Reimagine Childhood

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood from the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer welcomes back conference favorite Dr. Melissa Ewing, a PhD-trained clinical psychologist and professor at Dallas Baptist University with ministry experience and a passion for integrating scripture with brain science. They discuss why emotions can feel overwhelming, including generational messages about stuffing feelings, the amygdala's danger response, and the role of the prefrontal cortex in reasoning and impulse control. Dr. Ewing defines emotional regulation as recognizing, naming, expressing, and managing emotions, and explains how it supports mental health and relationships. She offers practical tools organized into four areas: renew your mind by replacing automatic negative thoughts with truth and scripture, refocus your heart through worship and gratitude, recharge your body with sleep, hydration, movement, and wise choices, and rest your spirit through Sabbath rhythms, boundaries, and reducing technology.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:22 Why Emotions Feel Bigger 09:24 What Emotional Regulation Means 11:28 Renew Mind and Refocus Heart 23:08 Summer Promo 26:42 Music and Boundaries 28:48 Grace at Work 31:23 Recharge Your Body 37:22 Rest and Wrap Up

We've added several tools here to help you: Coping Skills Checklist Encouraging Verses for Worry and Stress Using Your Senses to Manage Stress

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood from the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer welcomes Joy Wendling—founder of Created to Play, author, podcast host, and ministry resource coordinator—to model how intentional movement and planned "interruptions" can transform Bible storytelling for preschoolers. Joy demonstrates telling "Jesus Calms the Storm" by inviting children to row, rock with waves, show emotions, and breathe into peace, helping them process fear and experience the story in their bodies. They discuss choosing age-appropriate, shorter storybook Bible retellings, the value of oral storytelling, and how movement frees children's brains to focus rather than struggle to sit still. Monica and Joy explore how this approach nurtures faith, helps children imagine Jesus in everyday life, and offers practical ways to handle child-led interruptions with "connection over perfection," plus classroom extension ideas like sink-and-float play and ocean sounds.

00:00 5.4.26- Joy Wendling

00:01 Welcome to Reimagine Childhood

00:50 Meet Joy Wendling

02:30 Interactive Bible Story Demo

13:34 Why Movement Matters

17:01 Conference Season Highlights

18:01 Storytelling That Builds Faith

26:05 Handling Interruptions Gracefully

31:09 Key Takeaways And Sendoff

Find all of Joy's resource at https://createdtoplay.com/

Her podcast is Playfully Faithful Parenting - https://createdtoplay.com/podcast/

Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/createdtoplay

Or find some of the toolkits she's created at https://faithandchildren.org/

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood from the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer welcomes literacy change leader Melissa Leach, owner and president of Leach Literacy Training, to discuss why young children "won't listen" and how educators can teach listening and behavior skills developmentally and with grace. Melissa emphasizes that it's not a child's job to be engaged; it's the teacher's job to engage them, consider children's backgrounds, and teach expectations rather than assume they already know. She shares practical tools including nonjudgmental "behavior reflections" (stating what a "mirror" sees using "you/your") and the "4 Rs": Reflection, Reaction, Redirect, and "Remember I said." They also address barriers like time and adult discomfort, encourage partnering with families, and recommend restoring classroom joy through teacher-led singing and playful transitions while holding onto the "pre" in preschool.

00:00 Welcome to Reimagine Childhood

02:07 Why Kids Don't Listen Yet

05:04 Teach Behavior Not Punish

11:22 Behavior Reflections Tool

17:15 Summer Conference Promo

17:38 Conference Season Highlights

19:39 The Four Rs Framework

21:41 Overwhelm to Joyful Classrooms

32:08 Reimagining Preschool and Final Takeaways

Find Melissa at her website - https://www.leachliteracytraining.com/

Here is a link to the website with free printables that Melissa mentioned - https://kizclub.com/#gsc.tab=0

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/