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
41 episodes
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 ...
Speed or Strategy? Knowing When to Move Fast vs. Slow
In this episode, Katy and Jessica talks about the importance of knowing when to make decisions quickly and when to slow down and take your time. ⏱️🤔 In the fast-paced world of childcare and leadership, some situations require immediate action, ...
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PARENT DRAMA 101: MANAGING THE UNMANAGABLE
🎙️ In this episode, Katy dives into the topic of managing parent drama in childcare settings. From misunderstandings and communication breakdowns to heightened emotions and conflicting expectations, she explores why tension can arise and how to...
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Corporate vs Private: What they don't tell you
🎙️ In this episode, Katy takes a closer look at the key differences between corporate and private childcares. She discusses how each type of center operates, including differences in structure, policies, curriculum flexibility, and the overall ...
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From Sacrifice to Sunshine An Early Childhood Educators Journey in the Beginning
In this episode, Jessica shares her personal journey — the experiences, turning points, and lessons that led her into the field of child care. 🎙️From early influences to unexpected paths, this conversation offers an honest look at how l...
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Four Systems One Child: The Truth About Child Care Regulation
In this episode, Jessica takes a deep dive into the different types of child care licenses in Indiana and what each one means for providers, programs, and families. 🎙️From licensing requirements to operational differences, Jessica break...
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When Leadership Gets Heavy with Beth Cannon
Make sure to check out Beth Cannons New Book Transform Your Team: How to Fix What's Broken and Build What MattersLink to her book: https://a.co/d/4VcvHEkLeadership isn’t always inspiring quote...
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Inside Minnesota Childcare: Aleta Mechtel on What the Headlines Don t Show
This week on the podcast, we’re joined by special guest Aleta Mechtel for an honest conversation about what the headlines don’t show when it comes to child care. 🎙️While news stories often focus on surface-level issues, Aleta helps unpa...
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