The Everything ECE Podcast

Carla Ward

The Everything ECE Podcast is for early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and childcare professionals who want to grow intentionally and take meaningful action. Host Carla Ward shares real-life insights, expert interviews, and practical strategies to support your work in childcare centres, preschools, and kindergartens. From play-based learning to leadership, each episode helps you stay inspired, confident, and connected to your purpose.

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Friday · 31 min
#261: Adults Need Play Too with Pat Rumbaugh
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Pat Rumbaugh, better known as the Play Lady, for a conversation about why play belongs to adults as much as it does to children. Pat spent 30 years as a physical education teacher and coach before helping start a community play day in Takoma Park, Maryland. That work grew into Let's Play America, a nonprofit that organizes free play events and helps other communities make room for people of all ages to play. Together, Carla and Pat talk about giving children real choice in their play, what happens when adults join in, and the joy of bringing different generations together through games. Pat shares what an adult play day can look like, while Carla reflects on how they met at a workshop about play for grown-ups. Their conversation moves from community events to small, everyday invitations: hopscotch on a walk, a game with friends, or simply making time for something you enjoy. If you spend your days protecting children's opportunities to play but rarely think about your own, this episode may help you find your way back to it. ABOUT PAT Pat Rumbaugh taught physical education and coached at Washington International School from 1981 to 2011. She founded a play committee in Takoma Park in 2009; it became the nonprofit Let's Play America in 2014. Pat has written two children's books on play, given two TEDx talks and organized 49 Play Days. LINKS Let's Play America: https://www.letsplayamerica.org Instagram: @lets.play.america Facebook: @letsplayamericaltd TikTok: @letsplayamerica SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Entrepreneur Experience Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
Tuesday · 12 min
#260: Supporting a Child with Selective Mutism? | Dear Carla
This week’s Dear Carla question comes from Lime Green, an educator who will be working with a four-year-old with selective mutism. They’re looking for ideas and strategies to support the child, and the question takes Carla back more than 20 years to one of the first children she ever taught. In this episode, Carla draws on that experience, what she learned along the way, and what she wants Lime Green to consider as they begin building a relationship with this child. ASK CARLA Have a question? Ask here SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
September 18 · 29 min
#259: Building Self-Trust Through Journaling with Cheryl Sutherland
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Cheryl Sutherland, founder of PleaseNotes, for a conversation about journaling, self-trust, confidence, and learning to pay attention to what we actually need. Cheryl shares why she once considered herself a “journaling hater,” how journaling can help us recognize patterns and make clearer decisions, and why the words we use with ourselves matter more than we may realize. Carla and Cheryl also talk about the very real overwhelm educators carry, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and what can happen when we acknowledge that something isn’t working instead of continuing to push through it. And Carla makes a commitment during the episode: 30 days of journaling. Listen in, then join her for the experiment. Transcript CHERYL SUTHERLAND Cheryl Sutherland is a speaker, author, and founder of PleaseNotes, a Toronto-based personal growth brand offering guided journals, planners, and affirmation cards for confidence, clarity, and self-trust. She also works as a facilitator and mindfulness speaker for corporate clients, ERGs, and HR teams, with a background spanning banking, sales, and business coaching. She has run four successful Kickstarter campaigns and has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, InStyle, HuffPost, CBC, and Inc. She is passionate about helping people build self-trust through journaling and reflection. LINKS Website: PleaseNotes & cherylsutherland.com Instagram: PleaseNotes / Cheryl Sutherland TikTok: Cheryl Sutherland Affirmations in Abundance: Link MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff If You Want to Change the World, Start Off by Making Your Bed - William McRaven, US Navy Admiral SEE CHERYL LIVE Cheryl will be speaking at the ECE Entrepreneur Experience on November 14, 2026. www.carlatheece.com/ece-entrepreneur-experience 30 DAYS OF JOURNALING Carla is taking Cheryl’s advice and turning journaling into an experiment: 30 days of showing up and seeing what happens. Want to join her? Tag @carlatheece and Cheryl/PleaseNotes on Instagram so you can do the 30 days together. SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
September 11 · 31 min
#258: How to Have a Great Circle Time with Saira Remtulla
