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Early Childhood Investigations

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by Playground

50 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

Early Childhood Investigations is your gateway to inspiring, research-based professional development. Since 2009, our free webinar series has brought together authors, researchers, and leaders in early care and education to share timely insights and spark meaningful conversations across the workforce. We believe high-quality professional development should be accessible, practical, and immediately useful. ECI is a movement that empowers directors, administrators, and teachers to elevate their practice and strengthen outcomes for children and families. https://ecewebinars.com/spotify

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Publishing Since

1/5/2026

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Recent Episodes

July 29, 2026

Understanding the Science of Reading Through Child-Led Play by Laura Shea, M.S.Ed

RESOURCES<ul><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/understanding-the-science-of-reading-through-child-led-play-by-laura-shea-msed?utm_campaign=19400479-2025%2F12%2F18%20%7C%20Understanding%20the%20Science%20of%20Reading%20Through%20Child-Led%20Play&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Watch the full webinar here</a></li><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=19400479-2025%2F12%2F18%20%7C%20Understanding%20the%20Science%20of%20Reading%20Through%20Child-Led%20Play&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast_ad&utm_campaign=reading&utm_content=spotify" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software</a></li> </ul>You care deeply about nurturing early literacy—but you’re tired of being caught between play and pressure. Maybe you’ve heard about the Science of Reading but aren’t sure how it applies to young children—or how to implement it in a play-based setting. Maybe someone has told you to stop the play and start the worksheets. Or maybe you’re simply searching for a clear, developmentally responsive way to support all your learners as they build the foundation for reading. In this engaging and practical session, <a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/presenters/laura-shea" target="_blank">Laura Shea, M.S.Ed.</a>, early childhood educator, adjunct-professor, and founder of Little Stories That Stick, will show how the Science of Reading can complement—not compete with—child-led play. With over a decade of experience in literacy development and play-based learning, Laura will unpack what the research truly says, how children build foundational reading skills before decoding begins, and why oral language, storytelling, and play are powerful tools for building brains ready to read. You’ll walk away with ideas you can implement right away—whether you work with toddlers, preschoolers, or pre-K students. Expect a balance of relatable classroom examples, real-world analogies, and actionable takeaways. You'll leave feeling more confident in your approach and more equipped to speak to families, administrators, and peers about how and why play supports reading. Learning Objectives: <ul><li>Understand how play-based experiences support key components of the Science of Reading, including oral language, phonological awareness, and vocabulary development. </li><li>Identify the difference between developmentally appropriate literacy learning and early reading instruction. </li><li>Explore ways to support emergent reading and writing through storytelling, storyacting, and incidental teaching. </li><li>Gain language to explain and advocate for play-based literacy practices with families and administrators.</li></ul>

Episode thumbnail for Good Grief! Effective Practices for Supporting Conversations about Death in Early Childhood Settings by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed.

July 28, 2026

Good Grief! Effective Practices for Supporting Conversations about Death in Early Childhood Settings by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed.

RESOURCES <ul><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/good-grief-effective-practices-for-supporting-conversations-about-death-in-early-childhood-settings-by-melody-passemante-powell-m-ed?utm_campaign=33740969-2026%2F07%2F23%20%7C%20Good%20Grief%21%20Effective%20Practices%20for%20Supporting%20Conversations%20about%20Death%20in%20Early%20Childhood%20Settings&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Watch the full webinar here</a></li><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=33740969-2026%2F07%2F23%20%7C%20Good%20Grief%21%20Effective%20Practices%20for%20Supporting%20Conversations%20about%20Death%20in%20Early%20Childhood%20Settings&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast_ad&utm_campaign=good-grief&utm_content=spotify" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software</a></li></ul> Talking with young children about a topic as nuanced and complex as death can feel overwhelming—even for the most experienced educators. Just as no two adults process grief in the same way, children also experience and understand loss differently. In this thoughtful and supportive session, led by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed., Supervisor at Fairfax County’s Institute for Early Learning and a veteran early childhood leader with over two decades of experience, participants will reflect on their own values, consider key factors that should be taken into account before engaging children in conversations about death, and explore practical techniques and supportive language that will help educators approach these discussions with both sensitivity and confidence. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, participants will be able to: <ol><li>Reflect on personal beliefs and values related to death and grief and identify how these perspectives may influence conversations with children and families.</li><li>Identify key considerations—such as family culture, language, emotional readiness, and situational context—before discussing death with young children.</li><li>Apply practical strategies and developmentally appropriate language when responding to children’s questions and emotions about death.</li><li>Demonstrate confidence in initiating and guiding conversations about death in ways that foster emotional safety and trust.</li><li>Collaborate with families and caregivers through sensitive communication that respects diverse cultural and spiritual understandings of death.</li></ol>

July 23, 2026

A Strong Child Protection Policy that Works for Your Organization by Debbie Ausburn, J.D. and Tom Rawlings, J.D. Attorneys

RESOURCES<ul><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/a-strong-child-protection-policy-that-works-for-your-organization-by-debbie-ausburn-jd-and-tom-rawlings-jd-attorneys?utm_campaign=39643743-2026%2F07%2F22%20%7C%20A%20Strong%20Child%20Protection%20Policy%20that%20Works%20for%20Your%20Organization%20by%20Debbie%20Ausburn%2C%20J.D.%20and%20Tom%20Rawlings%2C%20J.D.%20Attorneys&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Watch the full webinar here</a></li><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=39643743-2026%2F07%2F22%20%7C%20A%20Strong%20Child%20Protection%20Policy%20that%20Works%20for%20Your%20Organization%20by%20Debbie%20Ausburn%2C%20J.D.%20and%20Tom%20Rawlings%2C%20J.D.%20Attorneys&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Join our newsletter! Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast_ad&utm_campaign=child-protection&utm_content=spotify" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software</a></li></ul>Youth-serving organizations know they need strong child protection policies—but building (or rebuilding) one can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re balancing staffing, operations, and daily program demands. In this practical, action-oriented session, you’ll learn a clear, manageable process for creating a child protection policy that is not only compliant on paper, but usable in real life—aligned with your organization’s size, setting, and risk areas. Together, we’ll walk through how to bring the right people to the table, identify the current standard of care, audit what you already have, and adapt policies so they are clear, trainable, and consistently implemented. You’ll also explore how to move beyond “one-and-done” documents by making child protection a living part of your culture—supported through training, communication, and ongoing accountability. By the end of this session, you will be able to: <ol><li>Gather your team and clarify roles and responsibilities for policy development and implementation.</li><li>Research the standard of care and identify best practices relevant to your organization.</li><li>Audit and adapt your current policies to close gaps and ensure clarity, consistency, and usability.</li><li>Make child protection a living part of your culture through training, reinforcement, and continuous improvement.</li></ol>

50 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is Early Childhood Investigations?: Early Childhood Investigations is your gateway to inspiring, research-based professional development. Since 2009, our free webinar series has brought together authors, researchers, and leaders in early care and education to share timely insights and spark meaningful conversations across the workforce. We believe high-quality professional development should be accessible, practical, and immediately useful. ECI is a movement that empowers directors, administrators, and teachers to elevate their practice and strengthen outcomes for children and families.

https://ecewebinars.com/spotify
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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