Childhood isn't a race to see who can grow up the Childhood isn't a race to see who can grow up the fastest. It’s a vital developmental foundation and a sacred time in the individual's lifespan. 

But between aggressive corporate marketing, hyper-preparation for adulthood, and standardized testing, our society reinforces robbing children of the right to exist, learn, grow, and experience life. We’ve replaced trees with screens and unstructured play with rigid schedules. 

The result? A generation that is highly optimized for productivity...but is also deeply exhausted, disconnected, and lonely. 

As educators, we can resist this conditioning, root ourselves in what we've learned about early childhood, and anchor our practices in what children need and deserve to thrive.

Let's start a conversation.👇 What is one way you're resisting society's vision of childhood and replacing it with what's in the best interest of children?

#slowparenting #slowpedagogy #letkidsbekids #childhoodunplugged #mentalhealthmatters #earlychildhoodeducation #screentime #educationispolitical
As ECEs, "slow pedagogy" might seem as elusive as As ECEs, "slow pedagogy" might seem as elusive as a unicorn on roller skates. 🦄✨

Yet, when we hit pause and follow the natural rhythms of our classrooms, we uncover a treasure trove of insights about the children and ourselves.

I wonder...What does "slow pedagogy" look like in your classroom?✨

#earlychildhoodeducator #slowpedagogy #slowisfast #earlylearning
Certified lay-a-rounder🧡 Certified lay-a-rounder🧡
I sure wish I caught some video of us all DANCING I sure wish I caught some video of us all DANCING with joy! But, NO regrets, because I was too busy being in the moment with you, educators💛🎶!

At the Hastings conference, I was invited to deliver my session ‘The MAGIC of Music and Movement’ four times over two days…and what a treat it was! We had fun, played with music, but also deeply reflected on why music and the arts matter NOW more than ever, why music is fading from classrooms, and how we can bring it back with intentionality💫
Friday was AWE-some!🤓 In Peterborough last week, I Friday was AWE-some!🤓 In Peterborough last week, I delivered ‘Igniting Awe and Wonder: Re-imagining our Materials and Environments in the Natural World🌿’.

It was a pleasure to share my (*very vulnerable*) real story of how nature saved me, how awe and wonder are a powerful catalyst to truly come to “know” the natural world, to hear your commitments to the land you live & play on with children, to see what you can create for children with simple offerings from the land, and so much more. 

Thank you for embracing this learning and for making me feel so at home during my visit 💚 

✨And let us never forget:✨
“Oh do you have time 
to linger 
for just a little while 
Out of your busy 
And very important day…”
#aweandwonder #naturebasedlearning #kinshipwithnat #aweandwonder #naturebasedlearning #kinshipwithnature 
@iiqpeterborough
🫟Does this land with any of my fellow ‘visual thin 🫟Does this land with any of my fellow ‘visual thinkers’ out there?!

Maybe meeting times should include a little tension, some straying and untamed-ness, and certainly personal autonomy and agency. 🤷‍♀️
👉As we transition out of Mental Health Awareness M 👉As we transition out of Mental Health Awareness Month…what are some “indirect” ways you nurture your mental health and well-being?
Before every session, I like to anchor myself with Before every session, I like to anchor myself with this question ‘if a child was standing at the back of the room tonight, what would they hope are the key takeaways for adults at this session?’.

It reminds me of the “invisible audience” at sessions: the children we serve—and of my responsibility and values prior to moving into my work. 

Last night, before I offered a session for families, the responses that came up for me when reflecting on this question were:

~the child might hope parents recognize children are inherently good, and that “big emotions” are not behaviours or character flaws, but simply a natural part of their humanity; 

~the child might hope that parents learn to make space for their own emotional world, recognizing its value and the important role of self-compassion in caring for themselves and their children;

~and, the child might hope that parents stop worrying about who they will become, and learn to respect and honour who their children are right now. 

Of course, there are more, but these were the three that came up first—and they stayed with me as a guiding force throughout the session—ensuring I never forget why we are all gathered in these rooms in the first place 💛
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Mary Hewitt

Early Childhood Speaker, Consultant, Trainer, Expert

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  • A Message on AWE: Letting the ‘WONDERS of Life’ Change You

    The Child, The Environment & Materials, The Self · April 7, 2026

    A Message on AWE: Letting the ‘WONDERS of Life’ Change You

    The World Needs Our Softness

    The Child, The Self · July 16, 2025

    The World Needs Our Softness

    Listen in as Mary Discusses Trauma-Informed Care in ECE

    The Child · July 8, 2025

    Listen in as Mary Discusses Trauma-Informed Care in ECE

    Mary is a Guest on the Thriving Minds Podcast! Listen here:

    The Child, The Self · April 16, 2025

    Mary is a Guest on the Thriving Minds Podcast! Listen here:

    Buoyant Classrooms: 4 Ways Educators Can Promote Resiliency in Children

    The Child, The Self · March 18, 2025

    Buoyant Classrooms: 4 Ways Educators Can Promote Resiliency in Children

    Honouring Children’s Natural Rhythms and Perspectives in the Early Years

    The Child, The Culture, The Self · October 8, 2024

    Honouring Children’s Natural Rhythms and Perspectives in the Early Years

    On the Topic of Neuro Divergence!

