Cathy Turalinski returns to share her extensive 40+ years of experience in early childhood education, focusing on the critical first five years of brain development. She emphasizes the importance of integrating research into daily interactions with children and advocates for a shift in mindset among educators regarding toddler behaviour. As an entrepreneur and author of a four-book series, she aims to empower educators and parents, highlighting the significance of emotional development, play-bas...
Nov 29, 2024•39 min•Ep. 166
Carla Ward joins nine incredible podcasting educators who came together for a roundtable discussion to explore the vital themes of mentorship, self-care, and advocacy. The conversation emphasizes the importance of play in maintaining creativity and passion in teaching while offering practical self-care tips and leadership insights. The podcasters share their experiences and highlight the need for proactive mentorship to bridge the gap between educational preparation and real classroom challenges...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Dana Levin-Robinson, CEO and founder of Upfront, joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss how she is transforming childcare access through innovative data integration. Inspired by her own struggles to find suitable childcare, Dana launched Upfront to tackle the supply-demand mismatch by breaking down data silos and enhancing collaboration with governments and nonprofits. By creating a comprehensive, frequently updated database, Upfront connects families with available childcare ...
Nov 15, 2024•27 min
Join Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast as she talks with Macall Gordon, a specialist in sleep training children, about the importance of naps in early childhood. Macall explains why naps are essential not only for physical growth but also for emotional regulation and behaviour. In this episode, discover: The hidden benefits of nap time and how missed naps can affect behaviour Strategies for setting up a sleep-friendly environment in daycare settings Why early bedtimes matter and how to tu...
Nov 08, 2024•29 min
Maddie Pelz, founder of Grow Into Math, joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss the importance of play-based environments in alleviating math anxiety in children. She shares her research on innate math intuitions and the confusion often caused by formal education. Highlighting her experience, she emphasizes integrating math discussions into daily activities and the significance of foundational skills like cardinality and subitizing. Maddie encourages educators to observe and na...
Nov 01, 2024•39 min
In this episode, Rae discusses the vital role of play in early childhood education and why it should be an essential part of every learning environment. She explores different types of play, including free play, guided play, block play, and risky play, and explains how each supports children's development. Rae also addresses concerns about a possible return to more traditional education methods and emphasizes the importance of ongoing educator training in play-based learning. Additionally, she h...
Oct 25, 2024•43 min
Erica Saccoccio, a Rhode Island childcare owner, shares insights from her experience managing three centres and hosting the "Childcare Directors Chair" podcast. She emphasizes the importance of flow in life, effective communication, and a supportive work environment to enhance staff morale and retention. With a focus on personalized professional development, cross-training, and strong team bonding, Erica fosters a culture that prioritizes both employee well-being and high-quality childcare. Her ...
Oct 18, 2024•36 min
Jamie Wagler joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to discuss the crucial role of school-age educators. She explores the high turnover rates in before and after school programs and their detrimental effects on children. Jamie advocates for the creation of full-time positions to enhance stability, improved training, and stronger community support for educators. She stresses the significance of building meaningful connections with children, designing engaging environments, and involving t...
Oct 04, 2024•20 min
Carla Ward interviews Marlo Humiski from Learn, Develop, Succeed (LDS), a nonprofit in BC dedicated to supporting families with learning disabilities. The discussion highlights the Early Risers Program, which provides early intervention in a preschool-like setting, engaging families through community partnerships and workshops. With a focus on literacy, numeracy, and fine motor skills, the program includes professional support from specialists and features QT the Robot to aid emotional awareness...
Sep 27, 2024•34 min
Host Carla Ward interviews Dr. Jasmine Moses, an expert in anti-bias early childhood education, discussing the importance of inclusivity in early learning environments. Dr. Moses outlines the four main goals of anti-bias education—identity, diversity, justice, and activism—and emphasizes the need for diverse materials and perspectives in classrooms. The conversation highlights the significance of confronting biases, fostering empathy, and advocating for equitable policies to create supportive co...