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with Saira Remtulla, Ontario Certified Teacher and founder of Connected Start, for a conversation about rethinking circle time in early learning. Circle time can be one of the most powerful opportunities for connection in an early learning program, but only when we’re clear about why we’re gathering in the first place. Carla and Saira talk about the difference between entertaining children and genuinely engaging them, why participation doesn’t always look like sitting still, the importance of flexibility and intentionality, and what can happen when circle time becomes less about getting through the plan and more about creating a shared experience. They also explore educator confidence, following children’s interests, the role of songs, rhymes and repetition, and why connection needs to come before content. Whether you love circle time, avoid it, or have been wondering if it still belongs in early learning, this conversation will have you thinking differently about what gathering together can be. SAIRA REMTULLA Saira Remtulla is an Ontario Certified Teacher with over 19 years of experience, specializing in early years education. Her work is grounded in fostering connection, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences for young children. As the Founder of Connected Start, Saira has developed joyful, hands-on programming for children from birth to age four, that sparks curiosity, supports emotional development, and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. Saira is committed to empowering early years centres with accessible, high-quality resources that enrich their programs and strengthen the communities they serve. LINKS Website: www.connectedstart.ca Instagram: @connectedstart & @learnwithmssaira LinkedIn: Saira Remtulla SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
September 8 · 7 min
#257: Should We Still Use Food in Sensory Play? | Dear Carla
After 34 years in the field, one educator has seen a lot of trends come and go, including the shift away from using food like rice, beans and pasta in sensory play. But with a growing understanding of sensory needs and regulation, is it time to reconsider? Or are there bigger questions about food, resources and respect that should still guide practice? In this Dear Carla episode, Carla responds to “Frustrated Foodie” and digs into food in sensory play, the rabbit hole of deciding which resources are okay to use, and why the better question might be: Why this material, for these children, at this moment? ASK CARLA Have a question? Ask here SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
September 4 · 25 min
#256: Say NO Less: Let the Environment Do the Work
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores what happens when “no,” “stop,” “don’t,” and “put that back” become the soundtrack of the day. Rather than immediately looking at the child when something isn’t working, she challenges educators to get curious about the environment, the expectations within it, and the rules they may be enforcing without ever stopping to ask why. Carla shares how changing her own classroom environment changed the way she showed up as an educator and explores the difference between boundaries that protect safety and rights and those that exist for adult convenience. If you find yourself repeating the same direction over and over again, this episode might have you asking a different question: what if the 48th reminder isn’t the answer? Listen in and discover what can happen when we let the environment do more of the work. JOIN YES SPACES www.carlatheece.com/yes-spaces-course SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
August 28 · 46 min
#255: Playoneering: The Future of Education with Hayley Peacock
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by Hayley Peacock, creator of Playoneering®️, for a conversation about play, curiosity and what the future of education could look like. Together, Carla and Hayley explore what happens when play doesn't end with the early years and education is built from children's natural curiosity, creativity and capacity to learn. They dig into playful rigour, the influence of Reggio-inspired practice, intrinsic motivation, and why relationship management might be a much better place to start than behaviour management. The conversation also turns to AI and the reality that today's children are growing up in a world that none of us experienced ourselves. What does that mean for the way we educate them—and for the human skills we need to protect and nurture along the way? From questioning long-standing school practices to rethinking what children actually need to thrive, this episode challenges us to imagine what education could become when play, curiosity and connection remain at the centre. HAYLEY PEACOCK Hayley Peacock is the creator of Playoneering®️ and founder of the West Sussex-based, Reggio-inspired settings Atelier 21 Future School and Little Barn Owls Forest & Farm School Nurseries. An internationally recognised educator and speaker, she developed Playoneering®️, an enquiry-led education approach that combines creativity, curiosity and playful rigour to create meaningful learning fit for children's futures. LINKS Website: https://hayleypeacockeducation.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-peacock-208b26264/ SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
August 21 · 35 min
#254: Building a Legacy with Heather Jackson
Heather Jackson has spent years in early childhood education asking questions, following curiosity, researching practice, and deeply respecting the thinking of children. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Heather, founder of The Sunflower School and host of the Actions of Play podcast, to talk about the experiences that have shaped her work and the legacy she has built along the way. They explore Heather’s journey through education, the ideas and people that have influenced her, and what it means to build a body of work that continues to evolve. This isn’t a conversation about looking back because the work is finished. It’s about recognizing what has been built while continuing to ask: What comes next? HEATHER JACKSON Heather Jackson is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) and the Executive Director of The Sunflower School, a Reggio-inspired early learning program in Orangeville, Ontario. With 40 years in child care, Heather remains deeply connected to the everyday work of being alongside children and educators—and still genuinely loves going to work each day. Her work is grounded in curiosity, relationships, research, and a deep respect for children as thinkers and meaning-makers. Heather has continued to deepen her understanding of Reggio-inspired practice throughout her career, including travelling to Reggio Emilia, Italy, twice over the past ten years as part of international study tours. Heather is also a mentor, researcher, and host of the Actions of Play podcast, where she shares her thinking and invites educators to remain curious, reflective, and intentional in their practice. LINKS Website: http://www.thesunflowerschool.ca/ Heather Instagram: @thesunflower_studio School Instagram: @thesunflowerschool LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ Book: Actions of Play Community Podcast Referenced: Rethinking Early Childhood Education: Designing Curriculum Beyond Traditional Program Planning SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
