
Show Notes
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
More from Conversations with Cam
In this episode, I sit down with psychologist, author, and friendship expert, Dr. Marisa G. Franco, to unpack why we've been taught to prioritize romance over friendship and what it actually takes to build deep, lasting connections at any age. We talk about how attachment styles show up in our friendships & why the "loneliness epidemic" started way before smartphones. We also dive into self-worth: why compliments can sometimes backfire on people with low self-esteem, how "implicit memories" shape our triggers without us even knowing it, and the tools we can use for healing old wounds.
Baby #3 is here! In this episode, I'm telling you my full labor and delivery story while it's still fresh. I walk you through what I did to induce labor, the membrane sweep that finally got things moving, and the water-breaking moment I've always wanted! Plus the “super soaker” moment that happened right before delivery and why I'm more at peace in the newborn bubble than I've ever been.
In this episode, I sit down with dating and relationship coach, podcast host, and author, Sabrina Zohar, to unpack why we keep repeating the same relationship patterns even when we know better. Sabrina breaks down her "Bullshit Blueprint" framework, the subconscious wiring we pick up from childhood, and how to heal and break your toxic dating patterns. We get into attachment styles and how they play out in dating and why "if he wanted to, he would" is one of the most damaging taglines on the internet.
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Amanda Jones Vaughan (@amandajonesvaughan) for a deeply personal conversation about grief, motherhood, and mental health. Amanda opens up about losing her mom while raising three kids under three, the anger and "mom rage" that followed, and how that grief resurfaced in an unexpected way after the birth of her fourth baby. We talk through her PMDD diagnosis, discovering she has ADHD in her mid-30s, the medication journey that's helped her find more stability, & how she manages the chaos of raising four boys.
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and content creator, Kelly Grace Mae, for an unfiltered, pure-vibes conversation as always. Kelly walks us through why she put her podcast on hiatus, her skincare routine, plus her stance on PRP, Botox, and why she'll never do facial filler. Then she gets vulnerable about her miscarriage and shares where she's at mentally now with her fertility journey.