Reimagine Childhood

My guest today is Faith Rivera. Faith has worked with a variety of programs supporting children, youth, and young adults through nonprofits, faith-based organizations, universities, and health care over the last decade. Faith is passionate about ensuring families have access to the resources and services they need to raise their children well and for service providers to have the support to offer families the best quality services. She has a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with a concentration in Family and Community and a Masters of Education in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs Administration – both from the University of North Texas. She is also the founder of Alo Civitas Consulting, a company committed to improving maternal and child health.

In this podcast episode, Monica and Faith discuss the importance of early childhood mental health. They explain that early childhood mental health refers to children's ability to regulate and express their emotions, form relationships, and understand their place in the world. In this conversation, Faith emphasizes the significance of building a strong attachment between children and their caregivers from day one, as this helps children feel loved and secure. They also discuss the role of infant and toddler teachers in supporting infant mental health and emphasize the importance of meeting children's basic needs and providing a nurturing environment. Faith goes on to suggest practical strategies for educators and parents, such as making parents feel valued and involved, creating opportunities for children to regulate their emotions, and incorporating outdoor play and sensory experiences. The conversation highlights the impact of technology on children's mental health and emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interactions and emotional connections. The episode concludes with a reminder to appreciate and enjoy the small moments in early childhood.

It's amazing to think that we have so much influence over the healthy development of the children in our care. How you show up consistently in your classroom really does impact the mental and emotional health of your students! Don't be overwhelmed though. None of us are perfect. None of us show up as our best selves every single day. God has a way of working through our shortcomings and filling in gaps in ways we could never even imagine. But I hope this episode reminds you of the importance of those small daily interactions with your students. Spending a few extra moments when you're changing a diaper to tell a child that he is precious to you and precious to God builds strong neural connections that aid them in future relationships! It's not just about getting their little bottoms clean and moving on to the next thing. Taking a deep breath and calming yourself when a child pushes your buttons models self-regulation for a child! That's a skill we want all children to learn.

You can access Faith's website HERE.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

For over 30 years, Kathy's passion has been early childhood education. She has an education degree from Texas Tech University and taught for Coppell ISD and Hurst Euless Bedford ISD right here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area before starting her true love of teaching and directing weekday early childhood programs. She led a faith-based school in Fort Worth for several years and recently shifted her day-to-day life to provide consulting, training, and mentoring.

In this podcast episode, Kathy discusses the importance of building a school family and the impact it has on early childhood development. She defines a school family as a place where children feel loved, cared for, and safe, emphasizing the role of relationships in brain development and learning. Kathy suggests creating a safe and loving environment in the classroom, where children have important roles and responsibilities. She also highlights the significance of routines and intentional connections in fostering a sense of safety and community. With this, she shares practical strategies such as job assignments, recognition of acts of kindness, and a calm corner for children to regulate their emotions. Overall, she emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and nurturing environment that supports the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children.

If this concept is new to you, it may seem a bit overwhelming. Let me encourage you…you don't have to change everything you're doing in your classroom today. Pick one thing – maybe you want to try adding a personalized greeting to your day. Or maybe you just want to add some classroom jobs so every child helps your classroom function every day. Or maybe you just want to start using the "family" terminology as you talk to your students to help yourself and them shift your mindset into a community mindset. God has created us for community. He is the ultimate family-builder as He invites us to be a part of His family!

Kathy's email is [email protected]

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Today, our guest on Reimagine Childhood is Tiffany Crow, a Behavior Analyst. Tiffany's expertise also extends to providing behavioral training and consultations across various domains, including school districts, religious organizations, and nonprofit entities. As the Clinical Supervisor of an ABA Clinic, she offers essential behavior strategies to both staff and families through Telehealth services. She holds a Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and is passionate about empowering educators to help their students be successful.

In this podcast episode, Monica and Tiffany discuss behavior management strategies for challenging behaviors in the classroom. They introduce the concept of a "behavior suitcase" as a mental image for selecting and implementing strategies. The importance of building strong relationships with students and trying basic strategies before moving on to more advanced ones is emphasized and they continue by discussing strategies to address behaviors related to attention-seeking, escaping tasks, seeking access to tangible items, and sensory needs. Monica and Tiffany provide great examples of antecedent and consequence strategies for each behavior type and offer tips for avoiding common pitfalls. They also stress the importance of consistency and patience when implementing behavior management strategies. Monica and Tiffany conclude by reminding listeners that teaching children appropriate social behaviors is a game-changer that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Sometimes you just have to stay stuck in the stink and do better next time and also…consistency is key. We're praying for you as you love and care for these children and help them to learn socially appropriate ways to have their needs met.

