara's Reading Podcast, literacy advocate, and aspiring astronaut who dreams of leading a mission to Mars.

In this inspiring episode, Ishara is at her skating rink (YouTube video of this episode!) She shares how her reading podcast is helping children around the world access literature, explore big ideas, and discover the joy of learning. From environmental stewardship to space exploration, Ishara connects storytelling with action—proving that age is no barrier to leadership.

Listeners will hear how she’s using her voice to empower others, promote equity in reading access, and inspire curiosity in STEM. This episode is a heartwarming look at youth leadership, peer mentoring, and the limitless power of books.

Subscribe to Ishara's Reading Podcast to witness this inspiring young voice in action and discover how storytelling can spark curiosity, activism, and positive change in listeners of all ages.

💡 This episode is CPD accredited! Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening. To claim your certificate:

1. Listen to the full episode
2. Visit https://thecpd.group/podcast
3. Enter code 800121 to check in and download your certificate

Listen. Learn. Earn.

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Support the show

If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.

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Dinalynn Rosenbush, certified speech-language pathologist and host of the Language of Play podcast, shares research-backed approaches for supporting children's communication skills through play when speech therapy services are delayed or unavailable.

• Nearly 8% of children ages 3-17 have communication disorders with speech problems being most common
• Children need to hear a word approximately 400 times before they begin using it themselves
• Understanding the difference between speech (sound production) and language (meaning, vocabulary, sentences)
• Simple strategies include having sensory-rich conversations about everyday activities
• Expand vocabulary by providing multiple words for common concepts (hot, warm, heated)
• Screen time impacts pragmatic language development, with 40% of children ages 3-10 struggling with social communication
• Create intentional tech-free time for family conversations and connection
• Stay curious about children's behavior, remembering that all behavior is communication
• Providing correction when children use incorrect grammar helps build their reading foundation

You can find Dinalynn's podcast "The Language of Play" on any player, contact her at hello@thelanguageofplay.com, or access free resources through her newsletter.

💡 This episode is CPD accredited!
Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening. To claim your certificate:

1. Listen to the full episode
2. Visit https://thecpd.group/podcast
3. Enter code 800120 to check in and download your certificate

Continue your professional growth—one episode at a time.

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Support the show

If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.