The Everything ECE Podcast

Carla Ward
  • 4.4 (17)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

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

    #258: How to Have a Great Circle Time with Saira Remtulla

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with Saira Remtulla, Ontario Certified Teacher and founder of Connected Start, for a conversation about rethinking circle time in early learning. Circle time can be one of the most powerful opportunities for connection in an early learning program, but only when we’re clear about why we’re gathering in the first place. Carla and Saira talk about the difference between entertaining children and genuinely engaging them, why participation doesn’t always look like sitting still, the importance of flexibility and intentionality, and what can happen when circle time becomes less about getting through the plan and more about creating a shared experience. They also explore educator confidence, following children’s interests, the role of songs, rhymes and repetition, and why connection needs to come before content. Whether you love circle time, avoid it, or have been wondering if it still belongs in early learning, this conversation will have you thinking differently about what gathering together can be. SAIRA REMTULLA Saira Remtulla is an Ontario Certified Teacher with over 19 years of experience, specializing in early years education. Her work is grounded in fostering connection, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences for young children. As the Founder of Connected Start, Saira has developed joyful, hands-on programming for children from birth to age four, that sparks curiosity, supports emotional development, and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. Saira is committed to empowering early years centres with accessible, high-quality resources that enrich their programs and strengthen the communities they serve. LINKS Website: www.connectedstart.ca  Instagram: @connectedstart & @learnwithmssaira LinkedIn: Saira Remtulla 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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  2. 5d ago

    #257: Should We Still Use Food in Sensory Play? | Dear Carla

    After 34 years in the field, one educator has seen a lot of trends come and go, including the shift away from using food like rice, beans and pasta in sensory play. But with a growing understanding of sensory needs and regulation, is it time to reconsider? Or are there bigger questions about food, resources and respect that should still guide practice? In this Dear Carla episode, Carla responds to “Frustrated Foodie” and digs into food in sensory play, the rabbit hole of deciding which resources are okay to use, and why the better question might be: Why this material, for these children, at this moment? ASK CARLA Have a question? Ask here 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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  3. Sep 4

    #256: Say NO Less: Let the Environment Do the Work

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores what happens when “no,” “stop,” “don’t,” and “put that back” become the soundtrack of the day. Rather than immediately looking at the child when something isn’t working, she challenges educators to get curious about the environment, the expectations within it, and the rules they may be enforcing without ever stopping to ask why. Carla shares how changing her own classroom environment changed the way she showed up as an educator and explores the difference between boundaries that protect safety and rights and those that exist for adult convenience. If you find yourself repeating the same direction over and over again, this episode might have you asking a different question: what if the 48th reminder isn’t the answer? Listen in and discover what can happen when we let the environment do more of the work. JOIN YES SPACES www.carlatheece.com/yes-spaces-course  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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  4. Aug 28

    #255: Playoneering: The Future of Education with Hayley Peacock

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by Hayley Peacock, creator of Playoneering®️, for a conversation about play, curiosity and what the future of education could look like. Together, Carla and Hayley explore what happens when play doesn't end with the early years and education is built from children's natural curiosity, creativity and capacity to learn. They dig into playful rigour, the influence of Reggio-inspired practice, intrinsic motivation, and why relationship management might be a much better place to start than behaviour management. The conversation also turns to AI and the reality that today's children are growing up in a world that none of us experienced ourselves. What does that mean for the way we educate them—and for the human skills we need to protect and nurture along the way? From questioning long-standing school practices to rethinking what children actually need to thrive, this episode challenges us to imagine what education could become when play, curiosity and connection remain at the centre. HAYLEY PEACOCK Hayley Peacock is the creator of Playoneering®️ and founder of the West Sussex-based, Reggio-inspired settings Atelier 21 Future School and Little Barn Owls Forest & Farm School Nurseries. An internationally recognised educator and speaker, she developed Playoneering®️, an enquiry-led education approach that combines creativity, curiosity and playful rigour to create meaningful learning fit for children's futures.  LINKS Website: https://hayleypeacockeducation.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-peacock-208b26264/  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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  5. Aug 21

    #254: Building a Legacy with Heather Jackson

    Heather Jackson has spent years in early childhood education asking questions, following curiosity, researching practice, and deeply respecting the thinking of children. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Heather, founder of The Sunflower School and host of the Actions of Play podcast, to talk about the experiences that have shaped her work and the legacy she has built along the way. They explore Heather’s journey through education, the ideas and people that have influenced her, and what it means to build a body of work that continues to evolve. This isn’t a conversation about looking back because the work is finished. It’s about recognizing what has been built while continuing to ask: What comes next? HEATHER JACKSON Heather Jackson is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) and the Executive Director of The Sunflower School, a Reggio-inspired early learning program in Orangeville, Ontario. With 40 years in child care, Heather remains deeply connected to the everyday work of being alongside children and educators—and still genuinely loves going to work each day. Her work is grounded in curiosity, relationships, research, and a deep respect for children as thinkers and meaning-makers. Heather has continued to deepen her understanding of Reggio-inspired practice throughout her career, including travelling to Reggio Emilia, Italy, twice over the past ten years as part of international study tours. Heather is also a mentor, researcher, and host of the Actions of Play podcast, where she shares her thinking and invites educators to remain curious, reflective, and intentional in their practice. LINKS Website: http://www.thesunflowerschool.ca/ Heather Instagram: @thesunflower_studio School Instagram: @thesunflowerschool LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/  Book: Actions of Play Community Podcast Referenced: Rethinking Early Childhood Education: Designing Curriculum Beyond Traditional Program Planning  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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  6. Aug 14

