283 Your Child is a Reluctant Writer? Why MORE Ridiculous Ideas Might Help: Night Zookeeper with Josh Davidson

Hey Friends~  What if your child’s wildest, most ridiculous ideas are actually a doorway into learning? In this episode, I talk with Josh Davidson, co-founder of Night Zookeeper, about using imagination, creativity, and play to help children develop reading and writing skills. We explore how drawing, talking, and writing about their ideas gives children multiple ways to express themselves, expand their language, organize their thoughts, and build confidence. Writing isn’t separate from verbal expression. It can actually help strengthen it. We also look at technology through a different lens: After your child has been on a screen, what did that screen cause them to create? Could they tell you about it, draw it, write about it, or turn it into a conversation with you? The best technology doesn’t just keep children occupied. It gives them something they can’t wait to tell you about, even if that something happens to be a ridiculous farting dinosaur. Always cheering you on! Dinalynn  EMAIL:  hello@thelanguageofplay.com BOOK A CALL: https://calendly.com/hello-play/strategy-session WEBSITE:  https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/ QUESTION or COMMENT? Leave a voice message!  https://castfeedback.com/play   ABOUT THE GUEST:   Joshua Davidson is the creator and co‑founder of Night Zookeeper, an award-winning online learning program that helps children aged 6–12 fall in love with reading, writing, and creativity through games and storytelling. He’s also the author of the Night Zookeeper Adventure book series, which follows Night Zookeeper Will into the magical Night Zoo filled with fantastical creatures dreamed up by children. Josh is passionate about giving kids the confidence to see themselves as writers and creators, and he speaks regularly about the power of play, stories, and co-created worlds in education.  CONTACT THE GUEST:   Email: Josh@nightzookeeper.com Website:  https://www.nightzookeeper.com/ Specials Pricing for The Language Of Play listeners: https://www.nightzookeeper.com/parents?ref=yweymwq   A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!  Clever Elly The a car charger that talks to you and helps you remember. Click here to learn more and claim the special listener bonus!  https://cleverelly.com/r?id=246rdm   IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THESE EPISODES: 190 Bob Hastings: Using Storytelling to Help Kids Listen & Imagine 156 Raising Your Creative Independent Thinker? Sharon Fillmore Helps You With These Wonderful Curious Children! 230 Daniela Feldhausen: Speech Sounds and Reading Are Linked. Fun Ways Parents and Educators Can Help   ove this podcast?  Let us know!  https://lovethepodcast.com/play Follow & subscribe in 1-click!  https://followthepodcast.com/play To SPONSOR The Language Of Play, schedule your call here:  https://calendly.com/hello-play/discovery-session To DONATE to The Language Of Play, Use this secure payment link: https://app.autobooks.co/pay/the-language-of-play