The Big Hearted Podcast

Are you an early childhood educator considering a move into family day care but feeling unsure where to begin?   In this episode, I unpack everything I wish educators knew before starting their family day care journey. From understanding the regulatory requirements and setting up your home environment, through to choosing the right service and developing a sustainable business mindset, I walk...

Running a family day care service means wearing many hats: educator, business owner, administrator, accountant, and future planner. In this episode of the Big Hearted Podcast, I sit down with Shannon Knight from Ledger Management, a former family day care educator turned accountant, to unpack the financial side of family day care. Together, we discuss the common mistakes educators make when managi...

After nearly 12 months away from the mic, I'm back.....and I have a lot I want to share with you. This episode is for every educator and service coordinator who has been watching the landscape shift and wondering: is this the end of family daycare? The short answer is no. But it IS a season of change, and the way you move through it will determine whether you're still standing on the other side. I...

Hello, my lovely listeners 💛 This week’s episode is a heavy one, but one we must have. We’re diving into the real reason behind the Department's push to ban personal devices in early childhood settings, including family day care. And let me be upfront, this is not one to listen to with children nearby. This conversation includes disturbing truths around child safety, exploitation, and the vulnera...

Hello, my lovely listeners! This week, I’m diving into something that many of us feel but don’t often say out loud:  Do you own your business, or does it own you?   If you’re feeling constantly “on”, mentally cluttered, or like your to-do list is running your life, this episode is for you. After a big few months of summits, launches, and life happening all at once, I’m back in the saddle...

Hello, my lovely listeners! This week, I’m diving into something crucial for every family day care educator —being prepared for when things go wrong. Whether it’s natural disasters, unexpected closures, or financial hiccups , too many educators are one emergency away from financial stress . This episode isn’t about fear—it’s about empowerment . It’s about taking control, planning ahead, and making...

Hello, my lovely listeners! This week, we’re diving into a topic that I know many of you have questions about— slow pedagogy . What is it really? How do we explain it to families in a way that makes sense? And most importantly, how do we help them see that it’s not about letting children run wild, but about creating intentional, meaningful learning experiences? If you’ve ever had a parent ask, “Bu...

Hello, my lovely listeners! This week, we’re diving into something so close to my heart— supporting children’s independence . If you’ve ever found yourself rushing to do things for children instead of with them, or if you’re wondering how to step back and truly empower the little ones in your care, this episode is for you. Independence isn’t about children doing everything alone—it’s about giving...

Hello, my lovely listeners! This week, we’re getting practical with slow pedagogy —what it actually looks like in your family day care and how to bring it to life without feeling overwhelmed. Slow pedagogy isn’t just about moving at a slower pace; it’s about being intentional, creating space for deep play, and letting go of the pressure to always be “doing.” If you’ve ever felt like your days are...

  Welcome back to the Big Hearted Podcast! This week, we’re diving into something I feel really passionate about— encouraging a cultural shift in family day care. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the answer to burnout in FDC is slow pedagogy. When we slow down, tune into the children, and create mindful, intentional environments , everything changes. The children thrive, we thrive,...

The Lasting Impact on Children's Transitions to Bigger Settings   Hello, hello, and welcome back to the  Big Hearted Podcast ! This week, we're continuing the deep dive into slow pedagogy —and trust me, if you haven’t quite got it from the last two episodes, there’s still plenty more to unpack! This time, I’m focusing on the lasting impact slow pedagogy has on children, particularly when...

Beyond the Rush – Embracing Slow Pedagogy for Educators and Children Hello, hello, and welcome back to the Big Hearted Podcast ! This week’s episode comes off the back of an email from Miss Jodie, who loved last week’s episode so much that she’s listened to it four times already! She’s also super keen for the Helicopter to Hands-Off workshop happening in March, so I thought—let’s dig a little deep...

