In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with Ann McKittrick, founder of Nurtured Noggins and Texas Childcare Training, about challenges young families have faced since COVID and practical ways early educators can help. Ann describes lingering impacts including fear, isolation around birth and newborn care, disrupted social-emotional development, increased reliance on screens and online "experts," and reduced everyday experiences for children. They discuss how parental loneliness and overwhelm affect children and highlight the need for belonging and predictable routines in classrooms to build confidence and security. Ann shares strategies for strengthening family community through intentional parent connections, analog wellness prompts, and facilitating relationships among parents. She also reimagines greater cultural respect, support, and pay for early childhood educators given the importance of early brain development.

00:00 Reimagine Childhood Intro

00:49 Meet Ann McKittrick

02:56 COVID Aftershocks for Families

10:37 Loneliness Screens and Child Development

20:29 Conference Season Highlights

22:38 Predictability Builds Belonging

26:09 Helping Parents Reconnect

35:15 Reimagining Educator Respect

Ann McKitrick has LOADS of resources for early childhood educators, parents and moms, specifically. Check out her website at https://www.annmckitrick.com/

You can also connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nurturednoggins/

And if you're interested in connection and becoming your best self in this season — check out her Momentum program at https://www.annmckitrick.com/momentum/.

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with Jesse Lambert, a childcare coaching specialist from West Virginia, about the importance of knowing your "why" in early childhood education—especially during seasons of spring fatigue, difficult days, and burnout. Jesse shares how a moment driving past a church for sale sparked her path into early childhood, leading her to earn an associate's degree in early childhood education and a bachelor's in child development and family studies. Together, Monica and Jesse explore how purpose fuels motivation beyond a paycheck, how your "why" can shift with different seasons of life, and how prayer and staying in tune with yourself help you recognize when you're drifting or simply going through the motions. They discuss navigating hard interactions with parents, coworkers, and children, choosing to "rise above" by turning to God, and practical ways to reset classroom routines—like changing tone of voice, singing directions, or adding playful elements—to reignite joy for both teachers and children. The conversation also highlights the role of school leaders in creating supportive environments, the value of a school-wide "why" alongside each staff member's personal purpose, and Jesse's experience of burnout during COVID that ultimately led her to make a job change. Monica closes by encouraging listeners to pause, ask God to renew their passion, and remember that thriving educators help children flourish.

00:00 Welcome to Reimagine Childhood: A Calling to Shape Hearts

01:32 Meet Jesse Lambert: From a Church-for-Sale Moment to Early Childhood

04:20 Find Your "Why": Purpose, Seasons, and Staying in Tune with God

13:11 Hard Days & Healthy Culture: Resilience, Faith, and Leading Staff Well

19:12 Create a School-Wide "Why" (and Make It More Than a Mission Statement)

22:10 Are You Drifting? Signs You've Lost Motivation + How to Check In

23:28 Burnout, Needed Shifts, and Simple Classroom Resets That Reignite Joy

30:04 Break the Generational Cycle + Final Encouragement to Rediscover Your Why

Connect with Jessie on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jessie.lambert.2025

Need some tools for identifying your Why? Try this activity - Finding Your Roots

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood by Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer converses with Martha Harvey, co-founder of With Families ministry. They discuss the importance of early faith formation starting even before birth and its role in developing trust, love, and safety in children. Martha shares practical ways for integrating faith into preschool classrooms and engaging parents in the discipleship process. Topics covered include the significance of teachers modeling faith, incorporating prayer and scripture into daily activities, and creating intentional learning experiences that connect to Biblical stories. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of family worship and community support in nurturing a child's spiritual growth. Martha introduces the With Kits as tools for extending faith education into the home, providing resources that require no prep work for parents. The episode concludes with reflections on the pivotal role weekday programs play in shaping the foundational faith experiences of young children.

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer engages with Dr. Robin Pearson to discuss managing high-needs behaviors in young children. Dr. Pearson, a certified special education teacher and experienced leader in various educational roles, shares practical strategies for addressing disruptive behaviors such as spitting and chair throwing. The conversation delves into the importance of self-regulation for both teachers and children, the significance of understanding the eight sensory systems, and promoting inclusive learning environments. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own tolerance levels and implement creative solutions to support children's needs. The episode also highlights the importance of parent education and how educators can effectively communicate and collaborate with parents.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:50 Meet Dr. Robin Pearson

01:43 Understanding High Needs Behaviors

07:32 Sensory Systems and Practical Tips

21:04 Managing Spitting and Disruptive Behaviors

23:17 Handling Defiance and Power Struggles

26:07 Addressing Aggressive Behaviors

28:13 Engaging Parents and Reimagining Childhood

Platypuslearning.com

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer discusses combating burnout with Faith Rivera, founder and principal consultant of Allos. Consulting. Faith outlines the causes of burnout, differentiates it from stress and overwhelm, and offers practical strategies for early childhood educators to manage stress and avoid burnout. The conversation delves into the emotional, physical, and mental health impacts of burnout, the importance of self-care, and setting boundaries. Additionally, Faith highlights the necessity of community relationships and provides her top five habits for preventing burnout. The episode concludes with a call to action for educators to prioritize their well-being to better serve the children in their care.

