Storytime: Quessa's Big Camp Out

On this special episode of the Little Kids, Big hearts podcast, LKBH host Todd Loyd has a conversation with the actor and legend Judge Reinhold. Judge appeared on our podcast at the start of the month — exploring feelings of nervousness and practicing some ways to cope with four big-hearted kids.Now he's back to share his OWN experiences and strategies. It turns out that even having decades of experience as a famous actor doesn't make you immune from feeling anxious, and Judge says that's actually a good thing. He explains: "If you're not nervous, then you're not going to do a good job. And that's how you break down that nervousness and turn it into fuel. It's a good thing. It's going to drive you. Adrenaline can get away from you but it can also make you so sharp and make you better than you. That's that special thing that will make you better than you thought you were, that adrenaline. You have to make it your friend." Learn more about the episode: https://playsparkler.org/feeling-nervous/Or find more resources on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

Everyone feels nervous sometimes — whether you're a Grammy-winning performer or a kid who hasn't started Kindergarten yet!This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts is focused on feeling nervous — what it is to feel nervous and some strategies to cope with the feeling! Today, we're thrilled to release an original Little Kids, Big Hearts song by the amazing educator/composer Benjamin Weiner called NERVOUS. It's inspired by the words that our amazing kid guests shared on our episode "Wobbly to Wow With Judge Reinhold" and by Doechii's powerful song "Anxiety." NERVOUS by Benjamin WeinerI'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. My palms are sweaty getting ready for a dance show. My heart starts beating when I'm meeting someone I don't know. Going to a new place. You can see the feeling on my face. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. When my tummy's feeling funny and my hands shake, My voice is breaking when I think I'm making a mistake. I know my family can calm me down. And it's better just to say it out loud. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. So, take a deep breath [breath],Shake your hands out: shake, shake, shake, shake. And take a deep breath [breath],And shake your hands out: shake, shake, and singI'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too. I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do. Hmm...Learn more and listen along with us!

Welcome to Storytime!In this original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts, we join Quessa, Kalini, and Karva, and their class of Qook-a-leekies on their first overnight field trip. It can be scary to be away from home ... and as the qook-a-leekies practice climbing and cope with a big storm, nervous energy grows and grows. How will Quessa the Qook-a-leekie cope with all the big nervous feelings? The story is voiced by host Todd Loyd and Creative Producer Christy Pusz Decatur. Thanks for joining us for Storytime!Visit us online (https://playsparkler.org/feeling-nervous/) or on our Youtube channel to learn more (https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts). 

This month, the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast is focused on nervousness. The kids chatted about what makes them nervous and practiced some strategies to help them cope with nervousness, including a game called What If? ... But Then. In this month's "Mission," Todd and Christy challenge our listeners to play a version of the What If? ... But Then game at home: 1. Think of something that makes you nervous2. Draw a picture of your "But Then" — a positive resolution that turns the nerves to bravery! They also share a song from the the LAST mission by a 5-year-old listener inspired to share HER special song: "Hello, hello, hello WORLD!" You're going to love it!  Please share your "BUT THEN" inspirations! You can share by emailing us at [email protected]. Learn more about the podcast on our website: playsparkler.orgOr you can listen to episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

On this episode, four kids — Miel, Kelly, Leo, and Sammy — join LKBH host Todd Loyd to discuss nervousness: What causes nervous? What can we do with nervous feelings? The kids and Todd then float on fluffy clouds and to the Land of Qook-a-lackas … arriving JUST in time to help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Quillabee, get ready for the Big Feelings Fest! At first, Quillabee is feeling super nervous about sharing a story in front of a crowd — but the kids help Quillabee practice strategies to get past the nerves before the Fest. ☁️ They shake the nerves out of their arms, legs, elbows, etc.☁️ They play "What If...But Then!" to imagine alternative (positive) ends of nervous moments.☁️ They practice taking deep, calming breaths. Together, they learn that EVERYONE feels nervous sometimes — and they learn some strategies to deal with nerves!❤️❤️❤️Quillabee is played by JUDGE REINHOLD, the movie and TV actor. JUDGE REINHOLD has been in over seventy-five motion picture and television roles and enjoys a 35-year relationship with an international audience of all ages.  His films include STRIPES, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, RUTHLESS PEOPLE, and Christmas franchise, THE SANTA CLAUSE 1,2,3. BEVERLY HILLS COP 1, 2, 3 play continually internationally, making Judge a familiar presence worldwide.  FAST TIMES and BEVERLY HILLS COP were recently voted by the American Film Institute as two of the “Top 100 American Comedies.”   Judge received an Emmy nomination for his performance as “The Close Talker” on Seinfeld, and his guest-star appearances in Seinfeld and Arrested Development received two of the highest ratings on both series. Judge has been an active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1987.Judge most recently co-starred with Eddie Murphy in the fourth installment of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, which was Netflix’s most successful summer movie of 2024, released globally in 250 million homes.❤️❤️❤️Sound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English. Please learn more about the episode online at https://playsparkler.org/feeling-nervous/Also...Little Kids, Big Hearts now has a YouTube channel. Please join our growing community on YouTube! Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts has focused on the power of music ... and we're excited to wrap up the month with a special interview with the person BEHIND the music on our podcast: Our audio engineer and sound designer, Ryan Marth. Host Todd Loyd joins Ryan and one of his kids (Clover, 8) for an interview about the power of music and sound design to help people understand how someone is feeling, even without words. You'll discover... 🎶 How Ryan imagines the sounds that accompany us on outings to the Land of Qook-a-lackas🎶 Some of the things we all have around our homes that can actually be transformed into instruments, and 🎶 How Ryan got inspired by music and how kids can start creating their own songs!In addition to Ryan's work with Little Kids, Big Hearts, he's a film and television composer whose work includes contributions to studio action films, Emmy winning documentaries, and award-winning independent features.  He’s composed, produced, and created audio for major studios, including Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and National Geographic. Learn more about this month's episodes on our website: https://playsparkler.org/power-of-music/

Welcome to Storytime!In this original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts, we learn the origin of the Qook-a-lacka song healer, Quasnick, who we first met in our episode "Moving Time" when Quasnick helped kids create a song to help a Qook-a-lacka family cope with their big feelings around moving. In this story, Quasnick has practiced and practiced for the Great Qooka Sing, but loses the all-important songbook the day of the performance! Quasnick is poised to apologize and call it a night, but a young friend gives an important reminder: "You don’t need the sheet music. I’ve heard you hum by the shoreline and in the store. I’ve seen you tap your feet in time with the sounds of the forest. Your songs are part of YOU!"Quasnick gets up on stage and creates an original song inspired by the words and feelings of the Qook-a-lackas in the crowd. The song becomes "Power of a Song," which we released earlier this week on our podcast ... AND the moment transformed Quasnick into the Song Healer of the Land of Qook-a-lackas. The Song Healer doesn’t “fix” feelings but rather makes space for them, so all Qook-a-lackas and little Qook-a-leekies know that their hearts have a voice.The story is voiced by host Todd Loyd, Creative Producer Christy Pusz Decatur, and the original Song Healer, Benjamin Weiner!Thanks for joining us for Storytime!Visit us online (https://playsparkler.org/power-of-music/) or on our Youtube channel to learn more (https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts). 

This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts is focused on the power of music, and today we are thrilled to release an original song by the amazing educator/composer Benjamin Weiner called POWER OF A SONG. What does music mean to you? How does music make YOU feel? Here are the lyrics! Sing along with us!POWER OF A SONGWhen you’re filled up with a feelinglike happy angry, or sad,you might feel some music coming too. And before too long, your feeling is a song, a song that belongs to you.And you can sing loud,And you can sing quiet,And you might feel better, So why don’t you try it, causeYou’ve got a song in your heart,(I bet you can feel it,)You’ve got a song in your heart,(And no one can steal it)When you sing it you can feel,Happy safe and strong,That’s the power of a song.When you’ve got a story,About a king or a magic spell,You might feel a tune start to appear, (la la la…)And before too long, Your story is a song,And people gather round ‘cuz they want to hear…And you can sing fast fast fast fastAnd you can sing slowwww,And people might sing along,And your song will grow… 'cause you’ve got a song in your heart,(I bet you can feel it,)You’ve got a song in your heart,(no one can steal it)When you sing it you can feel,Happy, safe, and strong,That’s the power of a song.A song can move your hands! (Everybody, move your hands!)A song can tap your feet! (Everybody, tap your feet)Oh song can make you dance (Come on: everybody dance) While you’re walking down the street 'cause You’ve got a song in your heart,(I bet you can feel it,)You’ve got a song in your heart,(And no one can steal it)When you sing it you can feel,Happy, safe, and strong,That’s the power of a song.Oh! The power of a song!Oh! The power of a song!Sing it with me now!Oh! The power of a song!One more time now!Oh! The power of a song!

This month, the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast is focused on the power of music! We shared some of our favorite songs from the LKBH podcast, and today, we're excited to share a brand new challenge for our listeners and their families: The Song of YOU Mission! Todd and Christy challenge our listeners to make up their own song  that tells the story of their feelings, their experiences, their hopes and dreams ...We'd love to hear your song: Share it with us at [email protected]. Learn more about the podcast on our website: playsparkler.orgOr you can listen to episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

We're SO excited to share some of our favorite songs from the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast on this special episode about the power of music to help people express our feelings and become braver, kinder, and stronger! 🎶  🎹  🎸 Here's the lineup of songs you'll hear on the episode:❤️ "Super Superpower," by Benjamin Weiner and performed by Q. Smith❤️ "Try," written and performed by Bill English❤️ "Together," written by Lance Horne and performed by Lauren Elder, Julie Garnyé, and Lance Horne ❤️ “A Little Bit Better," written by Benjamin Weiner and performed by Benjamin with kid guests Aurelia, Cris, Henry & Guest Qook-a-lacka Amir Arison❤️ "I Have the Key," written by Benjamin Weiner and performed by Rebecca Naomi Jones❤️ "Just As You Are," by Benjamin Weiner❤️ “You Can Use Your Imagination!” written by Benjamin Weiner and performed by Nadiyah DorseySound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth.Please learn more about the episode online at https://playsparkler.orgWe'll be re-posting the music videos of the songs on our youtube:  @LittleKidsBigHearts ​