Actions of Play

What if your planning meetings could be the most meaningful hour of your week? At Sunflower School, two early childhood Directors, Sarah and Rebecca, have moved away from reactive, interest-led planning toward something deeper. A curriculum anchored in big, purposeful questions like "How can toddlers build community?" or "How do we empower children to lead their own learning?" The shift changed everything.

In this episode, they walk through the practical tools that make it work. You'll learn about designing curriculum that grows organically, involves families meaningfully, and gives educators the confidence to let go of busywork and trust the process. This is planning with purpose and it shows.

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca/ 

Sarah- @thesunflowerschool      

Keri- @teaching.authentically

Book- Not a Box & Not a Box City

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CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here

What happens when educators intentionally slow down and make space for children’s voices to truly matter?

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson sits down with Crystal and Annika from Sunflower School to explore a deeply meaningful preschool investigation centered around one guiding question:

How can we create spaces and moments where children feel their voices are truly heard, valued, and able to influence what happens next?

Through storytelling, interview-style documentation, reflective conversations, QR code portfolios, and open-ended questioning, the educators share how they created an environment where children’s thoughts, ideas, and imaginations became the heart of the classroom.

This conversation explores slow pedagogy, storytelling as curriculum, the power of listening, and how educators can move beyond asking children for “right answers” to truly valuing what children think.

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca/ 

Crystal- @reimagining.reggio

Annika- @blossomwithannika

Book: Mud Puddle

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If you found this episode valuable, we invite you to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more educators who are committed to deepening their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences for children.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson is joined by Sarah and Michelle from Sunflower School to explore a toddler project that began with one simple idea: creating a “nest” of comfort, belonging, and connection for a brand-new classroom community.

What started as a gentle transition project quickly evolved into a rich child-led investigation centered around ramps, rolling, movement, sound, regulation, and the environment as the third teacher. From porch play and loose parts to seasonal changes and toddler research, this episode highlights the beauty of slowing down and truly noticing children’s thinking.

This conversation is filled with thoughtful reflections on play schemas, environment design, risky play, and the power of responsive teaching in the early years.

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca/ 

Sarah-  @thesunflowerschool

Michelle- no Instagram

How Does Learning Happen- Ontario Document- https://files.ontario.ca/edu-how-does-learning-happen-en-2021-03-23.pdf?  

Book- 100 languages of children- https://amzn.to/4dvyzsz 

Actions of Play Book- Schemas: https://amzn.to/4v4F5Op  

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If you found this episode valuable, we invite you to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more educators who are committed to deepening their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences for children.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here

In this episode of Actions of Play, Heather Jackson sits down with Makenna and Makayla from Sunflower School to explore a powerful year-long toddler investigation built around one simple question: How can toddlers build community?

From mystery readers and family nights to community blocks, shared mailboxes, and toddler-led connections, this conversation highlights what becomes possible when educators truly see toddlers as capable, relational, and deeply connected learners.

This episode is filled with practical ideas for strengthening classroom culture, deepening parent engagement, and creating spaces where children genuinely feel a sense of belonging. Whether you work with toddlers, preschoolers, or school-age children, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what community can look like in the early years.

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca/ 

Makayla and Makenna Instagram accounts: @reggio.with.makayla    @rootedreggio   

NAREA Website

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If you found this episode valuable, we invite you to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more educators who are committed to deepening their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences for children.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here

What happens when you stop fighting boys' energy and start designing around it? Kaitlyn and Sara did exactly that. They turned their all-boys toddler classroom into a space built for big-body movement, loose parts play, and genuine connection. The result? Less friction, more curiosity, and a room where children actually thrived. In this episode, they share how Reggio-inspired principles, animal movement studies, and intentional room design transformed their approach to teaching active toddlers. You'll walk away with practical ideas for redesigning your space, running calm community meetings, and rethinking what "good behaviour" really looks like because sometimes the boldest experiment is the one that finally works.

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca/ 

Kaitlyn and Sara Instagram accounts: @themessyeducator    @100launguagesofsasa   

How Do Animals Dance

Brown Bear, Brown Bear- Bill Martin Jr.

Spoonful of Frog-  Casey Lyall  

From Head to Toe- Eric Carle

A Can of Worms- Fearless Conversations with Toddlers Nick Torrones- Exchange Publishing

The Brown Bear rap

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If you found this episode valuable, we invite you to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more educators who are committed to deepening their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences for children.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here

In this very first episode of Actions of Play, host Heather Jackson is joined by co-author Lisa to share the story behind their book Actions of Play and their shared passion for play schemas.

They reflect on collaborating across countries, co-authoring entirely over Zoom, and how their aligned values in play-based, inquiry-driven learning shaped their work. The conversation explores what play schemas are, why they matter, and how they can transform the way educators observe, plan, and respond to children’s play.

Heather and Lisa also share practical ways to connect play schemas to everyday experiences, including using children’s literature to deepen learning and engagement.

Whether you’re new to play schemas or looking to strengthen your practice, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and real classroom connections - plus what’s next for their work supporting educators and families.

BOOKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

Actions of Play- RedLeaf Press

Threads of Thinking- Cathy Nutbrown

From Theory to Practice- Susan Stacey

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Tacos Fall Apart

Take It Apart

I Worked Really Hard on That

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca/ 

Lisa Agogliati is the lead pedagogista at the National Child Research Centre in Washington, DC

Boulder Journey School

Cindy Green- Instagram

Early Childhood Investigations Webinar 

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you found this episode valuable, we invite you to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more educators who are committed to deepening their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences for children.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here

In this debut episode of Actions of Play, host Heather Jackson —an early childhood educator with over 40 years of experience—invites you into the inspiring world of play-based learning through a Reggio Emilia approach lens.

Broadcasting from the Reggio-inspired Sunflower School in Orangeville, Ontario, Heather shares the story of her journey—from her first introduction to Reggio-inspired practices in 1998 to building a thriving, child-centred learning community that now spans multiple locations and supports hundreds of children and educators.

This episode offers a heartfelt introduction to the philosophy that has shaped her life’s work: seeing children as capable, curious, and full of potential. Heather reflects on her evolution as an educator, the power of mentorship, and how embracing the role of “teacher as researcher” transformed her approach to early childhood education.

You’ll also get a glimpse into what’s ahead on the podcast, including:

• Real stories from educators
• Project work from Reggio-inspired classrooms
• Insights into play-based, child-led learning
• Practical reflections for educators looking to deepen their practice

Whether you’re an early childhood educator, leader, or simply passionate about meaningful learning, this episode sets the foundation for a thoughtful and inspiring journey into the actions of play.

 Tune in and explore what’s possible when we truly listen to children.

LINKS

The Sunflower School: https://thesunflowerschool.ca

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

We invite you to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more educators who are committed to deepening their practice and creating meaningful learning experiences for children.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER

Instagram: @thesunflower_studio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 

Take a Virtual Tour: Click Here