Early Childhood Chats

Institute for Childhood Preparedness

Welcome to "Early Childhood Chats," the podcast dedicated to all things related to early childhood education. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of early childhood development, parenting tips, teaching strategies, and the latest research in the field. Hosted by passionate educators and experts in early childhood education, each episode brings you insightful discussions, practical advice, and inspiring stories aimed at supporting parents, caregivers, and educators in nurturing the young minds of tomorrow.

  1. 23h ago

    Major Head Start Changes Proposed: What Programs Need to Know

    Big changes could be coming to Head Start and federal early childhood education policy, but what is actually changing, what is still only proposed, and what can Head Start programs, educators, parents, and advocates do about it?In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, Andy welcomes Whitney Pesek, Senior Director of Federal Child Care Policy at the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), for an important conversation about the federal government's proposed Head Start regulatory changes and what they could mean for children, families, educators, and programs across the country.Whitney breaks down the federal rulemaking process, why a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) matters, and why Head Start programs should understand that these proposed changes have not yet taken effect.The conversation explores:* Proposed changes to Head Start teacher-child ratios and group sizes* Proposed English-only instruction and assessment requirements* How the federal rulemaking process actually works* Why public comments on Head Start regulations matter* How programs can use local data and family experiences to strengthen comments* Potential legal challenges if a final rule is issued* The role Congress could play* Head Start funding and federal early childhood policy* Workforce recruitment and retention challenges* What early childhood leaders should be watching nextWith federal early childhood policy changing rapidly, understanding the difference between proposals, final regulations, legislation, and funding decisions is more important than ever.Whether you're a Head Start director, Early Head Start educator, child care provider, early childhood advocate, parent, policymaker, or community leader, this episode provides important context for understanding what's happening in Washington and how the early childhood community can make its voice heard.Learn more and connect with Whitney here: https://nwlc.org/staff/whitney-pesek/https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneypesek/https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/357712/Whitney_Pesek.html

    Major Head Start Changes Proposed: What Programs Need to Know

  2. Aug 12

    Think Like a Tot, Parent Like a Pro — Play-Based Potty Training with Tot on the Pot

    Potty training is one of those milestones that sounds simple until you are in the middle of it. Parents get conflicting advice. Teachers get put on the spot. Children get confused. And somehow, a process that every human being eventually masters has become one of the most stressful chapters of early childhood for everyone involved.In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, Andy Roszak sits down with Jackie, the founder and Chief Potty Officer of Tot on the Pot, a play-based potty training system she created nearly twenty-five years ago after potty training her own children. What started as a set of rhymes and activities for her nonverbal eighteen-month-old son became a full product line: an anatomically correct training doll, a toy potty, a children’s book, a parent guide, and twenty activity reward cards designed to keep parents and children connected throughout the process.Jackie and Andy talk about why thinking like a toddler is the key to this whole thing. They walk through the fifteen steps a child has to master, the sensory overload of a bathroom from a toddler’s perspective, and why the diaper is actually one of a child’s closest companions. Jackie explains why reward cards that foster connection outperform candy and screen time, how parent anxiety and frustration transfer directly to children and can introduce shame into the process, and why the timeline for potty training has shifted later in recent years — not because children changed, but because culture did.For the early childhood professionals in the audience, Jackie delivers a message worth hearing: you are doing some of the most important work there is in this process, and you are the bridge between home and school that families desperately need. She walks through what consistency between settings looks like, how to handle the parent who shows up asking for advice, and why body awareness conversations should start long before anyone is thinking about a potty.Whether you are a parent in the thick of it, an early childhood educator fielding daily questions, or a new professional who has never potty trained a child in your life, this conversation will give you something practical to take with you. Give it a listen and share it with your team.Learn more about Jackie and Tot on the Pot:https://www.totonthepot.com/----------------------------Early Childhood Chats is hosted by Andrew Roszak - JD, MPA, EMT-PExecutive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to use its decades of experience to offer comprehensive and expert disaster and emergency preparedness trainings live in-person, via webinar, and on-demand online. // Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness© Institute for Childhood Preparedness 2026 all rights reserved

    Think Like a Tot, Parent Like a Pro — Play-Based Potty Training with Tot on the Pot

