Between Us Mums

In this episode of Between Us Mums, host Anika sits down with psychologist and author Sandhya Menon to break down the anxiety, guilt, and emotional turmoil surrounding childcare and school drop-offs. Sandhya shares invaluable developmental insights into why tears during separation are actually a healthy sign of secure attachment and how age impacts a child's understanding of drop-offs. Togethe...

Navigating childcare with a neurodivergent child or one with unique support needs can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone. In this episode, host Anika is joined by Jackie Sikic and Caitlin Smith, expert occupational therapists from Kidlink and hosts of The Pipcast. Together, they unpack practical strategies for finding neuro-affirming childcare, asking the right questions on tour...

Ever wondered what actually happens during play-based learning at childcare? And how is it different to what our kids do at home or the playground? In this episode of Between Us Mums, host Anika sits down with Nadia Wilson-Ali, an early childhood education leader, researcher, mum, and Director of Education and Quality at Nido Early School.  Nadia unpacks the science and structure behind early chil...

The incident report doesn't have to be a source of dread for parents. This episode features Emma Rattenbury, a seasoned early childhood teacher and registered play therapist, who provides a refreshing and empathetic look at "tricky" behaviors in childcare settings. Emma dismantles the shame often associated with biting, hitting, or pushing, explaining these actions as developmental m...

In this episode, we tackle the high-stakes dilemma of school readiness with guest Jacqui, a highly experienced prep teacher and founder of Ready Wrens. With nearly a decade of experience in Melbourne classrooms, Jacqui specialises in bridging the gap between kindergarten and the first year of school. This episode moves beyond the "ABCs and 123s" to focus on the true markers of readiness: emotional...

In this eye-opening episode, we tackle the distressing reality of safety incidents and abuse within Australian childcare settings. Our guest is Kristi McVee, a former police detective with over a decade of experience investigating child abuse and a leading child safety educator. Kristi provides expert insights into why these incidents often go undetected, explaining the sophisticated grooming tact...

You've seen the NQS badge on the fence - but do you actually know what it means? In this episode, Anika and Kate sit down with Elise Disher, former educator, former centre director, and now an in-demand early childhood consultant, to finally decode the National Quality Standard in plain English. Elise reveals why a "Meeting" rating isn't something to fear, what a "Working Towards" really signals,...

Welcome to Between Us Mums, a bold, no-fluff podcast that gets real about the childcare stage of life - the stuff you wish someone had told you, the questions you didn’t know you could ask, and the support you didn’t know you needed. Between Us Mums offers solid advice and interesting Australian guest appearances, to get you ready for Day One of childcare. Hosted by real mums, for mums.  Choosing...

One of the biggest questions facing new mums: Is my baby too young for childcare? In this episode, Anika and Kate sit down with Professor Tricia Eadie from Melbourne University - one of Australia's leading researchers in early childhood development - to finally get the evidence-based answers. Tricia unpacks why age is rarely the right question, what quality actually looks like for different stages...

Welcome to Between Us Mums, a bold, no-fluff podcast that gets real about the childcare stage of life - the stuff you wish someone had told you, the questions you didn’t know you could ask, and the support you didn’t know you needed. Between Us Mums offers solid advice and interesting Australian guest appearances, to get you ready for Day One of childcare. Hosted by real mums, for mums. For more i...