In this episode of Early Childhood Chapters, we talk with Dr. Thomasa Bond about why family first isn’t just a philosophy but a practical approach to building strong, safe, and successful early childhood programs.

Dr. Bond brings over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, including 14 years as a child care licensing consultant. She shares real-world strategies to help program directors, teachers, and administrators strengthen communication with families and create true partnerships that put children’s well-being at the center.

Highlights include:

• Why clear, open communication with families starts before enrollment
• How strong policies and procedures build trust instead of barriers
• Advice for handling challenging conversations with parents with empathy and respect
• The importance of staff training to support effective, consistent communication
• Real-life scenarios where centers repaired trust with families after mistakes
• Simple changes centers can implement to keep families engaged and informed

Dr. Bond is the author of two Gryphon House books: The Early Childhood Director’s Guide to Solving Everyday Challenges and Build Your Dream Team: How to Recruit, Train, and Retain Early Childhood Staff.

She’s dedicated to helping programs create safe, high-quality environments that truly partner with families to support every child’s learning and well-being.

Connect with Dr. Bond:

• Website: drthomasa.com
• LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X: @DrThomasaBond
• Virtual and in-person training provided through Early Childhood Education Growth LLC
• Annual early childhood conference

For the episode transcript, video and other resources, view this on our website!

In this episode of Early Childhood Chapters, we speak with Dr. Ginger Welch, clinical psychologist, author, and early childhood expert, about how educators can better understand and respond to challenging behaviors in the classroom.

Dr. Welch draws on her decades of experience in homes, schools, and clinical settings to explain why children act out—not as willful defiance, but often as communication of unmet needs, anxiety, or trauma. She shares practical strategies from her book How Can I Help? to help educators shift their mindset, reframe behaviors, and build stronger relationships with children and families.

Key takeaways include:

✅ Viewing behavior through biological, environmental, and relational lenses
✅ Using a “trauma-first” approach when assessing challenging behaviors
✅ Recognizing how anxiety may appear as inattention or hyperactivity
✅ Practicing self-care through small, daily micro-strategies to prevent burnout
✅ Building positive, strengths-based relationships with families to better support children

This episode is a must-listen for early childhood educators, caregivers, and anyone seeking compassionate, research-backed strategies for working with young children.

Find Dr. Welch’s books at GryphonHouse.com.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Barbara Sorrels, renowned early childhood expert and author of Reaching and Teaching Children Exposed to Trauma and Trauma-Sensitive Care for Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year-Olds, joins us to explore what it truly means to care for young children impacted by trauma.

Dr. Sorrels shares heartfelt stories and actionable strategies from her decades of experience working with children, families, and educators. From recognizing the subtle signs of trauma in infants to creating responsive, healing environments, this conversation is filled with wisdom and practical tools every early childhood professional can use.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What trauma-sensitive care looks like in infant-toddler classrooms
• How even medical trauma at birth can impact brain development
• Subtle signs of trauma in preverbal children
• The power of rhythm, movement, and connection in calming dysregulated children
• How to build trust and rapport with families—even when trauma is present in the home
• Self-care strategies for educators facing compassion fatigue
• Why responsive care is more important than ever—and what systems and policies can better support it

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Lea Ann Christenson and Jenny James, coauthors of Dig In: Outdoor STEM Learning for Young Children. Together, they make the case that outdoor education isn't a luxury—it's a necessity.

Lea Ann and Jenny share how nature-based learning supports whole-child development, fosters deeper engagement, and offers rich, differentiated opportunities for every type of learner. Drawing on their own experiences as an early childhood professor and a preschool director, they describe the inspiration behind their book, the research that grounds it, and the practical steps educators can take to create vibrant outdoor classrooms.

You’ll hear how their journey—from pandemic-era innovation to a fully developed outdoor curriculum—has transformed how they think about teaching and learning. Along the way, they challenge the traditional view of what school “should” look like and offer a compelling vision for how nature-rich environments nurture curiosity, problem-solving, and joy.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Early Childhood Chapters, we welcome Dr. Rachel Larimore, an expert in nature-based early childhood education. Dr. Larimore shares her insights on why outdoor learning is essential for young children, how educators and caregivers can integrate nature into daily routines, and the long-term benefits of connecting children with the natural world.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The definition of nature-based early childhood education and how it differs from traditional approaches.

