In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by the one and only Sally Haughey, founder of Fairy Dust Teaching (now Wunderled) and a beloved leader in the world of play-based early childhood education.

Together, they dive deep into what it really means to build a culture of belonging in early childhood classrooms. Sally shares her personal story, the origin of Fairy Dust Teaching, and how her own struggles as an educator inspired the work she does today. From making the shift from theme-based to play-based learning to creating meaningful, anti-bias practices rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Sally offers vulnerable insights and practical first steps educators can take to do better for the children in their care.

You’ll also hear about the inspiration behind the Belonging First Summit, a free event dedicated to helping early childhood educators create truly inclusive spaces—without shame, guilt, or overwhelm.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Why relationships are the foundation of all learning

• How to begin uncovering your own biases in the classroom

• What belonging really means for children—and educators

• The role of discomfort in growth and learning

✨ Whether you’re new to anti-bias work or looking to deepen your practice, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to take the next step.