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Posts by Heather Bernt-Santy/That Early Childhood Nerd

Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood 9780807787243 | Teachers College Press Teachers College Press

Childhood has become increasingly scheduled, measured, and monitored.

This book asks a simple question: What do children lose when play disappears—and what do we all lose with them?

www.tcpress.com/using-schema...

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NERD_393_Lisa Asks Heather: The Writing Process Podcast Episode · That Early Childhood Nerd · 12/31/2025 · 49m

Lisa Murphy is here to talk with Heather about her new book and the writing process. How fun! 

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

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It’s time to count down my TOP 5 READS of 2025!

My #1 book this year, shamelessly, is my book Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood. Being a published author has been a dream of mine for most of my life, and I’m so proud that it happened this year.

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It’s time to count down my TOP 5 READS of 2025!

# 2 is Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care for All by Elliot Haspel.

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It’s time to count down my TOP 5 READS of 2025!

#3 is The Power in Pretend: Supporting Children’s Power, Identity, and Agency by MIke Huber

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It’s time for me to count down my 5 FAVORITE READS of 2025!

#5 is Sally Haughey’s “Nurturing Brilliance: Using Play Activated Learning to Awaken Children’s Potential”

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Supporting Free Play in Early Childhood
Supporting Free Play in Early Childhood YouTube video by Marisa Macy Ph.D.

I’m excited to share this episode of the BUTTERCUP podcast, hosted by Marisa Macy from the University of Wyoming. I love talking play with just about anyone, but this conversation with Dr. Macy and Wyoming Department of Education’s Amy Reyes-Hauff was especially fun.

youtu.be/mOaFqWw1pLI?...

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The Hyper Focus on School Readiness with Dr Dale Farran
The Hyper Focus on School Readiness with Dr Dale Farran YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

Host Heather Bernt-Santy knew as soon as she read the Defending the Early Years blog post, “How Did Early Childhood Programs Become So Focused on School Readiness Skills” by Dr Dale Farran–she HAD to invite Dr Farran to discuss it. And here she is!

youtu.be/rNzuuZSjXeQ?...

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Nurturing Children's Brilliance with Sally Haughey
Nurturing Children's Brilliance with Sally Haughey YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

Author and educator Sally Haughey is here to discuss the incredible unfolding and blossoming that happens during play.

youtu.be/S-cfnmQIQqc?...

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Self Active Play for Adults with Carly Bedard
Self Active Play for Adults with Carly Bedard YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

Carly Bedard, a play facilitator for adult early educators, joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to discuss the ways that self active play can transform early childhood practitioners’ practice with young children.
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Big news ! Heather is taking on the producer role for That Early Childhood Nerd, and adding three new podcasts!

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That Early Childhood Nerd Episode 369: Heather Wrote a Book!
That Early Childhood Nerd Episode 369: Heather Wrote a Book! YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

One of my happiest episodes ❤️

youtu.be/ZSCeySI9uCI?...

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The Young Child's Right to Participation
The Young Child's Right to Participation YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

Early childhood education researcher and advocate Emily Clark is back for another conversation with host Heather Bernt-Santy. In this episode, they talk about her work on children’s rights in early childhood programs.

youtu.be/v1Zto4uKPY0?...

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Book signing at NAEYC last week!

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Developmental Cascades in Childhood
Developmental Cascades in Childhood YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

youtu.be/Qn3ZySjJ6uc?...

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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!

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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.

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...

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Heather tells Rusty about Schema Play Theory!
Heather tells Rusty about Schema Play Theory! YouTube video by Rusty Keeler

youtube.com/shorts/2hLFC...

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Ep 19 | Schema Play Explained: Why Scooping, Dumping, and Mess-Making Matter with Heather Bernt-Santy - Rusty Keeler Have you ever watched a child scoop birdseed, roll in grass, or wrap Play-Doh around tiny toys and think, “What on earth are they doing?”  In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is ...

What fun to be a guest on Rusty's podcast!

rustykeeler.com/podcast/ep-1...

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If the Children "Just Play," am I Still a Teacher?
If the Children "Just Play," am I Still a Teacher? YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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?...

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Early Childhood Higher Ed: Preparation for What?
Early Childhood Higher Ed: Preparation for What? YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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?...

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Want to know more? I wrote a whole book about it!

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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

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I’m home from the IPA-USA conference amd my books are here!!!

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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.

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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!!

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Supporting Young Children's Sense of Social Justice: Dr Megan Madison
Supporting Young Children's Sense of Social Justice: Dr Megan Madison YouTube video by That Early Childhood Nerd

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?...

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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!

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