Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd
@ece-nerd.bsky.social
I am an early years professor, writer, speaker and host of the podcast That Early Childhood Nerd.
Opinions shared are my own.
Opinions shared are my own.
If you’re going to be at the NAEYC conference in Orlando, I’d love to see you at my book signing! That’s right, I’m doing a BOOK SIGNING! 🎉🎉🎉 See you there!
November 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
If you’re going to be at the NAEYC conference in Orlando, I’d love to see you at my book signing! That’s right, I’m doing a BOOK SIGNING! 🎉🎉🎉 See you there!
Big day in That Early Childhood Nerd world! Not only did the episode I did with Rusty Keeler for his podcast come out today, my blog post on schema play for Community Playthings is out today!
www.communityplaythings.com/resources/ar...
www.communityplaythings.com/resources/ar...
Recognizing Play Schemas Can Transform Your Early Learning Practices | Community Playthings
Discover how play schemas shape children’s learning and development, and learn practical ways to support them in your classroom with insights from Heather Bernt-Santy.
www.communityplaythings.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Big day in That Early Childhood Nerd world! Not only did the episode I did with Rusty Keeler for his podcast come out today, my blog post on schema play for Community Playthings is out today!
www.communityplaythings.com/resources/ar...
www.communityplaythings.com/resources/ar...
For a recent special issue of the early childhood magazine Exchange on protecting play, host Heather Bernt-Santy wrote an article addressing the often asked question, “If I just let children play, how am I still a teacher?”
youtu.be/QbvBIzPlaFM?...
youtu.be/QbvBIzPlaFM?...
If the Children "Just Play," am I Still a Teacher?
YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 12:26 AM
For a recent special issue of the early childhood magazine Exchange on protecting play, host Heather Bernt-Santy wrote an article addressing the often asked question, “If I just let children play, how am I still a teacher?”
youtu.be/QbvBIzPlaFM?...
youtu.be/QbvBIzPlaFM?...
Every now and again, I have a little panic–what if by teaching current ideas, theories about good practice, and new research about working with young children, I'm just setting students up to be frustrated or to get in trouble?
youtu.be/Gl3-rj087f0?...
youtu.be/Gl3-rj087f0?...
Early Childhood Higher Ed: Preparation for What?
YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Every now and again, I have a little panic–what if by teaching current ideas, theories about good practice, and new research about working with young children, I'm just setting students up to be frustrated or to get in trouble?
youtu.be/Gl3-rj087f0?...
youtu.be/Gl3-rj087f0?...
Want to know more? I wrote a whole book about it!
October 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Want to know more? I wrote a whole book about it!
A little bit of page 76 from my new book “Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood” #play #childcare #preschool #childdevelopment #earlychildhood #teaching #earlychildhoodeducation #parenting
October 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A little bit of page 76 from my new book “Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood” #play #childcare #preschool #childdevelopment #earlychildhood #teaching #earlychildhoodeducation #parenting
I’m home from the IPA-USA conference amd my books are here!!!
October 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I’m home from the IPA-USA conference amd my books are here!!!
I don’t have any photos from my “Play Skeptics Have Schemas, Too!” presentation but love this one of my presentation with Deb Lawrence and LaDonna Atkins on “Innovative Strategies for Teaching about Children’s Play in Higher Education” at this year’s IPA-USA Child’s Right to Play conference.
October 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I don’t have any photos from my “Play Skeptics Have Schemas, Too!” presentation but love this one of my presentation with Deb Lawrence and LaDonna Atkins on “Innovative Strategies for Teaching about Children’s Play in Higher Education” at this year’s IPA-USA Child’s Right to Play conference.
It’s getting closer to official publication day! I went to the Teachers College Press website a while ago and requested a digital desk copy and it was emailed to me today!! It’s a real book!!
October 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
It’s getting closer to official publication day! I went to the Teachers College Press website a while ago and requested a digital desk copy and it was emailed to me today!! It’s a real book!!
Author, educator and community organizer Dr. Megan Madison joins me to talk about her First Conversations children’s book series, children’s developing sense of justice and fairness, book bans, and more.
youtu.be/HzfYcwnxVck?...
youtu.be/HzfYcwnxVck?...
Supporting Young Children's Sense of Social Justice: Dr Megan Madison
YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd
youtu.be
October 7, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Author, educator and community organizer Dr. Megan Madison joins me to talk about her First Conversations children’s book series, children’s developing sense of justice and fairness, book bans, and more.
youtu.be/HzfYcwnxVck?...
youtu.be/HzfYcwnxVck?...
Who will be at the NAEYC conference in Orlando?
Find me at my session Thursday morning at 8 then at the Teachers College Press booth at 10:30 for my book signing!
Find me at my session Thursday morning at 8 then at the Teachers College Press booth at 10:30 for my book signing!
September 30, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Who will be at the NAEYC conference in Orlando?
Find me at my session Thursday morning at 8 then at the Teachers College Press booth at 10:30 for my book signing!
Find me at my session Thursday morning at 8 then at the Teachers College Press booth at 10:30 for my book signing!
277 of 381 episodes of That Early Childhood Nerd uploaded to the new hosting platform!
Remember, at the end of 2025 you will have to find the new feed for the podcast!
You can find it now on iTunes and Spotify, and access the first 80+ episodes that have been out of circulation for a long time.
Remember, at the end of 2025 you will have to find the new feed for the podcast!
You can find it now on iTunes and Spotify, and access the first 80+ episodes that have been out of circulation for a long time.
September 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
277 of 381 episodes of That Early Childhood Nerd uploaded to the new hosting platform!
Remember, at the end of 2025 you will have to find the new feed for the podcast!
You can find it now on iTunes and Spotify, and access the first 80+ episodes that have been out of circulation for a long time.
Remember, at the end of 2025 you will have to find the new feed for the podcast!
You can find it now on iTunes and Spotify, and access the first 80+ episodes that have been out of circulation for a long time.
I am SCREAMING! Do you KNOW how many Teachers College Press catalogs I have looked through in my life? I’m in one now!
September 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I am SCREAMING! Do you KNOW how many Teachers College Press catalogs I have looked through in my life? I’m in one now!
Sound up!
September 19, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Sound up!
September 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
👉 Register for free here: bit.ly/ProtectingPlay
Interested in purchasing a copy of the Winter issue of Exchange?
Order here: hub.exchangepress.com/shop/280-win...
Interested in purchasing a copy of the Winter issue of Exchange?
Order here: hub.exchangepress.com/shop/280-win...
Engaging Exchange Online Conference: Protecting Play
Special thanks to our Elite Sponsor, Procare Solutions!
Hear from dynamic and passionate speakers, including:
Stacy Benge, author of The Whole Child Alphabet; international presenter
Rebecca Be...
bit.ly
September 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
👉 Register for free here: bit.ly/ProtectingPlay
Interested in purchasing a copy of the Winter issue of Exchange?
Order here: hub.exchangepress.com/shop/280-win...
Interested in purchasing a copy of the Winter issue of Exchange?
Order here: hub.exchangepress.com/shop/280-win...
