About Us
Who We Are
We are a collective of parents, educators, early childhood professionals, and community leaders who recognize the power of small moments in shaping a child’s future. With the right support, guidance, and tools, every family can make intentional time to connect because childhood is too precious to let the moments slip away.
Our Mission
To inspire and empower families, children, and communities to nurture meaningful connections by dedicating Just 10 Minutes each day to distraction-free, simple activities that strengthen bonds, boost brain development, and foster social-emotional growth in children.
Our Vision
At the heart of Just 10 Minutes is the belief that every child deserves to feel deeply connected to their family. In our fast-paced, screen-dominated world, small, intentional moments of undistracted interaction can profoundly impact a child’s emotional well-being, brain development, and social skills.
Our Leadership Team
Anne Meeker Watson, Ph.D., MT-BC
sing.play.love. early learning program
Anne Meeker Watson, Ph.D., MT-BC, is the founder of the sing.play.love. early education program. Through her writing, product development, and workshops, she shares information about the benefits of music and play to support early learning and kindergarten readiness and gives easy and practical strategies for embedding both into the daily lives of young children.
Hilary Koehn, Executive Director
Kansas Parents as Teachers Association
Hilary Koehn is the Executive Director of Kansas Parents as Teachers Association. In her former role as the KPATA Quality Implementation Director, she was responsible for developing relationships with PAT programs and Child Protective Services statewide. Hilary is a strong advocate for community partnerships that help early childhood programs to thrive in their communities.
Heather Schrotberger, Executive Director, Kansas Head Start Association
Heather Schrotberger, executive director of the Kansas Head Start Association, has worked
for nearly 25 years in the early education field. She has participated in numerous collaborations and efforts to promote excellence and innovation in the field of early education and enjoys working with diverse groups of individuals committed to making a difference for young children and their families.
Sondra Wallace, Director of Community Investment AdventHealth Kansas
Sondra Wallace is the Director of Community Benefit for AdventHealth of Kansas City, the proud
sponsor of this endeavor. She brings 25+ years of experience supporting children, families, and educators
to help navigate life‘s ups and downs through the lens of social emotional learning.
Kel Woods, Woods Creative
Marketing
Kel Woods is the owner and Creative Director of Woods Creative. With a passion for helping people align their talents and passions with purposeful branding and marketing, Kel specializes in crafting compelling stories and strategic visuals that connect with audiences. Through design, storytelling, and strategy, Kel helps businesses create authentic brands that inspire and make an impact.
Our Advisory Team
Sly James, Former Mayor of Kansas City
Early Education Advocate
Early Education Advocate
A parent cannot understand the thought processes, motivations, fears and complexities of their children unless they personally engage them in ways that build the trust necessary to be open with each other. That can’t happen with a text, but it can when we sing, talk, and play with them every day.
Michelle Bertuglia-Haley, LCSW, LSCSW Manager of Child & Family Mental Health Services
Children’s Mercy Hospital
Play is a child’s first language. When children play with their parents, it is opportunity to reveal themselves on the deepest level. Parents benefit because we get insight into how they are thinking and feeling, and this shared experience can promote joy in the parent-child relationship.
Michelle Kelly, Program Coordinator Parents as Teachers, Blue Valley USD
Ten undistracted minutes of play between a child and caregiver builds secure attachment that leads to better cognitive, social and language development, fewer behavior problems, better emotional regulation and empathy.
Amy Loveland, Supervisor of Early Childhood and Children’s Services Belton School District #124
Growth promoting relationships are based on the child’s continuous give-and-take with a human partner. Child development experts call this “serve and return”. A child’s human caregiver provides what nothing else in the world can offer them.
Freda Markley, M.Ed. Admin
Trainer Development Specialist Parents as Teachers National Center Early Childhood Instructional Coach
During a simple play activity, a child may learn new words or benefit from the parents’ attention, celebrating their accomplishments. Children need parents that will spend those precious moments nurturing their child’s development, responding to, and just wondering with their child.
Kelly Pelzel, Ph.D.,
Child Psychologist, ChildServe Iowa
Following your child’s lead in play is one way you meet their attachment needs. When you show interest and delight in their play ideas, you are providing a secure base from which they can explore the world.
Gretchen Shanahan, Consultant
Digitally Wise
A caregiver experiences the wonderful “bonding hormone” oxytocin, as it is released when you are fully engaged with your child. It increases our affection for the child. Oxytocin counteracts the effects of stress, anxiety and fear. Both you and your child benefit from oxytocin in every positive interaction.
Dr. Beth Troutman Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry, Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Engaging with their child in a simple tech-free activity for ten minutes provides parents with an opportunity to notice the unique characteristics of their child. It is also a great mindfulness activity. Children live in the moment and when we join them in a simple activity, we live in the moment as well.
Dr. Tracy Vozar, Director of Perinatal Depression Program, Endeavor Health
The time that we spend together with our children helps them to understand who we are as adults. It also helps children understand that they are seen, they are heard, and they our loved. Our attention as their adults is the most reinforcing, rewarding experience we can provide to our children.
Lisa Williams, Parents as Teachers Coordinator, Kansas State Department of Education
Giving a child “just ten minutes” of our undivided, positive attention and time will surely spark joy for the
child and adult! Those routine, intentional connections are the foundation for healthy and supportive
relationships as our children learn, develop and grow.
Tori Jones, Teacher Stride K12 - Missouri Virtual Academy
Children treasure moments when their parents are fully present and themselves. When parents share their undivided attention, they create joyful moments of connection that allow them to celebrate a child’s emerging personality.
Our Creative Team
Jennifer Adams Oppenheimer,
MA, CCC-SLP
Jennifer Adams Oppenheimer, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist specializing in early language development. Through her work, she empowers parents to weave language-rich moments into everyday routines, nurturing communication skills from infancy through preschool. No one is more amazed than she is that her pandemic-era sourdough starter is still producing weekly loaves for her family.
Katie Brooks
Early Childhood Educator, Shawnee Mission USD
Katie’s most important job is being a mom of two very active little boys who love to be involved
in everything. She was an early childhood special educator and academic evaluator in the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and recently became an instructional coach for the Shawnee Mission School District.
Carrie Wright
Blue Valley ECSE
Carrie is an early childhood special educator for the Blue Valley School district and previously
taught in the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. She grew up in the Kansas City area and is
an avid sports fan for her local teams!
Kristen Younger, Blue Valley PAT
Kristen Younger has a passion for fostering a love of learning and play in children while helping to build connections between toddlers and their parents. She has been in education for 25 years and a Blue Valley Parents as Teachers educator for 13 years.
Dr. Eric Murianki, Music Educator
Dr. Erik Murianki is a music educator, choral conductor, and multi-instrumentalist with a Ph.D. in
music education from the University of Florida and a passion for research in music pedagogy and
multiculturalism. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in music therapy at the University of Kansas, he
explores the intersections of music, education, and therapeutic practices to foster meaningful musical
experiences.
Diane Hughes, Family Educator, Sixpence Auburn
Diane Hughes is the Sixpence Home Educator for Auburn Public School in Auburn Nebraska. She loves helping families and their children thrive through activities and connection.
Sarah Whillock, Harvey County PAT
Sarah Whillock is in her thirteenth year in education and eighth year with Harvey County Parents as
Teachers, working with children ranging in age from 0 to11 years of age. Her favorite thing about working as an educator is seeing the light in a child's eyes when they learn something new!
Jacinda Roberts,
KPATA Bright Futures
Jacinda Roberts lives in Wichita and serves a parent educator for the Bright Futures Parents as Teachers Program. I have worked in the early childhood field for over 15 years.