Professor and early childhood advocate Heather Bernt-Santy is widely known from her podcast as That Early Childhood Nerd. In this episode, Heather talks about her new book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood.

Heather shares her journey through the early childhood profession and how writing her first book was a full-circle moment. She breaks down what schema play really is and why it matters so much for child development, as well as how schema play connects to major developmental and educational philosophies. If you love geeking out about how children think, learn, and grow through play, this conversation is full of moments you'll love.

Show Notes:

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode83

Powerful Play Foundations:

https://notjustcute.com/powerfulplay

In this episode, we revisit one of the most-read pieces published on Not Just Cute: "There's Good in the World. And It's Worth Fighting For." Written nearly a decade ago (and based on quotes from movies released TWO decades ago, which were based on books written NINE decades ago.....) yet increasingly relevant today, this reflection explores the role of educators, parents, and everyday helpers in creating light during dark times.

You'll hear why the message hits even harder for me now, what it means to "fight for good" through the work we do with children, and why the small, ordinary acts of love in early childhood education might just be the most powerful force for a brighter future.

Show notes:

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode82

Is play the missing piece in today's educational puzzle? That's the question we wrestled with during a three-part book study I hosted this summer with early educators from across North America. Together, we unpacked key themes from my new book, Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood—and now I've pulled the highlights into this one-hour recap just for you.

In this episode, you'll hear why I wrote the book, the research that shows how play fuels learning and brain development, and the very real risks when we push play aside. You'll also catch some of the "aha" moments and practical takeaways that came straight from our discussions.

Whether you're a teacher, leader, or parent, this episode is a reminder of just how powerful play can be—and why it's worth protecting in every classroom and every childhood.

Find Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode81