In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer engages in a heartfelt discussion with Kris Ramos, a former public school educator turned church-based preschool teacher, about the transformative power of play-based learning. Kris shares her journey from a structured educational setting to embracing a more flexible, child-centered approach focused on hands-on, joyful learning experiences. They delve into the foundational benefits of play for cognitive, emotional, and social development, the challenges teachers face in advocating for play-based education, and the role of educators in creating meaningful and developmentally appropriate learning environments. Tune in to discover practical strategies, inspiring stories, and the profound impact of nurturing curiosity and joy in early childhood education.

00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood

00:49 Meet Kris Ramos: Journey to Play-Based Learning

04:25 The Importance and Impact of Play-Based Learning

14:44 Misconceptions and Defending Play-Based Learning

17:19 Regional Conference Promo

20:16 Understanding the Importance of Play in Child Development

21:29 Communicating the Value of Play to Parents

25:24 Practical Steps for Implementing Play-Based Learning

29:58 The Joy and Impact of Early Childhood Education

· Find Kris on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_inspired_llama/

· We have a discounted link for Amanda Morgan's "Why We Play" letters to help you communicate the value of play-based learning to parents, teachers, and other community members. You must have an active ECCN membership to access the discount - https://earlychildhoodchristiannetwork.com/resources/#exclusive

· You can find more of Amanda's resources at https://notjustcute.com/