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Reimagine ChildhoodAuthor: Early Childhood Christian Network
Welcome to Reimagine Childhood brought to you by Early Childhood Christian Networkwhere we equip you with the tools you need so you can confidently care for and teach young children. We know early childhood is prime time for all development and, yet, we often overlook our critical role in providing optimal learning experiences. In every episode, you'll find seasoned experts sharing their passion and expertise in a way that is easily applied to everyday experiences in the classroom and anywhere else you're involved with young children. We want to protect and celebrate early childhood in all its wonder and imagination, rather than rushing through it to get "prepared" for the next stage. So.how will you reimagine your approach to early childhood? We'd love to invite you on this journey with us! Language: en Genres: Education, Education for Kids, Kids & Family Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Ep. 82 Uncovering Purpose in Early Education with Jessie Lambert
Monday, 23 March, 2026
In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, brought to you by the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with Jesse Lambert, a childcare coaching specialist from West Virginia, about the importance of knowing your "why" in early childhood education—especially during seasons of spring fatigue, difficult days, and burnout. Jesse shares how a moment driving past a church for sale sparked her path into early childhood, leading her to earn an associate's degree in early childhood education and a bachelor's in child development and family studies. Together, Monica and Jesse explore how purpose fuels motivation beyond a paycheck, how your "why" can shift with different seasons of life, and how prayer and staying in tune with yourself help you recognize when you're drifting or simply going through the motions. They discuss navigating hard interactions with parents, coworkers, and children, choosing to "rise above" by turning to God, and practical ways to reset classroom routines—like changing tone of voice, singing directions, or adding playful elements—to reignite joy for both teachers and children. The conversation also highlights the role of school leaders in creating supportive environments, the value of a school-wide "why" alongside each staff member's personal purpose, and Jesse's experience of burnout during COVID that ultimately led her to make a job change. Monica closes by encouraging listeners to pause, ask God to renew their passion, and remember that thriving educators help children flourish. 00:00 Welcome to Reimagine Childhood: A Calling to Shape Hearts 01:32 Meet Jesse Lambert: From a Church-for-Sale Moment to Early Childhood 04:20 Find Your "Why": Purpose, Seasons, and Staying in Tune with God 13:11 Hard Days & Healthy Culture: Resilience, Faith, and Leading Staff Well 19:12 Create a School-Wide "Why" (and Make It More Than a Mission Statement) 22:10 Are You Drifting? Signs You've Lost Motivation + How to Check In 23:28 Burnout, Needed Shifts, and Simple Classroom Resets That Reignite Joy 30:04 Break the Generational Cycle + Final Encouragement to Rediscover Your Why Connect with Jessie on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jessie.lambert.2025 Need some tools for identifying your Why? Try this activity - Finding Your Roots
