Family Engagement Fridays Podcast by ELV
Join hosts Jennifer Garcia Rosendo, Colleen Roahrig, and Sue Kansteiner as they interview organizations dedicated to providing valuable information and resources for parents of young children. Whether you’re looking for support specific to Colorado or seeking national resources, we’ve got you covered!
Each episode features insightful conversations with experts who share tips, tools, and programs designed to help you navigate the early years of parenting. From nutrition and education to health and wellness, discover a wealth of knowledge to support your family’s journey.
Tune in and empower yourself with the resources you need to give your child the best start in life! 🌟
Episodes
123 episodes
103: Oral Health Basics for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers
In this must-listen episode for parents and caregivers, we sit down with Kim Wolff from Healthy Child Care Colorado to talk about the five essential oral health habits every famil...
•
10:10
🎙️ Episode 102: Pyramid Model – Building Social & Emotional Support for Families
Join us for a meaningful conversation with Robin Levy, the 2025 recipient of the National Pyramid Champion Award! Robin breaks down the Pyramid Model, a powerful framework designed to support the social and emotional development of young childr...
•
12:26
101: 🦋 Tiny Wings & Curious Things
Get ready to explore the miniature world of bugs with Vail Shoultz-McCole and Colleen Roahrig! In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating lives of insects and how parents can turn everyday outdoor moments into exciting lea...
•
16:04
Replay: Gardening with Children
We’re joined by our very own Sue Kansteiner, Child Care Partnership Specialist at Early Learning Ventures! With summer in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to explore how gardening can be a fun and educational activity for young children...
•
16:07
100 Splash Smart: Water Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know
Christie Caster from the Western Colorado Red Cross shares essential tips to keep kids safe around water. 💧 Water is fun—but it can be dangerous without the right precautions.👀 Check out age-appropriate videos at redcross.org that you ca...
•
11:21
99: When Not to Say “Please”
We all teach our kids to say “please” — but what if there are times when it’s not the right word to use? 🤔In this eye-opening episode, Julie Mendenhall dives into the power of language and explores when using “please” might actu...
•
5:32
98: Be Red Cross Ready – Prepare So You Can Protect
In this episode, Christie Caster from the Western Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross shares practical tools, apps, and strategies to help you get ready before disaster hits. From wildfires to floods, Christie walks us through how to build a fami...
•
15:00
97. Tackling Rude Behavior
In this insightful episode, Julie Mendenhall joins Colleen Roahrig to explore how parents can respond to their children’s rude behaviors in ways that are calm, constructive, and rooted in teaching—not just correcting.
•
14:59
96 Family Budgeting at its best.
Join this discussion with Katie Griffin the supervisor of community education at ENT credit union. She shares some great ideas on family activities and realistic ways to save money, even when on a tight budget. Resource:
•
7:56
95. Growing Flowers with children
Growing flowers at your home with young children can be a magical experience, especially in the beautiful and diverse landscapes of Colorado. From the rugged mountain to the windy plains and high desert; these climates present unique challenges...
•
15:57
94 Lantern (formerly Bright by Text)
Join Jennifer Garcia Rosendo and Dr. Katie Richardson as they talk about Lantern. Lantern is a national nonprofit specializing in delivering childhood development resources to parents through an innovative text messaging platform providi...
•
21:26
93. Friendship and Family Support with First time moms
Join first-time moms Faith and Elsa as they dive into the journey of pregnancy and motherhood. In this episode, they reveal the invaluable role of friendship and family support during and after pregnancy. Discover how they navigated the challen...
•
28:58
92. Fun Gardening Activities with our Children- Vail Shoultz-McCole:
Discover the joy of gardening, whether you have a small balcony or a big backyard! Vail Shoultz-McCole will share creative ways to garden in any space and fun activities to get your kids involved. Learn fascinating facts about fruits and veggie...
•
15:22
91. One Step- American Lung Association
In today's episode, we are thrilled to have Tracey Maruyama, Health Promotions Manager for the American Lung Association in Colorado, join us. Tracey will share valuable resources for parents and caregivers to help keep children's lungs healthy...
•
32:13
90. American Red Cross- National Free Smoke Alarm Program
Colleen Roahrig had a conversation with Christie Caster who is with the Colorado/Wyoming Region of the American Red Cross and the Western Colorado Chapter Executive Director. Christie shared about the American Red Cross’s National Free Smoke Al...
•
12:00
Replay: My Plate Won't Look Like Your Plate
In honor of National Nutrition Month we are replaying this great episode. Jennifer talks to Paul Soderstrom and Brigid Hunt, Cooking Matters facilitators, about how to feed your family healthy fo...
•
37:23
89: Navigating Birth Plans and Medical Guidance
Join first-time working moms Faith, Morgan, and Elsa as they share their personal journeys of navigating birth plans amidst the guidelines and recommendations from doctors and nurses. They discuss the challenges, surprises, and triumphs t...
•
35:55
88 Teaching Kids to Handle Meanness: Strategies for Conflict Resolution
Join Julie Mendenhall and special guest Colleen Roahrig as they explore effective strategies for teaching children how to respond when others are mean to them. In this insightful episode, Julie introduces the powerful skill of "Look at them, na...
•
16:34
Replay Ready To Read
Mary and Andy, Early Literacy Librarians from Arapahoe Libraries, discuss ways that caregivers can help young children get ready to read. They share Five points: Read, talk, sing, write a...
•
23:13
87. Navigating teething with a baby/toddler.
ELV's first time moms are back! This week, they're diving into the world of teething. From the first signs to the sleepless nights, join them as they share their personal experiences, tips, and tricks to help you and your little one...
•
16:27
86. Tax Season 2025! What you should Know.
Welcome back to Early Learning Venture’s podcast, Family Engagement Fridays! In this episode, we are excited to have Monica DeWitt from the Community Resource Center join us to discuss valuable resources for tax preparation. Monica will share i...
•
12:41
85. Two techniques to help children to calm down.
Julie Mendenhall is joined by Colleen Roahrig to discuss “Two techniques to help children calm down”. These two techniques help children to calm down and be better thinkers in order to solve problems. Julie will discuss the importance of childr...
•
12:56
84. Experiencing Postpartum
Our first-time working moms are back to share experiences of postpartum, how they take care of their mental health and maintain their identify. They also discussed how their social life changed after having a child.
•
27:52
83. Helping our children understand the words; Stuck, Shift, Think
Julie Mendenhall is back and joined by Colleen Roahrig to discuss “Helping our children understand these words: Stuck, Shift and Think. These words can easily be taught to children to help them to understand what is going on with their br...
•
12:56
82. Coffee and Crumbs with First Time Moms: Feeding Decisions
They're baack !!!! Faith, Elsa and Morgan, first time moms from ELV, discuss feeding their babies and their experience of breast feeding. They share many insights for first time moms and the importance of doing what is right for you...
•
31:51