“There are no perfect parents, and there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way.” With this quote from Dave Willis in mind, today's guest Kim Hughes teaches us how to savor the perfect moments in playful ways with our kids. But what are the best ways to do that? And does playing with children include playing with infants? For any parent who craves a bond with their kids, you won't want to miss this season finale of the Raising Young Children in Wake County Podcast.

Dr. Mary-Cassie Shaw hears a lot of the same questions from parents, and they usually center around food and sleep. So how much sleep should a child be getting really? When should they start eliminating naps? What are the first foods that should be introduced? And what should you do if your child is a picky eater? Dr. Shaw answers all of these questions and more in today's episode.

As a parent of young children, do you find yourself thinking: "Why can’t we ever find all the shoes?!?" "Why can’t my child go potty, brush teeth, and put on PJs without being asked?” "How do we always forget the backpack?!” Sound familiar? Well today we're talking all about routines and how young children - especially children who aren't old enough to read yet - can use visuals to improve those daily functions that can sometimes cause parents to pull out their hair. Kristen Balhoff is a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, working with young families in the Triangle, especially those with autistic or neuro divergent children like hers.

Back on episode 6, we covered the nuts and bolts of how to register for kindergarten, and the differences between charter, magnet, private, and public schools. Today we uncover when to register for kindergarten - when is a child ready on a social emotional level and on an intellectual level? It's not an easy choice, and what are some of the skills that parents should be looking for to determine of their child is ready?

Today, host Emily King and pediatric occupational therapist Rose Langston talk about motor and sensory development, when parents should be concerned, how they can help, and why reaching milestones by a certain age might not be as imperative as we once thought.

Ok parents, if you've been confused by all of the elementary school options that Wake County has to offer, this episode is for you! Today, Wake County Public School System Magnet Coordinator Tamani Powell Anderson joins us to give us the inside scoop on when you should start looking into kindergartens, what a magnet school is, what a charter school is, and how to figure out what school is best for your child.

As parents, most of us are concerned about cognitive development, and we all have questions about milestones for communication, language, non-verbal skills, pronunciation, and more. But how do we know if our child is on the right path? And what can we do to help support them? Today Tracy Vail joins us to give us some language tips for our our children.

We expect children to develop physical, mental, and emotional skills, but that won't happen unless the child feels safe. And in order to feel safe, there needs to be a connection. But what does that mean? And can there be a true connection even before the child is talking? Today we're talking all things social skills, with Christine Burkhart, the owner of Building Connections, which empowers children of all abilities.

As parents, how do our own emotional and stress levels impact the ones we're caring for? We all want to give our children a safe environment to grow, so if we're not bringing our best selves to our parenting, what can we do about it?

Most of us don't expect much from babies except a little fussiness, a lot of tears, and a whole lot of cuteness. But when babies turn into toddlers, we expect much more from them. The tantrums aren't as cute. They're expected to regulate their emotions. They're expected to communicate their needs. But that's not always realistic.

Today we share how it all began. Project Enlightenment started in 1969, when the Raleigh public schools received a three year grant to create a collaborative mental health and education program. This program was to provide a training site for child psychiatry residents at Dorthea Dix child psychiatry program to serve the mental health needs of young children - an innovative idea in 1969. Project Enlightenment has since served young children and their families in a variety of ways across Wake County and is currently a part of the Office of Early Learning in Wake County Public School System.

How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten? How can children learn through play? Does nutrition, sleep, and activity really matter when kids are so young? I think my child might be neurodivergent. What should I do about it? What are magnet, charter, and private schools? And how do I choose what’s best? In this series, we include interviews with experts in early childhood education, psychology, and pediatrics to discuss topics including the importance of play, managing toddler behavior, language and motor development, Kindergarten readiness, how to set up routines, and parent mental wellness. Hosted by Dr. Emily King.