Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

Επεισόδια

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  Road Safety in Early Education #6: Making Road Safety Musical 15.09.2026 15λ

  Music and movement take centre stage in this episode of Learn Play Thrive, as host Linda Harrison chats with Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Macquarie University's Kids and Traffic program. Grounded in EYLF V2.0, the discussion highlights how educators can use the core elements of music—beat, tempo and timbre—to help children embody important road safety concepts through pretend play. From pacing steps to the rhythm of a tambourine, to mimicking car engines and bicycle bells with loose parts...
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  Why Health Literacy Starts in the Early Years 11.09.2026 28λ

  In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with Lisa Woodward and Michelle Weisbaum from Life Ed Australia—the powerhouse team behind the iconic Healthy Harold programs—to explore the evolving landscape of health, wellbeing, and innovation in early childhood. Together, they unpack what health literacy looks like in action for young children today. The discussion highlights the critical role early learning centres play in fostering safe spaces for age-appropriate criti...
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  Play Provocations #10: Sensory Play 08.09.2026 20λ

  In this episode of Play Provocations, host Linda Harrison is joined by lead early childhood educator Michelle Jackson to explore the vital role of sensory play as a cornerstone of early learning. Grounded in research, the conversation highlights how intentional, open-ended sensory experiences form the neural baseline for children's holistic development. Linda and Michelle discuss the importance of recognising individual sensory profiles—exploring how educators can thoughtfully design e...
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  Tamworth Pedagogy in Practice: Early Education Conference Panel 04.09.2026 45λ

  In this special panel episode recorded live at the Pedagogy in Practice: Early Education Conference in Tamworth, the Learn Play Thrive podcast brings together four leading voices in early childhood education to explore the small, intentional decisions that shape transformative practice. Consultant Kirsty Liljegren of The Creative Collection follows with an inspiring look at how educators can make small yet powerful pedagogical choices daily to unlock richer possibilities for children’s...
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  Navigating the NQS #11: Standard 5.2 - Relationships between children 01.09.2026 8λ

  In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand dives into Quality Area 5, Standard 5.2 to explore how early childhood settings support children in building sensitive, responsive peer relationships. Moving beyond basic group work, Simone breaks down Element 5.2.1 on collaborative learning, highlighting how educators can foster peer mentorship and facilitate long-term, child-led inquiry projects where children act as co-constructors of knowledge. Through practical insights and real-wo...
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  Attracting, Sustaining and Preparing Quality Teachers in Early Childhood 28.08.2026 29λ

  In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand sits down with leading researcher Professor Sandie Wong to unpack groundbreaking ARC-funded research on the early childhood workforce crisis. Moving beyond stereotypes that undervalue early childhood education, Professor Wong provides hard evidence on the immense complexity, rapid task-switching, and specialised skills required of educators—highlighting the unique, irreplaceable contributions degree-qualified Early Childhood Teachers (EC...
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  S2E6 Little Library: My Nonno Loves 25.08.2026 30λ

  In this episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library, host Linda Harrison sits down with acclaimed children's author Adelle Frittitta to discuss her heartwarming picture book 'My Nonno Loves'—a 2026 CBCA shortlisted title in the Early Childhood category. This story explores intergenerational relationships and the non-verbal, everyday ways families communicate love across language and age barriers. Together, Linda and Adelle dive into how real-world stories validate children's lived ex...
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  Embedding Diverse Languages in ECEC 21.08.2026 20λ

  In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Amanda MacDonald, Early Learning Specialist at Education Services Australia (ESA). They discuss the national expansion of Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA), a government-backed, play-based digital language program into Foundation to Year 2 classrooms. Amanda shares how ELLA’s suite of 11 immersive, curriculum-aligned apps—offering 13 different languages—helps young learners build confidence, curiosity...
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  Road Safety in Early Education #5: Early Numeracy in Everyday Travel 18.08.2026 17λ

  In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive mini-series on Road Safety in Early Education, we welcome back Amanda Menzies and Bec Dunn from Kids and Traffic—the Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program at Macquarie University. We explore how everyday travel and road safety education provide a meaningful context to spark children's early numeracy understandings. From tallying travel modes using 3D bar graphs, to exploring spatial concepts through small-world safe play -- the conversation h...
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  Celebrating Early Learning Matters Week 2026 14.08.2026 31λ

  In this special feature episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast celebrating Early Learning Matters Week 2026, host Simone Brand chats with three distinguished early childhood leaders—Mary-Louise Clifford (Nominated Supervisor, Glenning Valley Child Care Centre), alongside Kylie Wade (Director) and Ella Peers (Educational Leader) from Highland Grove Preschool. Together, they unpack the foundational pillars of high-quality early childhood education and care. From the critical importance of sta...
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  Play Provocations #9: Construction Play 11.08.2026 23λ