    #253: Beyond the Diploma with Megan Wuerfel

    In this episode, Carla sits down with Megan Wuerfel, founder of The ECE Exchange, to explore the many ways educators can use their experience beyond the classroom. They discuss how to recognize your unique ECE “superpower,” why classroom experience matters when stepping into coaching or professional learning, and the importance of documenting your journey long before you think you’ll need it. Megan also shares how The ECE Exchange connects early childhood programs with experienced coaches, consultants, specialists, trainers, and speakers worldwide. This conversation is an important reminder that leaving the classroom doesn’t have to mean leaving the field. Your knowledge still matters—and there may be more ways to use it than you realize. MEGAN WUERFEL Megan Wuerfel is the founder of The ECE Exchange, an innovative platform dedicated to connecting early childhood programs with specialized coaches, consultants, specialists, trainers, and speakers. With a Master's in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum & Instruction, she draws on her deep experience as a former Head Start teacher and current instructional coach. Outside of her mission to revolutionize ECE professional development, Megan is a busy mom of four living on the Big Island of Hawaii.  LINKS Website: theeceexchange.com, Instagram: www.instagram.com/theeceexchange LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/megan-wuerfel-98399538a 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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  7. Aug 7

    #252: Building Connection Through Language with Cara Tyrrell

    Children begin communicating from the moment they are born. Long before they have spoken words, they are using facial expressions, movements, gestures, sounds and behaviour to tell us what they need, what they understand and how they are experiencing the world around them. In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla speaks with early language expert, educator and linguist Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed., about how educators can build stronger connections with children through language and communication. Cara explains the difference between receptive and expressive language, how children interpret our facial expressions, body language and tone, and why the messages we communicate nonverbally matter just as much as the words we choose. Together, Carla and Cara explore serve-and-return interactions, auditory processing, the impact of technology on early communication and why sarcasm and rhetorical questions can be confusing for young children. They also discuss how corrective language can unintentionally shape a child’s developing identity. Words intended to address a single moment can become messages children carry about who they are. Cara shares how educators can describe what is happening, recognize the need being communicated, hold necessary boundaries and invite children into the solution without relying on labels. At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that communication is about much more than speaking and listening. It is how we build trust, strengthen relationships and create connected learning communities where children feel seen, understood and respected. Cara Tyrrell is the creator of the Collaborative Discipline Method and Talking Triangle Framework, host of the podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of Talk to Them Early and Often. CARA TYRRELL Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed., is an early language expert teaching educators and families to transform how they communicate with children in the earliest years of life. With degrees in American Sign Language, Linguistics, and a Masters in education, she has spent over two decades studying how infants and toddlers acquire receptive and expressive language. Cara’s Collaborative Discipline Method and Talking Triangle Framework equip parents and educators with language-based tools that build strong brains and connected learning communities. She is the host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years and author of Talk to Them Early and Often.  LINKS Instagram:: , @caratalkstoddler  LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-tyrrell/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caratalkstoddler Cara Tyrell Book: Talk to Them Early and Often: A Caregiver’s Guide to Intentional Language Development for Infants and Toddlers Dr. Shimi Kang Book: The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital World Website: https://www.caratyrrell.com/speaker    Podcast: https://www.caratyrrell.com/podcast  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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

  8. Jul 31

    #251: Understanding Process Art with Victoria Armstrong

    In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Victoria Armstrong, owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, for a thoughtful conversation about rethinking art in early learning. Victoria brings almost 20 years of experience as a classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, coordinator and early learning consultant. She also spent a significant part of her career pioneering a children’s art initiative that brought local artists into early learning and licensed child care programs. Together, Carla and Victoria explore what process-based art really means, the role educators play in children’s artistic experiences and how the materials we offer can either create space for original thinking or unintentionally limit it. They also discuss the value of introducing children to artistic techniques, why the finished product still matters and how educators can offer inspiration without deciding what children’s work should become. This episode will encourage you to look at the materials on your art shelves and the experiences you build around them with a more critical and intentional lens. VICTORIA ARMSTRONG Victoria Armstrong has worked in early childhood education for almost 20 years. She began her ECE career studying and volunteering abroad in Hawaii, India and Japan. After earning her diploma and honours degree in Early Childhood Studies in Ontario, Victoria held a variety of roles, including classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, HR and communications specialist, coordinator and early learning consultant. A significant part of her career was spent pioneering and coordinating a children’s art initiative that integrated local artists into early learning and licensed child care programs. Today, Victoria is the owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, where she works with early years organizations to support and enhance their work with children and families. LINKS Website: www.sbsconsulting.ca  Instagram: @sbsconsultingservices Youtube: The Studio@SBS Consulting Services Ann Pelo's Book: Language of Art: Inquiry-Based Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings 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! CONNECT WITH CARLA Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠  Website: carlatheece.com Instagram: @carlatheece

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4.4
out of 5
17 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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