Morning drop-off is more than a transition — it’s a threshold moment. It’s where children transition from home to community, where parents entrust them, and where educators subtly establish the emotional tone for the entire day.

In this episode, Jamie explores the professional, emotional, and developmental importance of morning drop-off in before- and after-school programs. Drawing on attachment theory, co-regulation, and reflective practice, she reframes drop-off as one of the most powerful — and underestimated — moments in school-age care.

Rather than focusing on perfection or routines alone, this episode centres presence, tone, and intentional connection — and how educators’ responses in the first minutes of the day shape children’s sense of safety, belonging, and readiness to engage.

Pickup time. Three minutes. Twenty backpacks. One educator is trying to hold connection, information, safety, and emotion all at once.

In this episode, Jamie dives into one of the most universal — and underestimated — moments in before- and after-school care: the guardian pickup conversation.

With genuine candour, warmth, and the wisdom of a seasoned school-age educator, Jamie explores what’s truly happening in that chaotic, sacred window at the end of the day. It’s not just signing children out or handing over reminders — it’s relationship-building in real time.

Jamie breaks down:

• Why pickup feels so chaotic — and why it matters
• How micro-moments shape family trust and confidence
• The emotional labour educators quietly carry in those last minutes
• What guardians are actually hearing between the lines
• How to share concerns with compassion and professionalism
• The small communication shifts that turn chaos into connection

This episode reminds educators that those quick end-of-day conversations are more than routine — they are the heartbeat of family engagement.

Whether you’re a new educator learning the “pickup dance,” a seasoned supervisor supporting your team, or someone who’s ever ended a day absolutely spent, this episode will leave you feeling seen, grounded, and proud of the work you do.

Because the truth is: Before- and after-school educators don’t just manage time — they build bridges between home and program, one 3-minute conversation at a time.

Split shifts are more than early mornings and late afternoons — they are emotional marathons.

In Episode 12, Jamie brings voice to the invisible work of school-age educators who live in the “in-between” hours: the early starts, the long breaks no one understands, and the emotional balancing act required to show up twice a day with presence, patience, and heart.

With honesty, humour, and a whole lot of compassion, Jamie explores the emotional labour behind split-shift work — the self-regulation, the empathy, the attunement, and the quiet resilience that never makes it onto a schedule.

She unpacks what research says about co-regulation and attachment during transitions, reflects on the realities of caregiver fatigue, and validates the educators who feel overstretched yet continue to hold space for children with incredible care.

This episode is a grounding reminder that school-age educators don’t just “cover hours” — they hold space, build belonging, and create emotional safety in the margins of the day.

Whether you’re an educator, a supervisor, or someone who has ever felt unseen in your split-shift role, this episode will make you feel understood, valued, and profoundly proud of the work you do.