Raising kids doesn’t come with a manual and after 25 years working in childcare, I can confidently say none of us are getting it right all the time. 😂
Welcome to Raising Them Right-ish, where we talk child development, behaviour, big feelings, boundaries, parenting, childcare and the wonderfully messy reality of raising little humans.
Expect real stories, practical strategies, honest conversations and a little humour along the way.
Parents, caregivers, educators, grandparents, the whole village is welcome.
Because sometimes, right-ish is more than enough. ❤️
Potty Training Without the Power Struggles: What Really Works?
Potty training. Two little words that can bring a whole lot of frustration, confusion, and laundry!
With so many different approaches out there, how do you know which one is right for your child?
In this episode of Raising Them Right-ish, we're breaking down different toilet-training methods, including child-led learning, scheduled potty training, the popular three-day method, and a more flexible approach.
We'll explore:
The pros and cons of different potty-training methods.
How to recognize signs of readiness.
Practical tips to make toilet training more successful.
Why accidents, resistance, and setbacks are part of learning.
Why nighttime dryness is different from daytime training.
Whether you're just starting the process or feeling like you've tried everything, this episode is full of practical advice and realistic expectations.
Because successful potty training isn't about how quickly children get out of diapers. It's about helping them develop independence and confidence along the way.
🎙️ Welcome to the village and to Raising Them Right-ish!
31 Oct 2026
Are We Seeing the Child or Our Own Bias? Children's Mental Health & Play Therapy with Carolina Alvarez
What if the way we interpret a child's behaviour says just as much about us as it does about the child?
In this episode of Raising Them Right-ish, I'm joined by Carolina Alvarez, Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Child-Centered Play Therapist, for an important conversation about understanding children's emotional and mental health.
Together, we explore:
How adult biases influence the way we see and respond to children.
Why children's mental health deserves our attention.
What child-centered play therapy is and how it supports children in expressing themselves.
🌱 The importance of looking beyond behaviour to better understand a child's needs.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or caregiver, this conversation encourages us to challenge our assumptions and see children through a different lens.
Because sometimes understanding children starts with examining how we see them.
Welcome to the village and to Raising Them Right-ish.
Want to connect with Carolina, you can reach her at www.anchorchildtherapy.com or www.connectedclassroom.net.
24 Oct 2026
Early Literacy, Language Development & the Red Flags Parents Should Know
When should children start developing literacy and language skills? What signs should parents be paying attention to? And what does executive functioning have to do with learning?
In this episode of Raising Them Right-ish, I'm joined by Tova Vertes, literacy and learning specialist and owner of Phenomenal Kids, for a conversation about how children develop the skills that lay the foundation for learning.
We explore:
Early literacy and language development.
Potential red flags parents and educators should watch for.
The role executive functioning plays in learning and development.
Why understanding how children learn matters.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone who works with young children, this episode offers valuable insights into recognizing developmental needs and supporting early learning.
Because understanding how children learn is just as important as what we're teaching them.
Welcome to the village and to Raising Them Right-ish.
Want to know more about Tova's services. You can find her at www.phenomenalkids.ca
17 Oct 2026
Connection isn't complicated
Do you ever feel like you're not spending enough quality time with your child? Between work, meals, laundry, and everything else life throws at us, finding time to connect can feel like one more thing on an already overwhelming to-do list.
But what if connection didn't have to be complicated?
In this episode of Raising Them Right-ish, Nichole draws on 25 years of childcare experience to explore how simple, everyday interactions can make a meaningful difference in children's development.
We're talking about:
Building emotional safety, security, and trust.
Encouraging learning through everyday experiences.
Making reading together fun and meaningful.
Supporting independence and confidence.
Helping children develop self-regulation through connection and co-regulation.
You'll walk away with practical, realistic ways to connect with your child, without expensive activities, elaborate plans, or added parenting guilt.
Because connection isn't about doing more. It's about making the most of the moments you're already sharing.
Kids deserve understanding. Adults deserve understanding too.
You don't have to get it right. Right-ish will do.
Welcome to the village and to Raising Them Right-ish.
10 Oct 2026
Why Your Child Falls Apart After Daycare (Even When They've Had a Great Day)
Your child's educator tells you they've had a wonderful day. They played, laughed, listened, and participated.
Then you get home... and suddenly everything falls apart.
Clinginess, crying, screaming, hitting, or meltdowns over the smallest things.
Sound familiar?
In this episode of Raising Them Right-ish, Nichole draws on 25 years of childcare experience to explain why some children struggle emotionally after daycare, even when they've genuinely had a great day.
We'll talk about:
Why children sometimes save their biggest emotions for home.
What might be happening underneath those after-daycare meltdowns.
Why clinginess can be a sign that your child needs connection.
Five practical ways to make the transition from daycare to home easier.
How parents and educators can work together to better understand children's behaviour.
Because a good day at daycare and a difficult evening at home can both be true.
Kids deserve understanding. Adults deserve understanding too.
Welcome to the village and to Raising Them Right-ish.
6 Oct 2026
Why Kids “Misbehave” and What They Might Actually Be Telling Us
Why does your child melt down over something that seems completely insignificant? And why do kids sometimes seem to “misbehave” when they know the rules?
In the first official episode of Raising Them Right-ish, Nichole explores one of the most important lessons she has learned from 25 years of working with children:
Behaviour is communication.
We’ll talk about what might be happening underneath challenging behaviour, why developmental expectations matter, and how we can understand a child’s feelings while still holding boundaries.
Because understanding the behaviour doesn’t mean excusing it—it means getting curious about what the child might be trying to tell us.
Kids deserve understanding. Adults deserve understanding too.
You don’t have to get it right. Right-ish will do.
26 Sept 2026
The why behind Raising Them Right-ish
Welcome to Raising Them Right-ish!
After 25 years in childcare, I’ve seen it all, heard it all…and cringed at some of it. 😂
In this first episode, I’m sharing how I accidentally found my way into Early Childhood Education, what 25 years of working with children and families has taught me, and why I believe raising little humans really does take a village.
We’ll talk about how childcare has changed, child development, behaviours, why perfect parenting doesn’t exist, the things kids say that probably should have stayed at home, and so much more.
Parents, educators, caregivers, grandparents—the whole village is welcome.
We may not always get it right…but right-ish? We can do that.
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