Let us know how we can help you!

Tiffany's email address is [email protected] and the downloadable PDF with charts of strategies for antecedent and consequence adjustments is located HERE.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Our guest today, Evelyn Knight, is driven by a mission to ensure every child receives the love they deserve. As an experienced childcare center owner with over 25 years in preschool education, she provides coaching and mentoring to ECE directors and owners. She currently stands as the visionary CEO of Child Care Business Professionals and hosts The Childcare Business Coach Podcast. Inspired by 1 John 4:7-9, Evelyn dedicates herself to nurturing a brighter future for children everywhere.

During today's episode, Evelyn tackles the all-too-familiar struggle of time management. She discusses how many leaders, especially in early childhood education, grapple with time management and delegation, often believing they lack the time necessary to accomplish their tasks. Evelyn challenges this mindset, emphasizing that it's not about having insufficient time but rather about managing it effectively, and she shares practical strategies for effective time management, empowering leaders to make the most of every moment and reclaim hours previously lost to unproductive habits.

You can connect with Evelyn on Instagram HERE and listen to her podcast HERE.

If you think you need to do a time audit, download THIS TIME TRACKER and take the first step to taking control of your time.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Today's guest is Erin Brady – she serves as a College Associate Minister at The Way - a ministry to college students at Indiana Ave Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX. She holds a business degree from Lubbock Christian University. She would describe herself as happily belonging to Jesus Christ and she gets fired up about people knowing Jesus and allowing Him to change their lives.

In this podcast episode, Monica and Erin discuss the importance of having intentional spiritual conversations with parents in church-based preschools. They highlight the fact that not all parents who enroll their children in Christian preschools are Christians themselves, and emphasize the responsibility and privilege of building connections with these families. They suggest using the "SALT" method, which stands for Start a conversation, Ask questions, Listen, and Tell the story. Both Monica and Erin encourage teachers to ask open-ended questions, actively listen to parents' responses, and share their own personal stories of faith when appropriate. They also emphasize the power of a simple smile and the importance of being obedient to God's leading in engaging with parents. They continue by reminding teachers that they are planting seeds and that the growth and response are ultimately in God's hands. God has intentionally placed them in their current roles and He is always with them as they seek to make disciples and share the love of Christ.

As they close, they discuss the importance of being content in the uncomfortable to break out of our shells to share the gospel. You have an opportunity to interact with exactly who you're supposed to interact with. Who knows if God hasn't already cultivated the soil, so to speak, of some of the parents in your class?

If you'd like to connect with Erin, you can find her HERE! If you're interested in The Way, a ministry to college students in Lubbock, TX, you can connect HERE.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Today, we have Michelle Pinkston, Global Director of the Prestonwood Christian Learning Center, discussing a special event called "The Journey to Bethlehem," aimed at teaching young children about the birth of Jesus. She has a passion for teaching young children the truth of the Gospel in age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate ways.

In this podcast episode, Michelle talks with Monica about a special program called "The Journey to Bethlehem" that she implements in her Christian preschool. The program aims to bring the story of Jesus' birth to life for young children and help them understand the true meaning of Christmas. Michelle describes how the program is structured, with children dressing up in costumes, going on a journey to Bethlehem, interacting with different characters like shepherds and a tax collector, and ultimately arriving at the nativity scene. She also explains how teachers can adapt the program for their own classrooms, even if they don't have the resources for a large-scale production. Michelle emphasizes the importance of making the story experiential and engaging for children, as well as providing tangible take-home items like ornaments and devotionals for them to share with their families. Monica and Michelle discuss the impact of the program on children and their families and the potential long-term effects of introducing young children to the story of Jesus' birth.

Monica ends the episode by discussing the generational impact of sending kids home with excitement for the story of Jesus' birth. How will you make the bible come alive this Christmas season? Do something a little extra special and watch the wonder and awe of young children reignite your own faith as well.

