The Everything ECE Podcast

Carla Ward

The Everything ECE Podcast is for early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and childcare professionals who want to grow intentionally and take meaningful action. Host Carla Ward shares real-life insights, expert interviews, and practical strategies to support your work in childcare centres, preschools, and kindergartens. From play-based learning to leadership, each episode helps you stay inspired, confident, and connected to your purpose.

  1. 2D AGO

    #231: What Children’s Behaviour Is Really Telling Us with Gretchen Camp

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with early childhood developmental educator Gretchen Camp to explore what might really be behind the rise in challenging behaviours among young children. They discuss the importance of foundational social-emotional skills, why play remains one of the most powerful learning tools, and how educators can support families in meaningful ways. Gretchen Camp, M.Ed., has over 25 years of experience working with young children and families and helps adults understand children’s actions through a developmental lens. Gretchen is also one of the speakers at The Everything ECE Summit happening April 10–12 — a free virtual summit featuring 30+ expert speakers sharing ideas and inspiration for early childhood educators. Grab your free ticket using the link in the show notes. Gretchen Camp Gretchen Camp, M.Ed., is an early childhood professional learning consultant with over 25 years of experience in classrooms and educator development. Her work focuses on making behavior science practical, bridging the gap between what we know about social-emotional development and how it’s applied in daily interactions between educators and families. She is the creator of the Park the Skill™ framework, a clear, skill-based approach that helps adults move beyond managing behavior to intentionally building the skills beneath it. Links Summit: The Everything ECE Summit Website: http://gretchencamp.com  SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    30 min

  2. FEB 27

    #230: 5 Reasons Food and Screen Time Don’t Mix (And Why We Need to Protect the Table)

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward dives into an important conversation about screen use during mealtimes in early childhood programs. While screens may make mealtime feel calmer or more compliant, research shows they may interfere with children’s ability to self-regulate, recognize hunger and fullness cues, build social skills, and develop healthy eating habits. Carla shares: What research says about eating during TV viewing Why self-regulation starts at the table How screen-linked eating patterns can shape long-term habits Why mealtime is one of our most powerful social learning opportunities And why compliance should never replace development This episode is not about judgment. It’s about reflection. Because lunch and snack time aren’t just about calories. They are opportunities for connection, conversation, and growth. If we want children who can sit across from someone, engage in meaningful dialogue, and listen to their bodies, it starts now. Let’s protect the table. RESEARCH SHARED IN THIS EPISODE Effect of Television Viewing at Mealtime on Food Intake After a Glucose Preload in Boys https://www.nature.com/articles/pr2007158 Does Eating during Television Viewing Affect Preschool Children’s Intake? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2596580/ Screen Time Vs Meal Time: How Screens Are Shaping Your Child's Eating Habits https://www.ndtv.com/health/screen-time-vs-meal-time-how-screens-are-shaping-your-childs-eating-habits-9564525 Examination of the Life Habits of Preschool Children Based on Their Screen Use Patterns https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11276093/ Television viewing and using screens while eating: associations with dietary intake in children and adolescents https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8671257/ Mealtime TV Use Is Associated with Higher Discretionary Food Intakes in Young Australian Children: A Two-Year Prospective Study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9268203/ Technological Devices and Their Effect on Preschool Children’s Eating Habits in Communities of Mixed Socioeconomic Status in Istanbul; a Pilot Cross-Sectional Study https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8614987/ SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    11 min

  3. FEB 20

    #229: Introverts, Extroverts & Big Feelings: The Power of Story in the Classroom with Christine Devane

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with children’s author and former teacher Christine Devane to explore how storytelling can support introverted learners, build self-advocacy skills, and help children process grief. Christine shares the inspiration behind her book Elephant Beach, a story about stepping outside your comfort zone while honouring personality differences in the classroom. Together, Carla and Christine unpack the balance between supporting extroverted children without silencing them and intentionally creating space for quieter voices. In this episode, you’ll learn: The difference between introversion and shyness in children How to support quiet children without calling them out Why partner selection in classrooms matters Practical ways to encourage self-advocacy How books help children internalize social-emotional skills Why storytelling is one of the most powerful SEL tools in early childhood education If you’re an educator looking for meaningful ways to support social development through stories, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped. Christine Devane  Christine Devane was a second-grade teacher for thirteen years and enjoyed reading with her students. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband John; three children Joey, Nick, and Adeline; and their dog Sophie. Christine loves going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and collecting lucky elephants.Links Website: www.christine-devane.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/stined13 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    22 min

  4. FEB 13

    #228: Why It’s Ok to Let Children Struggle (And Why That Is Not the Same as Suffering)

