Actions of Play

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather explores the Reggio Emilia concept of the Hundred Languages of Children and what it can teach us about the many ways children communicate, investigate, build theories, and make meaning through play. From movement and construction to clay, storytelling, light, sound, gesture, and even silence, Heather invites educators to look more closely at what childre...

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson explores the image of the child through a Reggio Emilia lens and what that belief looks like in everyday practice. Heather shares why children are not empty vessels waiting for adults to fill them with knowledge, but creative meaning-makers who learn through relationships, inquiry, play and many different forms of expression. Through stories from...

In this episode of Actions of Play , Heather is joined by Vicki and Emily from The Educator’s Table for a conversation about the relationship between early childhood educators and families. They explore why that relationship can sometimes feel disconnected, what families may not see about the work happening in early learning programs, and why educators also need to understand the realities familie...

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson explores the role of the teacher as researcher in Reggio-inspired practice. She looks at how observation, documentation, relationships, and reflection can help educators move beyond simply planning what comes next and instead pay closer attention to the theories, questions, and ideas already emerging through children’s play. Heather also explores...

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather is joined by Christine Murray, a DECE with the Simcoe County District School Board and Vice President of her local DECE association, for a conversation about play-based learning in Ontario kindergarten classrooms. Christine shares how her own thinking about play has evolved over her 25-year career, why slowing down has changed the way she observes and su...

Why does a child keep dumping toys out of a basket? Carrying objects from one side of the playground to the other? Throwing things across the room? Wrapping, spinning, lining up or taking things apart again and again? What can look messy, repetitive, or even challenging may actually be telling us something important about how a child is learning. In this solo episode of Actions of Play, Heather Ja...

In this solo episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson explores how research questions can transform the way educators observe, document and plan alongside children. Rather than deciding in advance where learning should go, Heather invites educators to slow down, pay attention to the ideas already emerging through play, and consider how thoughtful questions can help us uncover what children may...

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson is joined by Jeff Turner, Cassandra Keller and Megan James of Tree Top Academy and How We Reggio in Jupiter, Florida. Together, they explore what it looks like to move beyond trying to replicate Reggio Emilia and instead build a practice that reflects your own children, educators, community and context. They share the evolution of Tree Top Academ...

In this episode of Actions of Play, host Heather Jackson speaks with Cassie St. Amand, founder of Applejacks Preschool, about recognizing and responding to play schemas in early childhood environments. Together, they explore how repeated patterns of play offer educators a window into children’s thinking, why observation must come before intervention, and how the Reggio Emilia approach and schema-b...

In this solo episode of Actions of Play, host Heather Jackson reflects on The Sunflower School’s 2026 educator conference, The Uncertainty of an Idea. She explores why uncertainty is not a failure of planning but an essential part of meaningful learning. Heather shares how educators can resist the pressure to rush toward polished outcomes, make room for unfinished thinking, and use play as a form...

In this episode of Actions of Play , Heather Jackson welcomes registered early childhood educator, consultant, and author Cathy Turalinski to explore one of the most important and often misunderstood stages of child development: toddlerhood. Drawing on more than 45 years of experience in early childhood education, post-secondary teaching, family support, leadership, and consulting, Cathy shares th...

In this episode of Actions of Play , host Heather Jackson welcomes Victoria Armstrong, founder of Side by Side Consulting, to explore how process art can transform children's learning, creativity, and relationship with materials. Drawing from over 20 years in early childhood education and her work integrating professional artists into licensed child care programs, Victoria challenges the tradi...

In this thoughtful episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson sits down with Chaylene Clarke, kindergarten educator and creator of The Unhurried Classroom, to explore what happens when we slow down enough to truly notice children. Together, they discuss unhurried, uninterrupted play, revisiting experiences, documentation, and the importance of resisting the constant pressure to rush children from...

In this episode of Actions of Play , Heather Jackson welcomes Dr. Louisa Penfold, Professor and Chair of Arts and Learning at Harvard Graduate School of Education, researcher, author, and internationally recognized advocate for children's creativity and play. Drawing on her work across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Louisa shares how museums, schools, artists, educators,...

In this episode of Actions of Play , host Heather Jackson sits down with pedagogical leader, consultant, and registered early childhood educator Jessica Karpathios to explore what curriculum building can look like when relationships, curiosity, and critical thinking are at the centre. Drawing from her experiences working internationally, leading pedagogical change within a nature-based program, an...

Keri Best's path from placement student to director at The Sunflower School in Ontario didn't happen by accident. It was built on a clear philosophy: give children power, build community, and never stop learning. In this episode, she traces her 12-year journey at The Sunflower School, sharing the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and daily practices that shaped her into the leader she is to...

What if "program planning" is the very thing holding your practice back? Rosalba from Acorn Collaborative makes a compelling case for retiring the term altogether and replacing it with something far more intentional: designing curriculum that genuinely honours children's curiosity, culture, and agency. It's a small word swap with enormous implications. This conversation digs into...

What if your planning meetings could be the most meaningful hour of your week? At Sunflower School, two early childhood Directors, Sarah and Keri   have moved away from reactive, interest-led planning toward something deeper. A curriculum anchored in big, purposeful questions like "How can toddlers build community?" or "How do we empower children to lead their own learning?" Th...

What happens when educators intentionally slow down and make space for children’s voices to truly matter? In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson sits down with Crystal and Annika from Sunflower School to explore a deeply meaningful preschool investigation centered around one guiding question: How can we create spaces and moments where children feel their voices are truly heard, valued...

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson is joined by Sarah and Michelle from Sunflower School to explore a toddler project that began with one simple idea: creating a “nest” of comfort, belonging, and connection for a brand-new classroom community. What started as a gentle transition project quickly evolved into a rich child-led investigation centered around ramps, rolling, movement, s...

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson sits down with McKenna and Makayla from Sunflower School to explore a powerful year-long toddler investigation built around one simple question: How can toddlers build community? From mystery readers and family nights to community blocks, shared mailboxes, and toddler-led connections, this conversation highlights what becomes possible when educat...

What happens when you stop fighting boys' energy and start designing around it? Kaitlyn and Sara did exactly that. They turned their all-boys toddler classroom into a space built for big-body movement, loose parts play, and genuine connection. The result? Less friction, more curiosity, and a room where children actually thrived. In this episode, they share how Reggio-inspired principles, anima...

In this very first episode of Actions of Play, host Heather Jackson is joined by co-author Lisa to share the story behind their book Actions of Play and their shared passion for play schemas. They reflect on collaborating across countries, co-authoring entirely over Zoom, and how their aligned values in play-based, inquiry-driven learning shaped their work. The conversation explores what play sche...

In this debut episode of  Actions of Play , host Heather Jackson —an early childhood educator with over 40 years of experience—invites you into the inspiring world of play-based learning through a Reggio Emilia approach lens. Broadcasting from the Reggio-inspired Sunflower School in Orangeville, Ontario, Heather shares the story of her journey—from her first introduction to Reggio-inspired practic...