Ep 19 | Schema Play Explained: Why Scooping, Dumping, and Mess-Making Matter with Heather Bernt-Santy
Play Nature PodcastShow Notes
Have you ever watched a child scoop birdseed, roll in grass, or wrap Play-Doh around tiny toys and think, “What on earth are they doing?”
In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is chatting and laughing with Heather Bernt-Santy, THE Early Childhood Nerd, to find out why those moments are more than just mess and motion. They really are the heart of learning. They talk about curiosity, connection, and the magic of letting kids be wonderfully, gloriously human.
Heather shares her journey from podcaster to author and dives into the world of schema play. Those fascinating patterns children repeat as they explore how the world works. From enclosing and enveloping to transporting and transforming, she shows how every scoop, splash, and spin builds brains, confidence, and joy.
Adults just need to step back, trust, and watch the wonder unfold.
In this conversation, you’ll hear about risky play and right-to-play advocacy, how teachers can shift from “doing” to “wondering,” and why grown-ups should trade control for curiosity.
Top 3 Takeaways from The Early Childhood Nerd: Heather Bernt-Santy
Play is how children make sense of the world. Schema play shows that children aren’t being “aimless, ”they’re testing patterns, discovering physics, and learning about themselves through joyful repetition.
Our job isn’t to control play. It’s to wonder about it. Trust the process, not the product.
Children have a right to play—freely and fully.
Links:
thatearlychildhoodnerd.com
Facebook @thatearlychildhoodnerd
Instagram @thatearlychildhoodnerd
TikTok @that_early_childh
BlueSky @ece-nerd.bsky.social
LinkedIn @@heatherbernt-santy
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide
More from Play Nature Podcast
Think about this…the best thing we can do for children is…less and then more. Less directing. Less correcting. Less rushing to the rescue. More mud. More mess. More wonder!
What if the answer to better learning, happier kids, and even easier classroom management is just outside the door?
What if play didn’t need a lesson plan? Or an outcome? Or a grown-up standing nearby explaining what’s supposed to happen next?
What happens when one kid climbs up the slide while another is coming down? Is going up the slide really dangerous? Or is it just one of those playground rules we’ve inherited without thinking too hard about it?
What happens when children meet a muddy hill, a dangling rope, and a whole lot of possibility? They climb. They slip. They tumble. They try again.