August 14 · 27 min
#253: Beyond the Diploma with Megan Wuerfel
In this episode, Carla sits down with Megan Wuerfel, founder of The ECE Exchange, to explore the many ways educators can use their experience beyond the classroom. They discuss how to recognize your unique ECE “superpower,” why classroom experience matters when stepping into coaching or professional learning, and the importance of documenting your journey long before you think you’ll need it. Megan also shares how The ECE Exchange connects early childhood programs with experienced coaches, consultants, specialists, trainers, and speakers worldwide. This conversation is an important reminder that leaving the classroom doesn’t have to mean leaving the field. Your knowledge still matters—and there may be more ways to use it than you realize. MEGAN WUERFEL Megan Wuerfel is the founder of The ECE Exchange, an innovative platform dedicated to connecting early childhood programs with specialized coaches, consultants, specialists, trainers, and speakers. With a Master's in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum & Instruction, she draws on her deep experience as a former Head Start teacher and current instructional coach. Outside of her mission to revolutionize ECE professional development, Megan is a busy mom of four living on the Big Island of Hawaii. LINKS Website: theeceexchange.com, Instagram: www.instagram.com/theeceexchange LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/megan-wuerfel-98399538a SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
August 7 · 35 min
#252: Building Connection Through Language with Cara Tyrrell
Children begin communicating from the moment they are born. Long before they have spoken words, they are using facial expressions, movements, gestures, sounds and behaviour to tell us what they need, what they understand and how they are experiencing the world around them. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla speaks with early language expert, educator and linguist Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed., about how educators can build stronger connections with children through language and communication. Cara explains the difference between receptive and expressive language, how children interpret our facial expressions, body language and tone, and why the messages we communicate nonverbally matter just as much as the words we choose. Together, Carla and Cara explore serve-and-return interactions, auditory processing, the impact of technology on early communication and why sarcasm and rhetorical questions can be confusing for young children. They also discuss how corrective language can unintentionally shape a child’s developing identity. Words intended to address a single moment can become messages children carry about who they are. Cara shares how educators can describe what is happening, recognize the need being communicated, hold necessary boundaries and invite children into the solution without relying on labels. At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that communication is about much more than speaking and listening. It is how we build trust, strengthen relationships and create connected learning communities where children feel seen, understood and respected. Cara Tyrrell is the creator of the Collaborative Discipline Method and Talking Triangle Framework, host of the podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of Talk to Them Early and Often. CARA TYRRELL Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed., is an early language expert teaching educators and families to transform how they communicate with children in the earliest years of life. With degrees in American Sign Language, Linguistics, and a Masters in education, she has spent over two decades studying how infants and toddlers acquire receptive and expressive language. Cara’s Collaborative Discipline Method and Talking Triangle Framework equip parents and educators with language-based tools that build strong brains and connected learning communities. She is the host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of Talk to Them Early and Often. LINKS Instagram:: , @caratalkstoddler LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-tyrrell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caratalkstoddler Cara Tyrell Book: Talk to Them Early and Often: A Caregiver’s Guide to Intentional Language Development for Infants and Toddlers Dr. Shimi Kang Book: The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital World Website: https://www.caratyrrell.com/speaker Podcast: https://www.caratyrrell.com/podcast SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
July 31 · 33 min
#251: Understanding Process Art with Victoria Armstrong
