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That Early Childhood Nerd

Early Childhood Nerdwork
Early Childhood Education
Play
Child-Led Play
Visual Perception
Education
Schema Play
Schema Play Theory
Free Play
Liberating Childhood
Kindergarten
Language Development
Self-Regulation
Phonological Awareness
Pretend Play
Open Access
Love In Education
Go Play
Physical Development
Toddler Development
Piaget

If you love thinking deeply about childhood, early childhood education, caring for children, and supporting children’s right to play, this is the podcast for you! Each week, host and self-proclaimed early childhood nerd Heather Bernt-Santy invites practitioners, writers, and thinkers who share her commitment to doing the very best we can for children, their caregivers and teachers, and their famil... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes409Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for That Early Childhood Nerd

Latest Episodes

In 1992, Jim Greenman wrote an article called "Places for Childhoods--How Institutional Are You?" that has been, without exaggeration, in host Heather Bernt-Santy's mind at least once a week since she discovered it early in her career. And what fun! ... more

Susan Stacey joins the show for a deep dive into emergent curriculum--what it really means, what is looks like in practice, and why it still matters in early childhood settings. Her book Emergent Curriculum in  Early Childhood Settings reminds us tha... more

Gennie Gorback and Kate Allen Fox want to help parents (and others!) understand how play can unlock many wonderful possibilities--and unexpected joys--for their families. Because, as they say, there's no such thing as "just play." Play isn't just any... more

Have you heard about the canary in the coal mine? It was an old safety practice with coal miners to protect them from harmful toxins in the air of the mines--a caged canary would be taken into the mine and miners would know if the canary was harmed b... more

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Recent Guests

Gennie Gorback
Play expert, author of Go Play
Go Play book authors
Episode: NERD 0412 Go Play! with Gennie Gorback and Kate Allen Fox
Kate Allen Fox
Writer and science communicator, co-author of Go Play
Go Play book authors
Episode: NERD 0412 Go Play! with Gennie Gorback and Kate Allen Fox
Denita Dinger
Early childhood educator and consultant who emphasizes listening to children
Listen to the Children (consultant brand)
Episode: NERD 0411 Why Can't Children Self Regulate? with Denita Dinger
Cara Tyrrell
Author of Talk to Them Early and Often, educator and speaker
Author, Educator
Episode: NERD 0409 Talk to Them Early and Often with Cara Tyrrell
Pat Cantor
Author and educator; co-author of Screen Aware Early Childhood
Author, Screen Aware Early Childhood book
Episode: NERD 0407 Screen Aware Early Childhood
Melinda Holohan
Author and researcher; faculty at Western Michigan University
Author, Screen Aware Early Childhood
Episode: NERD 0407 Screen Aware Early Childhood
Jean Rogers
Author and communications professional; involved in screen-time advocacy
Author, Screen Aware Early Childhood
Episode: NERD 0407 Screen Aware Early Childhood
Susan Engel
Author of American Kindergarten; Professor of Developmental Psychology at Williams College; co-founder of a school
Williams College
Episode: NERD 0406 American Kindergarten with Susan Engel
Aaron Neimark
Guest on the episode, educator
Episode: NERD_0405 Nerd Study Hall: The Hope and Promise of Teaching

Host

Heather Bernt-Santy
Host of That Early Childhood Nerd

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 8 ratings
  • An Amazing Resource

    Heather brings the best of early childhood education together to discuss relevant topics for caregivers, teachers, and ECEC advocates

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bethany Corrie
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts bring clear passion and practical guidance for families and educators.
High-quality guests and useful takeaways for classrooms and policy contexts.
Engaging, thoughtful discussions on early childhood that mix research with real-life practices.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

NERD 0401 Ten Types of Rest with Kerry Murphy
Q: Kerry, tell us about rest types and what you mean by embedding them in practice.
Kerry explains the seven original rest types from Donald Smith, expanded to ten for the early childhood context, and stresses that rest is ecological,境 influenced by energy states, environments, and relationships, not just a single calm-down activity.
NERD 0400 The 400th Episode of That Early Childhood Nerd!
Q: So what is free play and why does it need advocacy?
Free play is child-directed, intrinsically motivated exploration where the child decides what and how to play, without adult-directed goals, and it needs advocacy because cultural pressures, market-driven curriculums, and policy choices often push for more didactic, product-oriented learning rather than open-ended play.
NERD_0402 Free the Research!
Q: So what's the meaning behind liberating childhood and what are you building with Liberating Childhood?
Liberating Childhood aims to center humans and relationships in education, create a space where research is accessible and usable, and build a community that connects practitioners with real research through open access, curated collections, and practitioner-driven content.
NERD_0404 Men, Risky Play, and Gentle Care with Mike Browne
Q: What is the connection between risky play and gentle care?
The host and Mike explain that risky play and gentle care are not opposites but complementary—rough activities can be managed with mindful care, rhythm, and pauses that support children's safety, autonomy, and learning.
NERD_0404 Men, Risky Play, and Gentle Care with Mike Browne
Q: Mike, can you explain a time in which you were just like gentle with the children?
Mike discusses moments where he tunes into children's cues, uses culturally affirming practices, and shifts away from a purely disciplinary stance toward responsiveness and care that honors their needs and identities.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About That Early Childhood Nerd

What is That Early Childhood Nerd about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners are drawn to careful, research-informed discussions about early childhood education, play, and nurturing relationships. Episodes frequently explore play-based parenting, developmentally appropriate practice, screen time, rest and regulation, language development, and care ethics, often translating theory into practical guidance for families and educators. A standout through-line is balancing evidence with humane, relationship-centered approaches, emphasizing accessibility of research, and empowering practitioners to foster joyful, meaningful learning environments for young children. The show regularly features authors, researchers, and educators who challenge traditional narratives and advocate for more child-centered, equitable a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to That Early Childhood Nerd?

These podcasts share a similar audience with That Early Childhood Nerd:

1. Liberated Learning
2. Pre-Primary Sources
3. Teaching With The Body In Mind
4. We Can Do Hard Things
5. Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

How many episodes of That Early Childhood Nerd are there?

That Early Childhood Nerd launched 9 months ago and published 409 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on That Early Childhood Nerd?

Recent guests on That Early Childhood Nerd include:

1. Gennie Gorback
2. Kate Allen Fox
3. Denita Dinger
4. Cara Tyrrell
5. Pat Cantor
6. Melinda Holohan
7. Jean Rogers
8. Susan Engel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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