Reimagine Childhood

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer from the Early Childhood Christian Network welcomes Josh Zello, a seasoned early childhood educator and family pastor. Josh shares his expertise on creating engaging story times for young children, emphasizing the importance of movement and practical tips for handling group activities for ages two to five. He also discusses his experiences...

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer interviews Jean Thomason, known as Miss Patty Cake, sharing her 30-plus years of experience in music, worship, and children's ministry. They discuss practical strategies to teach preschoolers about praise, touching on the depth and variety of engagement in worship described in Hebrew scripture. Jean shares her journey into children's minis...

This episode of Reimagine Childhood by the Early Childhood Christian Network features a conversation between host Monica Healer and Dr. Tyler Groves, head of school at Whitefield Academy in Louisville, Kentucky and co-author of 'Growing With One Another.' The discussion centers on social and emotional learning (SEL) with a Christian perspective, emphasizing the importance of integrating faith-base...

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer explores the evolving landscape of parenting with guests Ruthie Havard, a young mother and former educator, and her mother-in-law, LeRay Havard, a parent coach and high school teacher. They discuss the unique challenges and experiences of parenting across generations, the impact of technology, the significance of co-regulation, and the imp...

In this episode of 'Reimagined Childhood,' host Monica Healer, from Early Childhood Christian Network, discusses practical strategies for integrating faith into early childhood education with guest Hannah Collado. Hannah, with over a decade of experience and a master's in early childhood education, shares her thoughts on how faith formation extends beyond Bible stories and coloring sheets to impac...

In this engaging episode of 'Reimagined Childhood,' host Monica Healer talks with Lisa Nelson about the significant role of laughter and humor in early childhood classrooms. They define the differences between laughter and humor, discuss the science behind why laughter supports learning, and share practical tips for incorporating more humor into teaching. The conversation underscores how laughter...

In this episode of 'Reimagined Childhood,' we are joined by Louisa Ferguson, a seasoned educator and curriculum specialist, to delve into the importance of transitions in early childhood education. Louisa shares practical and engaging strategies such as chants, songs, props, and games to make transitions smoother and more effective. The conversation highlights the significance of structured transi...

In this episode of 'Reimagined Childhood' brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer and guest Stephanie Rogers explore practical strategies for making early childhood education engaging and effective. They discuss seven foundational ways children learn: through satisfaction, curiosity, relationships, sensory engagement, play, imitation, and repetition. The convers...

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer introduces Dr. Cynthia Jackson Small, Executive Director and Founder of Family Dimensions. Dr. Small, a renowned expert in early childhood education and family engagement, discusses the importance of professionalism in early childhood settings. She emphasizes the significance of the NACI Code of Ethical Conduct and shares practical strateg...

Building Strong Relationships in Early Childhood Education In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer interviews Dan St. Romain, an experienced educational consultant specializing in early childhood and behavior support. The discussion focuses on the changing societal norms and their impact on children's behavior, emphasizing the need to shift the mindset from punishment to discipl...

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer chats with Emily Flaherty, children's and family minister at Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Emily shares her unique and practical strategies for integrating faith-based teachings into the daily lives of young children and their families at her Child Development Center (CDC). She emphasizes the importance of building communit...

In this episode of 'Reimagine Childhood' by Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer welcomes Bobette Gore, a veteran educator with nearly four decades of experience in early childhood and special education. The discussion centers around addressing behavioral challenges in early childhood classrooms, particularly post-pandemic. Bobette emphasizes the importance of using visual support...

David Rische has served in public education for 28 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He retired as the principal of a public school Early Learning Center in the summer of 2024.  He has presented at a wide variety of educational conferences throughout the state. David has had multiple educational articles published in professional journals and he has self-published 3 books. He...

I'd love to introduce you to my guest today – Jennifer Pickett. Jennifer is a seasoned Dietitian with a Master's in Human Nutrition and over 26 years of experience. Transitioning into Functional Medicine, she now specializes in women's hormones as a Certified Midlife Specialist and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. Jennifer coaches women virtually, helping them reclaim their spark and re...

It's our 50th episode of the Reimagine Childhood podcast! Thanks for making it this far with us. We hope it's been beneficial to you and those you are tending to. Today, I am going solo and diving into a topic that I am very passionate about–the importance of building strong partnerships between church weekday ministries and the overall church community.  More than likely, your weekday program is...

We're having a conversation with a longtime friend and advocate for faith-based early education, Peggy Osborne today. Peggy has journeyed alongside her husband, Chris Osborne, in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. Having served faithfully at Central Church in College Station, Texas for over three decades, she now finds herself in Fort Worth, supporting her husband's teaching role at Southwestern...

Today on the podcast, my guest is Shela Mobarak. Shela is passionate about high-quality early learning for everyone. She has a wide array of experiences, from corporate HR to faith-based weekday leadership, and she is the founder of Be The Seed of Change, a consulting and professional development organization based in Plano, Texas. She is known for her passion for the early childhood profession an...

My guest today is Melissa Leach, the owner, and president, of Leach Literacy Training (LLT), Melissa is a sought-after literacy change leader for her knowledge of literacy and her ability to make success in every component feel achievable. Melissa has been a dynamic classroom teacher, a state-level Literacy Specialist, a Professional Learning Designer for the District of Columbia Public Schools, a...

Today's episode will be valuable to all of you at this time of year.  I'm looking forward to introducing you to Claire Turner.  As an educator with two decades of experience, Claire provides a unique perspective on positive behavior interventions, collaborative communication, and other valuable team-building topics. Claire is a Kindergarten teacher and serves as the Director of Programs and Lead E...

Our guest today is Samantha Phillips, aka, That Sparkly Insurance Chic! She's spent over a decade coaching childcare leaders about risk management and empowering them to make wise business protection choices.  She is nationally recognized as an advocate for early childhood, breaking ground by educating educators in an often overlooked area. She's not just an insurance expert (although she definite...

Stacy Benge is an ECCN favorite.  She is a frequent presenter at our events and we enjoy having her on the podcast from time to time.  She's the author of "The Whole Child Alphabet: How Children Actually Develop Literacy" – linked in the show notes.  She is passionate about whole-child development and shares her knowledge readily with practical, engaging, and fun content.  Stacy has a master of sc...

My guest today is Melissa McKenzie.  Melissa holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Stephen F. Austin University and is one of our favorite presenters at live conferences every year. She is an Early Childhood Professional who is committed to making learning a joyful journey. She has written faith-based and movement curricula and taught in a large Early Childhood Center, she was...

In today's episode, I had a great conversation with Jennifer McCarville, founder of Marvelously Made - The School for Young Children just outside of San Antonio, TX.  Jennifer has spent three decades studying early childhood education and child development. She is a steadfast and unapologetic advocate for children and their right to a play-filled and developmentally appropriate education. Her work...

Our guest today is Lauren Osborne. Lauren has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University as well as a Master's of Education from the University of Texas at Arlington. She was a teacher for eight years, both in the public and private sector, and has been a Christian Independent Consultant/Speaker for over fifteen years. She deeply desires to encourage and refresh women to live in the freedom tha...

Diane Goyette, is a Child Development Specialist with over 30 years of early education experience, teaching children in public school, university laboratories, faith-based preschools, and child care programs.  She has taught adults as an adjunct professor and as the owner of Early Childhood Specialties, she develops and presents training and provides consulting for early childhood professionals.  ...