Hello, my lovely listeners! This week, I’m talking all about slow pedagogy —a mindful, intentional approach to early childhood education. It’s about clearing out the clutter, creating calm spaces, and giving both children and ourselves the time and freedom to truly thrive. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the “stuff” in your life—both physical and mental—this episode is for you. What I Covered...

Welcome to Season 4 of the Big Hearted Podcast and the beginning of an inspiring 2025! In this first episode of the year, we take a reflective look through what’s to come for Big Hearted Education, with an overarching focus on slowing down and swinging the pendulum back to a simpler, more intentional way of working and living. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Slowing Down for 2025 Exploring the co...

Personal Growth, Vulnerability, and Embracing Limiting Beliefs In this week’s episode of the Big Hearted Podcast, I’m coming to you from my hotel room in downtown Vancouver, and it’s going to be a personal one. After receiving an email from my coach, Tina Tower, asking for feedback on her coaching program, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own journey — not just as a business owner but as a p...

In today’s episode of The Big Hearted Podcast, I’m excited to introduce the upcoming ABCs to FDC course, a free three-night event created to support family day care (FDC) educators with practical strategies for the most common challenges. Launching on 14 October, this course will cover everything from filling vacancies and finding work-life balance to building a strong money mindset. It’s designed...

"Calling BS on 'Taking the Family Out of Family Day Care" Welcome back to the Big Hearted Podcast! In this episode, I tackle a common statement circulating within the family day care community: “They’re taking the family out of family day care.” I’m here to call BS on that. Together, let’s explore why educators have far more autonomy and power over their business than they might think, and how we...

In this week’s episode of the Big Hearted Podcast, I delve into the world of documentation in family day care settings, challenging the norms that often lead to unnecessary stress for both educators and children alike. I discuss the importance of simplifying documentation processes to focus more on meaningful interactions and observations that genuinely benefit children’s development and well-bein...

Episode Overview: In this episode, I explore the importance of building strong connections with children and being a dependable figure in their lives, especially in early childhood education settings. I reflect on key insights from the book Hold On to Your Kids by Dr. Gordon Neufeld and Dr. Gabor Maté, particularly on the dangers of peer orientation and how it impacts children's behaviour. I also...

Podcast Show Notes: Mindfulness in Family Daycare - Finding Calm in the Chaos In this week’s episode of the Big Hearted Podcast, I’m covering the topic of mindfulness in family day care and how it can help us, as educators, find calm amidst the everyday chaos. With so many of us feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, it’s so important that we create space for ourselves and the children we care for to...

Show Notes: Episode with Ade Hoffman – Nature Play All Day Introduction: Welcome to this week’s episode of the Big Hearted Podcast! I’m thrilled to chat with Ade Hoffman from Nature Play All Day in Maine, USA. Ade is a trailblazing educator who has taken the leap to create an outdoor, nature-based kindergarten that operates almost entirely outside, regardless of the weather. We delve into Ade’s un...

Welcome back to the Big Hearted Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the world of food education with the wonderful Mandy Dos Santos from Little People Nutrition. 🌱🥕 Mandy shares her expertise on how educators and parents can create meaningful connections with children through food, emphasising the importance of communal meals and food education beyond basic nutrition. In This Episode: In...

In this episode, I’m sharing some thoughts on the importance of togetherness during mealtimes in family daycare. Many of us see children arriving in the morning without having had a proper breakfast, often due to the rush of their parents’ busy schedules. This can lead to children missing out on those vital connection times at home, and that’s where we, as educators, have a significant role to pla...

In this week’s episode of the Big Hearted Education Podcast, we delve into a crucial conversation about the responsibilities of family day care educators under the National Law and Regulations. Prompted by a recent discussion with an authorized officer from the New South Wales Department of Education, our focus is on ensuring educators are well-informed about their legal obligations and the seriou...

In this week's episode, I discuss the importance of reducing workload in family day care without feeling guilty. Building on the feedback from last week's episode on intentional teaching, I address the guilt many educators feel when they try to simplify their programmes. This episode is packed with practical tips and regulatory insights to help you streamline your activities while maintaining high...