Transforming The Toddler Years- Parents and Educators Raising Calm, Connected, Capable Kids

What happens when we stop seeing challenging behavior as a problem to fix and start seeing it as a developmental need to understand?

In this episode, Danielle—a mother, educator, and doctoral researcher—joins the conversation to explore how adult expectations, reactions, and past experiences can shape children’s behavior and how proactive, relationship-based approaches can create more successful environments for young children. We discuss the importance of play, developmentally appropriate expectations, and giving children the space to be messy, explore, and learn rather than focusing too heavily on academic readiness. Together, we explore alternative care settings, the importance of emotional and relational safety, and why sharing what we know about our children with their teachers can help build the relationships and support children need to thrive.

Dr. Danielle Dushane is a former teacher and early interventionist. She is a mom of three and former foster parent. She has a Ph.D. in education and a Master's in Special Education and her research focuses on preschool and childcare expulsion. She is passionate about helping educators partner with families to support their children.

September 17, 2026
Episode 348
Understanding Challenging Preschool Behaviors with Dr. Danielle Dushane

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the new book⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to book Cara for your next speaking event? Find all the details⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if one of the most powerful skills we can give our children is the ability to think creatively when no one is there to entertain them?

In this episode, we explore the important difference between creative thinking—the ability to imagine possibilities, solve problems, and generate ideas—and creative play, which is how children put those ideas into action. We discuss why boredom and independent play are essential opportunities for children to strengthen their “creative thinking muscle” and why adults can sometimes unintentionally limit imagination by insisting on what is real. Through a powerful story about a family on a device-free dinner outing, we explore the importance of nurturing children’s expansive imaginations while also eventually teaching them when to distinguish fantasy from reality. The episode ends with a simple challenge for parents and educators: encourage creativity by asking two powerful questions—“What if?” and “I wonder.”

🧠 Your Toddler Tribe Homework
This week, your mission is simple: feed that creative brain! ✨
When your little one is playing, exploring, or wondering about the world, try swapping out answers and instructions for two magic phrases:

“What if…?”
“I wonder…”

What if that cardboard box were a rocket ship?
I wonder where it could take us?
What if we added something else?
I wonder what would happen next?

The goal isn’t to make their play bigger or better—it’s to give their imagination room to lead. Step back, get curious, and see where their wonderfully creative brains take them!

September 15, 2026
Episode 347
Creative Thinking vs. Creative Play - What a Girl Dad in a Cafe Taught Me

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the new book⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to book Cara for your next speaking event? Find all the details⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if understanding toddler behavior—not controlling it—is the key to better communication, cooperation, and connection?

In this special listener-inspired episode, I explore the biggest challenges facing parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators, including toddler tantrums, big feelings, emotional regulation, challenging behaviors, transitions, routines, and learning how to communicate with young children. I reveal that what adults truly want isn’t simply better behavior or obedience, but stronger relationships, emotional intelligence, relational intelligence, and practical tools for communicating with toddlers and young children. Whether you’re parenting a toddler, working in early childhood education, or caring for young children, this episode offers a powerful reminder that emotional safety, connection, and intentional communication are the foundation for cooperation, positive relationships, and lifelong learning.

Interested in the Sign to Speak - The Communication Bridgeon-demand course that teaches you how to communicate effectively with your baby as they learn to talk? Get it now!

September 8, 2026
Episode 346
The Hardest Thing About Parenting Toddlers (And it's not what you think)

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the new book⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to book Cara for your next speaking event? Find all the details⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if you could hand off the endless mental checklist of family life and finally be more present with the people you love? 

In this episode, Diliani Kahawala unpacks the invisible mental load parents carry—from meal planning and school forms to schedule changes, reminders, and constantly anticipating what everyone needs next. We explore how Anna, an AI-powered personal assistant, can help parents offload that behind-the-scenes project management by connecting with calendars, email, messaging apps, and family schedules. Diliani also shares how Anna is designed with privacy and security in mind, while helping parents manage both their family responsibilities and professional lives. Most importantly, this conversation is about using technology intentionally to give parents back time, reduce overwhelm, and create more space for connection, presence, and meaningful family memories.
Dilani Kahawala, co-founder and CEO of Anna, a truly autonomous AI assistant designed to help busy parents reduce their mental load and stay on top of family life. As a parent of three, she understands firsthand the challenge of balancing family, work, and everything in between. Before founding Anna, Diliani led product management teams at companies including Meta and Etsy, bringing her experience in technology and product development to building a tool that gives parents back time and mental space.Try out Anna today with a FREE 30 day trial! Use code LAUNCH

September 3, 2026
Episode 345
How to Reduce Your Mental Load during the Back to School Transition with Dilaini co-founder of Anna

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the new book⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to book Cara for your next speaking event? Find all the details⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Could that endless chorus of “Mama, mama, mama” actually be an important milestone in your toddler’s language development?
In this episode, we explore why toddlers repeatedly say a parent or caregiver’s name before nearly every sentence as they practice the connection between attention, communication, and relationships. Rather than a behavior meant to frustrate you, this repetition is a developmental learning phase that helps children build confidence and strengthen the neural pathways involved in expressive language. We also discuss how responding with connection-based phrases like “Yes, love” instead of the automatic “What?” can support your child’s communication while reducing frustration for both of you. Tune in to learn how small changes in the words and tone you use can nurture connection and help your toddler’s language truly explode.

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Tell me your struggles and the resources you're using to help you move through them so that I can do a better job of creating tools for you. As a thank you, everybody who fills it out will get entered in to win a free class of mine. It is an American Sign Language class called Sign to Speak, the communication bridge designed for you, the caregivers of babies and toddlers. Take the survey now!

September 1, 2026
Episode 344
Why Your Toddler Says "Mama" 400 Times a Day (And What to Say Back)

About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Core4Parenting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠ A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.

As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the new book⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to book Cara for your next speaking event? Find all the details⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