Robin Lindals-Hill.    is an Early Childhood Education teacher from Alberta, Canada. She has been in the ECE field for 25 years.  Currently she works with children in the preschool age group.  She has a diploma in Child Psychology, Early Learning and Childcare as well as a diploma in Early Childhood Montessori. She creates resources for teachers, educators, parents and families to find new ways to play with the children in their lives. Over the years she has mastered the lesson planning process. Today she will share her lesson planning strategy which she calls the Child Led Planning Web.  If you are looking for effective ways to cut down on your plan time, this is a must listen!Key takeawaysLesson Planning: the web emerges child led with the need of the teacher to feel prepared and organized.  Allows Admin to be able to track the planning.Misconception of the term child-led.Importance of observations in the lesson planning process.Respecting the child’s interests in the lesson planning process will cut down on classroom issues.  Plan with the goal in mind.Start with observation.  Look at youtube videos and practice observing.Observe the kids as well as the activity. Put opened-ended activities out and see where they kids go with it. Links:Robins website: https://www.theplaydatelady.ca/Lisa Murphy author and speaker https://www.ooeygooey.com/Teacher Tom blogger and author https://www.teachertomsworld.com/The early childhood nerd podcast

Today I interview Rachel Elias. S he is currently a Director of a Corporate franchised Child Care Center in Long Island.  I find it remarkable that she is a Director of a large center at only 27 years old.  She holds a Master Degree is Childhood Education.   We have an open and honest conversations about the struggles of running a child care center right now. ResourcesTrauma Informed Carehttps://www.relias.com/resource/building-resilience-trauma-informed-care?msclkid=e596b9b4e43a1e304eebdbd553c0dc82&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hhs-search-nb-tic-em&utm_term=trauma%20informed%20care&utm_content=trauma%20informed%20care%20-%20EMhttps://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/what-is-trauma-informed-care/Big little Feelings on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/biglittlefeelings/Day care Directors, Owners, Administrators Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/daycaresupportPodcast: Teachers off DutyBook: Beautiful Boy by David Sheff and the Explosive Child

Nancy Koplan. She is an EC educator, recording artist, and performer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Her 6 albums feature songs that serve as a means to memorize information, like the names of planets, continents and oceans.  She has many songs that develop coping mechanisms, like regulating breathing and using reassuring language and songs that guide children through transitions in their daily schedule, from tidying up to washing hands. Nancy’s songs and videos are used around the world by families, educators, therapists and caregivers who are nurturing the growth of babies, toddlers, and older children.  All of her music can be found on all music platforms, like iTunes and Spotify and her YouTube channel has lots of easy musical videos you can follow along with: http://www.youtube.com/musicwithnancyHer website is http://www.nancykopman.comHer monthly membership on Patreon, where she share  exclusive educational music content and hosts a live weekly classes is Nancy Kopman's Friends and Fans Membership is creating interactive music classes, instructional videos for kids & more! | Patreon  |  | Nancy Kopman's Friends and Fans Members... |

Today I interviewed Casey Craft-Cortez  from the YWCA. Casey is  an infant Toddler Specialist and have over 10 years in the ECE field. Getting back to the basics in the classroom.  Just getting down on the floor with the kids. We are a reactive society and we discuss moving out of a reactive state to more of a proactive state.The important of nurturing, consistency, and responsiveness.Focusing on the good moments.  It is easy to get caught up in what a child does “wrong”, but that is just a little snapshot of who they are.  They need us to help them learn to self regulateImportance of reflections. Difference between challenging behaviors and hot buttons. We Can't train away challenging behaviors we have to improve our skill set .Her program is an amazing FREE resource for all centers and teachers.  I encourage everyone to visit the YWCA website link in the show notes.  I will not disappoint!   ****Ask kids what happened, not what is wrongResources: ·       YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: https://ywcachicago.org/·       National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI): https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/about/index.html·       Powerful Interactions: How to Connect with Children to Extend Their Learning: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/books/powerful-interactions-2·       Illinois Early Learning Guidelines & Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards:o   https://illinoisearlylearning.org/ielg/o   https://www.isbe.net/documents/early_learning_standards.pdfo   https://illinoisearlylearning.org/ields/·       Rita Pierson: Every Child Needs (Deserves) a Champion! TED Talk:o   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFnMTHhKdkwJudy Jablon powerful interactions. Finding your why for coaching/teaching: Book 

Today I interviewed Susan Mrazek.  She is an Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant from Caring Connection.  In this episode, we discuss the Attachment Theory and how to apply it in the Early Childhood setting.  We also discuss the use of the Circle of Security in our interactions.  There is so much good information for parents and teachers in this episode.  My biggest takeaway is, If we change just one small thing about the way we interact with a child or change one phrase we use each day in our classroom, we will make a dramatic impact on these children. We have used Susan’s services several times at Life Long Learners.  We have learned so much about ourselves and how to strengthen our interactions with the children.  We have learned the interactions we have with children are creating lifelong patterns of attachment in these children.  You are going to love this Episode!Understanding Attachment Theory, Emotional availability and Application in Early Childhood Setting. Circle of Security https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/circle-of-security-model/what-is-the-circle-of-security/Dr Becky BaileySensoryHealth.org/The Star Institute Zero to 3 zerotothree.orgChildMind.orgPodcast:Your Parenting MojoAffect AutismNo one is coming to save usUnruffledBook:  Raising a Secure Child

Today on Dishing Daycare Dirt, I interviewed Tori Graham.  She is an Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant from the Erikson Institute.  During our interview, we discuss the FAN Method and how to apply it in the Early Childhood setting.  We also discuss MSR, which stand for Mindful Self Regulation.  There is so much good information for parents and teachers in this episode,  but my biggest takeaway is, there is a “repair stage” for every interaction we have.  Meaning, if we do or say something during an interaction that we are regretting, there is a way to “take it back” and repair the interaction.  The use of the FAN Method helps us take a step back and have a second chance at the interaction.  You are going to love this Episode!Mentioned in this episode:Infant Mental HealthThe FAN Approach:  Using the FAN Approach to Deepen Trauma-Informed Care for Infants, Toddlers and FamiliesReading parent QuesTailored responses to match what the parents seem to need at the moment.Mindful Self Regulation: MSRFussy Baby Network: FANErikson InstituteEmotional IntelligenceResources:Comebacktocare.com