Childcare Confidential
Welcome to Childcare Confidential, the podcast where the real stories of early childhood education come to life. Hosted by Jessica Hampton and Katy Denk— seasoned experts, speakers, trainers, coaches, and authors in the early childhood world — pull back the curtain on the day-to-day moments that only those in the field truly understand. From laugh-out-loud classroom mishaps to heartfelt cries for help, we share and discuss the true tales submitted by teachers, directors, aides, administrators, licensing consultants, professors, and everyone in between. No matter your job title, if you’ve worked in early childhood education, you’ve got a story worth telling—and we’re here to talk about it.
Episodes
48 episodes
From Childcare Owner to Industry Advocate
🎙️ Special Guest: Johnnie Frost — From Childcare Owner to Industry AdvocateWhat happens when a childcare owner realizes that making a difference goes beyond the four walls of their own center?In this episode, Johnnie Fro...
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Coach Rae Teaches Us How To Keep Play Simple
Are we making play harder than it needs to be? 🎯🧸In this episode, Coach Rae joins the conversation to break down what meaningful play really looks like—and why it doesn't require complicated activities, expensive materials, or perfectly ...
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Would You Want to Be a Child in Your Classroom
🎙️ Would You Want to Be a Child in Your Classroom?In this episode, Jessica asks a question every childcare professional should stop and think about:Would you want to be a child in your own classroom?It’s easy ...
The Rule Change Nobody Announced
http://childcareconfidential.com/four-questions🎙️ Podcast Episode: The Rule Change Nobody AnnouncedWhat happens when the rules change—but nobody actually tells ...
The Night Before I Opened
🎙️ The Night Before I Opened My First CenterEveryone talks about opening a childcare center, but very few people talk about the night before it actually happens.In this episode, Jessica takes listeners behind the scenes and...
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The August Flip
🎙️ The August Flip in Childcare | Why Everything Changes When Summer EndsWhat is the "August Flip," and why does it seem like everything changes overnight in childcare?In this episode, Jessica breaks down one of the busiest and ...
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Summer is eating your staff alive
🎙️ Summer Is Eating Your Staff AliveSummer should be one of the most exciting times of the year—but for many childcare centers, it's also one of the most exhausting.In this episode, Jessica dives into the unique challenges ...
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Coach Like a World Cup Coach: What the Beautiful Game Teaches Us About Leading Childcare Teams
🎙️ Coach Like a World Cup Coach: What the Beautiful Game Teaches Us About Leading Childcare Teams ⚽🏆What do championship soccer coaches and exceptional childcare leaders have in common? More than you might think.In this episode,...
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What no one tells you about owning a Center
Owning a childcare center on your own can be one of the most rewarding—and one of the loneliest—journeys you'll ever take.In this solo episode, Jessica opens up about the realities of running a childcare center without a business partner...
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This Can't Be Normal: When Success Starts to Feel Like Survival
🎙️ This Can't Be Normal with Special Guest Chanie WilschanskiSome challenges in childcare have become so common that we've started to accept them as "just the way things are." But what if they shouldn't be?In this ep...
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Promoted Too Soon When Leadership Happens Before They’re Ready
🎙️ Promoted Too Soon: When Leadership Happens Before They’re ReadyWhat happens when someone is promoted into leadership before they have the skills, support, or experience to succeed?In this episode, Jessica dives into the chall...
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Unlearning: The Things We Had to Let Go to Grow
🎙️ Unlearning: The Things We Had to Let Go to GrowGrowth isn't always about learning something new—sometimes it's about unlearning the things that are holding us back.In this episode, Katy and Jessica have an honest conversation...
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🎙️ Is Gentle Parenting Backfiring in Group Care?
🎙️ Is Gentle Parenting Backfiring in Group Care?In this episode, Jessica tackles a question that's generating a lot of discussion in early childhood education: Is gentle parenting backfiring in group care settings?She explore th...
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Boundaries Boundaries Boundaries
🎙️ Boundaries in ChildcareJessica and Katy dive into the importance of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in childcare. From parent communication and staff relationships to work-life balance and professional expectat...
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When Your Best Employee Becomes Your Biggest Problem
In this episode, Jessica and Katy dive into one of the toughest situations leaders can face—when a top-performing employee starts creating challenges within the workplace. From attitude changes and boundary issues to leadership struggles and te...
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The Day Licensing Walked In and Everything Went Wrong
In this episode, Katy and Jessica walk through a stressful and all-too-relatable moment—a licensing visit where everything seemed to go wrong at once. From unexpected challenges to high-pressure decisions, they share what happened behind the sc...
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Staff vs. Parents: The Blow Up That Split the Center
🎙️ In this episode, Jessica and Katy walk through a messy parent confrontation that many childcare professionals can relate to. They unpack what led up to the situation, how it unfolded, and the impact it had on everyone involved.Throug...
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The Childcare Truth Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud
In this episode, Jessica tackles the hard truths about the childcare industry—the challenges, the misconceptions, and the realities that often go unspoken. This honest conversation sheds light on what providers, families, and leaders need to he...
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Inclusion Without Support: Who Is This Actually Working For?
🎙️ In this episode, Jess takes a closer look at the support needed in childcare and why it matters more than ever. From staff support and professional development to communication, resources, and leadership, she explores what truly helps educat...
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THEY'RE FINALLY LISTENING, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
🚨🎙️ Emergency Episode: Indiana Is Finally Listening!In this episode, Katy and Jessica dives into recent developments in Indiana and what it means for the childcare community. After ongoing conversations and challenges within the industr...
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WE DON T HAVE A STAFFING CRISIS WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM
🎙️ In this episode, Katy tackles a big statement: we don’t have a staffing problem—we have a leadership issue. She dives into how leadership styles, workplace culture, and support systems directly impact staff retention and overall mor...
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WHAT HAPPENS IF CHILDCARE IS DEREGULATED?
🎙️ In this episode, Katy takes a deeper dive into the idea of childcare deregulation and what it could mean for families, providers, and children. She breaks down how regulations currently support safety, structure, and quality—and what risks c...
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THE TANTRUM TRUTH WHY MELTDOWNS COULD ACTUALLY BE A SUPERPOWER
🎙️ In this episode, Katy dives into the importance of understanding and navigating tantrums in the classroom. She explains how challenging behaviors often have underlying causes and how the right approach can turn potential disruptions into tea...
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Our Road to Accreditation
🎙️ In this episode, we take a deeper look into the journey of becoming dual accredited. From the initial decision to pursue accreditation to the hard work, challenges, and growth along the way, this episode shares what it really takes...
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The Misconceptions of Childcare
🎙️ In this episode, Katie dives into the many misconceptions surrounding childcare. From assumptions about what providers do all day to misunderstandings about policies, pricing, and classroom environments, she unpacks the myths and shares the ...