  In this inspiring episode of our Play Provocations mini-series, host Linda Harrison is joined by lead early childhood educator Michelle Jackson to explore how intentional environmental design can elevate construction play into a rich hub for creativity, engineering, and storytelling. Together, they unpack the pedagogical power of construction play—highlighting how manipulating open-ended mediums like timber offcuts, loose parts, and natural elements allows children to bring their 3D id...
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  Bush Kindy Australia 07.08.2026 14λ

  In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Bec Burch, the visionary founder of Bush Kindy Australia. As Australia’s leading provider of Bush Kindy Leader Training and nature pedagogy professional development, Bec mentors educators nationwide to build confident, compliant, and meaningful nature-based programs. Grounded in her daily, hands-on work with children on the Gold Coast, Bec shares her passionate belief in every child's right to play outdoors, ...
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  S2E5 Little Library: Ships In The Field with Susanne Gervay 04.08.2026 28λ

  In this episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library mini-series, host Linda Harrison sits down with Order of Australia honoree and award-winning author Susanne Gervay to explore her moving picture book, 'Ships in the Field'. Drawing from her own family history as the child of post-war refugees, Susanne shares the inspiration behind this CBCA Notable story, which tenderly captures the journey of migration and belonging through a child's eyes. Together, they discuss how the book gently bala...
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  Connecting the Dots Between Music and Self-regulation 31.07.2026 26λ

  In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, we welcome Amelia, former Early Learning Music Specialist at International Grammar School and founder of Rhymey. After witnessing firsthand how intentional musical moments can instantly transform classroom energy—bringing focus, emotional regulation, and deep connection to young children—Amelia launched Rhymey to bridge the growing gap in early childhood music education. As tertiary courses move away from traditional music pedagogy, Amelia's h...
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  Navigating the NQS #10: Standard 5.1 - Relationships between educators and children 28.07.2026 12λ

  Welcome back to the Navigating the NQS podcast mini-series with host Simone Brand! In this episode, Simone dives straight into the absolute heart of daily early childhood practice - Quality Area 5, Standard 5.1. Simone unpacks the deep intentionality needed to maintain respectful and equitable relationships with each child, showing how an Exceeding-level service transforms ordinary routines into powerful rituals of safety and belonging. This epsiode explores Element 5.1.1 (Positive int...
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  Building Sustainable Quality at Gilgandra Preschool 24.07.2026 33λ

  In this inspiring episode, Simone sits down with the leadership and pedagogical powerhouse team from Gilgandra Preschool. Together, they share how they have pioneered a model of "adaptive quality" that is responsive to changing rural/regional/remote community realities, workforce pressures and unique child needs. The team dives deep into the philosophy that high-quality outcomes do not begin with programs alone, but rather through a beautiful chain reaction - people build culture, cult...
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  Road Safety in Early Education #4: Language, literacy & learning 21.07.2026 18λ

  Welcome back to the Road Safety in Early Education podcast mini-series! In this episode, we reframe the local streetscape as a giant, interactive picture book, demonstrating how road safety education naturally drives early language and literacy. Aligning with EYLF V2.0 Outcome 5, the team discusses how real-world experiences—like decoding environmental print and using "commentary walking"—build rich oral language and critical thinking in young children. The conversation covers practical wa...
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  Creating a Culture of Sustainability in ECEC 17.07.2026 26λ

  Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast! In this episode, host Simone Brand sits down with Dorothée Seeto, Director of Endless Play Studio. Many early childhood services find themselves stuck, scattered, or dependent on a single passionate educator when it comes to sustainability practices. Dorothée delivers a powerful reframe to overcome this overwhelm - "Sustainability isn’t just an extra chore or green stuff like recycling bins, but the vital project of growing ca...
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  Play Provocations #8: Digital Play 14.07.2026 27λ

  Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Play Provocations podcast mini-series with host Linda Harrison! In this episode, Linda is joined by Dr. Kate Highfield, Head of School for the School of Teacher Education at the University of Canberra. As a co-author of Early Childhood Australia’s updated 'Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies', Dr. Highfield shares ways digital tools can be used as open-ended loose parts that interact with the physical world to deeply enrich wonder, invest...
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  Beyond Attachment: Using Theories with Infants and Toddlers 10.07.2026 57λ

  In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand invites listeners to journey into the intentional heart of infant and toddler pedagogy alongside two leading academics and sector voices - Andi Salamon from the University of Canberra and Tina Stratigos from the University of Sydney. This deep-dive discussion aims to move foundational theorists like Bowlby, Parten, and Piaget off the dusty bookshelf and directly into everyday early childhood practice. As co-authors of the re...