On this episode of Children Deserve Better, Dr. Jasmine Moses is joined by Mx. Taryn Kaplan, director of Heights Cooperative Preschool, for an honest conversation about grief, loss, and what it means to support children through hard things.

Together, they reflect on their own experiences with grief after the loss of people they love and explore the many ways children experience grief, too. They discuss why grief is about more than death, how children experience loss when routines change or people leave, and why adults need to stop shielding children from difficult truths.

Mx. Taryn shares what it looked like to navigate the death of their best friend while continuing to support the children in their classroom. Dr. Jasmine Moses reflects on talking with her three-year-old daughter after the death of her mother and what it has meant to grieve alongside her child.

This episode is a reminder that children notice more than we think they do. They deserve honesty, support, and space to ask questions. Together, Jasmine and Taryn discuss grieving out loud, the importance of allowing children to see grown-ups express emotion, and why there is no timeline for grief.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why grief is about loss and change, not only death
• Honest, developmentally appropriate ways to talk with children about grief
• Why children need to see adults grieve and express emotion
• How to support children through grief at home and in the classroom
• Why grief has no timeline and why children deserve ongoing support
• Resources to support the discussion

Where to find Mx. Taryn:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hey.mx.taryn/

More About Heights Cooperative Preschool:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heightscooppreschool/
• Website: https://www.heightscooppreschool.org/

Resources for Grief and Young Children:

• Goodbye: A First Conversation About Grief
• The Invisible String
• Explaining Death to A Three Year Old
• Helping Toddlers Cope with Grief and Change

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/

Today on Children Deserve Better, Dr. Jasmine Moses is joined by the amazing Kisa Marx for a conversation that feels especially meaningful, as it was recorded on the very day her book entered the world. Together, they discuss her new book, We Are Who We’re Waiting For: Transformative Change in Early Childhood Education, and what it means to create spaces where children can live, grow, and be seen as their full selves.

In this conversation, Kisa shares what freedom dreaming means to her and how it can shape the way adults show up for children in classrooms, homes, and communities. The conversation explores preserving children’s dreams instead of placing adult expectations on them, why changing our minds is necessary if we want to do better for children, and how unlearning is part of the work.

They also reflect on the children who are often overlooked, especially the “quiet” children. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and think more deeply about the kind of world we want children to grow up in and what it will take from all of us to build it.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Kisa’s new book, We Are Who We’re Waiting For
• What freedom dreaming means in the context of children and education
• The harm of equating quietness with being “fine” or being a “good child”
• Changing our minds as part of lifelong learning
• Modeling mistakes, apology, and repair with children
• Community care and what it really means to embrace all children
• The power of storytelling and “saying the quiet part out loud”

Where to find Kisa:

• Substack: Kisa Marx / Function of Freedom
• Instagram: @iam_still_learning
• Instagram: @theplaylabfoundation
• Website: https://theplaylabnfpoakpark.org/
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liberated-learning/id1866573493

GRAB THE BOOK:

We Are Who We’re Waiting For: Transformative Change in Early Childhood Education is available now through Redleaf Press. A 20% discount code is also available using the code: WWWW20

https://www.redleafpress.org/We-Are-Who-Were-Waiting-For-Transformative-Change-in-Early-Childhood-Education-P3172.aspx

A reminder from this episode: Read the book, share it, tell somebody about it, and keep putting this work into the hands of people who care for children. Anywhere children are, this conversation matters.

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/

In this episode of Children Deserve Better, Dr. Jasmine Moses sits down with Dr. Casey Y. Myers—educator, researcher, and co-founder of Watershed Community School—to unpack adult supremacy and its impact on children’s lives.

From classroom routines to state laws, we explore how unchecked adult power harms children—and what it takes to raise and teach with solidarity instead of control.

Topics include:

• What Adult Supremacy is and it's impact
  
  
• The difference between guidance and control
  
  
  
• How everyday practices can uphold harmful power dynamics
  
  
  
• The long-term impact of adult dominance on children’s development
  
  
  
• What it means to treat children as full human beings

Find Dr. Myers Here:

www.watershedcommunityschool.com

https://www.instagram.com/watershed.community.school/

Purchase her book:

https://www.routledge.com/Reframing-the-Everyday-in-Early-Childhood-Pedagogy-Conceptualising-the-Mundane/Myers-Smith-Hostler-Tesar/p/book/9781032335100?srsltid=AfmBOooc8rcHHwYy0ZKRyc-10KbSiXFPVIUrnS_IcfmwYwRIAZ0McmT2

A Zine on Adult Supremacy:

https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1460

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/

In this episode of Children Deserve Better, Dr. Jasmine Moses takes a hard look at the popular saying, “It takes a village,” and asks the question no one seems willing to: What kind of shape is that village actually in?

