under the cupola PODCAST
Finding good parenting resources takes time you just don’t have.
Enter Stepping Stones and our new podcast, Under the Cupola!
The whimsical cupola is the museum’s most prominent feature and serves as a beacon for all the hands-on learning and kid-powered fun that takes place here. Our podcast helps you support those learning journeys by bringing you expert perspectives about parenting topics that matter most to you.
Listen to our most recent episodes below, and make sure to click the subscribe button to be notified when new episodes are available!
Featured Podcast Episode
Episode 10
Supporting Children’s Mental Health
You’ve read the stories. You’ve heard the news. It’s never been more important to support the mental health and wellbeing of our children and families. But where do you turn if you suspect your child needs professional mental health support? How do you get your child the help they need? Join us for this episode of Stepping Stones Museum for Children’s “Under the Cupola” podcast as Dr. Gail Melanson, Executive Director of the Mid Fairfield County Community Care Center, provides expert strategies to empower parents and caregivers to play a leading role in their children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Podcast Episode Library
Episode Nine:
Healthy Smiles, Happy Children
This episode is sponsored by
William J. Fessler Family Dentistry.
Star 99.9’s Kevin Begley and Robert Townes, the museum’s Director of Public Affairs, are joined by Dr. Katherine Fleming, an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at UConn’s School of Dental Medicine to talk about the important things that we need to know to get our children’s smiles back on track after the pandemic. For more information about the University of Connecticut’s School of Dental Medicine, please visit dentalmedicine.uconn.edu.
Episode Eight:
Special Education Advocacy
Any time parents are concerned with their child’s development or behavior or receive a special needs diagnosis, they are left with more questions than answers. Star 99.9’s Kevin Begley and Robert Townes, the museum’s Director of Public Affairs, are joined by Eve Kessler and Janine Kelly, two local moms who found themselves in this exact scenario.
Today, Eve and Janine, along with their partner Carolina Corrigan, are leaders within SPED*NET, the Special Education Network of Wilton, a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to build an informative, welcoming community to help parents and caregivers learn “everything they wish they had known when they knew something was wrong with their children.”
Episode Seven:
Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis
In this special episode, Star 99.9’s Kevin Begley is joined by Robert Townes, Director of Public Affairs at Stepping Stones with guest Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse Lewis was one of 20 students and six educators tragically killed during the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
In the wake of this tragedy, Scarlett was inspired by Jesse’s heroic actions in the last moments of his life to start the Choose Love Movement. Please join us to hear about the importance of social and emotional health in our society and how you can implement the Choose Love Movement in your own life.
Episode Six:
Inclusivity and Resilience with CPARF
In this episode, special guest host Kevin Begley from STAR 99 interviews experts from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF)! They will share how they support ground-breaking cerebral palsy research, inspirational stories about coping with the pandemic and tips for helping your child have positive, inclusive relationships.
Episode Five:
Youth Enrichment with Dod March and YES2
Podcast host Robert Townes meets with Dod March, Senior Manager of Youth Programs here at Stepping Stones Museum for Children, and several volunteers from the museum’s Youth Enrichment program YES2 to talk about how the program helps teens and tweens build real-world skills – and new friendships!
Episode Two:
Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness
Robert sits down with Margie Gillis, President and Founder of Literacy How, and Sarah Sormillion, Director of our ELLI Preschool to discuss registering for preschools and how the pandemic will affect young learners.