We have several Journey to Bethlehem resources available for you HERE including the devotional Michelle talked about in the episode.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Macy Dickson, a registered nurse who is now a stay-at-home mom, joins Monica on this episode. Macy has a heart for the Lord and really wants to see moms and, women, in general, glorify the Lord in all they do. She serves as part of the women's ministry team at her home church in Lubbock, Texas - Indiana Ave Baptist Church where she helps lead a Mom-to-Mom ministry.

In this podcast episode, Macy and Monica discuss the pressure and stress that women often feel during the holiday season. They talk about the desire to create a perfect and magical Christmas for their families, but how this can lead to overwhelm and stress. Macy shares her own experience as a new mom and how she realized that she couldn't do it all and that it was okay. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing and focusing on what is most important during the holiday season, which is remembering and teaching about Christ. Monica and Macy also discuss practical ways to simplify and take the stress out of holiday planning, such as saying no to certain events, starting small with traditions, and shopping and wrapping gifts early. They also share their own family traditions, including service projects, reading the Christmas story, and participating in Advent. The interview ends with a discussion on reimagining Christmas for young children by focusing on the love, hope, and joy found in Jesus.

Monica ends the episode with some ideas for implementing these same principles in the classroom. Would you be willing to give up some of your "We've always done this" activities to shift the focus of your classroom more toward Jesus?

If you need some really practical ideas for keeping Christ in Christmas in your school, HERE is a downloadable PDF from our website.

HERE is the link to Operation Christmas Child in case you want to explore that opportunity for next year.

Macy is also a co-host on the Adorned podcast. You can listen HERE if you're looking for some Christian encouragement for women.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Our guest on this episode is Chad Oliver, an elementary school PE coach in McKinney, Texas. This is his 26th year in education. Chad and Monica serve together in student ministry at their home church of First McKinney. Chad is passionate about children's health and learning and he shares Jesus however he can. He currently teaches in a Title I elementary school where many parents are absent – some by choice due to addiction, incarceration, etc and some by necessity as they work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. He shares some unique insights into what he is experiencing with kindergarteners as they enter school for the first time.

Chad notes that many kindergartners lack basic social skills and struggle to interact with both adults and peers. He attributes this to excessive screen time and a lack of parental guidance in teaching children how to share, respect others, and follow instructions. Chad emphasizes the importance of minimizing screen time and encouraging outdoor play to develop social skills. He also mentions the positive impact of faith-based education in teaching children about Jesus and promoting kindness and respect.

Listen in to this conversation on the importance of our work in early childhood in preparing students to enter elementary school. The work that you're doing is noticeable and so necessary. As we do our jobs really well in early childhood by facilitating experiences for children to practice problem-solving and social interactions, we're actually setting them up for success in life! We know that the most powerful learning happens when children are allowed to play in healthy, fun, age-appropriate environments with educators who are willing to engage in with children as much as possible.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Our guest today, Paula Miller, is a seasoned Weekday Education Director with almost three decades of experience. As an energetic motivator, Paula offers visionary leadership grounded in faith, inspiring and empowering others to create a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families. Paula is also a certified Outdoor Training Specialist through the Outdoor Classroom Project. She is passionate about fostering environments that nurture children's growth and development by utilizing the power of play and nature to enhance their learning journey.

During today's episode, Paula reveals the possibilities of outdoor learning by demonstrating how anything that can be done indoors can also thrive outside. She shares valuable insights on crafting cost-effective yet highly functional outdoor learning spaces, and she discusses the benefits of child-led, outdoor play. Gain valuable knowledge on empowering children to explore, learn, and thrive in the natural world while embracing the limitless potential of the great outdoors.

Learn more about the work Paula is doing at First Baptist Georgetown HERE.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Our guest today, Jerri Thompson, is an unstoppable force with 35+ years of early childhood expertise! She currently serves as an administrator at a NAEYC accredited program in Austin and as President of the Austin Chapter for the Texas Association for Young Children. Jerri's passion lies in teaching adults, advocacy, and crafting top-notch curriculum and assessment tools. Jerri is a Master Registered Trainer, Child Care Health Consultant, and founder of ECEToday.com.

During today's episode, Jerri explores the essential tool that every early childhood educator needs: scope and sequence. She shares how scope and sequence empowers teachers to navigate the developmental milestones of young children with ease, and how it provides a roadmap for clear classroom observation and assessment.

You can learn more from Jerri Thompson in the Active Supervision course in our Learning Library.

You can also explore ECCN's Assessment Tools which include Thompson's Scope and Sequence HERE.

As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.