    The Child, The Culture · August 1, 2024

    On the Topic of Neuro Divergence!

    Children Invite Us to Grow: Moving Beyond Triggering Behaviours in Children

    The Child, The Self · April 23, 2024

    Children Invite Us to Grow: Moving Beyond Triggering Behaviours in Children

    How My Elementary School Fostered Resiliency in the Midst of Trauma

    The Child · March 6, 2024

    How My Elementary School Fostered Resiliency in the Midst of Trauma

    More than Measurable Outcomes: A Holistic Perspective of “Play”

    The Child, The Culture · February 13, 2024

    More than Measurable Outcomes: A Holistic Perspective of “Play”

    Introduction to ‘Conscious Care’: Re-examining the Self to Better Serve Children

    The Child, The Self · February 7, 2024

    Introduction to ‘Conscious Care’: Re-examining the Self to Better Serve Children

    Come As You Are: Cultivating Belonging with Children

    The Child, The Self · January 24, 2024

    Come As You Are: Cultivating Belonging with Children

    Childhood isn't a race to see who can grow up the Childhood isn't a race to see who can grow up the fastest. It’s a vital developmental foundation and a sacred time in the individual's lifespan. 

But between aggressive corporate marketing, hyper-preparation for adulthood, and standardized testing, our society reinforces robbing children of the right to exist, learn, grow, and experience life. We’ve replaced trees with screens and unstructured play with rigid schedules. 

The result? A generation that is highly optimized for productivity...but is also deeply exhausted, disconnected, and lonely. 

As educators, we can resist this conditioning, root ourselves in what we've learned about early childhood, and anchor our practices in what children need and deserve to thrive.

Let's start a conversation.👇 What is one way you're resisting society's vision of childhood and replacing it with what's in the best interest of children?

#slowparenting #slowpedagogy #letkidsbekids #childhoodunplugged #mentalhealthmatters #earlychildhoodeducation #screentime #educationispolitical
    As ECEs, "slow pedagogy" might seem as elusive as As ECEs, "slow pedagogy" might seem as elusive as a unicorn on roller skates. 🦄✨

Yet, when we hit pause and follow the natural rhythms of our classrooms, we uncover a treasure trove of insights about the children and ourselves.

I wonder...What does "slow pedagogy" look like in your classroom?✨

#earlychildhoodeducator #slowpedagogy #slowisfast #earlylearning
    Certified lay-a-rounder🧡 Certified lay-a-rounder🧡
    I sure wish I caught some video of us all DANCING I sure wish I caught some video of us all DANCING with joy! But, NO regrets, because I was too busy being in the moment with you, educators💛🎶!

At the Hastings conference, I was invited to deliver my session ‘The MAGIC of Music and Movement’ four times over two days…and what a treat it was! We had fun, played with music, but also deeply reflected on why music and the arts matter NOW more than ever, why music is fading from classrooms, and how we can bring it back with intentionality💫
    Friday was AWE-some!🤓 In Peterborough last week, I Friday was AWE-some!🤓 In Peterborough last week, I delivered ‘Igniting Awe and Wonder: Re-imagining our Materials and Environments in the Natural World🌿’.

It was a pleasure to share my (*very vulnerable*) real story of how nature saved me, how awe and wonder are a powerful catalyst to truly come to “know” the natural world, to hear your commitments to the land you live & play on with children, to see what you can create for children with simple offerings from the land, and so much more. 

Thank you for embracing this learning and for making me feel so at home during my visit 💚 

✨And let us never forget:✨
“Oh do you have time 
to linger 
for just a little while 
Out of your busy 
And very important day…”
    #aweandwonder #naturebasedlearning #kinshipwithnat #aweandwonder #naturebasedlearning #kinshipwithnature 
@iiqpeterborough
    🫟Does this land with any of my fellow ‘visual thin 🫟Does this land with any of my fellow ‘visual thinkers’ out there?!

Maybe meeting times should include a little tension, some straying and untamed-ness, and certainly personal autonomy and agency. 🤷‍♀️
    👉As we transition out of Mental Health Awareness M 👉As we transition out of Mental Health Awareness Month…what are some “indirect” ways you nurture your mental health and well-being?
    Before every session, I like to anchor myself with Before every session, I like to anchor myself with this question ‘if a child was standing at the back of the room tonight, what would they hope are the key takeaways for adults at this session?’.

It reminds me of the “invisible audience” at sessions: the children we serve—and of my responsibility and values prior to moving into my work. 

Last night, before I offered a session for families, the responses that came up for me when reflecting on this question were:

~the child might hope parents recognize children are inherently good, and that “big emotions” are not behaviours or character flaws, but simply a natural part of their humanity; 

~the child might hope that parents learn to make space for their own emotional world, recognizing its value and the important role of self-compassion in caring for themselves and their children;

~and, the child might hope that parents stop worrying about who they will become, and learn to respect and honour who their children are right now. 

Of course, there are more, but these were the three that came up first—and they stayed with me as a guiding force throughout the session—ensuring I never forget why we are all gathered in these rooms in the first place 💛
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