She advocates for community action and mutual aid, encouraging listeners to engage in local decision-making and support community spaces. The conversation highlights the need for systemic change to ensure a better future for children.

Top Takeaways:

• Community support is essential for raising children.
• The idea of a village is often romanticized but not practiced.
• Systemic neglect affects children's access to education and care.
• Caregivers are overwhelmed and under-supported.
• Advocacy is necessary for change in community resources.
• Rebuilding after destruction can lead to new growth.

Looking for additional resources and community on your mission to raise and teach socially conscious children? Consider subscribing to Little Sprouts of Equity! www.equityinbloom.com/join

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/

In this episode of Children Deserve Better, Dr. Jasmine Moses sits down with Emily Clark, M.Ed.—researcher, early childhood advocate, and founder of EarlyEdEM.com—to unpack the idea that childhood is not as universal as we often believe.

Together, they explore how systems like racism, poverty, policing, and flawed education policies deny many children the right to a full and free childhood. From adultification to inequities in universal pre-K, this conversation challenges listeners to reimagine childhood as a right—not a privilege—and offers practical ways adults can begin shifting their practices to center children's rights, agency, and joy.

A Few Highlights That Are Explored In This Episode:

• Why childhood isn't universal—and never has been

• How race, class, and policy shape who gets to “just be a kid”
  
  
  
• The adultification of Black and Brown children
  
  
  
• The myth of universal pre-K and the need for reparation-based funding
  
  
  
• The vital importance of play as a human right
  
  

You’ll walk away with critical reflections and tangible ways to fight for a world where all children are protected, nurtured, and free.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jasmine:

• 💻 Website:www.equtyinbloom.com
  
  
  
• 📸 Instagram: @theantibiasece
  
  

🌱 Follow Emily Clark

• 🔗 Website: www.earlyedem.com
  
  
  
• 📸 Instagram: @earlyedem
  
  
  
• 🎤 Catch Emily presenting at the Association for Early Learning Leaders (April) and Zero to Three’s Annual Conference (October)

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/

Welcome to the first episode of Children Deserve Better. The world feels heavy right now—children’s rights are under attack, policies are being designed to harm marginalized communities, and the sheer amount of injustice can make it feel impossible to know where to start.

That feeling of overwhelm? It’s by design. The people in power want us too tired to fight back. But here’s the truth: we are not powerless. We are not alone. And we can't back down.

In this episode, Dr. Jasmine Moses breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and how we can take meaningful action. Drawing from the wisdom of Black feminist thinkers, she reminds us that justice is love in action, that small steps still create impact, and that sustaining ourselves in this work is just as important as the work itself. This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action.

Key Takeaways:

• The systems harming us are intentional, but so is our resistance.
• Justice is an act of love—fighting for children’s rights is a form of deep care.
• We don’t have to do everything, but we must do something—focus on 2-3 areas where you can make an impact.
• Self-preservation is part of the work; we cannot pour from an empty cup.
• Revolution is ongoing—it’s not a one-time event, but a commitment to sustained action.

Stay Connected

📢 Subscribe to Children Deserve Better wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 Want more guidance on how to raise and teach socially conscious children? Download my guide to get actionable steps and resources to help you in this work.

www.buymeacoffee.com/theantibiasece/e/375726

📺 Watch on YouTube – Subscribe Here:

https://www.youtube.com/@EquityInBloom/videos

📲 Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @theantibiasece

💻 Visit www.equityinbloom.com for resources and community support for raising and teaching socially conscious children.

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/

Welcome to Children Deserve Better, the podcast where we tackle social justice, community challenges, and those tough-to-talk-about topics. I’m Dr. Jasmine Moses, your guide as we break down these complex issues into meaningful conversations for children and actionable steps for adults.

This trailer sets the stage for our journey together—unlearning, relearning, and growing with a commitment to building a just and liberated world for our children.

If you’re ready to lean into discomfort, disrupt harmful systems, and create real change, this space is for you. Let’s do better for our children—because they deserve nothing less.

Support the show

Find Dr. Jasmine Moses On Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theantibiasece/

Visit Her On The Web:

https://www.equityinbloom.com/