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Victoria Armstrong, owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, for a thoughtful conversation about rethinking art in early learning. Victoria brings almost 20 years of experience as a classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, coordinator and early learning consultant. She also spent a significant part of her career pioneering a children’s art initiative that brought local artists into early learning and licensed child care programs. Together, Carla and Victoria explore what process-based art really means, the role educators play in children’s artistic experiences and how the materials we offer can either create space for original thinking or unintentionally limit it. They also discuss the value of introducing children to artistic techniques, why the finished product still matters and how educators can offer inspiration without deciding what children’s work should become. This episode will encourage you to look at the materials on your art shelves and the experiences you build around them with a more critical and intentional lens. VICTORIA ARMSTRONG Victoria Armstrong has worked in early childhood education for almost 20 years. She began her ECE career studying and volunteering abroad in Hawaii, India and Japan. After earning her diploma and honours degree in Early Childhood Studies in Ontario, Victoria held a variety of roles, including classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, HR and communications specialist, coordinator and early learning consultant. A significant part of her career was spent pioneering and coordinating a children’s art initiative that integrated local artists into early learning and licensed child care programs. Today, Victoria is the owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, where she works with early years organizations to support and enhance their work with children and families. LINKS Website: www.sbsconsulting.ca Instagram: @sbsconsultingservices Youtube: The Studio@SBS Consulting Services Ann Pelo's Book: Language of Art: Inquiry-Based Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
July 24 · 40 min
#250: The Conversations We Keep Avoiding with Jaime Mann
Working closely with other people is an unavoidable part of early childhood education—but navigating differences, feedback, and workplace tension does not always come naturally. Leadership speaker and facilitator Jaime Mann joins Carla Ward for an honest conversation about the discussions people often label as “difficult.” Jaime offers a different way to think about these moments and explains how curiosity, self-awareness, and clear communication can help create healthier working relationships. Together, Carla and Jaime explore defensiveness, tone and body language, generational differences, feedback, workplace civility, and what to do when the other person is not approaching the conversation with the same openness. This episode is a practical and deeply human reminder that better communication is not about having the perfect words. It begins with understanding what you want for yourself, the other person, and the relationship. JAIME MANN Jaime Mann is a leadership speaker, facilitator, and founder of The Amaryllis Project. She helps leaders strengthen their self-leadership so they can communicate more effectively, build healthier workplace relationships, and create cultures where people can do their best work. Drawing from positive psychology, leadership research, and more than two decades of experience in business and construction, Jaime brings a practical, human approach to topics including engagement, imposter feelings, civility, accountability, and connection. She is currently completing a master’s degree in the Psychology of Leadership through Penn State. LINKS: Website: https://jaimemann.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theamaryllisproject/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamaryllisproject/?hl=en SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Entrepreneur Experience Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
July 17 · 31 min
#249: Letting Children Do the Heavy Lifting with Trevor Newton
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with early childhood educator, keynote speaker, and coach Trevor Newton for a conversation that will challenge the way you think about play, relationships, and children's social development. Together, they explore why conflict isn't something to prevent, but something to teach through. Trevor shares simple, practical strategies that help educators support children's independence, strengthen communication, and build the social skills that last far beyond the early years. This episode is full of those "pause and write that down" moments, including one strategy Carla says she'll be using immediately. In this episode, you'll discover: Why conflict is one of the greatest learning opportunities in play How to support children without rescuing them The role relationships play in children's long-term success One simple strategy that can transform the conversations you have with children tomorrow Mr. Trevor T. Newton, M.A. ECSE Trevor T. Newton is a passionate Title I ECSE Preschool Teacher, early childhood keynote speaker, and founder of Teach and Direct LLC, with over 15 years of experience empowering educators and strengthening leadership across educational settings. He has taught in diverse early childhood and elementary classrooms while mentoring educators into confident, effective teachers and leaders. Trevor specializes in practical, research-based strategies that support teacher leadership, Big Body Play and body-based behavior regulation, and renewed joy in the important work of early childhood education. Beyond the classroom and stage, he enjoys children’s literature, sharing laughter, and spending quality time with his wife and young son. LINKS Website: www.TrevorTNewton.com Instagram: @TrevorTNewton.ECE LinkedIn: Trevor T. Newton SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
July 10 · 10 min
#248: Curiosity Is a Professional Responsibility
What if one of the most important responsibilities we have as educators isn't just teaching children, but continuing to learn ourselves? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla explores why curiosity is more than a personality trait. It's a professional responsibility. Drawing on more than 20 years in early childhood education, Carla reflects on what separates educators who continue to grow from those who become stuck in "the way we've always done it." She shares five ways educators can nurture their own curiosity, from learning alongside children and seeking perspectives that challenge their thinking to looking beyond early childhood for inspiration and remaining teachable throughout their careers. Because if we want children to become lifelong learners, shouldn't they see us modelling that every day? SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Entrepreneur Experience Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
