The ECE Classroom with Susie Beghin

Susie Beghin interviews Rusty Keeler, a natural playscape designer and advocate for outdoor play. He shares insights on connecting children with nature through play, the importance of slowing down in a fast-paced world, and his new initiative, the Nature Play Academy.

Link to join the Nature Play Academy

https://rustykeeler.com/the-nature-play-academy/

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Rusty Keeler and outdoor play

01:07 Rusty's background and philosophy on naturalplayscapes

02:04 The importance of outdoor play and connection tonature

03:04 Slowing down in a technology-driven world

04:09 Introducing the Nature Play Academy

05:54 Building community and sharing resources

07:11 Rusty's global research and inspiration

08:28 The 'seed to forest' growth model for nature play

09:52 Supporting educators and parents in outdoor play

13:24 Who the Nature Play Academy is for and next steps

Music by Pixabay

Just in time for the new school year, Susie Beghin explores how observing children's natural play patterns and schemas can transform curriculum planning in early childhood education. She introduces practical resources to help educators support and extend children's learning through schema-based approaches.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to the importance of observation in earlychildhood education

02:17 What children are already trying to learn

04:44 The power of noticing how children explore

06:05 Introduction to schemas as patterns of behavior

07:05 Planning around schemas to deepen engagement

08:12 Introducing the Learning Through Schemas resources

10:21 Supporting and extending schemas in curriculumplanning

12:42 Using resources to respond to children's play patterns

14:45 Practical steps for observing and supporting schemas

15:24 Closing thoughts and encouragement for educators

Susie Beghin explores the importance of observing children'splay to understand their interests and developmental cues. What we often see as misbehaviour, is actually deep learning. She introduces the concept of schemas—repeated patterns of play behavior—and how recognizing them can transform early childhood education.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the importance of play observation

01:06 Children's behaviors as clues to their thinking

02:30 Looking deeper into children's play

05:37 Introducing schemas: patterns of behavior

06:26 Common schemas in children's play

07:20 The educator's role in interpreting play

08:20 Challenge to observe and recognize schemas

09:03 Next steps and upcoming resources

Music from Pixabay

In this episode, Ramona Mathew, BCBA, from Spokes Autism Services shares insights with parents and educators about autism therapy, play-based learning, and building trust with children.

Discover practical strategies for supporting children withautism and fostering meaningful connections.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Autism

02:36 Ramona's Journey in Autism Services

05:08 Understanding Play in Children with Autism

07:59 Building Independent Skills in Children with Autism

10:38 Motivation and Reinforcement Strategies

13:09 Effective Use of Rewards and Reinforcement

15:55 Building Relationships with Children with Autism

28:03 Final Advice for Parents and Educators

Resources

Spokes Autism Services - www.spokesautismservices.ca

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) -https://pecs.com

Instagram - https://instagram.com/spokes.autism

Music by pixabay

In this episode, Susie Beghin interviews Jackie Aviles, who shares her journey into sleep consulting and the importance of sleep for children. They discuss the impact of sleep deprivation on children's behavior, the science behind sleep processing, and how sleep consulting works. Jackie explains the transition away from sleep props, the importance of supporting parents through the process, and the pros and cons of co-sleeping. The conversation emphasizes gentle approaches to sleep training, teaching independence in sleep, and creating a predictable bedtime routine for children.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Sleep Consulting

03:00 The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Children

06:15 Understanding Sleep and Behavior

07:45 How Sleep Consulting Works

8:53 Transitioning Away from Sleep Props

12:51 Supporting Parents Through the Process

15:30 Co-Sleeping: Pros and Cons

18:00 Gentle Approaches to Sleep Training

21:32 Creating a Predictable Bedtime Routine

24:13 Susie’s Reflections on Today’s Topic

Jackie Aviles

Parent Concierge | Matrikas Membership Coordinator | UCG Creator

Instagram: @restednotperfect | TikTok: @restednotperfect | Facebook: Rested Not Perfect

In this episode, Susie Beghin interviews Emily Walz, theDirector of Learning at the Zones of Regulation. They discuss the importance of emotional regulation in early childhood education, the framework of the Zones of Regulation, and how it can be used to support neurodiverse learners. Emilyemphasizes the need for educators to teach emotional literacy and regulation skills, and the importance of creating a compassionate and understanding environment for all learners. The conversation highlights the significance ofrecognizing and normalizing all emotions, and the role of co-regulation in helping children develop these essential skills.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Zones of Regulation

01:35 What is the Zones of Regulation?

