Play, Relationships & Connection: A Conversation with Early Childhood Intervention Specialist Renee Pena Lopez

Season 1 - Episode 31

In this episode, Lauren has a conversation with Renee Pena Lopez, an Early Childhood Intervention Specialist in New York City and also the creator of The Magic of Littles. They discuss working with young kids, the importance of play, and the need for connection. 

Renee’s passion comes from her own lived experience. Her life started as a preemie born to deaf parents. She had health problems as well as a delay in language skills development. It was later discovered she was also dyslexic. She understands the importance of kids getting help as young as possible. This has fueled her drive to work with young children. 

Lauren and Renee discuss some of the problems currently faced by educators:

  • Time management and workload of hybrid learning.

  • Trying to balance workload while still making connections with kids.

  • Anxiety for what the future holds.

Don't miss Renee’s advice for educators and how she manages her stress during this episode!  

Notable Podcast Quote: Your presence is what’s needed and makes all the difference. 

Renee’s Podcast Recommendations

  • For kids: Julia’s Library, Highlights Hangouts.

  • For educators: Unruffled by Janet Lansbury, Learn Smarter (educational therapy).

Renee also offers a toolkit for teachers dealing with challenging behaviors in the early childhood classroom. It’s called “Can I play, too?” and is available on her website. 

Guest Bio:
Renee Pena Lopez is an Early Childhood Intervention Specialist, proud native New Yorker, and Mama of a quirky and lovely 5-year-old. She is a licensed special education/early childhood teacher who has a passion for quirky learners such as herself. Renee attended Bard College for her B.A. in Dance and Integrated Arts (Video and Arts Education). During her journey, she fell in love with Early Childhood while working at an enrichment school, where the director took a chance on her and suggested she go into the field. She decided to attend Mercy College, majoring in Teaching Students with Disabilities, Birth-Grade 6, and Early Childhood. Now, Renee pulls from her creative background in dance and her vast experience in an array of classrooms from museums to progressive spaces to play-based models. She works with Teachers of Littles to help them make sense of their Littles play, by finding the magic that makes them shine. Together, we Rethink Interventions! You can find Renee on Instagram, Facebook, or her website.


Try-at-home tips:

  1. You don’t have to do “all the things”.

  2. Check and Connect.

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