Provoking Minds - An Early Childhood Podcast

This episode encourages you to ask ‘why’. Why do we do, what we do, and who is advantaged and disadvantaged by the decisions we make in an early childhood education and care service? What will you do differently after listening to this discussion?

What happens in the kitchen can be a reflection of what happens in the rest of an early childhood education and care service. This episode explores the processes and practices that help make the kitchen an integral part of the service program.

Kirsty Liljigren invites us to pay careful attention to what lies beneath children’s interests and the opportunities they present. She asks us to ‘raise our antennae’ and listen to the opportunities to create nurturing environments that support individual and collective inquiry and understanding.

How do we elevate the importance of a service philosophy and collaboratively use it to guide practice?

What is critical reflection and how do you make this a part of your service practice? Critical reflection is a team sport. Join Jan as she helps clarify the common misconceptions of critical reflection and offers some practical tips to transform practice.

Music for entertainment or education? Join composer and music educator James Madsen as he talks about why music education is such an important part of a child's life and why intentionality in music is essential.

Listen to Dr Criss Jones Diaz talk about why it is essential to support children to maintain their home language. What are the benefits and how do we provide language rich environments for children who speak languages other than English?

What are the contemporary pedagogy issues facing early childhood educators today? Spend time with Sally Beesley as she shares an example of practice, reflecting on gender curiosity and authentic partnerships.

What does a positive team culture look and feel like? Join KU Croydon Director Amanda Alderman as she shares her tips and strategies on how, as the leader in the space, she began the journey towards building a positive team culture.

Sally Beesley talks about her lived experience as a person living with a physical disability. She gives powerful insights into hidden messages behind our words and actions and what they can mean for the children and families in our services.

Documenting differently starts with thinking differently. Hear how Nicole uses the simplicity of the words ‘see, think and wonder’ to write a story that ends with more questions than answers, focusses on what she really sees, and consequently elevates parent engagement.

In this episode, Jan Faulkner and Fiona Harris explore questions that encourage stories of practice – stories that inspire us to engage in critical reflection.

Listen to Fran and Fiona discuss how to support children’s emerging identities as active citizens in their neighbourhoods and communities. Reflect on how, in your service, you match ideals for community connections to everyday practice.

In this episode, Occupational Therapist Caitlin Duckworth talks about sensory processing and its impact on children’s play. She provides some practical tips on how to spot red flags and support children’s sensory awareness.

What is the greatest gift a leader can offer the team? Dedicated time. Join Lisa Coghlan, an Education and Quality Manager with KU, as she shares her surprises and offers her tips for introducing individual weekly ‘catch-ups’ with her team.

A world that cares for people must also care for the planet while ensuring a fair share for all, including current and future generations of children. Educators have a duty of care to support children’s right to live within a well world. Join KU Sustainability Manager Deb Watson and KU West Pymble Preschool Director Katrina Hendry as they explore Becoming Eco Smart Together, a journey of continual...

In this episode Lynn Farrell and Fran Bastion discuss agency from a children’s rights perspective. They also explore what an infant and toddler program might look and feel like when our youngest children are afforded agency.

Laure Hislop talks with Megan Dodds about how she has maintained her sustained commitment to the teachings of Circle of Security. She talks about her enthusiasm for professional learning and how she continues to look at improved ways to 'be with' children. Hear how she mentors her team as they work through a 'Curriculum of Feelings'.

'Because We Care - Education for Sustainability in Action' can be purchased at https://ku-professional-services-and-learning.myshopify.com/products/because-we-care

“A career highlight,” says Susan James. This episode invites listeners to hear about the project ‘Inside Mary Elizabeth’s House’ from the teachers’ perspective. Susan James and Bei Bei Liu offer some critical insights into the evolution of the project, and interrogate some key practices that enabled collaborative thinking and theorising and the co-construction of inquiry based curriculum.

Vickie Ren provides insights into what a speech pathologist does and explores how language develops in young children. She also gives some tips for early childhood educators on what to look out for as children’s language develops.

This episode is an invitation to share a story of an unexpected, co-created project and investigation. Inside Mary Elizabeth’s House will offer listeners an insight into the pursuit of big ideas undertaken by children with educators – a story of co-constructed curriculum at its best.

Why are routines and rituals important in our early childhood programs? Jan Faulkner and Laure Hislop unpack this question and discuss the special significance they have to children’s wellbeing, relationships and sense of belonging.

We are joined by Associate Professor Kylie Smith to explore the topic of gender and play. Kylie shares insight into how young children develop their understanding of gender and the important role early educators have in noticing and challenging gender stereotypes and bias.

Listen to Dr Gai Lindsay’s inspirational reflections on the importance of the arts in the lives of young children. Hear her talk about why children have the right to an early childhood education that is rich in the joy of art.