Why Educational Apps Aren't Helping Your Child Read with Maria Golden | EP 53

Forget the flashcards and forced ABC lessons! In this episode, Natalie sits down with early literacy expert Maria Golden from Growing in Literacy to reveal the truth about how children actually learn to read, and why most parents are starting in the wrong place.  Maria shares a shocking truth from her years in the classroom: Kids are arriving at school without the foundational skills they need to learn to read. Why? Because there's a critical hierarchy to literacy development that most parents don't know about. After listening, you'll be able to: Understand the critical foundation skills kids need BEFORE they can read (and why schools skip this!) Use everyday moments—dinner conversations, car rides, nature walks—to build powerful literacy skills Make learning feel like play instead of work (your kids won't even know they're learning!) Balance technology mindfully while creating an educationally-rich home environment Build your child's love of learning that will last their entire lifetime Stop feeling guilty about not doing "enough" and recognize the learning already happening around you Learning doesn't have to be another job on your endless to-do list. It's simply about being present, following your child's interests, and recognizing that education is happening all around you—in the bird outside your window, the rhyme in a silly song, the conversation at dinner, the story before bed.   Resources Mentioned: Growing in Literacy: http://www.growinginliteracy.com  Connect with Maria Golden:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growinginliteracy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growinginliteracy   Get the first chapter of Sink or Swim Parenting FREE and discover more strategies to support your child's success without the overwhelm: https://nataliemccabe.com/sink-or-swim-parenting 💬 Join the FREE Community Connect with other moms who get it! Join the Community: https://community.nataliemccabe.com/invitation?code=5G64A6 📞 Book Your FREE 1:1 Coaching Call: https://nataliemccabe.com/ Leave a Review: If this episode helped you feel less overwhelmed about your child's learning, please leave a 5-star review and share with another mama who needs to hear this!