Learning Without Borders

10/10/2026

If you don’t know about PANS or PANDAS yet, please read. If you know about it, please share this post widely!

09/30/2026

Day 29 complete last night! Ally and I suited up in our glow vests to cross the 30-mile finish line on our walk for cancer! We are going to walk again today, so we’ll be a bit over 30 mile . Thanks to everyone who has supported us and there is still a few hours left if you can contribute 🙏

09/25/2026

Ally and I and sometimes other dog friends are 24 days and 27 miles into our 30 mile walking challenge but our fundraising is still trailing behind our footsteps! Drop a quick donation to help power us through the final stretch.

09/09/2026

What if "demand avoidance" isn't defiance, but a natural drive for autonomy? 🧠 Join Monica Cochran at IDEC2026 this Saturday (6:20–7:20 PM) to explore "Let's Redefine PDA!" We’ll break down how Polyvagal theory and felt safety unlock true self-directed learning. 100% Virtual on Zoom | Sept 11–13.
🎟️ Register now at WWW.IDEC2026.ORG

05/25/2026

This is Lyme Awareness Month! Important tips from a mom who’s experienced the cost of Lyme firsthand — prevention is the best defense! Share widely!

May is Lyme Awareness Month: Learn How To Prevent it!

05/11/2026

A recent Fox News segment sparked debate when an analyst called declining teen birth rates a "problem," arguing we shouldn't tell youth to wait for a "stable life situation."
At Learning Without Borders, this framing is disturbing. Since when is waiting for stability a "problem"? For a child to become a curious thinker, their environment must be rooted in safety. Learning is an act of vulnerability; it requires the security to wonder without the concern for survival.
I learned this early as a young child development student. I watched a young mother struggle to bond with her baby, her face tight with a stress I couldn't name. My supervisor didn't criticize her; she sent me back the next week with a bag of groceries and diapers. Once the fear of "how will I feed my baby?" was lifted, she finally had the emotional bandwidth to look into her child's eyes and smile. You cannot foster curiosity in survival mode.
65 years ago today, the FDA approved the first oral contraceptive. This milestone forever changed the "learning environment" of the home. When mothers have self-determination, they create the security net that allows a lifelong learner to emerge.
The success of this agency is staggering. Per the CDC's April 2026 report:
1991: 61.8 births per 1,000 (ages 15–19).
2025: A record low of 11.7.
That is an 81% decrease.
Some see a crisis; we see a triumph of autonomy. Forcing parenthood on those not yet ready doesn't build a stronger society—it creates barriers to the nurturing environment every child deserves. Education begins with a secure, chosen start.

Sources:
CDC NCHS: Births: Provisional Data for 2025 (April 2026)
Marc Siegel, Fox News (April 10, 2026)
May 11 History: Good News Network

05/10/2026

An early mentor and dear friend, Dorothy Werner, shared this with me over 25 years ago. Its call is as true and as urgently needed today as it was when Howe first penned it in 1870. Her words remind us that the longing for peace, dignity, and shared humanity is not new—it’s a legacy carried forward by generations of women who refused to be silent. It is time to use our voices and speak out for the world we want to see.

04/28/2026

I'm excited for Kathy's virtual launch of Luna's Light! Hope to see you there

Tomorrow’s the night! 🌙

Join me on April 29 at 6:30 PM CT for the free virtual launch celebration of Luna’s Light. I’d love to gather together for a cozy evening as we share the story, celebrate this new book, and shine a little light for the children we love.

Bring the kids for a bedtime story and dress in your favorite PJs!

Whether you’re a parent, educator, book lover, or someone who cares deeply about encouraging children, you are warmly invited.

Save your free spot here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunas-light-virtual-launch-party-tickets-1987850456226

02/19/2026

I don't usually post about "politics," but what is happening right now transcends party lines. It's about basic humanity.

The stories coming out of detention centers in Texas and elsewhere are devastating. We aren't just talking about "immigration enforcement"; we are talking about children being separated from parents and people held in conditions that can only be described as warehouses.

This hits close to home: My cousin, a teacher in St. Paul, shared that she is having conversations she never dreamed she'd have. She has 3–7 kids missing from every one of her classes. When I asked how I could help from afar, she told me, "Please keep us in the news."

As a play therapist, I know that "felt safety" is the foundation of a child's life. Right now, that foundation is being shattered for thousands of people. Whether it's the story of little Juan Nicolas, a sick 2-month-old deposited across the border, or the 3,800+ children still detained, we cannot look away.

Our children are watching us. They are watching how we treat the "stranger" and how we respond to cruelty. When a young boy is told on a school bus to "go back where he came from" despite being a U.S. citizen, he is reflecting the rhetoric he hears from adults in power. We are teaching a generation that some lives are inherently less valuable than others. At this time, I find myself holding onto that famous quote from Mr. Rogers: "In times of tragedy, keep looking for the helpers." I'm posting because I deeply care about children. I'm choosing to be one of those helpers, and I hope you'll join me in keeping these stories alive and demanding better for every child in this country. 🕊️💔.

12/26/2025

Joyous Kwanzaa Wishes from your friends at the World of Eric Carle!