ECCDC

In this episode of the ECCDC podcast we are pleased to be joined by Tina Geers BA(Hons) who is the owner of Inspiring Minds ECC, a play advocate, certified Playarista, coach and mentor, early childhood educator, and supporter and friend of the ECCDC. During our conversation Tina discusses the importance of play and playfulness, and why play needs protecting. Tina also offers insight into a number...

Are you curious about the authors behind children’s books. Who are they and where they get their inspiration or are you interested in writing your own children’s book? If so, then join Ginette, Kathryn Recourt, Lisa Clarke as well as Grace Howes for conversation on all things children’s literature. Kathryn is the author of Sir Archibald Droolsalot and Lisa is the author of I'm a Growing Yogi ....

Welcome to the April ECCDC podcast. We are pleased to bejoined by Christi Scarrow managing partner with the Light house NINE group. Christi is a trainer, consultant, executive coach, Tedx speaker, podcast host and author of the book Truth Warriors. She is passionate about helping leaders to navigate the messy bits of leadership in a time of rapid change.  During our conversation Christi shares ins...

Welcome to the March episode of the ECCDC podcast. We are please to be joined by Paula McLean who is a long-time friend and supporter of the ECCDC Paula McLean. Paula is a life-long learner, facilitator, educator and advocate for raising the bar and improving practices at all levels of an organization. She has worked for more than 3 decades, in Alberta and Ontario, with leaders and teams of Canadi...

Welcome to the February 2026 ECCDC podcast. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jaime Barratt (She/Her) PhD RECE who is an Assistant Professor on the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with the Faculty of Education at Brock University. Jaime’s research focuses on fostering physical literacy among Early Childhood Educators, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping young children’s movement valuation...

For our first ECCDC podcast of 2026 we are pleased to welcome Dr. Dane Marco Di Cesare (he/him) who is an Associate Professor and the program director for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with the Faculty of Education at Brock University. He is also the Chair of the Canada Regional Network of INQYR (the International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience). During this episode of the ECCD...

As early childhood educators we are very humble and have a tendency to put others before our own needs and can be under appreciated. In this episode of the ECCDC podcast we are pleased to welcome back long-time friend of the ECCDC and champion of the early learning and child care field, Sarah McVanel. Sarah is the founder of Greatness Magnified and has spent over 25 years speaking, coaching and le...

As Educators we focus a lot on sharing the learning journey of the children in our classrooms with families and fellow educators, but what about our own learning journey? In this episode of the ECCDC podcast we are joined by Melanie Dixon, the Director of Professional Practice with Ontario’s College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE), who share’s some insight on how educators can document their e...

Children’s engagement in risk-taking in their play has been on our agenda in early learning and child care for the past decade or so with educators being at various stages on their personal journey to embracing risk-taking in children’s play. In this edition of the ECCDC podcast we are joined by follow podcaster and long-time friend and support of the ECCDC Rusty Keeler. Rusty has spent the past 3...

We know that not all early learning and child care programing takes place in the same space each day. Some programs rotate classrooms in a school setting; some take their programs outside and into the woods. In this edition of the ECCDC podcast series we will be combining both being mobile, and being in the great outdoors, as Starlene Ruttan, RECE, OCT, & Kim Barton MS, RECE share how the Univ...

School-aged educators’ have often been referred to as the forgotten ECEs. However, they provide a vital service to working families as according to Stats Canada 88% of families with children aged 4-12 participate in the workforce and in 2022 40% of Canadian children aged 4 to 12 were attending some form of before or after school care. In this episode of the ECCDC podcast we will be exploring schoo...

Outdoor play, including nature-based programs have been gaining popularity over the past decade. And one of the silver linings of the covid 19 pandemic has been a greater emphasis on outdoor play affordances for children, which has continued post pandemic. In this episode of the ECCDC podcast we will be exploring nature-based outdoor play in early learning and child care programs and how educators...

In this episode of the ECCDC podcast, we’re diving into the foundations of literacy and how movement, play, and meaningful interactions lay the groundwork for lifelong learning. We’re joined by Stacy Benge, M.S. early childhood speaker and author of The Whole Child Alphabet How Young Children Actually Develop Literacy published by Exchange Press, who shares insights on how young children actually...

Early learning environments have the power to shape how children see themselves and the world around them. In this episode of The ECCDC Podcast, Carla Ward dives into the art of designing spaces that let children explore, grow, and discover their limits. Learn how to create environments that support agency, respect boundaries, and encourage children—and educators—to embrace the joy of saying “yes....

Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting out, a Community of Practice might be exactly what you're looking for. Tune in as we chat with ECCDC’s Patricia Couroux and Ginette Wilson, to explore the concept of Communities of Practice. We’ll discuss what a communities of practice network is, how these networks can be a powerful tool for innovation and problem-solving, all while coll...

Early Childhood Educators make an incredible impact on children every day, and taking care of our well-being is crucial to sustaining this important work. In this episode of the ECCDC Podcast, we’re joined by Elizabeth Skronski, a certified developmental coach and mindfulness expert, who illuminates how to manage stress effectively and highlights the vital role of mental health in education. Eliza...

This episode features the insightful and passionate F.R.O.G Lady, Sarah McVanel, as she shares inspiring stories and actionable strategies to transform the everyday struggles of child care professionals into opportunities for growth and well-being. Discover how acknowledging the impact of your work and choosing self-care can lead to a more fulfilling and sustainable career in child care.  Join us...

Learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, values, and preferences. Join us as we delve into How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years with Adriana Carbone where we will explore the philosophy behind the approach, highlighting the emphasis on relationships, inclusivity and reflective practice within it’s pedagogical framework.

In this episode, we sit down with Roisin Derbis. With years of experience under her belt, Roisin has encountered and resolved countless questions and concerns from families and educators seeking support. Tune in as she shares her insights and expertise on addressing these common challenges, discusses educators most frequent inquiries and shares information on making the referral process more acces...

In this episode of the ECCDC Organizational Support Podcast, our summer interns join in to share the projects they have been working on, discuss strategies for research and social media as well as highlight what information they came across in their journeys that surprised them.

As educators, engaging in ongoing continuous professional learning is part of the cycle of learning. When educators register for a session, how do they play their goals? What might be strategies for sharing learnings with colleagues to leverage information within programs? How do educators share learning with families and the community through digital media? In this podcast we will explore strateg...

ECCDC partnered with Kiwanis Clubs of Niagara to bring Treasure Baskets to Niagara's Licensed Child Care Programs. Treasure Baskets afford infants and toddlers open-ended opportunities to explore the world around them through their senses and exploration of everyday objects. The podcast features Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor Sandie Greenhalgh.

How Does Learning Happen? Ontario's Pedagogy for the Early Years has been our resource guide and framework in supporting and building relationships with young children and families. In this podcast we'll dig back into the four foundations of belonging, well-being, engagement, and expression and how to align these with our pedagogy, environments, materials, and curriculum to further develop...

Learning occurs in many places and a well-designed outdoor play environment can be an extension of our classroom. This podcast will focus on the importance of outdoor play for learning in the early years with some practical ideas and resources on how to support children in their play and learning outdoors.

Please join us for ECCDC's next podcast featuring guests from Niagara's licensed child care programs. WE had the opportunity to connect with Child's View Cooperative Child Care. A Child's Work Child Care Services and La Boîte a Soleil to hear their reflections on the impact the pandemic has had on their organizational operations, their relationships with children and families, and...