HelllllloooooOOOOooooo and welcome back as I revive my podcast with a host of new interviews! Today, I'm chatting with Mariah Burley, the founder and owner of a play based child care center. We discuss intentional teaching practices and creating a welcoming environment for children and families. Tune in to find out about the importance of building relationships, being flexible, and adapting to the needs and interests of the children.   Some key takeaways Intentional Teaching: Mariah defines intentional teaching as teaching with a clear purpose and understanding of "why." It involves planning activities and interactions that are designed to help children grow and develop based on their needs and interests. Setting Up Intentional Environments: Creating intentional learning environments involves using provocations and open-ended materials to spark children's curiosity and creativity. The goal is to let children explore and learn in a purposeful and child-driven way. Relationship Building: Building strong relationships with children and families is essential. Mariah highlights the significance of forming bonds with children and ensuring that they feel valued and supported in the child care center. Family Engagement: Involving families in the learning process is crucial. Mariah suggests incorporating family photos into the classroom and maintaining open communication with parents to build a sense of community and trust. Clean-Up Time: Mariah and Kristen discuss strategies for clean-up time. They emphasize the importance of understanding the unique needs of each group of children. Giving children responsibilities during clean-up and making it a collaborative and positive experience can help ease the process. If you've ever wondered about how to approach early childhood education with intention and the children at the forefront, this episode is a must listen. Join Kristen and Mariah as they swap stories and share tips to create welcoming and inviting environments.   Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com Find Mariah here: @mariahburnley_ECS and grab her Free Guide to Open Ended Play Explorations