Carla the ECE

How many times have you said “no” today?

No judgment. We’ve all been there.

But what if, instead of focusing on getting children to stop, we got curious about why it keeps happening?
Swipe through, then download the free YES Framework through the link in my bio.

It’s not about saying YES more. It’s about creating spaces where we can say no less.

20+ years is a LOT to fit into 8 slides.

ECE. Speaking. The podcast. The ECE Entrepreneur Experience. YES Spaces. A whole lot of ideas that started with “I wonder if…” and then apparently I decided I needed to make them happen. (Capricorn. It tracks. 😂)

But also my family. Taking time off. Going to the spa. Having a life outside of my work (still working on that one to be more consistent).

I think the common thread through all of it is curiosity.

I genuinely still LOVE this profession and I still want to know more. I still question why we do things the way we do. And I still get ridiculously excited when I see an opportunity to do something differently.

So yeah… kinda chic. 👠

What if it’s not about saying YES more, but saying NO less?

The YES Framework™ is built around seven beliefs that challenge us to look more closely at the environments we create for children, the expectations we place on them and the reasons behind every “no.”
Because calm isn’t always quiet.

Because a true “no” protects safety, not adult convenience.

And if we’re designing environments for children, they actually should be FOR children.

The YES Framework™ invites us to move away from environments built around control and toward spaces where children have greater freedom to play, move, explore and make decisions.

Ready to see your environment through a different lens?

Get the guide through the link in my bio.

I had such a fun evening with the team at BrightPath Sandalwood exploring how we can elevate outdoor learning through intentional interactions, open-ended materials, and a little curiosity.

I brought a few simple invitations to play, but here's the funny thing... I thought I knew exactly how people would use them but I was pleasantly surprised!

The boxes became tunnels. Some staff even used them for rolling down hills. The HVAC pipes became telephones for whispered conversations. Milk crates turned into structures. Sand was being used to make potions. Every invitation was interpreted differently.

That's the beauty of loose parts.

There isn't one "right" way to use them because the learning comes from the child, not the material.
It's a reminder that our role isn't to provide all the answers. It's to create environments that invite children to think, wonder, experiment, collaborate, and solve problems.

A few favourites from the evening:
📚 Sharing some of my favourite outdoor learning books.
🌿 Exploring physical literacy beyond obstacle courses and organized games.
📝 Observing play through the lens of schemas.
💬 Watching educators surprise themselves with their own creativity.

P.S. Those white "PVC pipes" are actually HVAC pipes and they're about one-fifth the cost of PVC! Pair them with milk crates and cardboard boxes, and you've got an incredible collection of open-ended materials.

A huge thank you to Play Outdoors Magazine playoutdoorsmagazine for generously providing a magazine for every educator who attended. What a wonderful way to keep the learning going long after the workshop ended.

Community is everything. ❤️

A huge thank you to my local convenience store for kindly letting me take home six milk crates for tonight's outdoor workshop. (They're not technically supposed to, so I'll keep them anonymous. 😉)

Fun fact: milk crates were my extra seating in my first apartment, alongside a train table that I painted and tiled myself and a $20 futon I bought from my friend Tara. So I've known for a long time just how versatile they can be.

Funny how the things that once helped me furnish my first apartment are now helping me create learning invitations for educators. Sometimes the best resources aren't bought, they're found.

You don't need another course.

You need the right room.

That's exactly why I created The ECE Entrepreneur Experience.

A room where educators who are building businesses can connect, learn, ask questions, and realize they don't have to figure it all out alone.

✨ Early Bird pricing ends tomorrow (July 24). Link in Bio.

If you've been thinking about joining us, I'd love to see you in the room.

📍 November 14 | Mississauga, ON

Coffee can and always will be the solution. I'm not even picky- it can be a cortado, latte, cappuccino- no judgement here.

Do you have a good to order?

A beautiful brunch spent with Heather Jackson of Heather Jackson.

I'm constantly reminded of how important it is to surround yourself with people who are doing incredible things. The kind of people who inspire you, challenge your thinking, celebrate your wins, and remind you that there's always room to grow.

Every conversation leaves me with new ideas, fresh perspective, and a full heart. I'm so grateful to have people like Heather in my corner and to be building a community of educators and entrepreneurs who genuinely want to see one another succeed.

Here's to more conversations that spark something bigger and create a shift. 🤍

Look who I had the absolute delight to meet in person today after EIGHT years of online collaborations and friendship- Cathy Belgrave !!