What if your toddler understands far more than they can say—and they’ve been quietly learning from you since the day they were born?

In this episode I explain how toddlers develop receptive language (what they understand) long before they can fully express themselves and have been absorbing words, tone, body language, and environmental cues since birth. I emphasize that communication is a two-way, relational process—what adults express, children receive and interpret, and vice versa—so miscommunication can happen when meanings don’t align. The key takeaway is for caregivers to be intentional with their language, energy, and responses, and to celebrate toddlers when they demonstrate understanding, recognizing that early development is a long but powerful growing season.

Looking for intentional language scripts you can use with your toddler?

Check out my newest free gift to you⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5 Things Your Toddler Needs to Hear You Say Everyday⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch and listen as your child starts to respond differently to you.

March 3, 2026

Episode 313

A Girl and Her Dog: Why Toddlers Seem 'So Smart' Overnight - Little Linguists Series Part 6

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 forthcoming book ⁠⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠,⁠ ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ever wonder how breath and sleep affect our kids?

Dr. Shereen Lim joins me to discuss the connection between breath and sleep.   We explore how healthy breathing shapes your child's brain and behavior and also talk about tongue ties and healthy mouths.

Dr. Shereen Lim is the Founder and Principal Dentist at Sparkle Dental, the author of Breathe, Sleep, Thrive and is one of Australia’s first dentists to pioneer an airway-focused approach to dental care. Through her work, she’s helped hundreds of parents and educators understand how healthy breathing and jaw development support sleep, speech, learning, and behavior. Lean more about her work in her bookBreathe, Sleep, Thrive⁠.

Want to learn more about language, communication and connecting with toddlers? ⁠Book your complimentary connection call now!⁠

February 26, 2026

Episode 312

Breathe, Sleep, Thrive - The Healthy Connection Between Airway Health and Successful Kids with Dr. Lim

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 forthcoming book ⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠, ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What's the antidote to anxiety?

In this episode, I explain that energy—especially nonverbal communication—plays a powerful role in how adults connect with toddlers. Fear, anxiety, and worry about new situations or repeated challenging routines (like naptime) subtly shape our tone, body language, and facial expressions, which children quickly mirror. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety by achieving better outcomes, I emphasize that the true antidote to anxiety is acceptance of the moment as it is.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

February 24, 2026

Episode 311

The Antidote to Anxiety - Little Linguists Series Part 5

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 forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you ever said something to your child and regretted it?

In this episode, I share a recent and very personal example of a situation where I said something hurtful to my daughter. I share what happened, what I said and what I should have said in that moment. This episode is a reminder that parenting is a continual process and the importance of repair work, no matter our children's age.

Want to learn more about language, communication and connecting with your children? ⁠Book your complimentary connection call now!⁠

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠

February 17, 2026

Episode 310

My Public Apology to My Daughter - What I Said vs. What I Should Have Said

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 forthcoming book ⁠T⁠alk to Them Early and Often⁠, ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to raise a successful entrepreneur?

This week Krystal Popov, founder of Futurepreneur joins me this week to talk about raising passionate, purposeful, and successful kids.

Krystal is the owner of Futurepreneur and a passionate advocate for empowering kids and teens to become entrepreneurs. A mother of three, she believes young people have immense potential to start businesses but often lack the guidance to do so. Through Futurepreneur’s Business Startup Challenges, Krystal helps kids harness their creativity, develop business skills, and embrace the adventure of entrepreneurship— setting them up for a future they control. Learn more about their work here.

⁠⁠Want to learn more about the 4 C’s of Collaborative Discipline?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Grab your free download and embrace connection before correction! Get it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

February 12, 2026

Episode 309

Raising Futurepreneurs: Passionate, Purposeful, and Successful Kids with Krystal Popov

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 forthcoming book T⁠alk to Them Early and Often, ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Did you know how you communicate literally helps design a child’s developing brain and sense of self?

In this episode I expand on the idea that words are only a small part of communication and how intentional language shapes connection, especially with young children. I outline five connection outcomes for healthy communication—connection, identity-building, emotional regulation, brain engagement, and empowered choice-making—using concrete examples of what this sounds like in everyday moments.

Be the First to Know When Talk to Them Early and Often is Available For Preorder. Get on the list⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

February 10, 2026

Episode 308

Words That Create Connection, Collaboration, and Cooperation - Little Linguists Series Part 4

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 forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠

Did you know that only 7% of communication is verbal?

In this episode I explore the idea that speech is only 7% of communication, while 93% comes from nonverbal cues like tone, facial expressions, body language, and energy. I share how infants, toddlers, and even adults communicate meaningfully long before or beyond words, and how children are especially sensitive to these signals.

Want to learn more about language, communication and connecting with toddlers? Book your complimentary connection call now!

February 3, 2026

Episode 307

How to Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say - Little Linguists Series Part 3

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 forthcoming book T⁠alk to Them Early and Often, ⁠a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to raise a good writer?

Helene Lieberman from BlackBack Writing joins me this week to discuss how to raise good writers. We discuss early habits, creating good habits and how to get little hands ready to write.

Helene is a MS, OTR/L and has been a pediatric Occupational Therapist for 36 years. She has participated in researching the effect of sensory integration treatment in preschool and the use of BlackBack Writing in preschool. Helene is the creator of BlackBack Writing to teach shapes, letters and numbers and Write Bright cards and paper to teach the proper alignment of letters. Learn more about BlackBack Writing Programs at www.blackbackwriting.com

⁠Want to learn more about the 4 C’s of Collaborative Discipline?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Grab your free download and embrace connection before correction! Get it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

January 29, 2026

Episode 306

Raising Good Writers with Pediatric Occupational Therapist Helene Lieberman

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 forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being a guest on the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Complete the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Application form⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