That Early Childhood Nerd

Lisa Murphy is back for another fun conversation about stuff that’s on her mind. And it’s brilliant stuff! If you are wondering what “readiness is a rock pile” means, or what Lisa’s murder board might look like, you’ll love this conversation. Lisa’s just released a new edition of her important book Lisa Murphy on Play: The Foundation of Children’s Learning. Order your copy today! https://www.redleafpress.org/Lisa-Murphy-on-Play-3rd-Edition-The-Foundation-of-Childrens-Learning-P3195.aspx Order Heather’s book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, here: https://www.tcpress.com/products/using-schema-play-theory-to-advocate-for-free-play-in-early-childhood_9780807783177 Join our new Patreon community! For just $5 a month you can support all the Early Childhood Nerdwork podcasts AND join our Discord server to chat with the hosts and others who are working for children, their families, and their teachers: https://www.patreon.com/cw/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd Thanks for listening!

Who is really the “customer” in early childhood programs? How do we genuinely respect families and their experiences while still maintaining strong systems, standards, and accountability? And what does customer service look like in a sector grounded in care, ethics, and community responsibility—not retail models? Professor and wonderer Robin Landals-Hill joins host Heather Bernt-Santy for a conversation centered on these questions, and whether the customer is really “always right.” Order Heather’s book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, here: https://www.tcpress.com/products/using-schema-play-theory-to-advocate-for-free-play-in-early-childhood_9780807783177 Join our new Patreon community! For just $5 a month you can support all the Early Childhood Nerdwork podcasts AND join our Discord server to chat with the hosts and others who are working for children, their families, and their teachers: https://www.patreon.com/cw/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd Thanks for listening!

What if the words we use during toilet learning could help children feel capable, respected, and empowered? In this episode, host Heather Bernt-Santy talks with Jen Marcus, author of Potty Pedagogy: Guiding Children through Toileting with Language that Empowers about the role word choice and other considerations plays in one of the most personal parts of caring for children. Find Jen's article here: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/vop/winter2025/guiding-children-through-toileting Jen would love to hear from you! You can email her at [email protected]. Order Heather’s book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, here: https://www.tcpress.com/products/using-schema-play-theory-to-advocate-for-free-play-in-early-childhood_9780807783177 Join our new Patreon community! For just $5 a month you can support all the Early Childhood Nerdwork podcasts AND join our Discord server to chat with the hosts and others who are working for children, their families, and their teachers: https://www.patreon.com/cw/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd Thanks for listening!

I don’t know about you, but this Nerd loves Lisa Murphy! So it was so fun to have her say, “I keep a list of topics and questions that I want to pod about!” Here’s the first episode of what we’re calling “Lisa Murphy’s Grab Bag,” an ongoing series of episodes where Lisa brings that list to That Early Childhood Nerd. Included in this conversation: An off hand remark at a nail salon that left Lisa wondering, “do children have freedom to ‘not like someone’s tone’?” If you were a child in your own class today, would you want to come back tomorrow? How do Heather and Lisa feel about having to make dinner decisions? Who do you have in your life that stretches your adult zone of proximal development? Is it kinder to be direct? Why do toddlers pick their noses and why don’t we all already know the answer? Which 80’s soaps did you watch and why? Lots of heart, lots of laughs, and lots of Lisa and Heather—enjoy! Order the latest edition of Lisa’s PLAY book here: https://www.redleafpress.org/Lisa-Murphy-on-Play-3rd-Edition-The-Foundation-of-Childrens-Learning-P3195.aspx Order Heather’s book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, here: https://www.tcpress.com/products/using-schema-play-theory-to-advocate-for-free-play-in-early-childhood_9780807783177 Join our new Patreon community! For just $5 a month you can support all the Early Childhood Nerdwork podcasts AND join our Discord server to chat with the hosts and others who are working for children, their families, and their teachers: https://www.patreon.com/cw/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd Thanks for listening!

One of host Heather Bernt-Santy’s favorite things is to find someone who takes something she is instinctively feeling and brilliantly putting that feeling into words. In this episode, her guest Amy Chiu has done just that. Amy joins the show to talk about how easy it can be for early childhood practitioners to take the tools we have in our toolbox and use them as tactics for control or compliance. Listen to find out what she means when she says: Tools become tactics when the goal shifts from understanding children to controlling outcomes Taking deep breaths becomes a tactic when a child is expected to “calm down” on command Scaffolding becomes a tactic when participation matters more than agency Visual schedules become tactics when they leave no room for humanity, flexibility, or individual rhythms Find more of Amy’s work at www.theworkofplay.com   Order Heather’s book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, here: https://www.tcpress.com/products/using-schema-play-theory-to-advocate-for-free-play-in-early-childhood_9780807783177 Join our new Patreon community! For just $5 a month you can support all the Early Childhood Nerdwork podcasts AND join our Discord server to chat with the hosts and others who are working for children, their families, and their teachers: https://www.patreon.com/cw/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd Thanks for listening!