That Early Childhood Nerd

Latest Episodes:

NERD_0362 Early Childhood MAYtriarchy: Eve Trook, Dr. Marianne Gibbs, and Bev Bos May 07, 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:

Mike Huber shares about how he has been influenced by Eve Trook and her ideas on having power on, power for, and power with children.

Stacy Benge shares about Dr Marianne Gibbs, and occupational therapist who has informed Stacy’s work around literacy.

Richard Cohen shares about our beloved and brilliant Bev Bos and her ideas around what we all need for healthy human growth.

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:

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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_0361 The Sleepover Sessions–Consent Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

It’s spring break 2025 and host Heather Bernt-Santy has invited some of the TECN nerds to Indianapolis for a four day sleepover!

In this episode, Heather and some of her favorite people discuss how to navigate the idea of “consent” with young children.

Want to support the show? Make a one time gift, or become a member and get bonus content like free webinars 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_0360 The Sleepover Sessions–Losing Yourself in Caring Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

It’s spring break 2025, which means the Nerds are descending on Indianapolis for four days of nerdy fun! In this episode, host Heather Bernt-Santy and nerds Lizz Nolasco, Mike Huber, Kisa Marx, and Bethany Corrie wonder about what happens when we lose ourselves in our caring work.

Want to support the show? Make a one time gift, or become a member and get bonus content like free webinars 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_0359 The Sleepover Sessions–Just Say the Words Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

It’s spring break 2025, and that means it’s time for the second Nerd Sleepover! This episode comes to you from an Airbnb in beautiful Indianapolis, where host Heather Bernt-Santy gathered with some of her very favorite nerds. In this episode, we discuss challenges to “DEI”–what if we said the words every time instead of hiding behind the acronym? What’s the “other side” of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Want to support the show? Make a one time gift, or become a member and get bonus content like free webinars 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_0358 The Sleepover Sessions–Data is Not Evidence Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

It’s spring break 2025, which means it’s time for the second Nerd Sleepover in beautiful Indianapolis! In this episode, Mike Huber invites us to consider whether “data” and “evidence” are the same thing, and as you might have guessed from the title, we decided it’s not! Listen in as host Heather Bernt-Santy and some of her favorite nerds hash out claims of evidence based curriculums and other interventions with young children.

Want to support the show? Make a one time gift, or become a member and get bonus content like free webinars 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_0357 Play is Inherently Political with Kelsie Olds, the Occuplaytional Therapist Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

In February 2025, occupational therapist Kelsie Olds, who hosts a facebook page called The Occuplaytional Therapist, published a post that struck a nerve–leading to almost 4000 reactions to date, and almost 2000 shares. The post is a powerful statement on the political nature of play, of respecting children, of supporting families, and taking care of each other. Listen in as she talks us through it.

For more of Kelsie’s work, find her on Facebook as The Occuplaytional Therapist, or follow her substack here: https://occuplaytionaltherapist.substack.com/

Want to support the show? You can make a one time $5 or more
gift, or become a member for bonus content! Find more information
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_0356 Play and the Hesitant Child Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

In another episode that was originally intended as a session
in a virtual NerdCon conference that didn’t happen, Richard Cohen, Lizz Nolasco
and Bethany Corrie talk about children who seem hesitant to join in play.

Want to support the show? You can make a one time $5 or more
gift, or become a member for bonus content! Find more information
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_0355 Young Children’s Learning in Physics Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Physics learning for children under 5? What? Join host
Heather Bernt-Santy, Mike Huber and Krystina Tapia as they discuss one of the
best articles Heather has read in a long time—“Young Children’s Learning in Physics:
A (Dis-)Trustful Play with Gravity, Friction and Counterforces?” by Sofie Areljun,
Lena Backstrom, and Evelina Grenemark. Seriously, it’s so good.

Want to support the show? You can make a one time $5 or more
gift, or become a member for bonus content! Find more information
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_0354 Fake Play in Preschool? Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

Can play in preschool be “fake?” In this episode, host Heather Bernt-Santy is joined by Gemma Medina, Bethany Corrie and Stacy Benge to discuss the article “Vygotskian Analysis of Fake Play in Preschools: What it is and How to Distinguish it From Real Play” by Elena Yudina and published in the American Journal of Play.

Want to support the show? You can make a one time $5 or more gift, or become a member for bonus content! Find more information 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_0353 Nerd Study Hall: Teacher Preparation in “Don’t Say Gay” Times Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

It’s time for another round of Nerd Study Hall, where we record a series of episodes discussing research articles connected to working with young children and their families.

In this episode, host Heather Bernt-Santy is joined by Mike Huber and Lizz Nolasco to dissect and connect ideas from a paper titled “Preparing democratic early childhood teachers in Don’t Say Gay Times: How course readings fall short,” written by Patricia M. Cooper and Erin M. Casey and published in October 2023 for the Journal for Early Childhood Teacher Education.

Want to show your support for the podcast, or say thank you for this episode? You can do that over on Buy Me a Coffee–make a one time donation, or become a member and get bonus content!

buymeacoffee.com/heatherf

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