00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood

00:55 Understanding Burnout with Faith Rivera

02:16 Recognizing the Signs of Burnout

11:08 Impact of Teacher Burnout on Children

15:22 The Impact of Stress on Health

16:46 Top Five Personal Habits to Manage Stress

19:51 The Importance of Being Present

23:28 Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships

Here are some resources to help as you take steps to protect your own well-being:

Habit Tracker downloadable to help you stay on track with goals

Finding Rest in the Rush course on our website.

Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith on 7 types of rest

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer engages in a conversation with education professional Libby Wright about supporting multilingual children in early childhood classrooms. Libby, who has extensive experience fostering community among teachers, parents, and students from diverse backgrounds, discusses practical strategies for creating inclusive, language-rich environments. The episode highlights the cognitive and social benefits of language diversity in classrooms, emphasizes the importance of maintaining home languages, and provides tips for building strong relationships with families. The conversation also touches on leveraging visual aids, encouraging play-based learning, and using tools like labeling and translation apps to enhance communication. Tune in for a wealth of research-backed insights and actionable tips aimed at helping educators navigate the unique challenges and opportunities presented by multilingual settings.

00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood

00:52 Meet Libby Wright: Embracing Multilingual Classrooms

02:51 Benefits of Language Diversity in Early Childhood

06:06 Creating a Language-Rich Environment

20:01 Modeling Language for Preschoolers

21:49 Creating Inclusive Snack Time

23:09 Embracing Cultural Differences

28:09 Partnering with Parents for Language Development

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/

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, Monica Healer, the host, offers a heartfelt discussion aimed at early childhood educators, focusing on how personal growth in wisdom, physical well-being, and faith can impact their teaching and caregiving roles. Drawing from Luke 2:52, Monica emphasizes the continuous journey of learning, the importance of physical care, and the necessity of deepening one's relationship with God. She shares practical strategies for daily reflection, self-care, and spiritual development, encouraging educators to seek God's guidance, nourish their bodies, and strengthen their faith. Ending with a reminder of the eternal impact educators have on children and their communities, Monica provides actionable steps to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man in the coming year.

00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood

01:01 A Different Kind of Episode

01:41 Growing in Wisdom

04:39 Taking Care of Your Physical Body

10:26 Nurturing Your Relationship with God

16:50 Growing in Favor with Man

20:39 Final Encouragement and Farewell

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, host Monica Healer welcomes Renee Blaine, associate preschool minister at Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. With over three decades of early childhood experience, Renee shares her passion for building biblical foundations in young children in age-appropriate ways. They discuss how to integrate biblical literacy into the classroom, drawing parallels to teaching emerging literacy. Key strategies include building oral language, introducing repetitive truths, and creating a love for God's Word. The episode highlights the importance of partnering with parents and provides practical tips for incorporating faith-based messages into everyday learning. 00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood 00:48 Meet Renee Blaine: A Journey in Early Childhood Education 02:22 The Importance of Biblical Literacy in Early Childhood 07:18 Practical Strategies for Teaching Biblical Literacy 18:47 Regional Conference Promotion 21:03 The Importance of Music in Early Childhood 21:56 Laying a Solid Foundation of Faith 25:41 Teaching God's Word Effectively 29:53 Equipping Parents and Educators Download the Gospel cube Renee talked about in the episode - https://elevatechurchconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8.5x11_GospelCubeImages-1-1.pdf Renee's cube is adapted from this resource (which has TONS of other resources for teaching the Bible)! https://sundayschoolzone.com/bible-story/gods-unfolding-story/ Renee wrote a blog article with great tips for sharing the gospel in an age-appropriate manner with young children, including instructions for using the cube above: https://elevatechurchconference.com/preschool-ministry-sharing-the-gospel/

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, hosted by Monica Healer and brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, Monica sits down with Ashley Myers, founder of The Abiding Family and a children's minister in Texas. Ashley shares her personal journey of raising a son with Down syndrome and how it has shaped her passion for creating inclusive classrooms. They discuss the importance of inclusion from a theological perspective, practical strategies for accommodating children with various needs, and the significant impact that inclusive teaching can have on a child's development and faith formation. This episode is packed with actionable insights and resources for educators seeking to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood

00:42 Meet Ashley Myers: A Journey with Special Needs

01:29 The Importance of Inclusion in Classrooms

10:17 Practical Strategies for Inclusive Education

20:24 Primetime Promo

22:01 Creating an Inclusive Classroom Environment

24:38 The Power of Visual Supports and Calm Down Spaces

28:46 Effective Communication Strategies for Children with Special Needs

32:42 The Call to Inclusion and Overcoming Barriers

40:04 In Conclusion

Find Ashley on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089046874497

Instagram @abiding.family_ashley.myers

and TikTok https://tiktok.com/@the.abiding.family

You might also want to work through our three-part Special Needs training series provided by Sandra Peoples. HERE is the link to check that out!

Help Me Grow - https://helpmegrownational.org/ — Check for a local affiliate who can help you support families in getting resources.

Milestones Info - https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/families/milestones-matter.html