That Early Childhood Nerd
Latest Episodes
NERD_0318 What Should We Call Ourselves?
If there's one thing host Heather Bernt-Santy loves, it's a nerdy panel discussion! And this one is a good one...including Heather, Richard Cohen (Zen and the Art of Early Childhood), Nancy Rosenow (author of Encouragement Every Day), Carol Garboden Murra
NERD_0317 The Segregated Lives of Preschoolers with Dr. Casey Stockstill
This week host Heather Bernt-Santy welcomes Dartmouth sociologist Dr Casey Stockstill, author of the book False Starts: The Segregated Lives of Preschoolers. In her book, she describes and discusses what she learned while conducting research in two differ
NERD_0316 Is Education an Equalizer, or a Reproducer of Inequity?
Join host Heather Bernt-Santy and fellow nerd Lizz Nolasco as they explore this quote from an article by Beth Blue Swadener and Shirley Kessler: "Of significance among reconceptualist perspectives is the social, historical and political context of the ear
NERD_0315 Loose Parts…and Stuff with Miriam Beloglovsky and Suzanne Axelsson
The idea of loose parts is often misunderstood and misrepresented in early childhood spaces and conversations. In this conversation, Heather talks to authors Suzanne Axelsson and Miriam Beloglovsky to explore the origin of the idea, the reasons and ways i
NERD_0314 Happily Ever Resilient with Author Stephanie Goloway
Join host Heather Bernt-Santy as she talks to Stephanie Goloway, author of the Redleaf Press book Happily Ever Resilient: Using Fairy Tales to Nurture Children Through Adversity. Discover how "we can transform our best practices surrounding play, stories,
NERD_0313 The Rules of Children’s Play
In a post on his Substack, Peter Gray wrote, "the rules of play provide boundaries within which the actions must occur, but they do not precisely dictate the actions. The rules always leave plenty of room for creativity." In this episode, Mike Huber joins
NERD_0312 Structure….or Control: Which Do Children “Need”?
We've heard and read over and over again that children need "structure," but too often what that translates into in practice with young children is attempts to "control." Host Heather Bernt-Santy and Nerd Favorite Lisa Murphy are here to unpack the differ
NERD_0311 Just Play! with Miriam Beloglovsky
In play, children stay connected to their childhood capacities that support creativity and innovation. Just like children, when adults engage in play and creative endeavors, they can find that childlike center that cultivates happiness and joy. Play is af
NERD_0310 Encouragement Every Day with Nancy Rosenow
Author Nancy Rosenow, advisor at Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to discuss her new book, Encouragement Every Day, "a collection of 366 quotes and daily nuggets thoughtfully curated by Nancy...as she journeys alo
NERD_0309 The Disadvantages of Romanticizing Children
Heather Bernt-Santy talks with Carol Garboden Murray about the ways that idealizing or romanticizing children or childhood can prevent us from seeing them as fully human.