Parenting Pickup

Welcome to the Parenting Pickup Podcast. With over 50 years of experience in early child care and education, we're here to share all things child-related. Every episode is designed for families' education and support from parenting tips and tricks, trending topics, fun activities, child development, and so much more! Special guests in early childhood and education will join our host, Dr. Aimee Fearing, to share their expertise and help answer some of the most challenging questions.

Podcasting since 2022 • 31 episodes

Parenting Pickup

Latest Episodes

Season 4 Episode 6: 'Creating Spaces for Playful Learning' with Michelle Blodgett & Bob Ingrassia from Minnesota Children's Museum

We are joined by two special guests from the Minnesota Children's Museum: Michelle Blodgett, Director of Experiences, and Bob Ingrassia, Vice President of External Relations. In this discussion, Michelle and Bob share their insights on designin...

August 17, 2026 • Season 4 • Episode 6 • 29:48

Season 4 Episode 5: 'Pursuing Excellence in Early Childhood Education' with Dr. Aimee Fearing

Meet our new host, Dr. Aimee Fearing, the Vice President of Education and Staff Development at New Horizon Academy.This episode marks a bittersweet milestone. Cara John...

June 15, 2026 • Season 4 • Episode 5 • 11:16

Season 4 Episode 4: 'Introducing Children to the Topic of Mental Health' with Dr. Katie Lingras

Dr. Katie Lingras is a multi-talented guest -- she's a child psychologist, associate professor, author of 'A Kids Book about Mental Health', and the Director of Inclusiveness and Excellence at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Today sh...

May 18, 2026 • Season 4 • Episode 4 • 33:02

Season 4 Episode 3: 'Becoming a Behavior Detective: Emotional Co-Regulation' with Kim Hughes

Kim Hughes, a Conscious Discipline certified instructor, joins us to discuss how parents, guardians and caretakers can become better "behavior detectives". Kim demonstrates how through treating tricky behavior as a form of communication, and us...

April 27, 2026 • Season 4 • Episode 3 • 46:22

Season 4 Episode 2: 'Fostering Equity in Childcare' with Nikki Graf

On this episode of The Parenting Pickup Podcast, Nicolette Graf, a consultant and leader in equity, joins us to discuss how we can identify and pursue more equitable solutions for early childhood caretaking, both for parents and educators. ...

March 16, 2026 • Season 4 • Episode 2 • 27:53