  3. Jul 30

    Toxic Stress, ACEs & Premature Birth: Protecting Children's Futures

    How do premature birth, toxic stress, environmental health, and childhood experiences shape lifelong development?In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, Andy Roszak sits down with pediatric and neonatal nurse practitioner Dr. Michelle Kelly of Villanova University and the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment to discuss the hidden influences affecting children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development.Topics include:• Premature birth and lifelong outcomes• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)• Toxic stress and child development• Environmental health risks including lead, air pollution, and secondhand smoke• Developmental milestones every educator should watch for• How Head Start, childcare providers, and early educators can make a lasting difference• Practical strategies to support children and familiesWhether you're an early childhood educator, childcare director, Head Start professional, healthcare provider, parent, or policymaker, this conversation provides practical insights backed by research that can help children thrive.Subscribe for more conversations on early childhood education, child safety, health, emergency preparedness, and family wellbeing.Learn more: https://www.villanova.edu/university.htmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-kelly-11213693/https://www.villanova.edu/university/nursing/faculty-and-research/centers/macche.htmlpacer.net#EarlyChildhood #ChildDevelopment #HeadStart #PrematureBirth #EarlyEducation #EnvironmentalHealth #ACEs #Childcare #Podcast #EarlyChildhoodChats

    Toxic Stress, ACEs & Premature Birth: Protecting Children's Futures

  4. Jul 15

    The Preparedness Gap Nobody's Talking About: Extreme Weather and Kids

    Emergency medicine physician and climate health researcher Dr. Tess Wiskel of Harvard Medical School joins Andy Roszak to talk about what extreme weather actually means for early childhood programs. They cover why young children are uniquely vulnerable, how rising heat affects classrooms and outdoor play, what frontline clinic research tells us about preparedness gaps, the resources available to build climate resilience, and the practical steps every program can take today to protect children and staff.Learn more about Tess:➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-wiskel-0a587b35/➡️ https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/tess-wiskel/➡️ https://fxb.harvard.edu/blog/directory/tess-wiskel-md/➡️ https://www.crisisready.io/team/tess-wiskel/Resources:➡️ https://toolkit.climate.gov/topic/health-care➡️ https://www.americares.org/what-we-do/community-health/climate-resilient-health-clinics/Papers:➡️ https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/preparedness-information-needs-and-interruptions-in-medical-care-after-the-california-oak-fire/F2FE1BF5A2CB195D25D7BFCC8D081AB4➡️ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-024-02622-y➡️ https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj-2025-086218?__cf_chl_f_tk=MLhcjcUoDcoxU4PMzpb1ClKqXsU3nEUg9wy3vuAQWj4-1783442437-1.0.1.1-JnjBqHJHX16K3LdDFKG3rtkf6tCm6wFWp5mDVHCGkOA----------------------------Early Childhood Chats is hosted by Andrew Roszak - JD, MPA, EMT-PExecutive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to use its decades of experience to offer comprehensive and expert disaster and emergency preparedness trainings live in-person, via webinar, and on-demand online. // Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness© Institute for Childhood Preparedness 2025 all rights reserved

    The Preparedness Gap Nobody's Talking About: Extreme Weather and Kids

  5. Jul 1

    How Play-Based Learning Can Save Early Childhood Education

    How can early childhood educators prevent burnout and rediscover the joy of teaching?In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, host Andy Roszak sits down with Dr. Marisa Macy (University of Wyoming) and Amy Reyes-Hauff (Wyoming Department of Education) to explore practical ways educators can reconnect with purpose, improve classroom culture, and build sustainable careers in early childhood education.You'll learn:✔️ Why play-based learning is essential for both children and teachers✔️ How outdoor learning improves educator wellness✔️ Practical strategies to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue✔️ Leadership tips for creating joyful classroom environments✔️ Why nature, relationships, and authentic teaching matter more than perfection✔️ The impact of digital technology on young children's development✔️ Actionable ideas educators can implement immediatelyWhether you're a preschool teacher, childcare provider, Head Start professional, administrator, or early childhood leader, this conversation offers research-backed inspiration and practical advice to help you thrive in the classroom.Featured Guests• Dr. Marisa Macy – Professor, University of Wyominghttps://www.marisamacy.com/https://www.uwyo.edu/education/faculty-staff/marisa-macy.htmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-macy-970b3737/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marisa-Macyhttps://scholar.google.com/• Amy Reyes-Hauff – Early Learning Specialist, Wyoming Department of Educationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-reyes-hauff-a1b15844/https://edu.wyoming.gov/https://www.facebook.com/WYOEducationIf you're passionate about early childhood education, teacher wellness, play-based learning, classroom management, outdoor education, preschool leadership, Head Start, or educator burnout prevention, this episode is for you.👍 Like this video🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about early childhood education, leadership, child development, and supporting educators.----------------------------Early Childhood Chats is hosted by Andrew Roszak - JD, MPA, EMT-PExecutive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to use its decades of experience to offer comprehensive and expert disaster and emergency preparedness trainings live in-person, via webinar, and on-demand online. // Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness© Institute for Childhood Preparedness 2026 all rights reserved