    When we talk about letting children struggle, it often makes people uncomfortable. And for good reason. No one wants children to suffer. But struggle and suffering are not the same thing. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward unpacks what productive struggle actually looks like in early childhood and why those everyday moments—wrestling with a shoe, rebuilding a block tower, trying again after something doesn’t work—matter more than we think. Drawing on classroom experience, research on grit and perseverance, and over two decades in early childhood education, Carla explores how confidence is built through experience, not rescue. This episode invites educators to pause, observe, and rethink when to step in—and when stepping back is the most supportive thing we can do. Because letting children struggle isn’t about withholding support. It’s about trusting the learning process. SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    9 min

  5. FEB 6

    #227: Classroom Environments That Support Independence, Regulation, and Learning with Jennifer Fernandez

    How does your classroom environment shape children’s behaviour, independence, and learning? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Jennifer Fernandez, School Specialty’s Early Childhood Education Strategist for the U.S. and Canada, to explore why classroom environments matter far beyond aesthetics. Jennifer shares insights from her 30+ years in education as a teacher, professional learning specialist, and early childhood strategist, along with practical ideas educators can use to create spaces that support independence, regulation, curiosity, and emotional safety. You’ll hear about: • Why the environment is often called “the third teacher” • Common classroom setup mistakes and simple shifts to try • The power of blocks, books, and open-ended materials • How environments connect to behaviour, engagement, and belonging • Ways to design intentionally without spending your own money This conversation offers grounded, realistic ideas to help educators rethink their spaces with purpose and confidence. JENNIFER FERNANDEZ Jennifer Fernandez is School Specialty’s Early Childhood Education Strategist for the U.S. and Canada. She brings more than 30 years of experience in education as a teacher & professional learning specialist. She holds a BA in Elementary Education & Spanish and MA in Bilingual/Bicultural Studies along with teaching certificates in Elementary, Early Childhood, & Bilingual/ESL. LINKS LinkedIn: https:/www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-fernandez-6a41a41a9/ Website: https://www.schoolspecialty.ca/  SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    35 min

  6. JAN 30

    #226: Breaking the Praise Loop

    Praise is so normalized in early childhood education that we rarely stop to question it. It feels supportive, encouraging, and positive. But over time, it can quietly teach children to look outside themselves for approval. In this episode, Carla Ward explores the difference between praise and encouragement, the impact of extrinsic versus intrinsic motivation, and why common phrases like “good job” don’t actually support reflection or self-awareness. She also unpacks what’s really happening when children become frustrated after being asked to evaluate their own work instead of receiving immediate validation. This episode is an invitation to slow down, notice language patterns, and consider how small shifts can support confidence, autonomy, and a stronger sense of self. SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    10 min

  7. JAN 23

    #225: How to Build a Community Classroom with Donna Skea

    How to Build a Community Classroom with Donna Skea What makes children feel safe, connected, and ready to learn in early childhood programs? In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Donna Skea (The Infinite Educator) to talk about building a community classroom where every child feels like they belong. You’ll hear practical, relationship-based strategies for early childhood educators, including why routine creates safety, how to shift from schedule-driven to child-centered days, and how classroom rules, lunchtime, and circle time can strengthen social-emotional development. If you’re looking for real strategies to reduce stress in the classroom and build stronger connection with children, this conversation will leave you inspired and supported. DONNA SKEA Donna is a full-time faculty member in an Early childhood education department. She has spent the last 22 years teaching, supervising and supporting, students on their journey to becoming educators. Donna also runs a childcare consulting firm that provides workshops for the English School boards and childcare facilities in Quebec. She has given workshops for LEARN QUEBEC, QAPPD conference, Sir Wilfred Laurier school board as well as many daycare facilities throughout Montreal. LINKS The 6 Key Decisions to ECE Podcasting Masterclass: https://carlatheece.com/ece-podcast-masterclass  LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Free Resource: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OkDwvpRn_l2sgbVRKmV3r9eAjpfcobiH/view  SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    38 min

  8. JAN 16

    #224: 3 Ways to Turn Family Communication Into Collaboration

    Families aren’t our opposition; they’re our partners. In this episode, Carla Ward explores three actionable ways educators can turn everyday communication into true collaboration with families. From proactive communication loops to intentional language and making partnership visible, you’ll walk away with practical strategies you can implement right away with no extra workload required. ✨ Ready-to-use ideas for stronger family connections💬 Learn language shifts that build trust🌿 Create environments that reflect partnership 🎧 Listen now and start building the bridges that make your days lighter, calmer, and more connected. LINKS Learn the 6 Key Decisions to ECE Podcasting:https://carlatheece.com/ece-podcast-masterclass  --- SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years. CONNECT WITH CARLA The ECE Latte Lounge Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

    12 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Everything ECE Podcast is for early childhood educators, preschool teachers, and childcare professionals who want to grow intentionally and take meaningful action. Host Carla Ward shares real-life insights, expert interviews, and practical strategies to support your work in childcare centres, preschools, and kindergartens. From play-based learning to leadership, each episode helps you stay inspired, confident, and connected to your purpose.

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