July 3 · 25 min
247: Understanding Schema Play with Heather Bernt-Santy
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with Heather Bernt-Santy, better known as That Early Childhood Nerd, to explore the fascinating world of schema play. Heather shares how recognizing schemas helps educators move beyond simply managing behaviour and instead see the learning, curiosity, and development taking place through play. From transporting and trajectory to enclosing and enveloping, these repeated patterns offer valuable insight into how children make sense of their world. Together, Carla and Heather discuss:• What schema play is and why it matters• How schemas help us understand behaviour differently• Why curiosity is one of an educator's greatest superpowers• Practical ways to support children's learning without limiting their exploration• How schemas strengthen conversations with families• Why free play deserves a central place in early childhood education. Whether you're just discovering schema play or have been exploring it for years, this conversation will leave you seeing children's play—and your role as an educator—in a whole new way. Heather is also the author of Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, a must-read for educators looking to deepen their understanding of play. HEATHER BERNT- SANTY Heather Bernt-Santy, M.A. Ed., also known as That Early Childhood Nerd, has been working with children, their families, and their caregivers for over 30 years and has loved very-nearly-almost every minute. She is a believer in children's right to play and in the science that tells us play IS right. As That Early Childhood Nerd, she offers consulting and webinars, and hosts a podcast. LINKS Website: www.thatearlychildhoodnerd.com Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Podcast YouTube Book: (Canada) Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood (US) Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
June 26 · 12 min
#246: Raising Thinkers: Building Critical Thinking in Early Years
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla explores why critical thinking begins long before children enter elementary school and how everyday moments in our classrooms shape children's confidence as problem-solvers, question-askers, and curious learners. From open-ended play and educator language to productive struggle and reflective practice, this conversation will challenge you to look differently at the small interactions that happen every day. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do isn't give children the answer—it's give them the space to discover it themselves. Whether you're an early childhood educator, student, or leader, this episode will leave you reflecting on how we can create environments that nurture curiosity, resilience, and independent thinking from the very beginning. SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
June 19 · 46 min
#245: Human Skills in an AI-powered World with Chris Danilo
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with award-winning speaker and trainer Chris Danilo to explore the skills that technology can't replace. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, many educators are asking the same question: What makes humans irreplaceable? Together, Carla and Chris dive into the human skills that will matter most in the years ahead, why emotional intelligence may become one of the most valuable professional assets we have, and what leaders and educators need to be focusing on right now. This conversation might challenge some assumptions, spark a few questions, and leave you thinking differently about the future of our profession. Because in an AI-powered world, being more human may be the advantage we need most. CHRIS DANILO Chris is an award-winning speaker and trainer for the early childhood workforce. He trains ECE leaders and educators on Human Skills like compassionate detachment, self-management, and emotional intelligence that make a real difference in how teams work together. He uses high-energy, roll-up-your-sleeves, experiential workshops to make professional development turn into action. He's worked with organizations in Child Care Aware and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) groups around the US. LINKS Website: chrisdanilo.com/newsletter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Seed Training Books Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work — Dina Denham Smith & Alicia A. Grandey Oxford University Press · Penn State announcement · Author site Co-written by Penn State psychology professor Alicia Grandey (one of the world's leading researchers on emotional labor) and executive coach Dina Denham Smith. Equips leaders with evidence-based tools for emotional skills at work: emotional labor, authenticity, stress and recovery, emotion regulation, self-compassion. Includes the authors' BRAVE technique (Breathe, Recognize, Accept, Verbalize, Engage) and frameworks like compassionate detachment drawn from caring professions. Especially relevant for ECE directors and center owners managing emotional load on their teams. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ — Daniel Goleman Amazon ·The 1995 book that introduced the concept of emotional intelligence to a mass audience. Goleman argues that EQ matters as much as IQ for success in relationships, work, and well-being, and outlines five core skills — self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills — that can be taught and cultivated. Researchers & Authors Dr. Alicia Grandey — Penn State Penn State faculty page · Workplace Emotional Labor and Diversity Lab Professor of Psychology at Penn State and one of the original architects of the modern research literature on emotional labor — the work of regulating your emotions on the job. 25+ years of peer-reviewed research, with multiple papers in the top 1% for citation impact. Co-author of Emotionally Charged. Essential reading for anyone trying to understand why caregiving work — including ECE — is so emotionally taxing. Dina Denham Smith — executive coach and leadership consultant DinaDSmith.com · Book site Founder and CEO with 20+ years coaching senior leaders at companies like Adobe, Netflix, and Stanford. Co-author of Emotionally Charged with Alicia Grandey, bridging the academic research on emotional labor into practical leadership tools. SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
