That Early Childhood Nerd

Latest Episodes:

NERD_0372 Rhythms Over Routines with Amy Chiu Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

“School can be a stressful place. It can be overstimulating and demanding which impacts everyone’s nervous system and ability to cope, let alone learn. The prevailing wisdom is that children thrive in predictable routines, but it’s not black and white.”

Early childhood education speaker and instructor Amy Chiu suggests that we shift from thinking about routines and rigid schedules to developing rhythms in our days with young children.

Find more of Amy’s work here: https://www.theworkofplay.com/

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0371 Powerful Play with Amanda Morgan Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Child development expert Amanda Morgan returns to That Early Childhood Nerd to discuss her new book, “Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood,” in which she calls out myths and pressures that push play aside and makes a compelling case for bringing it back.

Find more Amanda here: https://notjustcute.com/

Order the book here: https://notjustcute.com/book

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0370 Surviving the Child Care Crisis with Kisa Marx Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Kisa Marx joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to talk about her powerful Exchange article, “A Letter to Educators: Surviving the Child Care Crisis.”

Find the article here: https://hub.exchangepress.com/articles-on-demand/50396/

More about Kisa’s work: https://theplaylabnfpoakpark.org/the-play-lab

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0369 Heather Wrote a Book Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Host Heather Bernt-Santy thought she was joining a recording session to discuss an article shared by Lizz Nolasco–but surprise! The Nerds ambushed her–tricking her into talking instead about her upcoming book Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood! The book will be out in the fall of 2025, keep your eye out on That Early Childhood Nerd’s social media accounts, or Teachers College Press’s website: https://www.tcpress.com/browse-books

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0368 The Power of Pretend with Mike Huber pt 2 Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Mike Huber is back to dig into ideas about how pretend play supports focus, impulse control, and self regulation. And what about super hero play? When children imitate superheroes from tv or movies, can that be considered imaginative? It’s a fun conversation!

Buy the book here: https://www.redleafpress.org/Power-in-Pretend-Supporting-Young-Childrens-Power-Identity-and-Agency-Through-Play-P3107.aspx

Find the episode with Cay Burton that Mike mentions here: https://www.thatearlychildhoodnerd.com/podcast/episode/1f238ea3/nerd_0325-princess-playgender-creative-play

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0367 The Power of Pretend with Mike Huber pt 1 Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Mike Huber has a new book! He joins host Heather Bernt-Santy for the first of (we hope) many conversations about his book The Power of Pretend: Supporting Children’s Power, Identity and Agency.

Buy the book here: https://www.redleafpress.org/Power-in-Pretend-Supporting-Young-Childrens-Power-Identity-and-Agency-Through-Play-P3107.aspx

More about Eve Trook: https://www.thatearlychildhoodnerd.com/podcast/episode/1f10d8e0/nerd_0362-early-childhood-maytriarchy-eve-trook-dr-marianne-gibbs-and-bev-bos

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0366 Teacher Research and Teacher Survival with Aaron Neimark Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

San Francisco Transitional KG Teacher Aaron Neimark joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to talk about being a teacher researcher and challenging yourself to survive and thrive!

For more of Aaron’s work:

1) Do You Want to See Something Goofy? Peer Culture in the Preschool Yard 2) Learning from Children’s Humor: Peer Culture as a Teaching Tool (book chapter on peer culture and humor in this book): Educating Toddlers to Teachers: Learning to See and Influence the School and Peer Cultures of the Classroom 3) The Chairs are Theirs: Conflict Resolution in a Kindergarten Classroom (book chapter about problem solving in kindergarten in this book): Teaching Kindergarten: Learner Centered Classrooms for the 21st Century

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0365 Early Childhood MAYtriarchy–bell hooks and Cheng Xueqin May 28, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood. In this episode:

Denisha Jones shares how the work of bell hooks has influenced her and informed her work.

Krystina Tapia talks about her life changing experience visiting the Anji schools founded by Cheng Xueqin, and how Ms Cheng’s work informed her as an early educator and now as a parent.

I love doing this series! Hope you love it too.

Support the work of That Early Childhood Nerd with a one time donation or monthly membership here: buymeacoffee.com/heatherf

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0364 Early Childhood MAYtriarchy: Constance Kamii, Rhonda DeVries, Ellen Key and Alva Myrdal May 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood. In this episode:

Stephanie Goloway shares the accomplishments and contributions of Constance Kamii and Rhonda DeVries.

Suzanne Axelsson brings two Swedish women to the conversation: Ellen Key and Alva Myrdal.

I love doing this series! Hope you love it to.

Support the work of That Early Childhood Nerd with a one time donation or monthly membership here:

buymeacoffee.com/heatherf

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

NERD_0363 Early Childhood MAYtriarchy: Dr. Millie Almy, Caroline Pratt and Magda Gerber May 14, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood. In this episode:

Lizz Nolasco blows Heather’s mind with her discussion of play advocate Dr Millie Almy.

Gemma Medina expands our understanding of Caroline Pratt and her work beyond the wooden unit blocks we often associate with her.

Bethany Corrie brings Magda Gerber’s life and career changing work to the conversation.

I love doing this series! Hope you love it too.

Support the work of That Early Childhood Nerd with a one time donation or monthly membership here:

buymeacoffee.com/heatherf

Thanks for listening!

Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning and support the show with the coupon code NERD.

Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.

Click here for more Heather.

For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates for listening to podcasts.

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