Claim OwnershipLearn Play Thrive The Podcast
Subscribed: 13Played: 282
Subscribe
© 2026 Learn Play Thrive The Podcast
Description
Welcome to Learn Play Thrive: The Podcast! Join us for expert insights and interviews, practical tips and inspiring stories in Early Childhood Education. Whether you are an educator or leader in the sector, this podcast is your go-to resource to discover strategies to foster learning, promote play and empower young minds to thrive.
119 Episodes
Reverse
Step into a peaceful morning on the farm with this episode of Little Dreamers, where host Kathryn leads preschoolers through a soothing mindfulness journey themed around animal yoga. The adventure begins with gentle breathwork and a gratitude practice, inviting children to imagine the sights and sounds of a paddock. By combining soft imagery with mindful movement, this episode helps young listeners transition into a state of calm, teaching them how to feel their bodies become quiet and ground...
⚠️ Listener warning: Anatomical Language - Please be advised that this episode contains discussions regarding child protective behaviours and body safety strategies. As part of this important conversation, our guest uses correct anatomical names for body parts. Providing children with the correct language for their bodies is a key safety strategy in early childhood education. However, we suggest pre-listening if you are in a shared space or planning to use this episode as a professional devel...
Join Linda Harrison and award-winning author Katrina Germein as they dive into her latest picture book, Another Year Around the Sun. This lyrical story follows a family through a magical year of outdoor play—from summer waves to autumn leaves. Katrina shares the heartwarming personal memories that inspired the book and explains how its vibrant, paper-collage illustrations help preschoolers connect with the rhythm of the seasons and the beauty of the natural world. This episode also shares pr...
In this episode, host Simone Brand welcomes Danny Pinchas from The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). We unpack how the Teacher Standards affirm the professional identity of early childhood educators, providing national consistency and a clear framework for quality teaching across the sector. Danny explains that setting this national benchmark directly impacts children's wellbeing and learning during their most formative years. We also discuss how the Teac...
In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand breaks down the shift from compliance to excellence in Standard 2.2: Safety. She challenges educators to move beyond 'blanket supervision' toward pedagogical agility, where teams intentionally position themselves to support individual child rhythms. By treating supervision as an active, living practice rather than a perimeter-watching exercise, Simone illustrates how services can move from 'Meeting' to 'Exceeding' the National Quality S...
In this episode, we are honoured to sit down with Director Amy Shine, an incredible force in the ECEC sector with over 25 years of dedicated experience in rural and remote communities. Amy is a passionate advocate for inclusion, reconciliation, and ensuring that every voice is heard within the early years classroom. Amy shares her deep commitment to building strong community partnerships and a culture where everyone belongs. We dive into the vital work being done at Forbes Preschool, explor...
In this month's episode of our Little Dreamers mini-series, we explore the playful world of our favourite furry friends! Host Kathryn leads preschoolers on a gentle relaxation journey through a sun-drenched backyard, smelling the fresh eucalyptus leaves and feeling the soft green grass. It’s a sensory-rich mindfulness experience designed to help little ones transition from high energy to a state of peace and calm. Preschoolers can also stretch their bodies with easy-to-follow yoga movem...
Welcome to an invigorating episode of Learn Play Thrive! Today, we are joined by a powerhouse of our sector, Stacey Jackson from Twinkl Australia. As the Early Years Segment Manager, Stacey is at the forefront of bridge-building between pedagogical theory and the practical, transformative tools used in early years learning environments every day. In this conversation, we dive deep into the 'why' behind the 'play', exploring how Twinkl's high-quality, EYLF V2.0 aligned resources can he...
Join Linda Harrison and author/illustrator Aura Parker to explore the delightful picture book, Bowerbird Brood. This enchanting story is a heart-warming ode to nature and a mother's love, exploring themes of protection, nurturing, and belonging vital for young children. Discover how Aura's beautiful illustrations feature 'seek-and-find' Australian insects and birds, supporting numeracy and early science concepts like bird life cycles and subitizing. Learn how the bowerbird's nest acts as a ...
In this powerful episode of Learn Play Thrive, we are joined by Dr Red Ruby Scarlet—an activist, teacher-researcher, and academic who has spent over three decades championing quality early childhood education and care. Red is a driving force behind the Early Childhood Education Summit 2026, a national movement born out of the exclusion of early childhood educators from the very political decisions that shape their daily practice. We explore why this summit is a critical turning point f...
In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand discusses Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety. This episode dives deep into Standard 2.1: Health, unpacking the three core elements that drive a safe and nurturing environment for young children in ECEC settings. Learn how to move beyond policy and into practice, focusing on: - responsive comfort - robust illness and injury management - intentional strategies for promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Discover ways to...
In this special episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, host Simone Brand sits down with producer Linda Harrison to give you an exclusive sneak peek into our upcoming Pedagogy in Practice: Early Education Conference. Tune in to hear about our incredible lineup of experts—including Colin Slattery, Dr. Gai Lindsay, Dr. Kate Highfield, Amelia Scarf, Kirsty Liljegren and Jessica Staines. You'll discover how each session is designed to transform your teaching through leadership, STEAM, the art...
In this heartwarming episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, we shift the spotlight to where it truly belongs - the children. The Boab Committee is a small group of preschoolers who meet regularly with their educators to discuss real topics that matter in their everyday experiences at their long day care service. This episode gives listeners a joyful window into genuine child agency, democratic practice, and decision-making in action. Across the episode, you’ll hear directly from the childr...
Tune in for an important discussion on keeping our youngest road users safe! We welcome Louise Cosgrove and Amanda Menzies from Kids and Traffic (Transport for NSW) to share their expert insights. Discover how the Kids and Traffic key road safety messages function as a 'curriculum toolkit' helping educators bring road safety to life in an engaging, meaningful way. Learn how you can leverage your trusted position as an educator to create a strong culture of safety for children and their famili...
This episode of Little Dreamers is all about beautiful butterflies, guiding preschoolers through gentle imagery and promote deep relaxation, body awareness, and imaginative thinking. Host Kathryn uses storytelling to help children practice gratitude and breathing techniques, inviting them to imagine they are colourful butterflies with happy, thankful wings. Tune in to practice the butterfly pose, where children learn to feel their bodies become calm and quiet like a butterfly resting o...
We're bringing back a must-listen favorite! Join us for this powerful encore featuring Jessica Staines, founder of the Koori Curriculum, renowned for her work in culturally responsive pedagogical practices. Jessica offers essential, actionable strategies for educators committed to moving beyond tokenism and cultivating genuine cultural competency. Key insights for cultural competency: - Effective and respectful ways to integrate Aboriginal perspectives across your curriculum. - Cultural pr...
We’re bringing back a must-listen favourite. In this powerful encore, I sit down with Dr Kate Highfield to unpack one of the biggest conversations in early childhood right now: Generative AI — should we worry or be excited? Dr Kate brings clarity, calm, and deep expertise to a topic that can feel overwhelming. Together, we explore how AI is shaping our sector, what it means for documentation, planning and admin, and how we can step into this space ethically and confidently. Rather than fearin...
In this episode of Navigating the NQS, host Simone Brand guides educators to excellence by diving into the heart of Quality Area 1 - Standard 1.3: Assessment and Planning. This episode is essential for mastering the planning cycle—observing, analysing, planning, implementing, and reflecting—which assessors look for as the systematic bedrock of professional practice. We also explore the keys to Exceeding NQS, focusing on Critical Reflection (1.3.2) and Information for Families (1.3.3)....
This week, we're bringing back one of our favourite episodes just in time for the summer season. Simone Brand chats with Louise Lambeth, an experienced surf lifesaver and children's book author. With warmer weather encouraging more time near the water, this episode is a vital listen for every educator and parent. Louise’s mission is to teach children and families how to stay safe in and around the water, powerfully using the art of storytelling to embed crucial safety lessons. Key takeaways:...
Join host Linda Harrison and First Nations author, Melissa-Jane Fogarty, as we explore the picture book Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History. This story traces the site's story from the Gadi people gathering at Tubowgule over 60,000 years ago, through colonisation, and up to the construction of the Sydney Opera House. We discuss the story's key themes of Aboriginal culture and language; and how the picture book acts as a powerful tool to begin conversations with preschoolers about big co...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States