05:40 Exploring the Four Colour Zones

07:43 Normalizing all emotions and creating safe environments

12:15 How to Use Zones for Neurodiverse children

15:28 Seeing Behaviour Differently and Co-regulation

20:34 Susie’s Reflection on Today’s Topic

About Our Guest

Emily is a licensed Special Education Teacher with over 20 years of experience in the field of education. She spent the first 15 years of her career teaching special education and leading social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives in New York City and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Emily’s role as Director of Learning Experience & Innovation at The Zones of Regulation allows her to use her rich experience to be hands-on in developing curriculum content and training for Zones leaders, as well as consulting with schools, districts, and organizations in the U.S. and abroad.www.zonesofregulation.com

Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

This year, I'm proud to take part in Podcasthon, the world’s largest charity podcast event! I’ll be dedicating this episode of my podcast to support a charity and a cause that truly matters to me. ❤️

In this episode, I interview Christine Hull, founder of 100 Women Mississauga, about the impactful model of collective giving. We explore how small donations from individual women can create significant community change and share inspiring stories of local impact.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Special Episode

06:35 Understanding the 100 Women Who Care Model

12:36 Heartwarming Stories of Impact

17:39 Building Community and Sisterhood

Resources:https://christinehullonline.com/https://www.100whocarealliance.org/https://100womenwhocaremississauga.com/

About our GuestChristine Hull is the President of 100 Women Who Care Mississauga, a powerful local giving circle that bringswomen together to make an immediate impact in the community. Under her leadership, the group has collectively donated over $175,000 to local charities and continues to grow its reach and influence across the city of Mississauga — funding critical programs in mental health, food security, women’s support services, and youth initiatives.

In this episode, Susie Beghin interviews Anu Guttorm, the owner of Moomin Language School, to explore the unique aspects of Finland's early childhood education system. They discuss the importance of emotional learning, the role of play in education, and the innovative approach of language immersion. Anu shares insights into how Finnish educators prioritize social skills and emotional development over academic skills in early childhood, and how her school utilizes digital tools to facilitate language learning. The conversation highlights the significance of nurturing curiosity and creativity in young learners, as well as the potential for technology to enhance educational experiences.Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Early Childhood Education in Finland

03:26 Approach to Early Childhood Education in Finland

07:30 Structure of the Day in Finnish Early Childhood Education

10:00 Emotional Learning and Social Skills in Finnish Education

11:22 The Importance of Free Play and Child-Led Learning

14:15 Digital Language Immersion: A Unique Approach to Learning

22:40 Future of Language Learning and Technology in Education

25:10 Susie’s Reflection on Today’s topic

About Our Guest

Anu Guttorm is the founder and CEO of Moomin Language School, where they blend Finnish education principles with safe, innovative technology. Through stories and play, they help children and educators discover the joy of language — and prepare young learners for meaningful connections in the future.www.moominls.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anuguttorm/

In this episode of the ECE Classroom podcast, host SusieBeghin welcomes Will Maurer from Children's Media Research and Reform to discuss the critical topic of screen time for children under two. Will shares his journey from working in media and entertainment to focusing on the impact of screen use on young children, particularly during the pandemic when he became a parent. He emphasizes the alarming effects of overstimulating content, which can lead to dopamine imbalances and addictive behaviors in children, likening it to the first addiction in their lives. Will highlights the gapbetween existing guidelines that recommend no screen time for children under two and the reality that many children are exposed to screens at a young age.

The conversation delves into the characteristics of qualitycontent versus harmful media, with Will advising parents and educators to look for slower-paced, developmentally appropriate programming that encourages co-viewing and interaction. He critiques popular media, including platformslike YouTube, for their rapid pacing and overstimulation, which can hinder a child's ability to learn and develop. Will advocates for a shift in how children's media is produced, emphasizing the need for content that supports language development and meaningful engagement between parents and children.The episode concludes with a call to action for better funding and support for creating high-quality media for young children, echoing the legacy of educational pioneers like Fred Rogers.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Screen Time and Early ChildhoodEducation

03:02 Current Research on Screen Use for Children Under Two

06:20 Identifying Quality Content for Young Children

08:30 The Evolution of Children's Media

10:25 The Impact of Fast-Paced Programming

14:15 Co-Viewing: Bridging the Gap Between Screens andLearning

15:55 Evaluating Popular Shows: The Case of Miss Rachel

21:29 Guidance for Educators and Parents on Screen Use

23:30 Susie’s Reflections on Today’s Topic

 Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

About Our Guest - Will Maurer

Media and Education | TEDx Speaker on Children’s Media Reform | On a Mission to Positively Impact the Lives of Families Around the Worldwww.cmrrl.org

In this episode of the ECE Classroom Podcast, host SusieBeghin reflects on the past year, sharing highlights from 2025 episodes and the five lessons she's carrying forward as an educator and lifelong learner. The episode emphasizes the power of storytelling, emotional well-being, behavior ascommunication, the importance of movement in learning, and the value of partnerships in education.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and 2025 Reflection

01:10 Storytelling as a Relationship

02:27 Emotional Well-being in Education

03:53 Behavior as Communication

05:06 Learning Through Movement

06:10 Building Partnerships

Music by Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay