Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

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, investigation, and creative agency.

The discussion unpacks vital planning considerations from the revised ECA statement, highlighting the four key pillars -  Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Citizenship, and Play and Pedagogy. Dr. Highfield explains that intentional digital play should never be about passive screen consumption. Instead, technology must sit comfortably alongside gross motor and messy play, ensuring children remain content creators who control the technology rather than being controlled by it.

Listeners will walk away with three highly practical, EYLF-aligned digital play provocations. You'll explore ways to use digital backdrops to expand dramatic play, use a wireless magnifying wand to inspire detailed charcoal drawings of nature, and "Soundscape Architects" which embeds child-recorded audio directly into block construction. Tune in to discover how to merge the digital and physical worlds to build a truly holistic early learning ecosystem!
Find out more:
https://digitalchild.org.au/educators/
https://www.deakin.edu.au/faculty-of-arts-and-education/research/centre-of-excellence-for-the-digital-child
https://katehighfield.com/about-kate/
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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 recently published resource 'Intentional Practice with Infants and Toddlers: Pedagogies for Learning, Development and Wellbeing', Andi and Tina share their immense expertise on translating theory into responsive, respectful, and participatory communicative practices that transform how we see, hear, and support the youngest children in our care.

Throughout the conversation, they unpack practical ways early childhood educators can intentionally design environments and everyday interactions using these theoretical frameworks. Listeners will discover how to look past the surface of Bowlby's 'secure attachment' to deepen a child's sense of belonging; how to value Mildred Parten’s 'solitary' and 'onlooker' play stages as periods of rich discovery; and how Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development can shape a pedagogy that recognises infants as active constructors of their own worlds. 

Concluding with inspiring takeaway messages, Andi and Tina challenge educators to reflect on how contemporary, interdisciplinary theories frame their thinking, ultimately reshaping daily practice to profoundly elevate the lived experiences of infants and toddlers.
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
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- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

Welcome to a brand-new episode of Learn Play Thrive’s Little Library mini-series, where host Linda Harrison is joined by Linda Stock—a qualified early childhood educator, therapeutic practitioner, and university lecturer specialising in children’s literature. 

In this illuminating conversation, the two experts dive deep into the emotional landscapes of picture books, focusing on Anna Walker’s award-winning story, Mr Huff. Linda Stock draws upon her extensive background in Bibliotherapy and Narrative Therapy to explain how the story externalises a child’s anxiety, turning a heavy emotion into a separate entity—a grey cloud named "Mr Huff"—that children can look at, talk to, and walk beside rather than being defined by it.

This episode focuses on how emotional literacy, highlighting how one-on-one shared reading acts as a form of therapy by fostering secure attachments. The discussion introduces the concept of the 'Third Space'—the sacred, imaginative zone between a child’s inner world and an adult’s understanding where meaningful emotional growth unfolds. Listeners will take away a  strength-based toolkit for helping young children feel safe, secure, and deeply supported through the use of picture books.
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
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- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with Dr. Kaylene Henderson—a medically trained child and adolescent psychiatrist, parenting specialist, and one of Australia’s most trusted early childhood experts. Known for her warm, relatable style and ability to translate complex research into "doable" approaches, 

Dr. Henderson unpacks the emotional and practical hurdles parents and educators face when navigating the "Goldilocks dilemma" of support. Together, they explore why it is so difficult to step back, how our own upbringing and modern time pressures impact our teaching, and how to successfully find that sweet spot of helping just enough to allow children to experience crucial, confidence-building moments.

Listeners will walk away with a new perspective on tackling anxiety and developing long-term independence in the early years. Dr. Henderson dives deep into the magic effect of simply teaching children how anxiety works, explaining how to "avoid avoidance" by scaffolding tasks so they become hard but completely doable rather than letting children opt out. 

This insightful conversation serves as a powerful reminder that resilience is not a fixed trait, but an asset built through everyday interactions. Tune in to hear why Dr. Henderson believes that early childhood educators, parents, and carers—not specialists—are the ones perfectly positioned to shift current trajectories and bring out the absolute best in this pandemic-born generation.
Find out more:
Website (Educator resources): https://drkaylenehenderson.com/ 
Courage Coaching Online (Programs for families & primary schools): https://couragecoachingonline.com/ 
A Dose of Awesomeness (Resources for families): https://adoseofawesomeness.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkaylenehenderson/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_kaylene_henderson/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kaylene-henderson-43987462 

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia
- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au

What takes an early childhood service from a group of people working in the same building to a collaborative, ethical community of practice? In this episode of our Navigating the NQS mini-series, host Simone Brand dives straight into the heart of team culture: Quality Area 4, Standard 4.2 – Professionalism. 

This quality standard is about the spirit—it’s the invisible glue that holds a service together. We discuss how Exceeding services move beyond just "getting along" by using active tools like peer mentoring circles and strengths registers, while transforming the ECA Code of Ethics from a staffroom poster into a living guide for everyday ethical decision-making.

When approved providers and service leaders actively focus on educator wellbeing and build resilience, that confidence flows directly down to the children and out to families. This episode delivers practical insights on navigating hard conversations; building a transparent no-blame culture for collective growth; and embedding your service philosophy into daily practice. 

Grab your notebook, subscribe to Learn Play Thrive on your favourite podcast platform, and use our included critical reflection questions to help your team confidently strive for an Exceeding rating!
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.
Have questions or feedback? Connect with us on social media or email us at info@learnplaythrive.com.au
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au
- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_
- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia
- Email: info@learnplaythrive.com.au