iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Join me, Carol Garboden Murray, Lizz Nolasco, Mike Huber and Bethany Corrie for our NAEYC conference panel on December 6! “Zoom Hangs, Podcasts, and Sleepovers: Developing Collaborative Relationships When You've Been in Early Childhood Education Forever”

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

It’s the 10th anniversary of the first episode of the podcast and we are celebrating ALL WEEK next week with FIVE new episodes! I can’t wait to share them with you.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Kathy Brodie and I talk about Schema Play Theory, how to spot schemas in practice, and why it's a powerful tool for advocating for children's free play. For the next 5 days, you can watch the video for free. www.earlyyears.tv/episode/heat...

earlyyears.tv

Free Video: Heather Bernt-Santy on Schematic Play Theory - Early Years TV

Heather Bernt-Santy explains Schema Play Theory, how to spot schemas in practice, and why it's a powerful tool for advocating for children's free play.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Susan Stacey joins the show for a deep dive into emergent curriculum--what it really means, what is looks like in practice, and why it still matters in early childhood settings. youtu.be/Vp_PsZidVM8?...

youtu.be

Emergent Curriculum with Susan Stacey

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Gennie Gorback and Kate Allen Fox want to help parents (and others!) understand how play can unlock many wonderful possibilities for their families. Because, as they say, there's no such thing as "just play." Play isn't just anything; it is everything. youtu.be/775r61eiIXs?...

youtu.be

Go Play! with Authors Gennie Gorback and Kate Fox

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Have you heard about the canary in the coal mine? It was an old safety practice with coal miners to protect them from toxins--a caged canary would be taken into the mine and miners would know if the canary was harmed by the air, it was not safe. youtu.be/JeIfHQjUNIg?...

youtu.be

Why Can't Children Self Regulate?

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

In her book Talk to Them Early and Often: A Caregiver's Guide to Intentional Language Development for Infants and Toddlers, Cara Tyrrell explains why early communication with infants and toddlers is so important. youtu.be/Ep9Gg5cE1Zw?...

youtu.be

Talk to Them Early and Often with Cara Tyrell

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

In We Are Who We're Waiting For: Transformative Change in Early Childhood Education, Kisa lays out necessary truths about humanity, children's rights, and intersectionality with love and vision. Get out your pens, notebooks, and yes, your highlighters for this one. youtu.be/nK3MBEPCwMU?...

youtu.be

We Are Who We're Waiting For with Kisa Marx

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

If you missed my book talk with Denisha Jones from Defending the Early Years, you're in luck! Here is the recording of our conversation. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you attended or if you watch the recording! youtu.be/P3I28SX1j1s?...

youtu.be

Schema Play Book Talk

YouTube video by Defending the Early Years

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Childhood has become increasingly scheduled, measured, and monitored. This book asks a simple question: What do children lose when play disappears—and what do we all lose with them? www.tcpress.com/using-schema...

tcpress.com

Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood 9780807787243 | Teachers College Press

Teachers College Press

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

It’s time to count down my TOP 5 READS of 2025! My #1 book this year, shamelessly, is my book Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood. Being a published author has been a dream of mine for most of my life, and I’m so proud that it happened this year.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

It’s time to count down my TOP 5 READS of 2025! # 2 is Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care for All by Elliot Haspel.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

It’s time to count down my TOP 5 READS of 2025! #3 is The Power in Pretend: Supporting Children’s Power, Identity, and Agency by MIke Huber

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

It’s time for me to count down my 5 FAVORITE READS of 2025! #5 is Sally Haughey’s “Nurturing Brilliance: Using Play Activated Learning to Awaken Children’s Potential”

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

I’m excited to share this episode of the BUTTERCUP podcast, hosted by Marisa Macy from the University of Wyoming. I love talking play with just about anyone, but this conversation with Dr. Macy and Wyoming Department of Education’s Amy Reyes-Hauff was especially fun. youtu.be/mOaFqWw1pLI?...

youtu.be

Supporting Free Play in Early Childhood

YouTube video by Marisa Macy Ph.D.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Host Heather Bernt-Santy knew as soon as she read the Defending the Early Years blog post, “How Did Early Childhood Programs Become So Focused on School Readiness Skills” by Dr Dale Farran–she HAD to invite Dr Farran to discuss it. And here she is! youtu.be/rNzuuZSjXeQ?...

youtu.be

The Hyper Focus on School Readiness with Dr Dale Farran

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Author and educator Sally Haughey is here to discuss the incredible unfolding and blossoming that happens during play. youtu.be/S-cfnmQIQqc?...

youtu.be

Nurturing Children's Brilliance with Sally Haughey

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Carly Bedard, a play facilitator for adult early educators, joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to discuss the ways that self active play can transform early childhood practitioners’ practice with young children. youtu.be/W3DHwk5HEfU?...

youtu.be

Self Active Play for Adults with Carly Bedard

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Big news ! Heather is taking on the producer role for That Early Childhood Nerd, and adding three new podcasts!

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Early childhood education researcher and advocate Emily Clark is back for another conversation with host Heather Bernt-Santy. In this episode, they talk about her work on children’s rights in early childhood programs. youtu.be/v1Zto4uKPY0?...

youtu.be

The Young Child's Right to Participation

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

If you’re going to be at the NAEYC conference in Orlando, I’d love to see you at my book signing! That’s right, I’m doing a BOOK SIGNING! 🎉🎉🎉 See you there!

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

For a recent special issue of the early childhood magazine Exchange on protecting play, host Heather Bernt-Santy wrote an article addressing the often asked question, “If I just let children play, how am I still a teacher?” youtu.be/QbvBIzPlaFM?...

youtu.be

If the Children "Just Play," am I Still a Teacher?

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Every now and again, I have a little panic–what if by teaching current ideas, theories about good practice, and new research about working with young children, I'm just setting students up to be frustrated or to get in trouble? youtu.be/Gl3-rj087f0?...

youtu.be

Early Childhood Higher Ed: Preparation for What?

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

A little bit of page 76 from my new book “Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood” #play #childcare #preschool #childdevelopment #earlychildhood #teaching #earlychildhoodeducation #parenting

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

I’m home from the IPA-USA conference amd my books are here!!!

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

I don’t have any photos from my “Play Skeptics Have Schemas, Too!” presentation but love this one of my presentation with Deb Lawrence and LaDonna Atkins on “Innovative Strategies for Teaching about Children’s Play in Higher Education” at this year’s IPA-USA Child’s Right to Play conference.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

It’s getting closer to official publication day! I went to the Teachers College Press website a while ago and requested a digital desk copy and it was emailed to me today!! It’s a real book!!

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Author, educator and community organizer Dr. Megan Madison joins me to talk about her First Conversations children’s book series, children’s developing sense of justice and fairness, book bans, and more. youtu.be/HzfYcwnxVck?...

youtu.be

Supporting Young Children's Sense of Social Justice: Dr Megan Madison

YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Who will be at the NAEYC conference in Orlando? Find me at my session Thursday morning at 8 then at the Teachers College Press booth at 10:30 for my book signing!

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

277 of 381 episodes of That Early Childhood Nerd uploaded to the new hosting platform! Remember, at the end of 2025 you will have to find the new feed for the podcast! You can find it now on iTunes and Spotify, and access the first 80+ episodes that have been out of circulation for a long time.

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Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd @ece-nerd.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

I am SCREAMING! Do you KNOW how many Teachers College Press catalogs I have looked through in my life? I’m in one now!

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