What if reading wasn’t just about academics but about health, emotional regulation, connection, and joy?

In this episode, Carrie sits down with Stephanie Affinito, literacy teacher educator, author of Leading Literate Lives, and host of the KidLit Love podcast, to talk about how books truly shape childhood.

Stephanie shares why reading helps children feel seen and understood, how strong reading identities are formed, and what families can do to support reluctant readers without pressure or power struggles. You’ll also learn how journaling and notebooking can deepen a child’s emotional processing, why reading is an underrated wellness tool, and how adults can reconnect with reading for themselves, even in busy seasons of life.

This conversation is full of practical insight, gentle mindset shifts, and permission to make reading feel inviting instead of forced.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why books help children make sense of their world
• How reading builds empathy, resilience, and emotional health
• What to do when a child says “I hate reading”
• Simple ways to create meaningful reading rituals at home
• How journaling supports both literacy and nervous-system regulation
• The role of audiobooks — and when they’re most helpful
• What gives Stephanie hope for the future of literacy

⏱️ Episode Chapters

00:00 – The Power of Reading in Childhood
03:27 – Books as Portals to Understanding
06:49 – Building Strong Reading Identities
09:34 – Encouraging Reluctant Readers
12:26 – Creating a Reading Ritual at Home
15:37 – Common Missteps in Promoting Reading
18:40 – The Benefits of Journaling with Reading
21:42 – Reconnecting Adults with Reading
24:34 – The Role of Audiobooks
27:34 – Challenges and Hopes for Literacy
30:46 – Connecting with Stephanie Affinito

🔗 Connect with Stephanie

• Website: https://www.alitlife.com
  
  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit
  
  
• Podcast: KidLit Love
• Book: Leading Literate Lives

✨ Special Project:
Stephanie also offers 365 Book Postcards — a free, handwritten book recommendation sent by mail based on your (or your child’s) reading interests. It’s a fun way to connect readers with the books they need most.

🌱 Create Impact in Your Own Community

If you’re inspired by this conversation and feel called to support children through movement, mindfulness, and whole-child wellness, you can learn more about becoming a PlayMotion Kids Certified Instructor.

👉 Visit https://www.playmotionkids.com
to explore training opportunities and bring joyful, purpose-driven movement to kids in your community.

💛 Have thoughts, stories, or questions? I love hearing from listeners. Send a note anytime and it might even make it into a future episode.

FB & IG: playmotionkids
Website: www.playmotionkids.com and www.playmotionkids.com/businessowners

IG: better.childhood.project

In this conversation, Carrie and Katie Barngrover explore the principles of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, emphasizing the importance of understanding food sensitivities and their impact on health and behavior. Katie shares her personal health journey and experiences with her family, highlighting how dietary changes can lead to significant improvements in well-being. They discuss the importance of food sensitivity testing, navigating dietary changes, and the role of nutrition education for both parents and teachers. The conversation also addresses common myths about healthy fats and the future of nutrition for children, encouraging families to adopt healthier eating habits.

You can find Katie at https://www.angelwinghealth.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
01:44 Katie's Journey from Teaching to Nutrition
04:10 Personal Health Challenges and Discoveries
06:56 Understanding Food Sensitivities
10:39 Identifying Body Signals and Symptoms
14:31 Navigating Nutrition in a Complex World
17:52 Food Sensitivity Testing Explained
22:58 Advice for Teachers on Nutrition and Behavior
25:36 Understanding Individual Nutritional Needs
26:18 Healthy Eating Habits for Families
31:20 Debunking Myths About Healthy Fats
35:13 Teaching Kids Healthy Eating for Longevity
37:02 Hope for the Future of Kids' Nutrition
38:01 Support and Resources for Nutritional Guidance

💛 Have thoughts, stories, or questions? I love hearing from listeners. Send a note anytime and it might even make it into a future episode.

FB & IG: playmotionkids
Website: www.playmotionkids.com and www.playmotionkids.com/businessowners

IG: better.childhood.project

In this conversation, Carrie sits down with Stacy Schaffer, MA, LPC — a children’s therapist, author, and advocate for emotional healing — to explore how play can become a bridge to safety, connection, and resilience.

Stacy shares her insights from over 20 years of experience in child and adolescent therapy, explaining how play therapy helps kids process big emotions, and why understanding anxiety through a child’s eyes is so powerful.

Together, they discuss how adults can help kids look for signs of safety, how to heal shame, and what happens when we don’t tend to our own emotional “cuts.” This conversation serves as a reminder that play isn’t just for children; it’s a pathway for all of us to heal.

💛 Topics include:
• The therapeutic power of play
• Helping kids understand anxiety
• Healing shame in adults and children
• The importance of therapist self-care and secondhand trauma
• Creating safety through connection

🎙️ Learn more about Stacy at authorstacyschaffer.com
and follow her on Instagram @hoperestored.

🌿 Hosted by Carrie Speed — Social Worker & Founder of PlayMotion Kids

💛 Have thoughts, stories, or questions? I love hearing from listeners. Send a note anytime and it might even make it into a future episode.

FB & IG: playmotionkids
Website: www.playmotionkids.com and www.playmotionkids.com/businessowners

IG: better.childhood.project