The Art of Playful Parenting

The Art of Playful Parenting

Ever wish you had access to a play and parenting coach who could help you feel less overwhelmed and burnt out and more empowered as a parent? That’s what you experience once a week by listening to The Art of Playful Parenting Podcast hosted by Jill Lerman. With 15 years of experience working with young children and their families, Jill brings an informed perspective and wealth of simple strategies and ideas to support you on your parenting journey. You’ll leave listening to each episode inspired to keep it simple, while feeling empowered to become the parent you always wanted to be.

Episodes

April 18, 2025 26 mins

Choosing the right educational path for your child can feel overwhelming with so many options out there—Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, traditional, and more. In this episode, Jill breaks down the most common early childhood educational philosophies, what makes each one ...

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In this special 50th episode, Jill takes a moment to reflect on her podcasting journey so far. Jill also dives into the valuable insights she gained from a recent workshop on Conscious Discipline with Chazz Lewis. Conscious Discipline is a powerful approach to creating safer...

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In this episode, Jill is joined by Cara Tyrell, a Vermont-based Early Childhood Educator, mom of three girls, and the founder of Core4Parenting. Through her work, including keynotes, teacher training, and her top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara helps families and educators foster the 5 essential Exe...

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In this episode, Jill dive deep into the challenges facing parents in this generation—chronic stress, burnout, and the overwhelming pressure to "do it all." Jill unpacks why parents are more exhausted than ever and what we can do about it.

Wan...

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In this episode, Jill dives into how the spaces around your child can profoundly impact their creativity, development, and learning. From the toys they have access to, to the way they’re stored, every detail plays a role in shaping how children explore and interact with the world.

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In this episode, Jill dives into the misconceptions and critiques surrounding gentle parenting. She explores the roots of the backlash and misconceptions, and unpacks how gentle parenting fosters resilience, emotional intelligence and resilience, and a positive parent-child relationship.

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In this episode, Jill is joined by Jessie Klein, a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Her mission is to provide a restorative environment to encourage and empower her clients to connect with & heal their bodies. We...

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February 14, 2025 12 mins

In this Valentine’s Day episode, Jill shares some of her favorite ways to promote more kindness, empathy, and love in our families and out in the world.  

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In this episode, Jill shares a common source of guilt for many parents: the guilt or shame they feel that they cannot or don’t always want to play with their child. She shares why many parents feel this way, why it’s okay to, and other ways to connect with your...

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Have a child who seemingly can't sit still? Maybe he/she is off exploring other parts of the space & not with the rest of the group during a class or organized activity? In this episode, Jill focuses on reframing common b...

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Struggling to find creative inspiration, style, and joy since becoming a parent? In this episode, Jill is joined by Elizabeth Hambleton. Her professional journey has taken her through the worlds of fashion, fine art, publishing, design, education, and entrepreneurship. Despite her varied career, she has found that her creative projects at home wi...

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In this episode, Jill tackles some of the most common independent play challenges parents experience with their children. Whether it's a Velcro child who's constantly seeking attention, mom guilt over letting a child play separately from you, safety concerns or one of the many other difficulties, we dive into the common...

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In this episode, Jill dives into her favorite strategy for improving collaboration and listening with your child without resorting to yelling or threats. She also explores how parents can embrace more gratitude, connection, and joy as they step into the new year.

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‘Tis the time of year to give and receive gifts—which can also mean feeling overwhelmed with stuff. On today’s episode Jill gives you some simple questions you can ask yourself to help you decide whether or not a new toy is worth purchasing, a gift is worth keeping, and whether a toy you already have should stay or head to the donation pile.

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On today’s episode, Jill is joined by Tala Hershey, a speech-language pathologist and mom of two, practicing in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. She is the owner of Hershey Therapy Practice, a pediatric private practice serving New York and Connecticut as well as Hershey Speech & Language Coaching,...

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Even the best, most fun days can end in tears. In this episode, we explore why meltdowns can happen after our children have a fun outing or exciting experience. We dive into how sensory overload, change in environment, and shifting schedules can overwhelm little ones and what we can do to help.

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In this episode, Jill dives into open-ended play and creating—what do those terms even mean and why is it so crucial for child development? We discuss how this type of play is so much more than just supporting motor skills-- it nurtures curiosity, promotes self-expression, trust, and confidence, and encourages independence.

Ready to s...

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November 15, 2024 17 mins

As a parent, hearing "I'm bored!" can trigger a sense of urgency—like you need to step in and entertain your child immediately.  But why are we so afraid of boredom?  In this episode, Jill dives into the surprising benefits of boredom and how it can be a powerful tool for your child...

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In today’s episode, Jill chats with Michelle Goitia, a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and pre/postnatal yoga instructor, and owner of JC Bump and Baby. Michelle has been working with prenatal and postpartum women for over 15 years. In this episode, we discuss the joys and challenges of motherhood, and how to take care of yourself so you can sho...

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Wondering how you can create more gratitude, connection, and trust within your family? In today’s episode, Jill shares simple, low lift ideas that will can have a huge impact in all of those areas.

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