That Early Childhood Nerd

10/28/2025

A little bit of page 76 from my new book “Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood”

10/28/2025

IPA-USA 2022 to IPA-USA 2025!

If you wanna write a book, I guess you need to go to the International Play Association - USA conference!!

10/25/2025

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.

10/25/2025

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

10/21/2025

Well this is an AMAZING lineup!

The Sensory Journey Summit is here!

Today, we're officially announcing our first annual Sensory Journey Summit! A FREE neurodiversity-affirming virtual summit for parents, educators, therapists, and anyone else supporting neurodivergent kids.

We've put together an AMAZING speaker lineup featuring some of the top global experts in their fields—people who are truly pushing the needle forward in neuroaffirming practice:

✨ Dr. Ross Greene
✨ Robyn Gobbel
✨ Dr. Mona Delahooke
✨ Kelly Mahler
✨ Mr. Chazz
✨ Speech Dude
✨ Kelsie Olds (The Occuplaytional Therapist)
✨ and MORE!

Registration is open now (link the comments) and it's free to attend, with the option of upgrading to an all-access pass to get EARLY ACCESS to select sessions, bonus content, and session replays.

The proceeds from our summit are funding the development of our app as we continue to work tirelessly towards increasing affordable access to care and information for neurodivergent families.

So save your seat today! This is one summit you do NOT want to miss!!

Help us spread the word by sharing this post!

Register for FREE here: https://climbrx.com/summit/ref/3/

10/21/2025

I DID A THING!...
And I Think You're Gonna Like it!

So many of you have expressed an interest in writing for our field. It's why my masterclass, "Become an Early Childhood Author," was my best-selling course.

As you may already know, after this last cohort, I decided to retire the course.

But that didn't mean I stopped wanting to help you attain your dream!

So, I came up with a solution!

I put together the guides and workbooks for each of the five steps into one great, big e-book!

And, if I do say so myself, it's fabulous.

This 168-page e-book offers the exact same material used in my masterclass! But, with this option, there's no more waiting for units to drop. No more attending -- or missing out on -- online sessions. Now you can download all 5 units -- in one handy package -- and proceed at your own pace!

But I haven't told you the best part yet!

The cost of the masterclass -- which, I'm sure, kept a lot of people from signing on -- was $247. I'm pricing the e-book at just $57!!

AND...if you order it by November 1st, it'll cost you $12 less than that!

To download it now and start your writing journey -- for just $45! -- click below!

raepica.teachable.com/p/become-an-early-childhood-author-guide-workbook-872868

10/19/2025

Elliot Haspel’s newest book, Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care for All makes a powerful case that ensuring child care for every family who wants or needs access benefits each of us.

Listen to host Heather Bernt-Santy’s conversation with Elliot about the way child care for all can support the values of those who believe in national security, family values, community, racial and gender equity and more.

Elliot Haspel’s newest book, Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care for All makes a powerful case that ensuring child care for...

10/19/2025

Have you ever heard someone say, “Research says XYZ about early childhood education” and wondered what research they’re talking about? What is the real source of the sound bite?

Tell me in the comments what research you’ve heard about that you’re interested in hearing more about or that you feel might be misrepresented!

10/16/2025

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!!

10/11/2025

FAMILY CHILD CARE FOLKS—

What kinds of conversations would you like to hear from a family-child-care-specific podcast?

10/09/2025

Lunch breaking at Barnes and Noble , manifesting my book on that shelf, someone sitting in a coffee shop someday with my book and a pile of highlighters, and the day the next book idea hits me

10/09/2025

Share a tip for making sure scissors and cutting experiences are freely accessible to young children in a child led play early childhood space.....for early childhood students who are worried about scissor accidents/"misuse."