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How can picture books and play combine to spark creativity, empathy, and joy in our youngest learners? Join the conversation with Rachel Rubin and Annie Dycus, the innovative minds behind L-M-N-O Play, a subscription service that uses open-ended play and amazing picture books to engage young minds (while sparking wonder in their grown ups as well).

“Something we really need in our world is children who think outside the box and know how to solve problems. And we think play and picture books —the marriage of the two — is the perfect solution for helping to raise kind, smart, brilliant, imaginative children.” — Annie Dycus, co-founder, L-M-N-O Play

“Not only are we always looking to find that next great kind of undiscovered potential in a great picture book, but also to share with families how they can do this at home and make these amazing moments through just a really simple act.” — Rachel Rubin, co-founder, L-M-N-O Play

Summary:

Dive into the transformative power of picture books and play in early childhood education with Rachel Rubin and Annie Dycus, co-founders of L-M-N-O Play. Learn how their unique approach to connecting play with picture books fosters creativity, problem-solving, and empathy in children, while providing a fresh perspective for adults.

From beloved childhood classics to new favorites, Rachel and Annie share insights on how interactive storytelling and playful activities create profound connections and broaden horizons. Discover the magic of storytelling as a tool for cultural awareness, and explore the timeless value of play and picture books in a digital age. Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply love children's literature, this episode offers invaluable advice and inspiration to cultivate a lifetime love for reading and play in our youngest learners.

Chapters:

• 1:01: Origins of L-M-N-O Play
• 4:03:Importance of Learning Through Play
• 7:08:A Horse Named Steve: Walking Through L-M-N-O Play Process
• 13:39:Open-ended and closed-ended play
• 17:19:Social-emotional learning through books and play
• 19:51:Building core connections to picture books
• 22:13:Value of First Book Friends
• 26:57:Power of Play and Picture Books Across Ages and Stages
• 32:42:Favorite Books Featured in the L-M-N-O Play Subscription
• 34:59:Finding Hope Through Play and Empathy

Links:

L-M-N-O Play Website

Follow @lmnoplaynyc on Instagram and Facebook

Follow Annie Dycus and Rachel Rubin on LinkedIn

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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Imagine an early childhood classroom filled with diverse books, engaging play centers, and joyful experiential learning where every child feels seen and valued. How does play-based learning help celebrate the unique strengths each child brings to the classroom? Join us this week as we talk about the importance of early childhood education in setting the stage for a lifetime of critical thinking and creative problem solving with Dr. Crystal Y. Campbell, executive director of Dorchester County First Steps and president of Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA). Dr. Crystal helps us uncover how creating empathetic and dynamic educational environments can help unlock each child's potential and lead to a brighter future for all.

In these challenging and unsettling times, Dr. Crystal shares her insights on the importance of play in education, advocating for environments that foster community, collaboration, curiosity, empathy, and joy. This episode explores how such environments prepare young learners for future success, emphasizing the need for dynamic classrooms and the art of storytelling. We also discuss the impact of early childhood education on societal values and envision an ideal early childhood environment for all kids.

Timestamps:

• 01:41: Advocating for Young Children -- Dr. Crystal Campbell's Adventures in Learning
• 03:37: The Joy of Learning Through Play
• 08:02: Dorchester County First Steps
• 10:52: SECA (Southern Early Childhood Association)
• 14:27: Building a Strong Foundation with Wonder and Empathy
• 22:30: Unleashing Children's Potential Through Engaging Experiences
• 29:20: Waving a Magic Wand for an Ideal Early Childhood Education Experience: Designing classrooms with diverse resources where we celebrate each child's unique contributions in a joyful, experiential setting.
• 43:22: The Art of Storytelling: Training educators in storytelling to bring multicultural literature to life.
• 46:09: Facing the Realities and Challenges of this Administration: Working as a community to support early childhood education. What diversity, inclusion, and equity really mean -- and why they are more important than ever.
• 52:42: Teaching and Modeling Kindess and Empathy: Shaping values in early education for a more empathetic and just society.
• 55:26: Leaning Into HOPE: Imagining a future where communities work together to overcome divisions.

Links:

Dorchester County First Steps

SECA (Southern Early Childhood Association)

Register for SECA

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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How can a children's book spark a lifelong passion for conservation and inspire young activists to protect our planet's endangered species? Today we learn how "toucan" help endangered species. Dynamic author-illustrator duo Hayley and John Rocco discuss the power of storytelling to empower young conservationists.

We celebrate the book birthday of Hello, I'm a Toucan, the latest offering in their Meet the Wild Things series, and learn some interesting nuggets of information about these vibrantly beaked birds. Discover how the Meet the Wild Things series (Pangolin, Axolotl, Quokka, Sloth, Toucan, and soon to be Loris) brings endangered animals into fun focus, encouraging kids to become champions of the natural world.

Hayley and John co-founded Children's Book Creators for Conservation to be the connective tissue between young readers and the conservationists in the field. As ambassadors for Wild Tomorrow, a nonprofit focused on conservation and rewilding South Africa, Hayley and John travels the world in search of stories they can bring back and share with readers everywhere. I am excited to join them in September.

Before dedicating herself to writing for children full-time, Hayley Rocco worked as a publicist at several major publishers. John Rocco is the #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including Blackout, the recipient of a Caldecott Honor, and How We Got to the Moon, which received a Sibert Honor and was longlisted for the National Book Award.

Chapters:

1:03 Toucan Do It Too! Inspiring Conservation Through Children's Books

16:51 Children's Book Creators for Conservation and Wild Tomorrow

26:28 Supporting Young Conservationists

Links:

Visit Hayley at hayleyrocco.com and follow her on Instagram @hayleyroccobooks.

Visit John at roccoart.com and follow him on Instagram @roccoart.

Learn more about Children's Book Creators for Conservation and

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.