HeyJaredTransforming The Toddler Years- Parents and Educators Raising Calm, Connected, Capable Kids
Transforming the Toddler Years is the go-to podcast for parents, caregivers, and educators who see tantrums as opportunities for learning. Hosted by Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 15
- Latest publication
- Sep 29, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest episodes
How Do I Keep Toddlers Entertained During Travel? My Best Advice In One Sentence (opens the original)
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What if the best way to keep your toddler entertained is to stop trying to entertain them? In this episode, I unpack the idea of “don’t solve a problem you don’t have” and share why giving children space to be bored, observe, explore, and come up with their own ideas is an important part of building autonomy. I share stories from traveling with my own young children and explain how over-preparing can sometimes get in the way of their opportunity to practice entertaining themselves. We’ll look at
Teaching Toddlers Manners: Please and Thank You (opens the original)
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What if teaching toddlers to say “please” and “thank you” isn’t really about manners at all? In this episode, I explore how we can move beyond forcing polite words and instead help children develop genuine gratitude, connection, cooperation, and humility from the inside out. You’ll learn how music, repetition, modeling, and playful prompts can teach manners without shame, blame, or coercion. I also share a sweet story that demonstrates how a simple song can help toddlers naturally remember to sa
Understanding Challenging Preschool Behaviors with Dr. Danielle Dushane (opens the original)
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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 expec
Creative Thinking vs. Creative Play - What a Girl Dad in a Cafe Taught Me (opens the original)
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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 wh
The Hardest Thing About Parenting Toddlers (And it's not what you think) (opens the original)
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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,
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