Let Kids Play with Dr. Jennaca Cotton
Conversations with Cam
Cameron Oaks Rogers
4.7 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 1 April 2026
⏱️ 85 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jennaca Cotton, a Professor of Education and Literary Specialist, for a deep dive into play-based parenting. We talk about the importance of play in early childhood, why academics shouldn’t be pushed too soon , and how parents can take the pressure off themselves when it comes to their child’s development. Dr. Cotton shares practical tips on how to encourage independent play, why reading to your child is absolutely essential, and her honest take on screen time. Plus, the best toys that help support development!
Key Takeaway / Points:
How play positively impacts your child’s development, cognitive learning, and growth
The power of independent play and letting your child explore and entertain themselves
Advice for parents on how to transition from play time to serious
How to ready your kid for kindergarten
The truth about battery-operated toys
This episode is brought to you by Lovevery, an early childhood company that makes play more fun, and parenting easier. If you are a new customer, use code CAM10 to save 10% off your entire order through May 31, 2026.
Order Quiet Your Mind & Busy Your Hands HERE
Check out @workspaceforchildren
Follow Dr. Jennaca Cotton:
Instagram: @drjennacacotton
Substack: Learning & Life
Website: drjennacacotton.com
Follow me:
Instagram: @cameronoaksrogers
Substack: Fill Your Cup
Website: cameronoaksrogers.com
TikTok: @cameronoaksrogers
Youtube: Cameron Rogers
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome back to Conversations with Cam. I'm so excited about today's episode because I love |
| 0:03.9 | today's guest and I think that it is such a wonderful episode for parents and I hope that parents |
| 0:12.0 | leave this episode feeling informed and educated and most importantly empowered. I really want |
| 0:18.3 | this takeaway to be like, okay, now I know how to navigate these certain |
| 0:23.1 | situations. |
| 0:24.1 | And maybe that means you're changing a few things. |
| 0:26.7 | Even I left this episode and texted my husband. |
| 0:28.6 | I was like, I want to change a few things in the sense of how we purchase and have out toys |
| 0:33.8 | and how we're really focusing on that play-based parenting. |
| 0:37.3 | And I don't want anyone to feel |
| 0:39.4 | shamed around things that they're doing because that's not at all the intention. The intention is |
| 0:46.0 | to provide tools and information and education around play-based parenting so that if it's |
| 0:51.5 | something you're interested in, you now have the information |
| 0:54.9 | on how to pursue that. |
| 0:56.6 | So today's guest is Dr. Jenica Cotton, a professor of education and literary specialist, |
| 1:00.8 | who is an expert when it comes to play-based parenting. |
| 1:03.9 | I was so excited to chat with her specifically about this topic because I just kind of |
| 1:08.0 | sort of fell into this style of parenting without quite honestly any real |
| 1:13.1 | research or knowledge. And now you can hear it straight from an expert and not just myself |
| 1:19.0 | as a mom sharing her lived experience. Dr. Cotton was also involved in the making of quiet your |
| 1:23.7 | mind and busy your hands. Kids. If you have not checked out our kids edition, |
| 1:28.2 | it is truly one of my favorite things that I've ever been a part of. And I'm so proud of |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Cameron Oaks Rogers, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Cameron Oaks Rogers and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.