Ep 71 Unlocking the Transformative Power of Play with Sally Haughey

In this episode of Blooming Curious, I welcome Sally Haughey, (pronounced Hoy) the founder and CEO of Wunderled, formerly known as Fairy Dust Teaching. Sally shares her journey from beginning her teaching career in 1996 to building a global community of over 240,000 educators across 120 countries. Sally Emphasises a play-based philosophy inspired by Waldorf and Reggio Emilia approaches, she discusses the profound impact of play on children's development and imagination. She reveals the inspiration behind the creation and evolution of Wunderled and highlights the core philosophy that champions curiosity-driven and wonder-based teaching. Sally also addresses the current challenges educators face, such as classroom management and emotional wellbeing, and provides strategies for incorporating play and building relationships with students. Tune in to learn more about Sally's upcoming projects, her vision for the future of education, and practical ways for educators to foster an engaging, play-centered learning environment.

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00:00 Introduction to Sally Haughey and Wunderled

01:23 The Birth of Fairy Dust Teaching

03:23 The Evolution to Wunderled

05:38 Core Philosophy of Wunderled

07:06 Challenges in Traditional Education

09:14 Play-Based Learning in Practice

13:46 Balancing Curriculum and Play

14:30 The Importance of Relationships in Education

17:30 Empowering Educators and Students

30:14 The Future of Education

31:43 Introduction to Hummingbird Cottage

32:59 The Importance of Meeting Children's Needs

35:29 The Role of Play in Child Development

38:00 Delaying Formal Education

41:18 Parental Pressure and Educational Milestones

44:32 The Movement Towards Homeschooling

47:08 Challenges in Modern Education

51:42 Empowering Educators with Play-Based Learning

55:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts