The Everything ECE Podcast

In this Dear Carla episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla responds to a letter from an educator in Finland who is struggling with guilt and frustration over not having enough time with the part-time children in their classroom.Drawing from her own experience running a program with children attending on different schedules, Carla explores the expectations educators place on themselves, the challenges of building connections with limited time, and what it really means to be doing enough.She also shares practical suggestions for supporting children's sense of belonging, creating environments that encourage connection, and working with families when attendance varies.An episode for any educator who has ever wondered whether they're giving the children in their care enough of themselves.ASK CARLAHave a question? Ask hereSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf 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 CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by author, speaker and executive coach Kate Woodward Young for a conversation about the authority early childhood educators have already earned.Kate has spent more than 30 years building businesses, training leaders and coaching professionals. Her work challenges people to recognize the expertise they have developed through experience and to use their voices without waiting for someone else to grant permission.Carla and Kate talk about the habit of saying “I'm just an ECE,” and why that phrase can make educators overlook the judgment they use every day. They discuss what happens when women defer to someone else's voice in a room, the ambitions that can be set aside while caring for others, and why wanting more for your career does not mean being ungrateful for the work you do now. They bring the conversation back to a familiar classroom moment: when a family asks why children are “just playing,” how can an educator explain the thinking behind that practice with confidence?Kate will also be speaking at The ECE Entrepreneur Experience in November. This conversation is a chance to get to know her ideas before then, whether or not you plan to attend.ABOUT KATEKate Woodward Young, M.Ed., PCC is an author, speaker and executive coach with more than 30 years of experience building businesses, training leaders and coaching professionals. Her work helps people recognize their expertise, exercise judgment and own their voice.LINKSBook: Authority Without ApologyECE Entrepreneur Experience: https://carlatheece.com/ece-entrepreneur-experience Website: https://katewoodwardyoung.meInstagram: @katewoodwardyoung; @childcareconversationsSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf 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 CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward welcomes Ann Kay, co-founder of the Rock 'n' Read Project, for a conversation about the connection between music, brain development and early literacy.Together, they explore why singing, rhythm and musical play matter so much in early childhood, including how babies begin responding to musical experiences long before they can speak.Ann shares the importance of active music-making, how rhythm and movement support learning, and why educators don't need to be trained musicians to make music a meaningful part of their programs.This conversation is a reminder that music is so much more than a transition tool or a fun activity. It's an important part of how children learn and develop.MEET ANN KAYAnn Kay is the co-founder and education coordinator of the Rock 'n' Read Project, a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to helping children develop the foundational skills needed for reading through music. Her background includes teaching music and directing choirs.Connect with Ann and the Rock 'n' Read ProjectWebsite: https://www.rocknreadproject.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocknreadproject/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocknreadproject.orgThank you to our episode sponsor, The ECE Exchange!The ECE Exchange is a new marketplace connecting early childhood education trainers, coaches and consultants with child care programs looking for their expertise.Whether you're an ECE professional growing your consulting business or a program director looking for professional learning opportunities for your team, The ECE Exchange is helping make those connections easier.Learn more at https://TheECEExchange.comSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf 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 CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece

In this Dear Carla episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla responds to Boarded Out in Early Learning, who asks whether parent-governed boards are still an effective model for childcare organizations, particularly larger and multi-site centres.Having spent most of her career working with boards of directors, Carla has seen the value they can bring, as well as the challenges that arise when governance and day-to-day leadership blur.Drawing on her experience as a childcare supervisor and board member, Carla explores the benefits of bringing diverse professional perspectives to the table, the complications of parents serving as both families and employers, and the importance of clearly defining responsibilities between boards and centre leadership.She also considers alternative governance structures, including skills-based boards and parent advisory councils, that could preserve meaningful family involvement while supporting the increasingly complex responsibilities of childcare organizations.At the heart of this conversation is recognizing and respecting the expertise of early childhood educators and the leaders responsible for their programs.ASK CARLAHave a question? Ask hereSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf 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 CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Vicki Salazar and Emily Massey of The Educator's Table for an honest conversation about the relationship between families and early childhood educators.Vicki brings the perspectives of a child care centre owner and parent, while Emily speaks from her experience in the classroom. Together they created The Educator's Table to bring those perspectives into the same conversation and build more understanding between home and child care.Carla, Vicki and Emily talk about the ordinary moments that establish trust before a difficult conversation is needed. A genuine greeting at drop-off can matter more than it seems. They discuss helping newer educators find their voice with families, the assumptions made on either side of the classroom door, and Carla's own experience with the greeting rotation a mentor asked her to try early in her career. They also consider what happens when a family shares something an educator cannot solve alone, and how to respond with care while respecting professional boundaries.This episode is a reminder that strong family relationships grow through everyday contact, not only when there is a concern to address.ABOUT THE GUESTSThe Educator's Table was created by Vicki Salazar and Emily Massey to bring families and early childhood educators into the same conversation. Emily is an early childhood educator, while Vicki is a parent and child care centre owner. Together they discuss child development, parenting and the realities of early learning.LINKSWebsite: https://educators-table.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.educators.table/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.educators.tablePodcast: https://educators-table.com/#podcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-educators-table/id1896054006SUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf 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 CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece