The Educator's Table

Vicki Salazar

What happens when parents and early childhood educators actually understand where the other is coming from? The Educator’s Table Podcast brings both sides of the childcare relationship to the same table. Hosted by Emily, an early childhood educator, and Vicki, a parent and childcare centre owner, we talk about the everyday moments that can make childcare feel complicated...from biting, hitting and sharing to drop-offs, behaviour, communication, expectations, and everything in between. We unpack what children might really be communicating through their behaviour, help parents understand what’s happening behind the scenes at daycare, and give educators a better understanding of the parent perspective too. It’s practical, conversational, sometimes a little controversial, and usually comes with a few laughs. No lectures. No perfect parenting. No pretending educators have all the answers. Just honest conversations that help parents and educators understand children... and each other...a little better. Pull up a chair. You belong here.

  1. 5 天前

    From Babbling to Chatterbox: Understanding Early Language with Lauren from Baseline Speech

    When should your baby say their first word? Does screen time cause speech delays? Do boys really talk later than girls? Does baby sign delay speech? And should we actually be telling toddlers, “Say please!” before giving them what they want? This week, we’re joined by Lauren from Baseline Speech to bust some of the biggest myths around early speech and language development — and talk about what communication actually looks like before kids are having full conversations. We get into speech and language milestones from ages one to three, why gestures and signs absolutely count as communication, raising multilingual children, what to do when you can’t understand what a child is saying, and why “wait and see” isn’t always the best advice when you’re concerned about development. Plus, we talk about how parents and educators can support language naturally through everyday interactions- without constantly correcting, quizzing, or asking kids to perform. And somehow we also end up discussing baby talk, fruit by the toe, weatza-weatza, gobble bum, and why Canadian children eventually need to learn to say please. Pull up a chair; this one is packed with practical tips for both parents and educators. As either a parent, daycare or educator, you can find our SLP Queen Lauren on instagram @baselinespeech or head over to her website baselinespeech.ca for more information on SLP services.

  2. 9月18日

    What Happens When Everything Is “No”? | Yes Spaces with Carla Ward

    We’re back for Season 2 — and we’re starting with a big question: what happens when everything around a child is “no”? In this episode, we’re joined by Carla Ward to talk about Yes Spaces — environments intentionally designed so children can explore, play, make mistakes, and actually be kids without constantly hearing “no,” “stop,” and “don’t touch that.” And Vicki has a story. After spending a month in Mexico with her one-year-old and four-year-old in a home that (very understandably!) was NOT designed for small children, she got an unexpected firsthand look at what it feels like to live in a “no space.” Her kids stopped playing. Behaviour changed. Everyone became dysregulated. And Vicki found herself being corrected in a language she didn’t fully understand, without knowing what she was supposed to do instead. Sound familiar? That experience sparked a much bigger conversation about what children may feel when they enter our homes, classrooms, and childcare spaces without understanding the expectations placed on them. Together, we talk about why the environment matters, what behaviour might actually be communicating, why children need opportunities to take reasonable risks and make mistakes, and how we can stop simply redirecting behaviour and start asking, “What is this child actually needing right now?” Because creating a Yes Space doesn’t mean children get to do whatever they want. It means creating more opportunities where the answer can be yes. Pull up a chair — Season 2 starts here. 💛 Love what Carla has to say? Hear more from her! Follow her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlatheece/ Subscribe to her podcast: https://tr.ee/BoLfvxXcLS carlatheece.com

  3. 8月8日

    Digging Deeper: Play, Behaviour & the Why Behind It with Radhika

    The conversation covers the role of play in healthy brain development and emotional growth, as well as the use of play-based strategies in therapy and education. It also explores the challenges and benefits of sand therapy for children, the importance of understanding the why behind a child's behavior, and the difference between punishment and teaching skills. Additionally, it delves into the significance of play in therapy, the resistance of parents to therapy, and the need for parents to develop play skills. The conversation covers strategies for educators to balance the needs of multiple children, differences between home and daycare environments, and effective use of visuals and play in managing challenging behaviors. It also emphasizes the importance of self-care for educators. Takeaways Play is a crucial component of healthy brain development and emotional growth.Understanding the why behind a child's behavior is essential for effective therapy and education. Balancing the needs of multiple childrenDifferences between home and daycare environmentsEffective use of visuals and play in managing challenging behaviorsImportance of self-care for educators You can find Radhika on instagram @enrichbehaviour or you can reach out to her by email at enrichbehaviour@gmail.com Radhika is such a wonderful resource for families and daycares, so we encourage you to follow her and reach out to her for information on how she can help your child & family!

  4. 6月19日

    A New Era: Bridging the Gap between Parents and Daycare Educators

    The conversation covers a range of topics, including a weekly recap, a visit to the grandparents' house, attending the Today Illuminating Hope Cocktail Party, the impact of the Today Center and community outreach, evolving the Educators Table, challenges with parent-educator relationships, engaging parents in daycare activities, encouraging parent appreciation for educators, building relationships with parents, insight into children's personal lives, planning based on home experiences, children's behavior at home vs. daycare, bridging the gap between home and daycare, understanding parental anxiety at drop-off, and the importance of parent-educator collaboration. Takeaways Importance of building strong parent-educator relationshipsUnderstanding the impact of home experiences on daycare planning and engagement Chapters 00:00 Weekly Recap and Grandparents' House Visit05:15 Impact of Today Center and Community Outreach10:29 Challenges with Parent-Educator Relationships16:31 Building Relationships with Parents22:23 Planning Based on Home Experiences28:58 Bridging the Gap Between Home and Daycare34:26 Importance of Parent-Educator Collaboration If you or someone you know is struggling with a domestic abuse situation, you are not alone. Contact The Today Centre for help. Or if you're in a position to help support organizations that help people escape family violence situations, contact The Today Centre https://www.thetodaycentre.ca Follow us, The Educator's Table on TikTok & Instagram: @the.educators.table https://www.instagram.com/the.educators.table/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the.educators.table

簡介

What happens when parents and early childhood educators actually understand where the other is coming from? The Educator’s Table Podcast brings both sides of the childcare relationship to the same table. Hosted by Emily, an early childhood educator, and Vicki, a parent and childcare centre owner, we talk about the everyday moments that can make childcare feel complicated...from biting, hitting and sharing to drop-offs, behaviour, communication, expectations, and everything in between. We unpack what children might really be communicating through their behaviour, help parents understand what’s happening behind the scenes at daycare, and give educators a better understanding of the parent perspective too. It’s practical, conversational, sometimes a little controversial, and usually comes with a few laughs. No lectures. No perfect parenting. No pretending educators have all the answers. Just honest conversations that help parents and educators understand children... and each other...a little better. Pull up a chair. You belong here.