The Play Based Learning Podcast

About The Play Based Learning Podcast

Kristen Day, will be your new teacher bestie, mentor, and motivator, all in one. Kristen is on a mission to energize your passion for early childhood education, challenge outdated practices, and equip you with the tools to create a truly developmentally appropriate learning environment. As a play advocate, Kristen’s enthusiasm and expertise will inspire you to foster creativity, curiosity, and joy in the children under your care. Together, we’ll embark on a journey to set the stage for a lifelong love of learning, ensuring that every child experiences the wonder and magic of childhood.

Publisher

Kristen Day

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Aug 2020

Latest episode

5 May 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 86 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   5 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   EP 86 Behavior Charts are a Band Aid with Churmell Mitchell

   In this episode, Kristen talks with Churmell Mitchell, creator of Emotions You Know, about helping children understand and express their feelings through play. They explore how connection, and not behavior charts, is the key to supporting challenging behaviors. Churmell shares his “refill” approach, reminding us that many kids are simply running on empty and need connection before correction. This conversation offers practical, relationship-focused ideas you can use right away in your classroom or home. If you would like to learn more, they are doing a workshop together on May 12, 2026 called This is NOT a Behavior Chart Workshop. If you are listening to this before that date, be sure to go grab it for only $9; otherwise, the price will go up after May 12, 2026. It comes with 50 strategies, love trust and connection, Q&A time, a PD certificate, and lifetime access to the replay Workshop Link: This is NOT a Behavior Chart Workshop Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com Find Churmell here: @emotionsyouknow or at emotionsyouknow.com

2. 

   13 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   EP 85 Anji Play with Jesse Coffino

   Host Kristen Peterson interviews Anji Play advocate Jesse Coffino about observing and understanding children's play-based learning through reflective documentation.

3. 

   6 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   EP 84: Inviting Play to Happen with Jennifer Baumann

   In this episode, Kristen sits down with Jennifer Baumann to explore the power of play-based learning and the shift from control to trust in early childhood environments. Jennifer shares how she creates meaningful play invitations, uses sensory-rich materials, and thoughtfully designs her environment to support children’s natural curiosity. Together, they unpack what it really means to let go of adult expectations and follow children’s lead in play. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when we trust the environment and the children, real learning unfolds. Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com Find Jennifer here: @playschoolsince1999 or at The Playschool

Inside a recent episode

EP 86 Behavior Charts are a Band Aid with Churmell Mitchell

Published 5 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] What did that pull from? What are all these behaviors coming from? And I just believe you can't get performance out of an empty tank of a child. You can't. They can't grow. They can't be creative. And when I figured that out, because I used to go to school, I used to be a mentor, support for teachers in classrooms. I was an app school director. I had a bunch of kids in my program, but I would come in through the day and support teachers. But one thing clicked for me is everything shifted when I began that refill can become restoration. You can really restore kids and not lowering expectations in the classroom and just really building capacity around the model of refilling your children. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

167 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

51 ratings

Contact The Play Based Learning Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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