    How Play-Based Learning Can Save Early Childhood Education

  6. Jun 22

    Every Child, Every Chance: Special Olympics, Inclusion, and the Early Childhood Connection

    Ryan Miller, Senior Director of Program for Young Athletes and Elementary at Special Olympics New York, joins Andy Roszak to talk about what Special Olympics is actually doing in early childhood settings — and why it is almost nothing like what most people assume. They cover the Young Athletes and Junior Athletes curricula, how programs serving children with disabilities can check compliance boxes while delivering genuine developmental value, why Head Start is one of the most natural partnerships Special Olympics has ever found, and what it actually takes to get a program up and running in a matter of days.Connect with Special Olympics New York:➡️ https://www.specialolympics-ny.org/➡️ https://www.instagram.com/specialolympicsny➡️ https://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsNewYork➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/company/special-olympics-new-york/----------------------------Early Childhood Chats is hosted by Andrew Roszak - JD, MPA, EMT-PExecutive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to use its decades of experience to offer comprehensive and expert disaster and emergency preparedness trainings live in-person, via webinar, and on-demand online. // Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness© Institute for Childhood Preparedness 2026 all rights reserved

    Every Child, Every Chance: Special Olympics, Inclusion, and the Early Childhood Connection

  7. Jun 4

    The Educational Toy Every Parent Should Know About

    In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, host Andy Roszak sits down with Drew Vernon from Tonies to talk about a product that has become a staple in his own household and is making waves in early childhood classrooms across the country. Tonies is a screen-free audio system designed for young children, featuring a soft, portable speaker box and magnetic character figures that trigger stories, songs, and educational content when placed on top. Drew shares the origin story of the company, which began in Dusseldorf, Germany, when two dads on a preschool board saw teachers still using CDs and streaming devices that kids could not operate on their own. He walks through his own journey from Procter and Gamble to LEGO to leading the education program at Tonies in the United States.The conversation covers the growing body of research on screen time and child development, the L.A. school district’s recent decision to restrict screens through first grade, the power of audio-based learning in building vocabulary and creative visualization, and the many ways teachers can integrate the Toniebox into classroom centers. Drew also talks about Creative Tonies, the blank recordable figures that let parents, grandparents, and even incarcerated fathers record personal messages and stories for their children. Andy shares his own experience using Creative Tonies to connect his one-hundred-and-one-year-old grandmother with his daughters, and the two discuss the Toniebox 2’s new features including Bluetooth, a sunrise alarm, and a screen-free game system called Tonie Play.Learn more about Tonies: https://us.tonies.com/https://www.instagram.com/tonies.us/Episode Timestamps0:00 Introduction and Andy’s experience as a Tonies parent1:30 Drew Vernon’s background: from P&G to LEGO to Tonies3:30 The origin story of Tonies in Dusseldorf, Germany5:15 How the Toniebox works: magnets, RFID, and kid-friendly design6:30 My First Tonies for ages one and up7:00 Licensing partnerships: Disney, Paw Patrol, Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and more8:30 The philosophy behind screen-free audio and creative visualization10:30 Screen time research and the impact of COVID on children’s media habits13:00 The L.A. school district restricting screens through first grade14:30 Creative Tonies: recording your own voice for your children16:00 Incarcerated fathers staying connected through Creative Tonies17:30 Using Tonies during travel, road trips, and at Great Wolf Lodge18:30 Integrating Tonies into the classroom: five learning centers model20:30 Age range: from My First Tonies at age one to audiobooks at age ten21:30 Bluetooth headphones, external speakers, and classroom ratios22:30 Battery life and portability (eight hours)23:00 What’s next: Pokemon partnership and Tonie Play game system25:00 Where to buy and the twenty percent teacher discount26:00 Drew’s favorite Tonie: the LeVar Burton Reading Rainbow collaboration28:00 Wi-Fi and connectivity explained30:00 Drew’s closing thoughts on giving kids the right tools for one childhood----------------------------Early Childhood Chats is hosted by Andrew Roszak - JD, MPA, EMT-PExecutive Director at the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to use its decades of experience to offer comprehensive and expert disaster and emergency preparedness trainings live in-person, via webinar, and on-demand online. // Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness© Institute for Childhood Preparedness 2026 all rights reserved

