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!
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!!
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
Three blurbs from three very smart people!
September 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Three blurbs from three very smart people!
When Teachers College Press asked me who they should approach to write blurbs for my book, I was tending very inner-circle, then one of those inner-circle nerds sent me a list of people he thought I should send it to, people who I would NEVER have considered if a dude hadn’t dared me to 😂.
September 9, 2025 at 2:13 PM
When Teachers College Press asked me who they should approach to write blurbs for my book, I was tending very inner-circle, then one of those inner-circle nerds sent me a list of people he thought I should send it to, people who I would NEVER have considered if a dude hadn’t dared me to 😂.
Early literacy on the slide? How do you see these children building skills for future reading and writing? I can’t wait to read your comments!
July 25, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Early literacy on the slide? How do you see these children building skills for future reading and writing? I can’t wait to read your comments!
I took this one sheet to a bunch of bookstores this week to talk to them about stocking it or planning an author event and I didn’t want to be rude so I also bought books at each store and it’s been a pretty good time.
July 25, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I took this one sheet to a bunch of bookstores this week to talk to them about stocking it or planning an author event and I didn’t want to be rude so I also bought books at each store and it’s been a pretty good time.
Early childhood education speaker and instructor Amy Chiu suggests that we shift from thinking about routines and rigid schedules to developing rhythms in our days with young children.
July 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Early childhood education speaker and instructor Amy Chiu suggests that we shift from thinking about routines and rigid schedules to developing rhythms in our days with young children.
When I brought paper bags of various sizes into my class of two year olds as loose parts, I was supporting Alejandro’s development across multiple domains, his academic development, and his brain growth. Read Alejandro’s story, and my deep dive into how he’s learning and growing, in my new book.
July 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
When I brought paper bags of various sizes into my class of two year olds as loose parts, I was supporting Alejandro’s development across multiple domains, his academic development, and his brain growth. Read Alejandro’s story, and my deep dive into how he’s learning and growing, in my new book.
I'm going to read excerpts from my new book for folks who support the That Early Childhood Nerd podcast by becoming Buy Me a Coffee members soon!
The link to donate or become a member is in the comments.
Want to preorder the book? That link is also in the comments!
The link to donate or become a member is in the comments.
Want to preorder the book? That link is also in the comments!
July 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I'm going to read excerpts from my new book for folks who support the That Early Childhood Nerd podcast by becoming Buy Me a Coffee members soon!
The link to donate or become a member is in the comments.
Want to preorder the book? That link is also in the comments!
The link to donate or become a member is in the comments.
Want to preorder the book? That link is also in the comments!
My book is now available for preorder and I’m hosting a free virtual launch party! Join me as I talk more about the book, how I hope it’s used, my answers to your questions, and a chance to win prizes.
The link to preorder the book is in the comments.
The link to preorder the book is in the comments.
July 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
My book is now available for preorder and I’m hosting a free virtual launch party! Join me as I talk more about the book, how I hope it’s used, my answers to your questions, and a chance to win prizes.
The link to preorder the book is in the comments.
The link to preorder the book is in the comments.
I’m so excited to tell you that my upcoming book on schema play theory and advocacy is available for pre-order!!
www.tcpress.com/using-schema...
www.tcpress.com/using-schema...
June 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I’m so excited to tell you that my upcoming book on schema play theory and advocacy is available for pre-order!!
www.tcpress.com/using-schema...
www.tcpress.com/using-schema...
We’ve got company staying with us so the podcast recording area is now a guest room—I had an amazing conversation with Amy Chiu today, that required some recording studio improv 😂
But stay tuned in July for this episode about routines, rhythms, and slowing down in our early childhood spaces.
But stay tuned in July for this episode about routines, rhythms, and slowing down in our early childhood spaces.
June 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
We’ve got company staying with us so the podcast recording area is now a guest room—I had an amazing conversation with Amy Chiu today, that required some recording studio improv 😂
But stay tuned in July for this episode about routines, rhythms, and slowing down in our early childhood spaces.
But stay tuned in July for this episode about routines, rhythms, and slowing down in our early childhood spaces.