Supporting Parents With an Early Childhood Educator’s Knowledge, with Miranda Zoumbaris

Bringing Joy to Early Parenthood By Supporting The Parent-Child Dyad On this episode of the Learn With Less® podcast, Ayelet sits down with early childhood educator, mother, parent educator, Learn With Less® facilitator, and the face behind Early Intervention Mama, Miranda Zoumbaris. Miranda lives in Lansing, Michigan, has two young children, and is an incredible gift to her community. She’s bringing families together and fostering positive relationships and confidence for new parents and caregivers by leading caregiver & me classes using the Learn With Less® curriculum. Miranda is an early childhood educator and mother, who is a self described child development nerd. Miranda was inspired to grow and diversify the ways she could reach families in her community because she wanted to teach parents and caregivers new ways to experience joy with their babies and toddlers. To her, it’s always been a goal to take away worry, provide education, and infuse joy into everyday activities. Miranda’s joy is infectious, and she has now been spreading it both as an active participant in our Learn With Less® facilitator community of educators and therapists, as well as in her community in and around Lansing, Michigan, with families who are experiencing her “caregiver & me” classes using the Learn With Less® curriculum. Not familiar with the term, “caregiver & me” classes? We use it as a more inclusive term instead of “mommy & me” classes. Our classes are open – and meant for – ALL parents and caregivers: not just moms… but also dads, non-binary folks, grandparents, foster parents, babysitters, nannies, and other amazing grownups who care for tiny humans. We’re going to play the “search term” game here (so you can find this great content more easily!) and help shift the conversation from “mommy & me” classes to “caregiver & me” classes… to do our part to shape the more inclusive world we’d like to live in. In this episode, we discuss: * Surprises and unexpected difficulties Miranda faced when she became a mother, even though she has been working with new parents and young children for years* The role empathy and self awareness plays in work with new families* Why Miranda decided to become a parent educator and start her own small business to serve new parents and caregivers in her community* The value of learning and sharing experiences in community with others going through the same journey* Why a collaborative approach to learning is so important (both in business and in parenting)* How Miranda moved through imposter syndrome (hint: the power of flexibility and adaptation)* The ways in which her work as a parent educator using the Learn With Less® curriculum has shifted aspects of her own parenting* Why Miranda ultimately decided to invest in herself and her business Helpful Resources Related to This Episode Learn With Less® Stories: Podcast episodes and other interviews from educators who’ve provided the Learn With Less® infant/toddler family enrichment curriculum and families who’ve experienced our programming. Learn With Less® Bundle: get our favorite infant and toddler development resources (save 70%)! Discover how to support & connect with your tiny human, without having to buy a single toy. Learn With Less® Facilitator Training & Certification Program: Use your existing skills as an educator or t...