A Whole Child Approach With Bank Street Professor Deb Vilas: Transforming Child Life Care

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Deb Vilas:Website | LinkedIn | Email Differential impact of preschool models on development and early learning of inner-city children: A three-cohort study. - Marcon, Rebecca A.Pedagogy of PlayLet Kids Play  - The New York TimesKeyboarding Without TearsThe Dougy CenterHow To Talk So Kids Can Learn - Adele Faber, Elaine MazlishDeath Is Stupid (Ordinary Terrible Things) -  Anastasia HigginbothamBank Street College of EducationDeborah B. Vilas - Bank Street College of EducationThe Developmental Interaction Approach"Communicating with Children" Workshop with Deb Vilas and Manisha SnoyerJoin our premium community with expert support and adviceThis site contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Time Codes:00:00:00 - Manisha Snoyer welcomes guest Deb Vilas to the podcast.00:01:29 - Deb Vilas introduces the Child Life field, discussing its evolution from play in hospitals to a specialized role. The focus is on child development, family systems, and medical terminology.00:04:00 - The expansion of child life specialists outside hospitals, encompassing foster care agencies and private practices.00:05:00 - Manisha shares an example of how a child life specialist helped a teen tap into his intrinsic motivation for learning. Deb elaborates on the importance of child-centered play.00:09:36 - Deb Vilas explains the concept of retrieval and how stress can impact our ability to access information, casting a fresh perspective on learning challenges.00:16:42 - A glance at the Finnish education system highlights informal learning until age seven, fostering a love for school and better academic performance.00:23:40 - Deb emphasizes the importance of play for developing critical thinking skills, socialization, creative thought, and perspective for other people. An eye-opener on the learning process.00:30:14 - Discussion of secure attachment between parents and children and its contribution to confidence and feelings of safety.00:34:39 - Vilas delves into bullying and the importance of empathy in classrooms. Her insights on democratic environments inspire reflection.00:38:22 - Deb introduces scaffolding in learning, promoting playful and engaging learning.00:41:40 - The importance of parent coaching, particularly for parents with children experiencing ADHD, behavioral issues, or anxiety. 00:46:56 - Deb's insights on clear communication, setting limits, and offering choices to children. 00:48:15 - A touching segment on dealing with grief in families, highlighting Deb's work and expert insights.00:49:00 - Deb shares her work on loss and grief, offering support to parents facing loss. She talks about children's understanding of death, stressing the importance of patience and time. 00:53:48 - Manisha emphasizes community support for families dealing with grief or divorce and invites listeners to engage, fostering a community of sharing and learning.This podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Vela Education FundVELA Education Fund is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem. VELA provides trust-based funding to entrepreneurs, fosters community-building and knowledge-sharing, and increases visibility through storytelling that promotes cultural awareness and acceptance of the out-of-system space. Today, VELA serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country, with over 2,000 community members. About half of VELA’s community members operate small learning environments, and the other half are ecosystem and community builders offering direct services and support across the out-of-system space. Learn more at velaedfund.org.