On today's episode, we welcome Kayla Snidal, the founder of Capable Learners and an experienced early childhood educator with over 15 years in the field.

Main topics:

• Creating adaptable and inclusive sensory bins for all ages
• The benefits of sensory play for regulation, creativity, and leadership
• Tips for managing the mess and making sensory activities low-stress
• How to incorporate community resources and recycled materials
• Building an emergent curriculum based on children's interests

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Kayla Snidal and her background in early childhood education
• 00:45 - Inspiration behind her new ebook, '57 Sensory Bin Ideas'
• 02:19 - The importance of adaptable sensory activities for different materials and budgets
• 04:01 - Finding sensory materials through thrift stores, community groups, and reuse stores
• 07:43 - Addressing the gap in family day home sensory opportunities
• 10:24 - How older children can support and lead during sensory activities
• 12:24 - The role of sensory play in fostering autonomy, leadership, and fun
• 13:29 - Favourite sensory bins for school-aged children and their messy, creative appeal
• 14:59 - Embracing messy, builder-style sensory play to develop problem-solving
• 20:36 - Strategies for managing mess and stress when introducing sensory bins
• 22:01 - Adapting sensory play for different age groups and classroom settings
• 23:14 - Encouraging children to try new sensory activities without stigma
• 24:08 - School-age expectations for sensory play and their creative uses
• 25:28 - Introducing sensory bins in out-of-school care to boost engagement
• 29:56 - Personal story: A memorable sensory bin experience with coffee beans
• 33:44 - The importance of advocating for the role of sensory play for school-aged children
• 34:14 - How to access Kayla’s ebook, resources, and exclusive discount code
• 35:16 - Final thoughts and encouragement for educators to embrace sensory play in their craft

Resources & Links

• Beyond the Bin - Virtual Workshop
• Wesbite
• 57 Sensory Bin Ideas ebook (use code: bins5 for $5 off)

Connect with Kayla:

• Instagram
• Website

Have you ever noticed how a child who was “fine” at school completely unravels in your program at 3:30?

The tears. The shutdown. The explosive reaction over something small.

It’s not random. And it’s not because your program is the problem.

In this episode, we unpack the hidden emotional cost of “holding it together” all day at school — and why before and after school programs often become the place where everything spills out.

We explore:

• What masking looks like in school-age children
• Why behavior escalates after dismissal
• The neurological toll of constant self-regulation
• The added pressures kids are carrying today — technology, peer dynamics, bullying, academic workload, unrealistic expectations
• Why your program often becomes the safe landing zone

But this conversation doesn’t stop at understanding.

We go deeper into what actually helps.

You’ll walk away with practical strategies for:

• Co-regulation with 6–12 year olds (without treating them like preschoolers)
• Adjusting your emotional stance so you don’t escalate the situation
• Creating decompression rituals after school
• Supporting nervous system resets through the environment and programming
• Recognizing when behaviour is communication, not defiance

We also talk about the impact of your regulation — how your tone, posture, pacing, and response style directly influence whether a child stabilizes or spirals.

School-age children are navigating more complexity than ever before. They are managing social media exposure, peer comparison, academic demands, and social pressure — often without the emotional scaffolding to process it all.

Before and after school programs have a powerful opportunity: not just to supervise time, but to provide nervous system safety.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the intensity of after-school behaviour, this episode will help you see it differently — and respond in ways that build resilience instead of resistance.

Because sometimes the meltdown isn’t misbehaviour.

It’s a relief.

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: https://miss-jamie-consulting.kit.com/2d1b0877c0

Moving from early years to school age can feel like an identity crisis.

In preschool, you’re needed constantly — tying shoes, regulating emotions, leading the room. Then suddenly you’re in a school-age program, and no one wants your planned activity. They’re building forts, forming friend groups, and asking, “Is it mandatory?”

What happened?

In this episode, we unpack the “independence shock” educators experience when transitioning to ages 4–12. We break down why autonomy isn’t rejection — it’s development. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and school-age research, we explore the shift from directing to offering, from compliance to choice-based programming, and from being the center of the room to becoming the architect of the environment.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear understanding of why school-age children resist adult-led control
• The difference between offering invitations and directing participation
• Practical strategies for planning without micromanaging
• A new way to measure success in before and after-school programs

If you’ve ever thought, “They don’t need me like preschoolers did,” this episode is your reset.

They don’t need you the same way.

And that’s exactly the point.

Your ticket to elevated school-age PD is one click away! Join me at Camp North of Ordinary for a Summer Camp Leadership Retreat, designed for educators who work with School Agers! Whether that is before and after-school programs or summer camp! More information here: missjamieconsulting.com/campnorth