Sparking Conversations on Culturally Responsive Childcare

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Sparking Conversations is a podcast for early learning educators and leaders to explore what culturally responsive childcare looks like in action. Each episode explores everyday practice—how to navigate cultural differences, support diverse families, or create spaces where all children feel a sense of belonging. Hosted by Sarah and Thea from the PolicyWise team that created the Spark Guide. They sit down with educators, leaders, and cultural experts to share stories, reflections, and practical ideas. Whether you’re new to Spark or looking for fresh ideas, this podcast is here for you!

  1. 1d ago

    13. Learning from the Land as Our First Teacher

    What happens when we let the land guide children's curiosity and learning?  In this episode, we sit down with Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty, an educator, PhD candidate, and Assistant Professor in Early Learning and Curriculum Studies at MacEwan University, to look at play through an Indigenous lens and explore land-based learning. Drawing on her Cree, Métis, and French roots, Etienna shares how relationships with the land can nurture children's sense of belonging, curiosity, and joy.  Together, we explore what it means to see the land as our first teacher, recognize the diversity of Indigenous ways of knowing, and create meaningful opportunities for children to connect with the places they call home. Through personal stories and practical examples, Etienna invites educators to rethink how learning happens through everyday experiences and relationships.  Listeners will walk away with ideas for bringing land-based learning into their practice, building relationships with Indigenous families, and creating space for children to experience the joy of simply being themselves.  Mentioned in episode:  Miyo-pimatisiwin – A Cree word for living a good earth life by seeking mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical balance.  Pihtikwe: Exploring Withness in Teacher Preparedness and Professional Development – Read Etienna's masters thesis exploring what educators can gain from learning with Indigenous peoples. To learn more, click here.  Learning From the Land Video Series – Etienna and her daughter Layla’s  year-round place study in Edmonton's River Valley, guided by the 13 Cree moons. To watch the video series, click here.  Where Are We? Finding Common Ground in a Curriculum of Place – Dr. Cynthia Chamber's research on creating curriculum through land-based learning. To read the article, click here.

    13. Learning from the Land as Our First Teacher

  2. Oct 26

    12. Following Children's Lead in Play

    What happens when children are not just invited into an activity, but are trusted to shape it from the beginning?  In this episode, we sit down with Kennedy Kozak, a play professional and designer with a background in early childhood education and inclusive design, to explore what it means to co-design play with children. Kennedy shares how treating children as experts in their own experiences can shift the educator’s role from directing to facilitating. She also discusses  how agency can show up when children change the rules, use materials in unexpected ways, or take an activity somewhere adults never planned.   Listeners will walk away with practical ideas to give children more agency and create environments that invite curiosity and exploration.  Mentioned in episode:  Agency – A person’s capacity to make choices and actions that align with their values.   Kolding School of Design’s LAB for Play Design – The LAB explores play across various professional domains. To learn more, click here.  The Work of Play: Child-Led Research as a Practice of Agency and Inclusion – Kennedy’s Master’s thesis explores child-centered design and play. To learn more, click here.

    12. Following Children's Lead in Play

  3. Oct 19

    11. Reflecting on Bias for Inclusive Play

    What assumptions about play might we be carrying without realizing it—and who gets left out when we expect play to look a certain way?  In this episode, we sit down with Alison Rinas, Manager of Inclusive Childcare at KidsIncluded, and Shay Saxton, Early Learning Inclusion Navigator at KidsIncluded, whose work focuses on creating inclusive, relationship-centred early learning environments where children experience belonging. Alison and Shay explore how our own experiences, cultures, and ideas about childhood can shape what we consider “meaningful” play—and why reflecting on those assumptions is an important part of inclusive practice. They discuss the vulnerability of examining bias, the value of reflecting alongside trusted colleagues, and how shifting our perspective can help us recognize different types of play.  Listeners will walk away with practical ways to question their assumptions and strategies to create environments where children with different abilities can play, move, and communicate.   Mentioned in episode:  KidsIncluded – A non-profit that works alongside families and community partners to deliver early learning inclusion support and strengthen skills. To learn more, click here.   Self-reflection – The internal process of examining your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. To learn more on how educators can reflect on their own biases and assumptions, check out the Resource Hub.

    11. Reflecting on Bias for Inclusive Play

  4. Oct 5

    10. Learning Across Cultures Through Play

    What can children’s play teach us about who they are and what matters to their families?  In this episode, we sit down with Amaka Amadike, faculty member at Bow Valley College and Executive Director of Between Cultures Foundation, to explore how culture shapes the ways children play, connect, and make meaning. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across different countries and communities, Amaka shares stories of children bringing languages, family practices, and traditions into their play. We talk about why educators do not need to be experts in every culture—but do need to stay curious, ask respectful questions, and create space for children and families to share what is meaningful to them.   Listeners will walk away with practical ways to notice culture in everyday play and build stronger partnerships with families so children can see their identities valued in early learning spaces.  Mentioned in episode:  Between Cultures Foundation – Calgary-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion for Black, immigrant, and racialized children and families in early childcare settings. To learn more, click here.  Cultural Iceberg – A visual metaphor that shows the visible and invisible aspects of culture. To learn more, click here.  Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development – This theory describes how children’s thinking abilities develop across four stages. To learn more, click here.  Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Develop – In his theories, Vygotsky emphasizes the role of social interactions and culture in learning. To learn more, click here.

