Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about kicking off 2026 with a fresh mindset for childcare leaders. They share practical tips on setting micro-goals (no vision board required!), finding the right mentors or coaches, and building a supportive network. Whether you’re facing enrollment challenges or just need a confidence boost, they’ve got you covered. The big takeaway? Focus on what brings you joy and remember—you’re not alone in this journey. He...

Send us a text In this episode of ChildCare Conversations, you’ll sit in on a warm chat with Lori Buxton from the Association of Early Learning Leaders and our hosts Kate and Carrie. Lori shares her unexpected journey into early childhood care, the healing power of children’s love, and her passion for supporting leaders. Together, they swap stories about leadership, communication, and the joys (and chaos!) of running childcare centers. You’ll pick up practical tips on staff support, pa...

Send us a text In this episode of "Childcare Conversations," hosts Carrie and Carrie sit down with Jerletha McDonald, CEO of Family Tracker, to chat about the joys and challenges of home-based childcare. Julia shares her inspiring journey from hospital lab tech to passionate childcare advocate, and they all swap stories about why many providers love the flexibility and community of small, family-focused programs. You’ll pick up tips on building support networks, collaborating with cent...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat with Denita Dinger, a passionate early childhood educator, about the magic of child-led play. They dive into the challenges of balancing structured themes with letting kids’ interests lead the way—even when programs have strict schedules. You’ll pick up practical tips for weaving children’s voices into daily routines, plus hear about resources like Denita’s upcoming course and a free “Top Five Play Opportu...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll join Kate, Carrie, and guest Tim Kaminski for a warm, insightful chat about what it really takes to lead in early childhood education. Tim shares his journey from healthcare to child care, the ups and downs of family business, and how he became a passionate advocate for the industry. You’ll pick up practical tips on building relationships with policymakers, collaborating with local resources, and supporting children’s n...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie sit down with Susie Beghin, a passionate early childhood leader from Toronto. They chat about weaving STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) into preschool life—think block play as “engineering” and art projects inspired by real architecture! Susie shares her Four Pillars of Learning framework and offers clever tips for integrating literacy and science into every corner of the classroom. If you...

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie sit down with Beth Cannon, a seasoned leadership coach, to chat about the real challenges of leading early childhood programs—especially as the new year rolls in. Beth shares her journey from teacher to trainer, offers practical tips on staff engagement, accountability, and adapting to Gen Z, and highlights the power of clear communication. Plus, she announces her new book and upcoming events! If you’re looki...

Send us a text In this episode of "Childcare Conversations," Kate and Carrie sit down with Tym Smith—aka "Tym the Trainer"—to chat about his 38-year journey in early childhood education. Tym shares insights on advocacy, the importance of language in elevating the profession, and the economic impact of childcare centers. He also dishes on upcoming events like training cruises and conferences, perfect for learning and connecting with fellow educators. If you’re passionate about early chi...

Send us a text In this heartwarming episode of "Child Care Conversations," you’ll meet Mrs. Nancy Sylvester, a true champion for young mothers still in school. Nancy shares how her center offers not just childcare, but tutoring, parenting classes, and wraparound support for teen moms. Her story is full of wisdom, resilience (even through her own cancer battle), and moments of deep connection—like when her girls donned scarves in solidarity on Zoom. If you’re passionate about supporting ...

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate sits down with Crystal Campbell, President of SICA, for a warm, insightful chat about the real challenges and bright spots in early childhood education. They swap stories about building resilient childcare systems, supporting staff, and why local businesses matter. Crystal shares creative ideas for workplace wellness and community partnerships, while Kate offers practical advice on financial planning for centers. It’s l...

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," hosts Carrie and Kate explore the vital role of emotional intelligence (EQ) for early childhood education directors. They discuss how EQ helps leaders build trust, manage staff and parent relationships, and model emotional regulation for both adults and children. The conversation covers the benefits and potential pitfalls of high EQ, practical strategies for staff training, and tips for handling difficult conversations. The hosts a...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate sits down with Rob and Amanda from Playground, the all-in-one child care management software. They swap stories about their unique paths into early childhood tech—think opera singer turned account manager and a corporate pro finding new purpose after a layoff! The trio chats about the real struggles child care leaders face, like chasing payments and tech headaches, and how Playground’s friendly support team makes life eas...

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Latrice Galloway shared her journey from juggling multiple tech tools to streamlining everything with Playground software, saving time and money (hello, $2,000/month!). Kate, Carrie, and Latrice swapped tips on batching tasks, delegating, and keeping parents in the loop. If you’re curious about making your child care center run smoother or want to hear real talk about tech in early childhood, this one’s for you. Don’t forget to c...

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Kate and Carrie sit down with Cindy Morgan from One Place to chat about the real-life challenges of keeping child care centers compliant and running smoothly. Cindy shares her journey from classroom teacher to tech-savvy leader, offering practical tips on staff engagement, avoiding common licensing pitfalls, and using digital tools to make paperwork a breeze. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by checklists or record-keeping, t...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll sit in on a warm chat with Hannah, the head of Early Childhood Investigations (ECI) webinars. She shares how ECI brings top-notch, research-backed training straight to educators—no matter where they are. You’ll hear about their interactive webinars, tips for navigating state requirements, and how ECI is making professional development more accessible. The hosts sprinkle in real-world advice and encouragement, making thi...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, Kate and Carrie chat about the big challenge of losing kids to universal pre-k programs. They share smart tips for keeping families in your center, like building strong relationships from day one, highlighting your small class sizes, and showing off your team’s expertise with little ones. They also talk about understanding what local public pre-k offers, and how to have honest, supportive conversations with parents. If you’re ...

Send us a text In this episode of "Child Care Conversations," Carrie and Kate share the real-life staffing struggles they’ve heard from directors across the country, think hiring headaches, covering for absent teachers, and the never-ending HR puzzles. They chat about why managing a childcare team is so unique (and why there’s no one-size-fits-all training), plus offer practical tips for onboarding, accommodating staff needs, and keeping your sanity. SIGN UP FOR MASTERCLASS: https...

Send us a text You’re in for a treat with this episode of Child Care Conversations! Kate and Carrie sit down with Judy Prine, President-Elect of SECA, for a warm, insightful chat about the Southern Early Childhood Association. Judy shares SECA’s rich history, the perks of membership (think: newsletters, book reviews, and lively Zoom meetups), and gives the scoop on upcoming conferences—boots and line dancing included! If you’re passionate about early childhood education, you’ll find pl...

Send us a text In this episode of Child Care Conversations, you’ll meet Rachel Supalla, a seasoned early childhood leader who grew from preschool teacher to managing 11 childcare centers! She shares her journey, the ups and downs of scaling a business, and how “playful leadership” keeps her team connected, even across states and during COVID-19. Rachel also dives into choosing the right management software and her collaborative approach to change. Plus, she introduces her book, The Playful ...

Send us a text In this episode, Kate and Carrie cozy up to chat about the real challenges of leading a childcare center, especially when directors have way too many direct reports. They share smart strategies for building a leadership team, like dividing roles by shift or specialty, and stress the magic number of 5–7 direct reports for sanity’s sake. You’ll pick up tips on using part-time or virtual help, rewarding leaders, and making tech your friend. If you’re craving practical advi...