The Everything ECE Podcast

In early childhood education, it’s natural to want to step in right away to help children solve problems. But sometimes the most powerful thing an educator can do is pause.
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores the idea of the 10-second pause - a simple practice that encourages educators to pause briefly before intervening in children’s play, conflicts, and problem-solving moments.
Inspired by the concept of “le pause” discussed in the book Bringing Up Bébé, this episode reflects on how our culture of instant gratification influences the way adults respond to children. Carla shares how giving children a moment to work through challenges can support independence, problem-solving skills, and confidence.
The episode also explores how practicing the pause can benefit educators by creating space to shift from reacting to responding with empathy and intention.
If you’re an early childhood educator looking to support children’s learning while also creating a calmer classroom environment, this episode offers practical insights and reflection for your daily practice.
Links
Summit: The Everything ECE Summit
Sponsor: Ratio Staffing- https://ratiostaffing.com/ 
Bringing Up Bébé- Book Link
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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.
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The ECE Latte Lounge
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Website: carlatheece.com
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In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with early childhood developmental educator Gretchen Camp to explore what might really be behind the rise in challenging behaviours among young children.
They discuss the importance of foundational social-emotional skills, why play remains one of the most powerful learning tools, and how educators can support families in meaningful ways.
Gretchen Camp, M.Ed., has over 25 years of experience working with young children and families and helps adults understand children’s actions through a developmental lens.
Gretchen is also one of the speakers at The Everything ECE Summit happening April 10–12 — a free virtual summit featuring 30+ expert speakers sharing ideas and inspiration for early childhood educators.
Grab your free ticket using the link in the show notes.
Gretchen Camp
Gretchen Camp, M.Ed., is an early childhood professional learning consultant with over 25 years of experience in classrooms and educator development. Her work focuses on making behavior science practical, bridging the gap between what we know about social-emotional development and how it’s applied in daily interactions between educators and families. She is the creator of the Park the Skill™ framework, a clear, skill-based approach that helps adults move beyond managing behavior to intentionally building the skills beneath it.
Links
Summit: The Everything ECE Summit
Website: http://gretchencamp.com 
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.
CONNECT WITH CARLA
The ECE Latte Lounge
Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ 
Website: carlatheece.com
Instagram: @carlatheece

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward dives into an important conversation about screen use during mealtimes in early childhood programs.
While screens may make mealtime feel calmer or more compliant, research shows they may interfere with children’s ability to self-regulate, recognize hunger and fullness cues, build social skills, and develop healthy eating habits.
Carla shares:
What research says about eating during TV viewing

Why self-regulation starts at the table

How screen-linked eating patterns can shape long-term habits

Why mealtime is one of our most powerful social learning opportunities

And why compliance should never replace development

This episode is not about judgment. It’s about reflection. Because lunch and snack time aren’t just about calories. They are opportunities for connection, conversation, and growth.
If we want children who can sit across from someone, engage in meaningful dialogue, and listen to their bodies, it starts now.
Let’s protect the table.
RESEARCH SHARED IN THIS EPISODE
Effect of Television Viewing at Mealtime on Food Intake After a Glucose Preload in Boys
https://www.nature.com/articles/pr2007158
Does Eating during Television Viewing Affect Preschool Children’s Intake?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2596580/
Screen Time Vs Meal Time: How Screens Are Shaping Your Child's Eating Habits
https://www.ndtv.com/health/screen-time-vs-meal-time-how-screens-are-shaping-your-childs-eating-habits-9564525
Examination of the Life Habits of Preschool Children Based on Their Screen Use Patterns
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11276093/
Television viewing and using screens while eating: associations with dietary intake in children and adolescents
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8671257/
Mealtime TV Use Is Associated with Higher Discretionary Food Intakes in Young Australian Children: A Two-Year Prospective Study
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9268203/
Technological Devices and Their Effect on Preschool Children’s Eating Habits in Communities of Mixed Socioeconomic Status in Istanbul; a Pilot Cross-Sectional Study
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8614987/
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.
CONNECT WITH CARLA
The ECE Latte Lounge
Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠
Website: carlatheece.com
Instagram: @carlatheece

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with children’s author and former teacher Christine Devane to explore how storytelling can support introverted learners, build self-advocacy skills, and help children process grief.
Christine shares the inspiration behind her book Elephant Beach, a story about stepping outside your comfort zone while honouring personality differences in the classroom. Together, Carla and Christine unpack the balance between supporting extroverted children without silencing them and intentionally creating space for quieter voices.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The difference between introversion and shyness in children

How to support quiet children without calling them out

Why partner selection in classrooms matters

Practical ways to encourage self-advocacy

How books help children internalize social-emotional skills

Why storytelling is one of the most powerful SEL tools in early childhood education

If you’re an educator looking for meaningful ways to support social development through stories, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped.
Christine Devane 
Christine Devane was a second-grade teacher for thirteen years and enjoyed reading with her students. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband John; three children Joey, Nick, and Adeline; and their dog Sophie. Christine loves going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and collecting lucky elephants.Links
Website: www.christine-devane.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stined13
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.

CONNECT WITH CARLA
The ECE Latte Lounge
Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠
Website: carlatheece.com
Instagram: @carlatheece

When we talk about letting children struggle, it often makes people uncomfortable. And for good reason. No one wants children to suffer.
But struggle and suffering are not the same thing.
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward unpacks what productive struggle actually looks like in early childhood and why those everyday moments—wrestling with a shoe, rebuilding a block tower, trying again after something doesn’t work—matter more than we think.
Drawing on classroom experience, research on grit and perseverance, and over two decades in early childhood education, Carla explores how confidence is built through experience, not rescue.
This episode invites educators to pause, observe, and rethink when to step in—and when stepping back is the most supportive thing we can do.
Because letting children struggle isn’t about withholding support. It’s about trusting the learning process.
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week! shape their early years.

CONNECT WITH CARLA
The ECE Latte Lounge
Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠
Website: carlatheece.com
Instagram: @carlatheece