    10. Learning Across Cultures Through Play

  5. Sep 28

    09. Exploring How Play Builds Young Minds

    What can we learn about children’s thinking when they play?  In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ozlem Cankaya, Associate Professor in Early Learning and Curriculum Studies at MacEwan University, to explore the connection between play and children’s cognitive development. Dr. Cankaya shares how pretend play and loose parts can support language, problem-solving, self-regulation, and flexible thinking. We also talk about how play looks different across cultures and why educators need to observe closely to decide when children need uninterrupted time, a new material, or a little more guidance.   Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of what children are learning through play and practical ways to observe, support, and extend play without taking over the experience.  Mentioned in episode:   Cognition – The mental process of developing, processing, and using knowledge.   M.C Esher’s Water and Sky Painting – To see the painting Dr. Cankaya used in her undergraduate research, click here.  Loose parts play – Open-ended  objects that children can move, combine, build with, and transform in many creative ways.  Loose parts play and STEM skills – To read Dr. Ozlem Cankaya’s full  research paper Loose parts play encourages spontaneous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) behaviours click here.

    09. Exploring How Play Builds Young Minds

  6. Mar 3

    08. Building Structures for Curiosity, Celebration, and Kindness

    How do you create a childcare system that truly supports culture, diversity, and belonging?   In this episode, we sit down with Rebecca Leong, an early learning leader with over 20 years of experience and a strong focus on educator well-being and children’s rights, to explore what culturally responsive practice looks like when differences show up in the everyday.  Together, we reflect on how leadership, mentorship, and reflective conversations can create safer spaces for educators to explore their own identities. Rebecca shares honest stories about discomfort, growth, and the importance of building systems that support curiosity, kindness, and authentic cultural learning—not just for children, but for the workforce itself.  Listeners will walk away with practical insight into how to start meaningful conversations, support educator well-being, and create environments where both children and educators can bring their whole selves to the work.  Mentioned in this episode:  Rupertsland Institute – Métis Early Learning and Child Care Training. Visit website here.    ARCQE Conference – Learn more here.   FLIGHT Framework – Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework. Access here.   Spark Trainings – Visit the Spark website to learn more about Introductory Modules, our video series, and the In-Depth Spark Guide Training for Program Leaders.   If you’re curious to learn more about culturally responsive practices and want to access the free Spark guide, resource hub, and trainings, and more check out www.sparkguide.ca ✨

    08. Building Structures for Curiosity, Celebration, and Kindness

  7. Mar 3

    07. Cultiver l'identité francophone dans l'apprentissage précoce

    Que signifie soutenir les enfants tout en renforçant une langue et une culture ?  Dans cet émission, l'animatrice invitée Meghan Perrin s'entretient avec Kirsten Wallace, directrice de la prématernelle La Capucine à Calgary et professeure au Campus Saint-Jean, au sujet de l'apprentissage précoce dans le contexte minoritaire francophone de l'Alberta.  Ils explorent la double mission des éducatrices.eurs francophones : prendre soin des enfants tout en cultivant l'identité francophone dans toute sa diversité. Kirsten partage des stratégies pratiques pour créer des espaces accueillants, établir des partenariats solides avec les familles, soutenir la réflexion des éducateurs et créer des environnements où les enfants et les parents se sentent en sécurité pour prendre des risques en matière de langue et d'appartenance.  Les auditeurs repartiront avec des idées concrètes pour ancrer une pratique culturellement adaptée dans la curiosité, les valeurs communes et l'établissement de relations courageuses.  Mentionné dans l'épisode :   La Capucine – pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici.  Storypark – Application de communication et d’engagement familial, pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici ici.  Si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur les pratiques adaptées à la culture et accéder gratuitement au guide Spark, au centre de ressources, aux formations et à bien d'autres choses encore, rendez-vous sur www.sparkguide.ca/fr ✨

    07. Cultiver l'identité francophone dans l'apprentissage précoce

  8. Feb 10

    06. Navigating Cultural Differences through Curiosity

    What if navigating difference wasn’t a problem to solve, but an invitation to learn?  In this episode, we speak with Deanna Mendoza, an award-winning early childhood educator and Coordinator of the Care for Newcomer Children Program at the Edmonton Newcomer Centre, about the everyday realities of navigating cultural difference in early learning spaces.  The conversation explores how assumptions—often unspoken—can shape planning, interactions, and celebrations, and what becomes possible when curiosity replaces judgment. Deanna reflects on the importance of ongoing learning, listening to families as individuals, and creating environments where educators feel encouraged to bring their own experiences and questions into the work.  Listeners will leave with practical ways to pause, check assumptions, and approach difference with openness—so early learning spaces can grow into places where families feel at home, educators feel supported, and children experience true belonging.  Mentioned in this episode:  Care for Newcomer Children Program – To learn more, click here.   Learning Stories – a reflective documentation approach that centers children’s experiences. More about Learning Stories on the Flight Framework website.  If you’re curious to learn more about culturally responsive practices and want to access the free Spark guide, resource hub, and trainings, and more check out www.sparkguide.ca ✨

    06. Navigating Cultural Differences through Curiosity
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Sparking Conversations is a podcast for early learning educators and leaders to explore what culturally responsive childcare looks like in action. Each episode explores everyday practice—how to navigate cultural differences, support diverse families, or create spaces where all children feel a sense of belonging. Hosted by Sarah and Thea from the PolicyWise team that created the Spark Guide. They sit down with educators, leaders, and cultural experts to share stories, reflections, and practical ideas. Whether you’re new to Spark or looking for fresh ideas, this podcast is here for you!

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