Nurturing Child Development Through Play with Joy Robertson (Part 1)

What if joy was the missing ingredient in parenting?
In this episode of Mom Life Uncomplicated, Natalie sits down with Joy Robertson, early childhood educator and author of How to Teach Joy, to talk about the role of joy in child development, and why parents need it just as much as kids.
Joy shares insights from her 33+ years of experience teaching children, parents, and educators about the importance of intentional, joyful play. She explains how her book combines beautiful illustrations for kids with practical tools for adults, helping families understand child development in five key areas: social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative.
In this episode you’ll learn:

Why joy is essential for both children and parents
The difference between happiness and deep, soul-filled joy
How unhealed trauma affects our ability to experience joy as adults
The five core areas of child development simplified for parents
Creative, simple activities to engage your child without expensive toys
Why “real modeling” matters more than “role modeling” in parenting

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Website: https://teacherofjoy.com/
Grab Joy Robertson’s book: How to Teach Joy

🤝 Join my free parenting & support community for support, workshops, and connection → https://nataliemccabe.com

👉 Book a free 1:1 coaching call → https://nataliemccabe.com

📖 Grab Natalie’s book Sink or Swim Parenting for more tools and stories → https://nataliemccabe.com/sink-or-swim-parenting

⭐ Leave a review if this episode helped you — it means the world to me!

Why joy is essential for both children and parents
The difference between happiness and deep, soul-filled joy
How unhealed trauma affects our ability to experience joy as adults
The five core areas of child development simplified for parents
Creative, simple activities to engage your child without expensive toys
Why “real modeling” matters more than “role modeling” in parenting