ECE Unhinged

An Interview with a parent from the past!Most parents don't realize how much early childhood education has shifted in the last 35 years-sometimes for the worse. In this eye-opening episode, Chris, a father with over three decades of experience, reveals how childcare expectations, teaching practices, and industry standards have changed since the days when kids played outside all day and structure meant discipline, not coddling.Discover the surprising differences in preschool programs: from a $220/month structure-focused environment to today's high-cost, trauma-informed franchises. Chris shares personal stories of how expectations around manners, leadership, and independence have eroded, and how modern parenting trends now often weaken the very skills teachers and parents once cultivated effortlessly. He dives into unsettling trends like the excessive reliance on technology, the rise of franchise daycare models driven by profit motives, and the impact of COVID-era policies that removed community ties and parental involvement.Key insights include:Why today’s childcare often misses fundamental life skills like self-reliance, responsibility, and resilience.The clash between parent perceptions of professionalism versus the reality of teaching young children—where they're seen as little sponges rather than mini adults.How recent policies, technology, and staffing shortages are undermining teacher authority and safety, and what this means for child development.The disturbing shift from hands-on teaching to checkbox-driven assessments, capturing every moment on tablets and cameras, often at the expense of genuine connection.The emotional toll on parents and teachers alike, and the importance of trust, structure, and community in early education.This candid conversation underscores a critical truth: early childhood education shapes the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. Ignoring these fundamental shifts risks a generation of kids unprepared for real life, with teachers burned out and parents overwhelmed.Perfect for educators, parents, and childcare administrators-if you're concerned about our kids' future and want to reconnect with their essential needs, this episode is a must-listen. Chris’s insights challenge us to rethink what quality childcare really means-and why fostering independence, discipline, and resilience starts long before kindergarten.

No sugarcoating. No filters. Just the messy truth. Today, Brittany and Crystal answer your questions about the "unhinged" life of an early childhood educator. From the "thong-scrunchie" disaster to the reality of SPED issues in private centers, we’re covering it all.Highlights:The Podcast Origin: Why Brittany "blamed" Crystal for starting this.Burnout 101: What we do when the classroom feels like a graveyard of negativity.The "Ban List": Which licensing rules would we throw out the window tomorrow?Teachers After Dark Segment: Don't turn it off yet! In our After Dark segment, we’re talking about the "If the shoe fits" motto. We share why we bloop out names and how you can submit your own messy stories via voicemail without a trace of your real identity.

I'm not frustrating you, you're feeling frustrated," wise words from a three year old that perfectly capture the emotional rollercoaster of ECE. After our series on burnout, we're flipping the script to focus on why we stay. This episode is grounded in the research article "Early Childhood Teachers' Well-Being: What We Know and Why We Should Care" by Kyong-Ah Kwon, Diane M. Ahorn ( University of Oklahoma-Tulsa) and Chris Amirault (Tulsa Educare MacArthur)In this episode, we discuss:The "small wins", Why Developmental milestones outweigh the daily stressorsProfessional Identity: How tools like Conscious Discipline and professional development empower us to stay in the fieldSupport Systems: The vital role of colleges and supportive administratorsThe Research: Breaking down the 0-3 journal findings on meaningful work and teacher retentionJoin the Conversation! Share your "Why I stay" moments in our ECE Unhinged Listeners Lounge facebook group and like or subscribe to us on spotify for more real talk from the classroom! Also, join is after this episode for our Teachers after dark segment! This will be our first call in show and we get real with some crazy admin stories!

Leading With Humanity: The B Word We’re wrapping up our burnout mini series with a conversation about teacher burnout in early childhood education and how it shows up differently for every educator. We share takeaways for recognizing burnout, setting boundaries, and holding space for your own experience without guilt.Follow the podcast for more honest stories from ECE teachers and join our Facebook group ECE Unhinged The Listeners Lounge to connect with other educators, share your wins, and be part of the conversation.

Episode DescriptionBurnout isn’t a diagnosis -- it’s a signal. In this special roundtable episode, we are peeling back the layers of the "B-word" to look at it through a lens of humanity and hope. Join your cohosts and our special guest, a first-year teacher fresh to the field, as we explore how burnout manifests differently for everyone and why it does not have to be the end of your story in education.Inside this episode:The Survivor Lens: One cohost shares her journey of rediscovering her passion for teaching after hitting a wall.The Daily Grind: One cohost opens up about the reality of working through burnout while still showing up for her students every single day.The New Perspective: Our guest contributor brings the "new teacher" energy to the table, discussing how we can protect our spark from day one.The Great Shift: Why we need to stop seeing burnout as a permanent label and start seeing it as a vital signal that something in our environment, not our soul, needs to change.Whether you are thriving, surviving, or just starting out, this episode is a reminder that you come first. It is time to move past the shame of exhaustion and start leading with humanity.

We're Brittany and Crystal, two educators still in the classroom with over 40 years of experience between us. We love our jobs but the system is broken- and we are here to talk about it-from the car...So come along for the ride as we share what early childhood education really looks like and why we started this podcast! Like what you hear? Follow us on facebook to drop your stories and reviews and to see the latest updates @ECE Unhinged - A podcast for Today's Early Childhood Educators