In this interview, we discuss how we  “accidentally dampen creativity” in young children and how early childhood educators and practitioners can stop it happening.

Rae is also well known for her passion for 'active learning', so we examine how active learning and creativity go hand in hand. Rae also explains the critical importance of divergent thinking for our young children, especially in today's world and the world they will be growing up in. 

Rae Pica makes the case for protecting play in Early Years settings, covering free play, risky play, rough and tumble, and partnering with parents.

In this interview, Rae Pica reflects on her many years of advocacy for young children and childhood and chooses some of the aspects from her latest book ‘Spark a Revolution’ that she feels the most passionate about.

We chat at length about strategies for speaking up and how everyone can be an advocate for children and the childcare sector in everyday ways, as well as in more revolutionary ways.

In this interview, we discuss how racism starts in children, how this may adversely affect their view of the world and, most importantly, what Early Years practitioners and educators can do about this. We also discuss microaggressions, allyship and how to improve the cultural diversity of every setting.

Rebecca Maddix. With over 14 years experience within the childcare industry and a BA Hons degree in early years, Rebecca designs workshops to teach parents, practitioners and educators the skills to support their children, through her consultancy ‘Helping Hand Early Years Consultancy’

In this session, Rebecca explains how preparation is key for potty training and has advice for parents. She also suggests educating children about the process before beginning and using fun activities to help.

Rebecca discusses her consultancy services for childcare providers, including mystery shopping, and tailored consultancy.

In this interview, we discuss some of the types of behaviours or reactions we may be seeing with the children as we come out of lockdown and how parents and Early Years practitioners and educators could support children in those different circumstances. Rebecca also has advice for everyone on supporting children's wellbeing.

In this session, we focus on how reflective practice can improve your own pedagogy and how the children benefit from these reflections, with some really useful, easy and practical ideas for reflective practice techniques that you can use, whatever your setting.

Master storyteller Richard O'Neill shares why authentic diverse books matter and how stories help children celebrate who they are.

In this interview, Richard discusses all his books and his inspiration for each of them. He explains how educators and practitioners can draw the messages out of the texts. Richard also chats about his wooden toys, sustainability, and his love of sharing stories with children.

In this interview, we discuss the concept of risky play and the benefits for the children. Rusty explains how practitioners and educators can expand their own comfort zones and the role that the environment plays in this.

Of course, as a natural playscape designer, we also discuss the elements of good design, whatever the size or location of your setting, and what inspires Rusty's own designs. Rusty shares the benefits of risky play, tips for educators to say "yes" more, and practical ideas to create natural Playscapes so children can thrive through the wonder of play.

Ruth Simmons has been teaching for 17 years, and has been teaching in the Early Years for the last 6 years, in international schools and in the UK, and she is currently in Devon.

Samantha Dholakia shares her fresh, collaborative approach to supporting children's behaviour through teaching rather than managing.

In this interview, Sandi and Chris explain how human behaviour (including children’s behaviour) and life needs can be explained using an analogy of 5 Cups - the safety, connection, freedom, mastery and fun Cups. We have a ‘will to fill’ the Cups, using the ‘skill to fill’ strategies that we learn during childhood and beyond. Chris explains where their thinking about ‘will-to-fill’ came from, based on classical and modern philosophy. Whichever Cup is empty at that moment, that's where the Will to Fill will motivate you to fill it - sometimes even over your dominant Cup. Sandi explains how that translates into reframing children’s behaviours and responses (and was the founding idea behind her ‘Educators Toolkit for Behaviour) as they try to fill their Cups.

Children (and adults) have to learn the strategies or skills to Cup filling behaviour that are suitable – known as the Skill to Fill.

In this Masterclass video (an hour long) we share lots of practical examples, ideas, tips and strategies for understanding children’s behaviour and responding in ways that meet their needs. We also discuss ways that educators and practitioners can recognise and fill their own Cups.

In this interview we discuss the Five Phoenix cups: mastery, freedom, connection, safety and fun. Everyone has different needs profiles and different size cups, the level of how far empty they are in any current moment is what could be changing too. So making sure that we get all our needs met making sure that we get our cups filled.

Sandi Phoenix is the founding company director and principal facilitator at Phoenix support. Her framework the Phoenix Cups have revolutionized how staff not only work with children's behaviour, but also have teams view each other's behaviour.

Sandi Phoenix, from Phoenix Support for Educators, Australia, shared the Phoenix Cups Philosophy on the Personal, Social and Emotional Development Summit. This philosophy is a positive, affirmative way to support ALL areas of children’s learning and development.

In this episode, Sandi explains about the Love Cup, how we may inadvertently empty children's Love Cups and some practical, effective ways of filling children's - and our own - Love Cups.

Discover how Phoenix Cups and Boogie Mites combine psychology and music to boost wellbeing for children and educators in this essential interview for early years settings.

Sandi Phoenix of Phoenix Support for Educators talks about the Freedom Cup in this week's episode on Early Years TV.

Sandi Phoenix of Phoenix Support for Educators talks about the Fun Cup in this week’s episode on Early Years TV.