Liberated Learning

LL020 She Came to My Quiet

When Kisa needed a sense of safety as a child, she didn’t need a teacher asking lots of questions, no matter how well intentioned. She needed someone nearby, someone to come to her quiet. How many children could we, as teachers, connect with if we approached them with quiet attentiveness. Children do this with each other frequently, but we don’t always notice because of a false hierarchy of play. Too often we consider solitary, onlooker, and parallel play less mature than associative and collaborative play. These are not stages of play that children go through, but types of play they add to their repertoire. Failure to appreciate all types of play leads to a failure to attune to all children.  Kisa can be found at The Playlab Foundation and Mike at Inclusion Includes Us, on Instagram and Facebook. Their books are available at https://www.redleafpress.org/ [https://www.redleafpress.org/]  Did you know you can support the hosting costs of The Early Childhood Nerdwork on Patreon, and get Discord access to talk nerdy with like-minded folks too? https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd [https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd]    Theme music by John's Black Dirt https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness [https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness]

LL019 Nature Doesn’t Change, Our Understanding Does

Nature cannot be experienced just watching on a screen or through a window. We don’t just see nature; we hear it, smell it, and feel it. What can we learn from our own experiences in nature? The more we take the time to slow down and truly appreciate all nature has to give, the more we notice. But nature doesn’t change; our understanding does.   Kisa can be found at The Playlab Foundation and Mike at Inclusion Includes Us, on Instagram and Facebook. Their books are available at https://www.redleafpress.org/ [https://www.redleafpress.org/]  Did you know you can support the hosting costs of The Early Childhood Nerdwork on Patreon, and get Discord access to talk nerdy with like-minded folks too? https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd [https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd]    Theme music by John's Black Dirt https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness [https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness]

LL018 Because I Was Outside

Like much in life, showing up is the first step. Nature is not just good for children, it’s good for all living things, even grownups. Kisa and Mike share stories of the things they discovered by just being outside. The exuberance of nature allows for opportunities for us to be in awe right along with children. When we liberate ourselves, we don’t just open ourselves to life-long learning, but life-long wondering as well.  Kisa can be found at The Playlab Foundation and Mike at Inclusion Includes Us, on Instagram and Facebook. Their books are available at https://www.redleafpress.org/ [https://www.redleafpress.org/]  Did you know you can support the hosting costs of The Early Childhood Nerdwork on Patreon, and get Discord access to talk nerdy with like-minded folks too? https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd [https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd]    Theme music by John's Black Dirt https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness [https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness]

LL017 Nature Is Everything

Nature is all around us as long as we have earth, air, sky, and water. Getting outside exposes children to the diversity of nature—the various shades of green, the insects flying by, the fluctuations in temperature. It also can make us aware of the diversity of the children in our care. Nature-based play is more common in white spaces, but nature is for everyone. In this episode, Kisa and Mike address some of the changes individuals can make to increase children’s access to nature. Changing our attitude is the start, including the first step of understanding that different skin and hair require different care.   Kisa can be found at The Playlab Foundation and Mike at Inclusion Includes Us, on Instagram and Facebook. Their books are available at https://www.redleafpress.org/ [https://www.redleafpress.org/]  Did you know you can support the hosting costs of The Early Childhood Nerdwork on Patreon, and get Discord access to talk nerdy with like-minded folks too? https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd [https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd]    Theme music by John's Black Dirt https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness [https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness]

LL016 You Need Another Room

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is a great way to take on other perspectives and stretch your own thinking. Kisa and Mike talk about times when they searched out new experiences for professional growth: driving up a mountain to Play Frontier, attending a speed-painting recreating the Sistine Chapel, playing improv games. These things may sound different on the surface. They are all different flavors, but they all taste like freedom.   Things Mike couldn’t remember: Mike refers to Kind Roots Early Care and Learning and its owner, Annie Berres. Be sure to check out kindrrotsearlylearning on Instagram.    Kisa can be found at The Playlab Foundation and Mike at Inclusion Includes Us, on Instagram and Facebook. Their books are available at https://www.redleafpress.org/ [https://www.redleafpress.org/]  Did you know you can support the hosting costs of The Early Childhood Nerdwork on Patreon, and get Discord access to talk nerdy with like-minded folks too? https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd [https://patreon.com/EarlyChildhoodNerdworkbyThatEarlyChildhoodNerd]    Theme music by John's Black Dirt https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness [https://johnsblackdirt.bandcamp.com/album/horrible-moments-of-upness]