Sep 20, 2024•36 min
Host Carla Ward engages with leadership strategist Beth Cannon to explore self-disqualification in early childhood education. They discuss the importance of treating early education as a business focused on delivering positive experiences, emphasizing effective systems, core values, and operational efficiency. Beth introduces her Stuck to Strategy Academy, outlining four core pillars for strengthening leadership foundations. The conversation also addresses challenges in the sector, the significa...
Sep 13, 2024•32 min
Carla Ward hosts a discussion with Jesse, CEO of Anji Education, on the transformative Anji Play philosophy in early childhood education. This approach prioritizes love, safety, and children's autonomy, fostering independent problem-solving through unguided play. The conversation highlights the importance of strong relationships with families, the balance between structure and freedom, and the need for educational reform that respects children's voices and experiences. Emphasizing collaboration ...
Sep 06, 2024•48 min
Carla Ward hosts The Everything ECE Podcast with Kristine Parsons from the College of Early Childhood Educators in Ontario, discussing the College's vital role in regulating early childhood educators. Kristine explains how the College protects the public through standards, a public register, and handling complaints. The episode highlights Ontario's unique position as the only Canadian province with a regulatory college for this profession, the importance of maintaining standards, and the ongoing...
Aug 23, 2024•31 min
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast , Carla Ward sits down with Alex Carnio, CEO of Productivity, to explore an innovative childcare model that’s making waves in Kelowna, BC. Alex shares her unique approach to early childhood care, which blends flexible childcare services with co-working spaces for parents. With three centers offering 111 spots for children aged 0-5, this model is designed to support families in a holistic way. The facilities feature extended hours, a pet-friendly envi...
Aug 16, 2024•31 min
Carla Ward hosts the Everything ECE podcast featuring 'Iolani Bullock, who discusses her children's book "Little Lenox Takes Flight," which encourages travel and diversity for preschoolers. Inspired by the lack of diverse travel literature for her son, Bullock emphasizes the importance of representation in children's books and the negative impact of book bans on exposure to diverse perspectives. The episode also highlights the role of psychological safety in learning and the need for children to...
Aug 09, 2024•30 min
Carla Ward explores the concept of self-serve lunches for children, emphasizing the importance of fostering independence and confidence. The discussion covers developmental considerations, benefits such as improved motor skills and healthy eating habits, and practical implementation strategies. Listeners will learn how to gradually introduce self-serving practices and address common concerns, ultimately encouraging positive outcomes in childcare. A downloadable guide is available for further sup...
Aug 02, 2024•11 min
Carla Ward and Lisa MacKay explore the vital role of outdoor learning in early childhood education, emphasizing its benefits for children's well-being amidst increasing screen time. With over 20 years of experience, Lisa advocates for inquiry-based learning, highlighting how outdoor environments stimulate curiosity and cognitive development. This episode offers practical tips for educators and parents to promote outdoor play, encouraging exploration and creativity while fostering mental health a...
Jul 26, 2024•36 min
Explore ethical dilemmas in Early Childhood Education (ECE) with Taylor Aiyadurai on the Everything ECE podcast. Learn about common challenges like babysitting after hours and favouritism and the importance of reflecting on personal values and setting professional boundaries. Discover the significance of seeking guidance from policies and colleagues to navigate ethical dilemmas effectively, and the need to review and update ECE policies to promote inclusivity. Show notes: https://www.elfoundatio...
Jul 19, 2024•40 min
Carla Ward and Tammy Kelly from Early Childhood Coach team discuss breaking down barriers beyond physical ones on the Everything ECE podcast. Tammy shares experiences with children with disabilities in childcare, highlighting challenges like lack of expertise and parental concerns. Emphasizing the importance of fostering independence and inclusivity, she stresses the need for guidance and support from adults. Tammy finds it rewarding to help children with support needs reach milestones, emphasiz...
Jul 12, 2024•26 min
Educators understand that the period from 0 to 6 years old is crucial for a child's development. This time frame is characterized by rapid growth and significant cognitive, emotional, and social developmental milestones. However, despite this understanding, infants—those in the earliest stages of this developmental window—are often overlooked when it comes to professional development for educators, program planning, and resource prioritization. In today's episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, h...
