Episode Description: STEAM in early childhood education—what does it really look like? How can we move past the idea that STEAM is just about science experiments and tech gadgets and instead see it as a natural part of how children learn and explore the world? In this episode of The Inspiring ECE Podcast, I sit down with Paula Walsh, an early childhood educator, lecturer, STEAM researcher, and author of Full STEAM Ahead. Paula is passionate about making STEAM practical, playful, and accessible for all educators—because let’s be real, we don’t need to be scientists or engineers to bring rich learning experiences to young children! We’re talking about: The real difference between STEM and STEAM and why the Arts are a game-changer How STEAM fits naturally into play-based and inquiry-driven learning Simple, everyday ways to introduce STEAM—no expensive resources required Why “unplugged technology” is just as important as screen-based learning How educators can build confidence in STEAM (even if it feels intimidating) Paula’s book Full STEAM Ahead and how it helps educators bring STEAM into their classrooms with ease This episode is all about breaking down barriers and empowering educators to embrace STEAM in a way that feels fun, engaging, and meaningful.   How to connect with Paula Walshe Paula's most recent book, entitled "Full STEAM Ahead" is a guide to implementing STEAM in the early years and is also available now from Boru Press here. You can contact Paula or learn more about her work here. LinkedIn: Paula Walshe Twitter: @‌walshe_paula Instagram: @‌paulawalshe77 You can also email her: paula.walshe@setu.ie   Guest bio: Paula Walshe is a published author, Assistant Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at South East Technological University in Carlow, Ireland and a PhD candidate at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Her PhD research focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths) in early childhood education and care (ECEC).