In this episode of Family Matters with Instructor Mike, we go beneath the surface of IEPs and IFSPs—not to explain how to get one, but to question why and when we’re reaching for them in the first place. Too often, early childhood educators are trained to observe and refer, but not to discern whether a child’s behavior is developmentally appropriate.

Instructor Mike breaks down what the popular articles get right—and what they dangerously leave out. Backed by insights from Allen Frances (DSM-IV), NAEYC, and other experts, this episode calls out the systemic problem of pathologizing normal development and bypassing family education. We also confront the uncomfortable truth: some families lack the developmental literacy needed to advocate effectively for their children—and the system doesn’t always equip them.

Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or a policymaker, this episode is a wake-up call to stop outsourcing understanding to labels and start restoring developmental discernment to the center of early childhood inclusion.

🎧 Because sometimes inclusion doesn’t start with a plan—it starts with the courage to question the plan.

In this episode of Family Matters with Instructor Mike, we challenge the popular but developmentally flawed approach to teaching empathy in early childhood. Too often, children are taught to mimic emotional responses before they’ve developed the agency, problem-solving skills, or self-awareness required for authentic empathy.

Instructor Mike breaks down the proper developmental sequence—from autonomy to initiative to emotional regulation—and explains why empathy must grow from within, not from adult-imposed scripts. Drawing on Erikson’s psychosocial stages and Vygotsky’s learning theory, we explore how real empathy emerges when children first learn to trust themselves, solve problems, and act independently.

Featuring practical examples, historical insight (including Harriet Tubman’s legacy), and direct parenting strategies, this episode helps caregivers reclaim childhood from emotional programming and replace it with meaningful, skill-based growth.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or youth advocate, this episode equips you to raise helpers, not performers.

In Episode 5 of Foundations First, Instructor Mike breaks down one of the most misunderstood and underestimated tools in early childhood education: play.

Far from being a break from learning, play is the learning. Rooted in constructivist theory and supported by research from Vygotsky and Piaget, this episode explains how play develops:

• Executive function

• Problem-solving

• Self-regulation

• Social reasoning

• And the language of independent thinking

You’ll learn how to:

• Describe what you see without naming emotion

• Narrate actions and choices as a teaching strategy

• Let play lead, while still guiding development with intention

• Use repetition, role-play, and open-ended materials to scaffold real growth

This episode also features a bonus breakdown of Mildred Parten’s Six Stages of Social Play—from unoccupied to cooperative. You’ll understand:

• What stage your child is in (and why it’s okay if they move backward sometimes)

• How to support social development without forcing it

• Why shared space doesn’t always mean shared play

Throughout the episode, you’ll hear one consistent message:

Play is not filler. Play is formation.

And when we stop interrupting the process with adult expectations,

children get to build something even better—themselves.

In this powerful episode of Family Matters with Instructor Mike, we flip the script on traditional early language development. Forget emotional vocabulary—this episode is all about building brains, not just feelings.

From the womb to the toddler years, Instructor Mike walks you through a step-by-step method to expose your baby to functional, descriptive, and action-based words that improve cognitive outcomes, enhance problem-solving, and lay the groundwork for lifelong learning.

Learn:

• What to say and read while your baby is still in the womb

• How to use daily routines like diapering, cooking, and cleaning as vocabulary labs

• The difference between emotional labeling and functional description

• Why action words and system words build deeper brain connections than “happy” or “sad” ever could

• How to make the dictionary and thesaurus fun and effective tools for even the youngest learners

If you’re serious about giving your child a language advantage grounded in science, structure, and strategy—this episode is your blueprint.

🧠 They don’t have to talk yet to start learning.

🎯 And you don’t have to be a teacher to start training.

Listen now and learn how to frontload your baby’s brain with words that work.

In this no-nonsense episode of Foundations First, Instructor Mike breaks down the crucial difference between discipline and punishment in early childhood. Drawing from the teachings of Adler, Dreikurs, and Conscious Discipline, this episode reframes common toddler behaviors—like hitting, biting, and screaming “no!”—as developmentally expected signals, not personal attacks.

You’ll learn:

• Why toddler behavior isn’t betrayal—it’s communication

• How to describe what you see, narrate your plan, and guide without shame

• Why punishment often reflects adult emotions, while discipline builds child skills

• Real-life language swaps that teach boundaries without labeling or emotional guessing

This episode equips parents, caregivers, and educators with developmentally respectful tools that promote leadership, not retaliation—because coaching behavior is more powerful than controlling it.

Behavior is not a test of power.

It’s a chance to train the brain—with calm, clarity, and consistency.

In this bold and necessary episode, Instructor Mike challenges one of the most deeply held beliefs in parenting culture: that respect is automatically owed to adults—especially parents. Drawing from early childhood education, developmental science, and real-world experience, Mike explores why respect isn’t a guaranteed right but a relational result.

You’ll hear:

• Why early childhood educators earn a child’s trust before teaching anything

• How fear-based parenting often masquerades as respect

• What attachment theory and emotional development say about parent-child relationships

• Why parenting is a service role—not just a position of power

• How to scaffold trust and emotional safety at home

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or someone rethinking how you were raised, this episode invites you to reimagine what real respect looks like—and how to model it for the next generation.

💬 Let’s Talk About It:

👉 Do you believe parents should have to earn their child’s respect? Why or why not?

Tag @InstructorMike and share your thoughts.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and grow. Because family doesn’t just matter—it shapes everything.

In this episode of Foundations First, Instructor Mike explores how everyday language—not emotion labeling—is the most powerful teaching tool we have in early childhood. Grounded in constructivist theory and Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, this episode teaches caregivers, parents, and educators how to use real-time language to build brains, model sequencing, and foster independence.

You’ll learn:

• Why “serve and return” interactions matter more than lectures

• How to turn routines like diapering, mealtime, and play into language-rich learning labs

• How to describe the moment, narrate your actions, and avoid unnecessary emotion labeling

• Practical talk strategies that build cognition, vocabulary, and emotional safety

Because when we stop naming feelings and start solving the signals,

we turn every moment into a lesson—and every adult into a guide.

School-age children (ages 6–12) are forming identities, building peer relationships, and beginning to internalize values—and the problems they face are predictable. But are you trained to help them navigate them?

In this episode of Family Matters with Instructor Mike, we unpack the most common school-age struggles—lying, sibling rivalry, backtalk, low motivation, tech obsession, and anxiety—and break down the exact parenting skills needed to address each one.

You’ll get:

• The developmental science behind school-age behavior

• The real consequences of parenting without skill

• Practical tools and places to learn what you weren’t taught growing up

This isn’t about punishment. It’s about purposeful parenting for the years when your child needs leadership—not just love.

Because presence without preparation isn’t protection.