  8. May 22

    Should Child Care Programs Have Cameras? Childcare Experts Discuss

    In this episode of Early Childhood Chats, host Andy Roszak talks with Kevin Wright from Watch Me Grow about a topic that generates a lot of opinions and not enough informed conversation: cameras in childcare settings. Watch Me Grow is a video platform built exclusively for the early childhood education industry, offering commercial-grade camera integration, secure parent viewing, long-term footage retention for compliance, and a growing suite of AI-powered features designed to support proactive program management rather than reactive crisis response.Kevin walks through his own path into early childhood technology, including his time at a childcare management platform before joining Watch Me Grow during the merger with PB&J TV. The conversation covers how parent viewing actually works in practice, including the data showing that average parent viewing time is less than a minute per day or week, how centers are using cameras as coaching and professional development tools rather than surveillance, the legal and insurance value of reliable footage retention, and how programs are offsetting costs by offering camera access as a value-added service to families. Kevin also previews Watch Me Grow’s active supervision AI feature, which detects when an adult is not present in a classroom and flags the event for director review. Andy and Kevin discuss the shift in perception from cameras as punitive “big brother” tools to proactive instruments for quality improvement, staff support, and family trust.Learn more about Watch Me Grow:https://watchmegrow.com/Episode Timestamps0:00 Introduction: cameras at the intersection of early childhood and technology1:00 Kevin Wright’s background and how he ended up at Watch Me Grow2:30 The PB&J TV and Watch Me Grow merger3:30 Why Watch Me Grow is built exclusively for early childhood education4:30 What Watch Me Grow actually is: the platform explained6:30 Parent viewing: how it works and how centers customize access8:30 The data on parent viewing: enrollment boosts, retention, and average viewing time under one minute10:30 Cameras as a professional development and coaching tool13:00 The hockey film analogy: watching to build best practices, not to catch mistakes14:30 Myths and misconceptions about cameras in childcare16:30 The story of a director who could not produce footage when it mattered18:00 Camera placement: classrooms, hallways, playgrounds, parking lots, and exteriors20:00 Offsetting costs: charging a technology fee for parent viewing access22:00 The legal value of reliable footage: discovery, insurance claims, and the jury argument24:00 The shift from reactive to proactive: using video to identify trends before incidents escalate26:00 The iPad story: how video revealed a staffing need, not a teacher failure28:00 Active supervision AI: detecting when an adult is not present in a classroom31:00 What’s next: ratio tracking, smart observations, and emotional learning features33:00 Security benefits: after-hours surveillance, vandalism, vehicle incidents35:00 The vehicle-into-building story from Canada and why footage matters for insurance37:00 How to reach Watch Me Grow and the discovery conversation process39:00 Closing thoughts on transparency and the future of video in early childhood----------------------------// Visit: https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/ to find out more // Schedule your training today https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/trainingFOLLOW UShttps://www.instagram.com/childhoodpreparedness/ https://www.facebook.com/ChildPreparedhttps://twitter.com/ChildPreparedhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-for-childhood-preparedness

    Should Child Care Programs Have Cameras? Childcare Experts Discuss
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Early Childhood Chats," the podcast dedicated to all things related to early childhood education. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of early childhood development, parenting tips, teaching strategies, and the latest research in the field. Hosted by passionate educators and experts in early childhood education, each episode brings you insightful discussions, practical advice, and inspiring stories aimed at supporting parents, caregivers, and educators in nurturing the young minds of tomorrow.

Information

  • Creator
    Institute for Childhood Preparedness
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Institute for Childhood Preparedness
  • Show Website
    Early Childhood Chats

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