Heather Bernt-Santy, That Early Childhood Nerd

Keynote Speaker

Heather Bernt-Santy, That Early Childhood Nerd

Heather Bernt-Santy is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education and Program Chair for Ivy Tech, the author of Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood, and the host of the popular early care and education podcast That Early Childhood Nerd. She has dedicated more than 35 years to advocating for children, their families, and the educators who support them. Heather is an enthusiastic believer in children’s right to play—and in the research that tells us play is right.

Keynote Session

Schema Play Theory: A Tool for Supporting and Advocating for Play

Did you know that when children repetitively mix paints, dump blocks, hide under tables, and tape things together, they are giving you important clues about how they are exploring the world—and how you can support those explorations?

I didn’t—until I discovered Chris Athey’s theory of schema play. More than any other information I share with parents, coworkers, and administrators, schema play theory helps them connect to the why behind confusing—or, let’s face it, sometimes unusual—ways children play.