Happier Childhoods
Happier Childhoods is a podcast for adults shaping childhood through movement, play, and connection.
Hosted by Carrie Speed of PlayMotion Kids, this show offers honest conversations and practical ideas for parents, teachers, childcare directors, social workers, caregivers, enrichment instructors, and child-focused professionals who want to support kids in meaningful, doable ways.
Each episode explores childhood wellbeing, child development, behavior, emotional regulation, resilience, sensory needs, trauma-informed care, play-based learning, mindfulness, movement, and the everyday science of connection.
You’ll hear conversations about what it really takes to help children feel safe, supported, and connected while also supporting the adults who care for them.
Carrie is a social worker and the founder of PlayMotion Kids, a movement, music, and mindfulness enrichment program for children. She also certifies and licenses instructors who want to bring movement, mindfulness, and whole-child learning to children in their own communities.
Because when adults are supported, equipped, and encouraged, happier childhoods become possible.
If you care about creating healthier, happier childhoods, you belong here.
www.playmotionkids.com
www.playmotionkids.com/businessowners
Episodes
19 episodes
Ep 19 From Control to Connection: Rethinking Discipline with Kristin Schmoke
What if your child’s behavior isn’t something to control, but something to understand?In this episode of Happier Childhoods, Carrie is joined by parent coach, educator, and mom of four Kristen Schmoke, who helps families build calmer hom...
EP 18 Raising Confident Kids Without Fear-Based Teaching (Inside the Dance Studio) w/Leslie Kuny
What does it actually look like to build confident, resilient kids without fear, shame, or outdated teaching methods?In this episode of Wait, Am I Saving the World?, I’m joined by dance educator, choreographer, and studio owner ...
EP 17 Advocating for a Loved One in Healthcare Systems | Dementia Care with Laura Smothers-Chu
In this episode of Wait, Am I Saving the World?, Carrie sits down with Laura Smothers-Chu, founder of Joy in Dementia, to talk about what it really looks like to advocate for a loved one navigating dementia, especially when...
Ep 16: Work-Life Balance Is a Lie: How Working Moms Can Build Resilience & Emotional Regulation | Charlotte Haggie
Is work-life balance actually possible or is it a myth that keeps working moms stuck in stress and guilt?In this powerful conversation, resilience specialist and coach Charlotte Haggie joins me to dismantle the idea of “balance” a...
Ep: 15 Motion Calms Emotions: Movement, Trauma, and Nervous System Regulation in Children with Tami Lysher
In this episode of Wait, Am I Saving the World?, host Carrie sits down with educator and movement specialist Tami Lysher, who brings over 40 years of experience in early childhood education, trauma-informed care, and nervous syste...
EP 14: Raising Readers in a Screen-Filled World with Literacy Expert Stephanie Affinito
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 Li...
Ep 13-Kids Can’t Focus for a Reason: The Biology Behind Behavior with Katie Barngrover
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 healt...
EP 12: Why Play Matters: Healing Anxiety and Building Safety for Kids with Stacy Schaffer, MA, LPC
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.Stac...
Ep 11 Holiday Traditions Matter (But not for the reason that you think)
This week, we’re talking about holiday traditions — and why your kids won’t remember the perfect schedule, the fancy crafts, or the ten thousand activities you’re juggling. They remember the feeling.In this episode, we explore wha...
EP 10-What Childhood Has to Do with… Well, Everything
Season 2 officially launches on January 1st, but I’ll be dropping a few mini solo episodes between now and then just because I can’t wait that long to start talking about the good stuff.In this minisode, I’m digging into something...
09-Trailer | Welcome to Wait, Am I Saving the World?
Wait, Am I Saving the World? is a podcast for the people shaping childhood: parents, teachers, caregivers, and anyone trying to show up for kids without losing themselves in the process.Hosted by Carrie Speed, social worker and ...
08-Season 1 | Burnout to Balance: Mental Health Insights for Women in Helping Professions with Bethany Jenkins
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. In this episode pf Wait, Am I Saving the World, Carrie of Joyful Rising is joined by Bethany ...
07-Season 1 | Connected Life Framework: Transform Your Mornings, Transform Your Life
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. Welcome to a transformative episode of the Joyful Rising Podcast! In "Connected Life Framewo...
06-Season 1 | Positive Habits: That Time a Daily Habit Led Me to a KOЯN Concert.
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. Transform your daily life with the power of positive habits. In this episode, we talk about ...
05-Season 1 | Party Like It's Your 80th: Discovering Your Core Values
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. Party Like It's Your 80th: Discovering Your Core ValuesEver wondered what your ...
04-Season 1 | Bend, Don’t Break: Building Resilience with Yoga
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of yoga for both body and mind. Le...
03-Season 1 | Grow Your Gray Matter: Mindfulness in Action
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. What if you could literally change your brain with just a few minutes of mindfulness each day...
02-Season 1 | PERMA Power: Building Resilience with Positive Psychology
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. In this episode of Wait, Am I Saving the World?, we look into the PERMA framework fr...
01: Season 1 | Welcome to Wait, Am I Saving the World? A Podcast for Change-makers
[Season 1] This episode is from our original season, where we explored broader themes around burnout, purpose, and meaningful work. Hi Friends and welcome to "Wait, Am I Saving the World?"-a podcast for the helpers, healers, ...