• The benefits of outdoor learning, including cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development.

• Practical ways to incorporate nature into early childhood settings, even in urban environments.

• Overcoming challenges such as weather concerns, safety considerations, and administrative buy-in.

• The role of play in outdoor learning and how educators can facilitate meaningful experiences.

• How parents and caregivers can support nature-based learning at home.

In this episode of Early Childhood Chapters, we welcome Dr. Angela Searcy for a deep dive into navigating difficult conversations in early childhood education. Following her recent EdWeb webinar, Pushing Past Conflicts With Adults: Navigating Uncomfortable Conversations in Early Childhood, Dr. Searcy joins the podcast to address lingering questions and expand on key strategies for managing challenging discussions with administrators, colleagues, and parents.

✔️ How to communicate effectively with administrators who may not be receptive to new ideas.
✔️ The 'Buy-In' strategy for gaining support from principals, co-teachers, and staff.
✔️ Understanding emotional responses in conversations and how to navigate them productively.
✔️ Techniques for active listening and negotiation to foster collaboration.
✔️ How to create space for dialogue and ensure that your ideas are heard and considered.

🔹 B - Beware of an amygdala hijack: Recognize when stress responses may be affecting the conversation.
🔹 U - Understand the other person's perspective: Consider what concerns or barriers may be influencing their decision-making.
🔹 Y - Yield to active listening: Ask questions before offering solutions to build trust and connection.
🔹 I - Insert ideas with permission: Ask if they’re open to hearing your thoughts before presenting solutions.
🔹 N - Negotiate the ups and downs: Be flexible and open to gradual changes rather than expecting immediate agreement.

Watch Dr. Angela Searcy’s recent EdWeb webinar: Pushing Past Conflicts With Adults

Download the worksheets and PDFs attached to this presentation

Explore Dr. Searcy’s books published by Gryphon House:

• Push Past It: A Positive Approach to Challenging Classroom Behaviors Buy Here

• Elevating Equity: Advice for Navigating Challenging Conversations in Early Childhood Programs Buy Here

In this thought-provoking episode of Early Childhood Chapters, we sit down with Dr. Tameka Ardrey and Dr. Ebonyse Mead, co-authors of Building Equitable Early Learning Programs: A Social Justice Approach, along with Gryphon House President Dr. Rebecca Berlin. Together, they delve into the challenges and opportunities of fostering equity in early childhood education, particularly in today’s complex political climate.

The conversation explores the distinction between equity and equality, the importance of culturally responsive teaching, and how discipline policies disproportionately impact marginalized children. Dr. Mead and Dr. Ardrey offer actionable strategies for educators and administrators, emphasizing the power of self-reflection, authentic family engagement, and creative approaches to overcoming systemic barriers. They also discuss ways to navigate difficult conversations with families and institutions while staying committed to inclusive practices.

✅ Equity vs. Equality – Why giving every child the same resources isn’t enough and how educators can meet children where they are.
✅ Culturally Responsive Teaching – Simple ways to incorporate children’s lived experiences into daily classroom practices.
✅ Discipline Disparities – How biases influence suspension and expulsion rates and what educators can do to disrupt harmful patterns.
✅ Family Engagement – Moving beyond token gestures to build meaningful relationships with families from diverse backgrounds.
✅ Navigating Resistance – Practical strategies for teachers working in challenging environments, including finding supportive communities and “doing the work scared.”

In this episode of Early Childhood Chapters, we sit down with early childhood expert, author, and speaker Kathy Lee Eggers to explore the importance of play-based learning and why reclaiming childhood is more urgent than ever.

Kathy shares insights from her decades of experience working with young children, writing books, and developing curricula that prioritize sensory-rich, hands-on experiences. She discusses the dangers of pushing academic expectations too early, how play supports brain development, social-emotional skills, and creativity, and what parents and educators can do to foster a true love of learning.