Why do we always feel the need to jam pack our summers?

Summer camp for the kids, play dates, etc. the list goes on and on...we see an empty spot on the calendar and think what can I plan for that day?

If your schedule or calendar feels overwhelming, that most likely means that you and your family will feel overwhelmed through the summer too! To help be more intentional this summer- I have put together some strategies to help with your summer plans this year!

Some research based strategies have shown the importance of Finding your why 3) Prioritizing joy and rest 4) Balancing Outdoor Time & Screen Time.

Some questions to ask yourself:

What do my kids & family need this summer?

How do my kids & family want to feel this summer?

Think about your and your family needs and let that answer be your guide!

1. Make a summer bucket list but put a limit to the amount of items that each person puts on the list. Make it realistic and achievable. Involve the kids in making the list!
2. Make room for slow mornings
3. Allow at least one slow week where you have nothing planned. No where to be at no set time- I highly recommend it! It is very freeing and such a good way to rest your mind and allow your kids to have a break from the constant structure.
4. Keep at least one day a week with nothing planned.
5. Whenever plans or invites come up, always go back to what does your family need this summer?
6. Maintain a flexible mindset - enjoy the moments and live in the present
7. Try journaling! Have your kids create a journal that they write or draw in regularly throughout the summer. At the end of the summer, they will have a memory book of their summer take aways.
8. Outdoor time! Take indoor activities outside.
9. Balance screen time and provide open ended materials such as blank paper, markers, crayons, paint, etc. leave them out to
10. Incorporate reading time into your daily schedule

If this resonated with you, don't forget to like and leave a review. It goes a long way in supporting the show. Click subscribe to the show to catch all future episodes.

If you know of anyone who has been feeling overwhelmed with their family calendar and needs to be intentional this summer- share with them today!

Connect with Katie Begley!

https://www.heartinhome.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/heartinhomeliving/

heartinhomepodcast@gmail.com

In this inspiring episode, host Katie Begley speaks with educator and Active Reader founder Rebecca McAllister about empowering parents to confidently support their children’s reading journey. Rebecca shares personal stories, expert strategies, and parent-friendly tools based on the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy. Whether you're a parent, educator, or caregiver, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to nurture a lifelong love of reading in your children—without needing a teaching degree.

Notable Quotes:

“All parents should feel empowered when it comes to their children’s education and reading.”

“If your gut says something isn’t right, follow that. You’re the expert on your child.”

Timestamps:

[00:01:30] Rebecca's journey from classroom teacher to literacy entrepreneur

[00:03:15] The #1 question parents ask: “Where and when do I start teaching reading?”

[00:04:45] Why early language development starts with baby talk

[00:07:30] What to do if you “missed the early years”

[00:09:00] The red flags Rebecca spotted in her own son—and why it mattered

[00:11:45] How flashcards, play, and decoding created a strong reading foundation

[00:15:00] Decodable books vs. sight words explained

[00:18:30] The nightly reading routine that changed everything

[00:21:30] Reading resistance? Here’s what to do

[00:24:00] Why memorization doesn’t equal true reading

[00:26:00] When to seek extra support like tutoring or speech therapy

[00:29:45] Advocating for your child in the school system

[00:33:15] Having supportive, non-confrontational conversations with teachers

[00:36:30] What to look for in your child’s take-home work

[00:38:00] The power of structured literacy—and where to begin

Resources Mentioned:

Free Letter A worksheet

https://theactivereader.com/free-worksheets

Early Childhood Reading Curriculum

https://theactivereader.com/active-reader-curriculum

Early Reader Activity Cards (The Early Reader Pack)

https://theactivereader.com/the-early-reader-pack

Follow Rebecca Online:

• Instagram: @the_active_reader

• YouTube: The Active Reader

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theactivereader1646

Podcast Disclaimer:

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health provider or mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your well-being or your child’s. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not reflect those of any affiliated organizations. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or the community. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use the information provided as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Katie discusses research findings from Robert Emmons, the leading expert on gratitude. (Article is linked below).

The benefits of gratitude found in his studies are discussed within the episode.

How can we practice and teach gratitude to our children of any age?

1. We need to model living with gratitude. Katie share what that looks like
2. Utilizing gratitude journals
3. Asking yourself and your children: What is one good thing that happened to me today? What is one thing that you had today that someone else doesn't have?
4. How can you work this practice into your busy schedules? Katie discusses times of the day or parts of your daily routine where this practice of gratitude may fit in
5. Don't try to force your children to come up with ideas, you may need to prompt them or even give them ideas of what they could be grateful for (and that's ok!). In time, they will start to think of their own ideas- it takes practice.
6. Give it time- gratitude does not happen over night

Gratitude helps children realize that there is always goodness in the world despite what they are going through. It will help them during stressful times in their lives. Remember the benefits that it has, we need to work at it now so that it helps children to learn that mindset throughout their lives.

Gratitude takes intention, time, and consistency.

The article on Robert Emmons research can be found here:

Emmons, R., (2010). Why Gratitude is Good. Retrieved from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good

1. Would you say that your children are resilient?
2. Are you intentionally trying to help them be resilient?

3. When your child has a problem, do you jump in and fix it for them? Or do you provide an opportunity for them to try and resolve it on their own (within reason and age appropriateness).

