Little Big Ideas

09. Do we really know the meaning of play? - Suzanne Axelsson

In this episode of Little Big Ideas, Anne Marie and Lorrie sit down with Suzanne Axelsson — author, pedagogical consultant, and one of the most generative thinkers in early childhood education, for a conversation that quietly dismantles everything we assume about children’s play, and rebuilds it into something far more profound. Learning to walk or playing to walk? What is the purpose of play in education? What is the purpose of the educator in play?  Joining from Stockholm, Suzanne explores the schoolification of play and what it really means to prepare children not just for school, but for life. She introduces the idea of deep pocket pedagogy (we'd not heard of that one either): the difference between equipping children with the exact tools for right now, and filling their pockets so deeply that they'll keep pulling from them for the rest of their lives. We hope this one stays with you. Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube: @StoryparkApp  __________________________________________________________________________ STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on. Find out more on our website: https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0PBZq0 [https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0PBZq0]

08. Re-learning the work of inclusion - Dr Shelly Moore

More here: https://lp.storypark.com/sa/podcast [https://lp.storypark.com/sa/podcast] In this episode Dr. Shelley Moore unpacks what it really means to be an inclusive educator. Drawing on research, her own lived experience, and a wry sense of humor, she challenges myths about inclusion, highlights the stress and conditioning educators face, and reframes inclusion as a practice that benefits the whole community. Shelley talks openly about disability as identity, the evolving nature of her own learning and offers practical, hopeful ways to move from pressure and performance toward meaningful, sustainable inclusion - all with the honesty, charm, and humour that makes learning from her feel like a conversation with a trusted friend. STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

07. Care in community: A Live conversation

More here >> https://lp.storypark.com/sa/podcast [https://lp.storypark.com/sa/podcast] << Live from The Home Child Care Association of Ontario (HCAAO) annual conference, this episode is a rich conversation about the beauty and necessity of care work. We explore the requirements and practices of quality care: humility, curiosity, community, and the willingness to slow down. Naming these practices strengthens our ability to stand firmly in the value of what we do. Together in a room filled with passionate in-home carers, we recognized the complexity and skill of this work. With thoughtful questions and insights from the audience, the conversation returned to something essential: when we can articulate the value of our work, we expand our capacity to advocate for care in all its forms. This episode affirms the work of caregiving, the wisdom it requires, and the collective strength it takes to build caring communities. STORYPARK Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

06. Roots, resistance and possibility - Rukia Rogers

In this episode of Little Big Ideas, we sit down with our dear friend Rukia Rogers—early childhood educator, activist, and founder of The Highlander School in Atlanta, Georgia. This single-site school stands as a beacon of hope, possibility, and social justice, nurturing empathy and critical consciousness in children while deeply honoring the histories and struggles of its community. Inspired by the legacy of the Highlander Folk School and the civil rights movement, Rukia has built an early learning community that is both a hub of activism and a sanctuary of care—a place where children, families, and the land are interconnected and valued. Rukia’s vision reminds us what’s possible when education, community, and justice come together. Her leadership offers a powerful example of how even a small early childhood program can become a space of resistance, hope, and transformative change. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.

05. Exploring seasonal pedagogies: Learning with the rhythm of the land - Dr Hopi Martin

Talking with Dr. Hopi Martin feels like slowing down enough to hear the earth breathe. Every time we hear him speak, something new lands in our hearts. In this episode, he shares his path back to his ancestors, the land, and the seasonal rhythms that guide his work with children. He invites us to step out of the clock and into the natural cycles of learning. It’s a gentle reminder that when we bring children to the earth, she knows what to do and so do they. STORYPARK: Putting the child at the heart of childcare management Storypark is an all-in-one childcare management platform built to empower quality-focused early learning services to streamline operations, so they can focus on what matters most: nurturing every child’s unique potential. With all the tools you expect in a childcare management software, what makes Storypark special is our sector-leading family engagement and learning documentation tools that are at the heart of our platform. Shaped by early childhood education experts, and the only childcare software endorsed by the Canadian Child Care Federation, Storypark delivers proven impact you can depend on.