June 12 · 14 min
#244: The 5 Types of Self-Care | Why Educators Can't Afford to Ignore Their Well-Being
Self-care is often reduced to bubble baths, spa days, and treating yourself, but true self-care goes much deeper than that. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward shares a personal story about how years of ignoring her own well-being led to a panic attack that landed her in the hospital. Through honest reflection and practical insights, she explores why self-care is not a luxury for educators. It's a necessity. Carla breaks down the five essential types of self-care Whether you're an early childhood educator, teacher, leader, or parent, this episode will help you identify which area of self-care may need your attention and offer simple ways to begin prioritizing yourself again. Topics Discussed: Why self-care is more than bubble baths The consequences of ignoring your own needs Boundaries and professional self-care Emotional wellness for educators Building sustainable self-care habits How self-care impacts children, families, and teams SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
June 5 · 30 min
#243: Why Movement Comes Before Mindfulness with Lisa Danahy
#243: Why Movement Comes Before Mindfulness with Lisa Danahy In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with educator, author, yoga therapist, and founder of Create Calm, Lisa Danahy, to explore the powerful connection between movement, emotional regulation, and learning. Together, they discuss why movement is often the pathway to mindfulness, how educators can support their own regulation before helping children, and why calm and compliant are not the same thing. Lisa shares practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in early childhood settings while challenging traditional ideas about behaviour management and mindfulness. In this episode, you'll learn:• Why movement fuels brain development and emotional regulation• The difference between mindfulness and mind control• How educator regulation impacts classroom dynamics• Why connection must come before correction• Practical strategies to support co-regulation and well-being LISA DANAHY Lisa Danahy (C-IAYT, YACEP, MS) is an educator, author, and leader in social-emotional learning focused on supporting emotional regulation, resilience, and well-being in early childhood and school communities. Through her nonprofit, Create Calm, she has helped facilitate meaningful cultural shifts in hundreds of schools nationwide, supporting students, educators, and families since 2016. With advanced training in yoga therapy, psychology, and over 30 years of experience in education and SEL curriculum development, she creates accessible, evidence-based practices that support whole-child development. Lisa specializes in working with neurodiverse, disabled, and underserved children and partners with educators and caregivers to bring sustainable self-care and regulation tools into early learning environments. LINKS Website: createcalm.org Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Book: Creating Calm in Your Classroom Radiant Child: www.childrensyoga.com Monday Mindfulness: www.MondayMindfulness.com INA Wellness: www.INAwellness.com SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece
May 29 · 9 min
#242: Who Raised You Musically? The Hidden Influence of Music on Childhood Development
What if the music we grow up around shapes more than just our memories? In this reflective solo episode, Carla Ward explores the powerful role music plays in childhood development, emotional regulation, identity formation, and the environments we create for children. From Linda Ronstadt and Carole King to Cher, Madonna, and the Spice Girls, Carla reflects on the soundtrack of her own childhood and asks an important question: What are children absorbing from the music around them today? This episode dives into: music as part of the learning environment emotional associations and memory identity and self-expression nervous system regulation classroom atmosphere and intentionality why music is far more than background noise Whether you are an educator, parent, or someone reflecting on your own childhood soundtrack, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about the songs shaping children’s worlds. RESEARCH & REFERENCES Saarikallio, S., & Erkkilä, J. — The Role of Music in Adolescents’ Mood Regulation https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0305735607068889 Effects of the Educational Use of Music on Children’s Emotional Development https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350545306_Effects_of_the_Educational_Use_of_Music_on_3-to_12-Year-Old_Children's_Emotional_Development_A_Systematic_Review North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J. — Music and Adolescent Identity https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232523022_Musical_Preference_and_Taste_in_Childhood_and_Adolescence Janata, P. — The Neural Architecture of Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2758676/ Routledge, C. — Research on nostalgia and psychological connectedness https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nostalgia SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

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