The Everything ECE Podcast

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...

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 go...

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...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Jessica Karpathios, founder of The Curious Educator Collective, to make pedagogical leadership feel less like an abstract title and more like the work that happens in a classroom. Jessica is a Registered Early Childhood Educator whose experience includes working with toddlers, supervising child care programs, teaching future educato...

In this Dear Carla episode, an educator writes in about confidence, imposter syndrome and the pressure they feel to appear confident while leading their team. Carla challenges the idea that good leadership requires having all the answers and talks about what it actually takes to build confidence over time. From doing things scared and paying attention to your own self-talk to collecting the “recei...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast , Carla Ward explores block play, provocations, three-dimensional learning, problem-solving, and what can happen when children are given more time and space to build, experiment and figure things out. From rethinking the way we respond when structures come crashing down to considering what hands-on learning offers children in an increasingly digital wo...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Pat Rumbaugh, better known as the Play Lady, for a conversation about why play belongs to adults as much as it does to children. Pat spent 30 years as a physical education teacher and coach before helping start a community play day in Takoma Park, Maryland. That work grew into Let's Play America, a nonprofit that organizes free...

This week’s Dear Carla question comes from Lime Green, an educator who will be working with a four-year-old with selective mutism. They’re looking for ideas and strategies to support the child, and the question takes Carla back more than 20 years to one of the first children she ever taught. In this episode, Carla draws on that experience, what she learned along the way, and what she wants Lime Gr...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast , Carla sits down with Cheryl Sutherland, founder of PleaseNotes, for a conversation about journaling, self-trust, confidence, and learning to pay attention to what we actually need. Cheryl shares why she once considered herself a “journaling hater,” how journaling can help us recognize patterns and make clearer decisions, and why the words we use with...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with Saira Remtulla, Ontario Certified Teacher and founder of Connected Start, for a conversation about rethinking circle time in early learning. Circle time can be one of the most powerful opportunities for connection in an early learning program, but only when we’re clear about why we’re gathering in the first place. Carla and S...

After 34 years in the field, one educator has seen a lot of trends come and go, including the shift away from using food like rice, beans and pasta in sensory play. But with a growing understanding of sensory needs and regulation, is it time to reconsider? Or are there bigger questions about food, resources and respect that should still guide practice? In this Dear Carla episode, Carla responds to...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores what happens when “no,” “stop,” “don’t,” and “put that back” become the soundtrack of the day. Rather than immediately looking at the child when something isn’t working, she challenges educators to get curious about the environment, the expectations within it, and the rules they may be enforcing without ever stopping to ask why. Ca...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by Hayley Peacock, creator of Playoneering®️, for a conversation about play, curiosity and what the future of education could look like. Together, Carla and Hayley explore what happens when play doesn't end with the early years and education is built from children's natural curiosity, creativity and capacity to learn. They...

Heather Jackson has spent years in early childhood education asking questions, following curiosity, researching practice, and deeply respecting the thinking of children. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Heather, founder of The Sunflower School and host of the Actions of Play podcast, to talk about the experiences that have shaped her work and the legacy she has b...

In this episode, Carla sits down with Megan Wuerfel, founder of The ECE Exchange, to explore the many ways educators can use their experience beyond the classroom. They discuss how to recognize your unique ECE “superpower,” why classroom experience matters when stepping into coaching or professional learning, and the importance of documenting your journey long before you think you’ll need it. Mega...

Children begin communicating from the moment they are born. Long before they have spoken words, they are using facial expressions, movements, gestures, sounds and behaviour to tell us what they need, what they understand and how they are experiencing the world around them. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla speaks with early language expert, educator and linguist Cara Tyrrell, M....

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Victoria Armstrong, owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, for a thoughtful conversation about rethinking art in early learning. Victoria brings almost 20 years of experience as a classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, coordinator and early learning consultant. She also spent a significant part of her career...

Working closely with other people is an unavoidable part of early childhood education—but navigating differences, feedback, and workplace tension does not always come naturally. Leadership speaker and facilitator Jaime Mann joins Carla Ward for an honest conversation about the discussions people often label as “difficult.” Jaime offers a different way to think about these moments and explains how...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with early childhood educator, keynote speaker, and coach Trevor Newton for a conversation that will challenge the way you think about play, relationships, and children's social development. Together, they explore why conflict isn't something to prevent, but something to teach through. Trevor shares simple, practical strategies that he...

What if one of the most important responsibilities we have as educators isn't just teaching children, but continuing to learn ourselves? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast , Carla explores why curiosity is more than a personality trait. It's a professional responsibility. Drawing on more than 20 years in early childhood education, Carla reflects on what separates educators who c...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast , Carla Ward sits down with Heather Bernt-Santy, better known as That Early Childhood Nerd , to explore the fascinating world of schema play. Heather shares how recognizing schemas helps educators move beyond simply managing behaviour and instead see the learning, curiosity, and development taking place through play. From transporting and trajectory to...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast , Carla explores why critical thinking begins long before children enter elementary school and how everyday moments in our classrooms shape children's confidence as problem-solvers, question-askers, and curious learners. From open-ended play and educator language to productive struggle and reflective practice, this conversation will challenge you t...

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with award-winning speaker and trainer Chris Danilo to explore the skills that technology can't replace. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, many educators are asking the same question: What makes humans irreplaceable? Together, Carla and Chris dive into the human skills that will matter most in the...

Self-care is often reduced to bubble baths, spa days, and treating yourself, but true self-care goes much deeper than that. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward shares a personal story about how years of ignoring her own well-being led to a panic attack that landed her in the hospital. Through honest reflection and practical insights, she explores why self-care is not a luxury...

#243: Why Movement Comes Before Mindfulness with Lisa Danahy In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with educator, author, yoga therapist, and founder of Create Calm, Lisa Danahy, to explore the powerful connection between movement, emotional regulation, and learning. Together, they discuss why movement is often the pathway to mindfulness, how educators can support the...