In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with Ann McKittrick, founder of Nurtured Noggins and Texas Childcare Training, about challenges young families have faced since COVID and practical ways early educators can help. Ann describes lingering impacts including fear, isolation around birth and newborn care, disrupted social-emotional development, increased reliance on screens and online "experts," and reduced everyday experiences for children. They discuss how parental loneliness and overwhelm affect children and highlight the need for belonging and predictable routines in classrooms to build confidence and security. Ann shares strategies for strengthening family community through intentional parent connections, analog wellness prompts, and facilitating relationships among parents. She also reimagines greater cultural respect, support, and pay for early childhood educators given the importance of early brain development.

00:00 Reimagine Childhood Intro

00:49 Meet Ann McKittrick

02:56 COVID Aftershocks for Families

10:37 Loneliness Screens and Child Development

20:29 Conference Season Highlights

22:38 Predictability Builds Belonging

26:09 Helping Parents Reconnect

35:15 Reimagining Educator Respect

Ann McKitrick has LOADS of resources for early childhood educators, parents and moms, specifically. Check out her website at https://www.annmckitrick.com/

You can also connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nurturednoggins/

And if you're interested in connection and becoming your best self in this season — check out her Momentum program at https://www.annmckitrick.com/momentum/.

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with Jesse Lambert, a childcare coaching specialist from West Virginia, about the importance of knowing your "why" in early childhood education—especially during seasons of spring fatigue, difficult days, and burnout. Jesse shares how a moment driving past a church for sale sparked her path into early childhood, leading her to earn an associate's degree in early childhood education and a bachelor's in child development and family studies. Together, Monica and Jesse explore how purpose fuels motivation beyond a paycheck, how your "why" can shift with different seasons of life, and how prayer and staying in tune with yourself help you recognize when you're drifting or simply going through the motions. They discuss navigating hard interactions with parents, coworkers, and children, choosing to "rise above" by turning to God, and practical ways to reset classroom routines—like changing tone of voice, singing directions, or adding playful elements—to reignite joy for both teachers and children. The conversation also highlights the role of school leaders in creating supportive environments, the value of a school-wide "why" alongside each staff member's personal purpose, and Jesse's experience of burnout during COVID that ultimately led her to make a job change. Monica closes by encouraging listeners to pause, ask God to renew their passion, and remember that thriving educators help children flourish.

00:00 Welcome to Reimagine Childhood: A Calling to Shape Hearts

01:32 Meet Jesse Lambert: From a Church-for-Sale Moment to Early Childhood

04:20 Find Your "Why": Purpose, Seasons, and Staying in Tune with God

13:11 Hard Days & Healthy Culture: Resilience, Faith, and Leading Staff Well

19:12 Create a School-Wide "Why" (and Make It More Than a Mission Statement)

22:10 Are You Drifting? Signs You've Lost Motivation + How to Check In

23:28 Burnout, Needed Shifts, and Simple Classroom Resets That Reignite Joy

30:04 Break the Generational Cycle + Final Encouragement to Rediscover Your Why

Connect with Jessie on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jessie.lambert.2025

Need some tools for identifying your Why? Try this activity - Finding Your Roots

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood by Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer converses with Martha Harvey, co-founder of With Families ministry. They discuss the importance of early faith formation starting even before birth and its role in developing trust, love, and safety in children. Martha shares practical ways for integrating faith into preschool classrooms and engaging parents in the discipleship process. Topics covered include the significance of teachers modeling faith, incorporating prayer and scripture into daily activities, and creating intentional learning experiences that connect to Biblical stories. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of family worship and community support in nurturing a child's spiritual growth. Martha introduces the With Kits as tools for extending faith education into the home, providing resources that require no prep work for parents. The episode concludes with reflections on the pivotal role weekday programs play in shaping the foundational faith experiences of young children.