Back to School: Supporting Regulation, Connection, and Learning

I recently had the pleasure of guest hosting an episode of Profectum’s Tuning in to Development podcast with Dr. LaChan Hannon and Dr. Michael Hannon—and what a conversation!

As a former classroom teacher and someone who has spent much of my career working with children, families, educators, and developmental professionals, I’ve always thought of back-to-school as a transition for much more than just the student. Families are adjusting. Teachers are adjusting. Routines and relationships are changing. And there can be a lot of pressure on everyone to get it “right.”

In this episode, we talk about approaching that transition a little differently: with flexibility, realistic expectations, strong communication, and a focus on relationships. LaChan and Michael brought both their professional expertise and their experiences as parents to the conversation, with so many wonderful reminders about trust, advocacy, learning, and meeting children where they are developmentally.

A few ideas that stayed with me: back-to-school can be messy, and that’s okay; advocacy can signal that a need hasn’t been heard; and before teaching is instructional, it’s relational.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or professional supporting children as they head into a new school year, I hope you’ll give it a listen!

🎧 Listen to the episode: Back to School: Supporting Regulation, Connection, and Learning is available on Podbean and your favorite podcast platforms.