4. When your child has a problem at school, do you tell them don’t worry I will talk to the teacher and take care of it? Or do you ask them questions and ask them how they responded or how they think they might be able to solve that problem? Children have some really amazing ideas- if you allow them the time and space to process.

5. Do you allow your children to make mistakes? Or do you jump in and try to prevent them from being in a situation where they won’t need to experience mistakes or failure?

Discussion around avoiding shame and blame when you don't do things right as a parent and the importance of community. You are not meant to have all the answers.

Katie shares some practical strategies:

• Building resiliency takes time.
• It's never too late to guide your children to be more resilient
• allow your children to make mistakes
• give children time and space to problem solve on their own first
• promoting independence
• when you need to help your children and when you need to encourage them to do it themselves
• teach children to do their own self- care routines
• allow children to take risks (within reason and age appropriately)

Connect with Katie

@raisethemwithwisdom on Instagram

This podcast is here to remind you that you don’t have to do it all, and you definitely don’t have to do it alone.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the show and the mission behind the podcast

01:00 – Meet your host, Katie Begley: early childhood educator & parent advocate

02:00 – Debunking the stigma around asking for help

03:15 – What “it takes a village” really means

04:00 – Where to seek support: from family to professionals

05:00 – The underutilized role of early childhood educators

06:15 – Who you can turn to first when you're unsure

07:00 – Six signs it’s time to ask for help

07:15 – #1: When you or your child feel overwhelmed or anxious

08:00 – #2: When you notice behaviour or mood changes

08:30 – #3: When developmental milestones seem delayed

09:30 – #4: When behaviours impact daily home life

10:00 – #5: When teachers or educators voice concerns

10:45 – #6: When you simply don’t know what to do

11:30 – Normalizing the parenting struggle

12:00 – The power of being intentional, not perfect

12:30 – What to expect from future episodes and how to support the show

Notable Quotes

“Parenting is difficult for everyone. Some may hide it better than others, but trust me—every parent struggles with something.”

“It takes a village to raise a child. That doesn't mean you aren't the leader—it means you don’t have to do it all alone.”

“Asking for help doesn’t make you a bad parent. It shows you care enough to try your best.”

“There’s no shame in saying: ‘I don’t know what to do.’ That moment can be the start of finding real support.”

Resources & Takeaways

Who You Can Ask for Help:

• Your child’s early childhood educator or teacher
• Your family doctor or pediatrician
• Trusted family and friends
• Community supports and parenting resources

Signs It’s Time to Reach Out:

1. Ongoing anxiety or overwhelm (you or your child)
2. Noticeable behaviour or mood changes
3. Delays in developmental milestones
4. Behavior affecting home life
5. Educator or teacher concerns
6. Feeling stuck without a clear next step

Core Takeaway:

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but it can come with a community. Seeking help is not a weakness—it’s a parenting strength.

Podcast Disclaimer:

The information shared on this podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health provider or mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding your well-being or your child’s.The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not reflect those of any affiliated organizations. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or the community. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use the information provided as a substitute for...]]>Welcome to the very first episode of Raise Them With Wisdom with host Katie Begley, a seasoned early childhood educator with a passion for supporting parents through the ever-changing landscape of raising children. In this warm and encouraging debut, Katie shares her personal “why” behind the podcast and opens up about one of the most powerful yet misunderstood tools in parenting: asking for help. From recognizing signs that it’s time to seek support to understanding the roles of educators, doctors, and gut instinct—this episode offers validation, guidance, and practical steps for parents navigating overwhelm, uncertainty, or developmental concerns.

This podcast is here to remind you that you don’t have to do it all, and you definitely don’t have to do it alone.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the show and the mission behind the podcast

01:00 – Meet your host, Katie Begley: early childhood educator & parent advocate

02:00 – Debunking the stigma around asking for help

03:15 – What “it takes a village” really means

04:00 – Where to seek support: from family to professionals

05:00 – The underutilized role of early childhood educators

06:15 – Who you can turn to first when you're unsure

07:00 – Six signs it’s time to ask for help

07:15 – #1: When you or your child feel overwhelmed or anxious

08:00 – #2: When you notice behaviour or mood changes

08:30 – #3: When developmental milestones seem delayed

09:30 – #4: When behaviours impact daily home life

10:00 – #5: When teachers or educators voice concerns

10:45 – #6: When you simply don’t know what to do

11:30 – Normalizing the parenting struggle

12:00 – The power of being intentional, not perfect

12:30 – What to expect from future episodes and how to support the show

Notable Quotes

“Parenting is difficult for everyone. Some may hide it better than others, but trust me—every parent struggles with something.”

“It takes a village to raise a child. That doesn't mean you aren't the leader—it means you don’t have to do it all alone.”

“Asking for help doesn’t make you a bad parent. It shows you care enough to try your best.”

“There’s no shame in saying: ‘I don’t know what to do.’ That moment can be the start of finding real support.”

Resources & Takeaways

Who You Can Ask for Help:

• Your child’s early childhood educator or teacher
• Your family doctor or pediatrician
• Trusted family and friends
• Community supports and parenting resources