Jul 05, 2024•32 min
Join Carla Ward, host of The Everything ECE Podcast, and special guest Kisa Marx as they continue the insightful conversation from episode #145 on rethinking weapon play in early childhood education. In this episode, Carla and Kisa dive deep into the underlying reasons behind adults' hesitations toward embracing weapon play. They explore the cultural, psychological, and developmental factors that contribute to these concerns and discuss the potential benefits of reevaluating our approach. Throug...
Jun 28, 2024•35 min
Weapon play in Early Childhood Education is a controversial topic, to say the least. In this episode Carla Ward and Samuel Broaden come at this topic from different point of views. Samuel offers some lovely insight to why it isn't so much about the weapon play but the conversations we have with children surrounding the topic based on our lived experiences and those of the children we work with. Tune into this interesting discussion. Show notes: https://www.elfoundations.com/145 How to Work with ...
Jun 21, 2024•27 min
In this episode of the Everything ECE Podcast, host, Carla Ward welcomes Anthony Delauney, the financial "dadvisor." Anthony is a father of two, a Certified Family Financial Planner, a Behavioral Financial Advisor, and the author of the award-winning "Owning the Dash" children's book series. He shares his innovative approach to teaching children foundational financial skills by focusing on life skills and behaviours essential for financial understanding. Listeners will learn about the importance...
Jun 14, 2024•29 min
Join Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast as she discusses a critical aspect of early childhood education: giving children autonomy. Carla explains why fostering a sense of independence is essential for young learners' development and offers practical advice on how educators can support autonomy in their programs. Tune in to discover effective strategies for empowering children to make choices, learn from their experiences, and grow into confident, responsible individuals. Show Notes: https:...
May 31, 2024•5 min
Explore practical strategies and insights for creating an inclusive learning environment for left-handed learners in early childhood education on The Everything ECE Podcast. Join host Carla Ward as she shares valuable tips to support the unique needs of left-handed children in the classroom. Show Notes: https://www.elfoundations.com/142 How to Work with Carla
May 24, 2024•8 min
In this episode, Carla Ward is joined by Katie-Lynn Parkinson of ECCDC to dive into the crucial topic of risk and challenge in early learning programs. Together, they explore why educators should lean into potential risks rather than shy away from them. Katie-Lynn breaks down the distinction between risk and challenge versus hazards or dangers, offering clarity on how embracing the former fosters growth and development in young learners. Through engaging conversation, they discuss the importance...
May 17, 2024•34 min
Dive into the world of rhyme and colossal words for kids with host Carla Ward and special guest Colette Hiller on The Everything ECE Podcast! Join Carla as she sits down with Colette, a writer, arts producer, and author of the critically acclaimed poetry book "The B on Your Thumb." With a background in acting on the London stage and appearances in iconic films like "Aliens," Colette brings a unique perspective to the importance of language in early childhood education. Discover how Colette's chi...
May 07, 2024•27 min
This week on The Everything ECE Podcast, host Carla Ward is joined by special guest Faigie Kobre, a seasoned early childhood educator passionate about fostering creativity in the classroom. In the episode titled "Ditching the Copycat Crafts Mindset," Faigie shares her expertise gained from years as an early childhood teacher and director and leading professional development workshops. Learn about her innovative approach to elementary school art using the choice-based method called TAB and discov...
May 03, 2024•33 min
This week, Susie Beghin joins Carla Ward on the podcast to explore the exciting realm of STEAM in Early Childhood Education. As they chat, you can almost feel the energy as they discuss the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, all within the context of early learning. There's a particular moment where Carla is illuminated by the realization of just how seamlessly play and STEAM intertwine in the development of young minds. Tune in to hear about the magic that happe...
Apr 26, 2024•27 min
Jamee Herbert joins Carla Ward on The Everything ECE Podcast to talk tech and putting systems in place to lighten the burden on Early Childhood Education. Jamee walks us through the Bridgecare system and how it supports administrative duties in child care and the parents in those programs. Show notes: elfoundations.com/137 How to Work with Carla
Apr 19, 2024•23 min
