In this episode of Learn Play Thrive, we explore the vital role of sleep and rest in early childhood settings with the team from Sleep Smart Australia.

Quality sleep is a cornerstone of child development, yet navigating sleep routines in an ECEC environment can be complex. We dive into how Sleep Smart Australia is revolutionizing this space by bridging the gap between safe sleep guidelines and nurturing, responsive practice. We discuss their unique approach, which integrates evidence-based safety standards with the Circle of Security® framework, ensuring that sleep time is not just a routine, but a moment of emotional connection and security.

Whether you are an educator looking to refine your rest-time pedagogy or a leader seeking to align your service with the latest health and safety standards, this conversation offers practical insights into creating calming, respectful, and evidence-informed sleep environments for every child.

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- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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Step outside the four walls of an early years classroom and into a world of invitations to wonder. In this episode of Play Provocations, Linda Harrison sits down with Centre Director and nature play advocate Aimee Hansen to explore how the natural world acts as a living, breathing co-teacher. They discuss how nature play builds essential executive function and school readiness in children under five. By engaging with sticks, stones, and soil, young learners are developing a deep-seated appreciation for sustainability and their role as active citizens in a changing world.

Get ready to transform your practice with three hands-on nature provocations designed to spark curiosity and connection. Learn how to set up a Bush Kitchen that integrates Indigenous ingredients, or how to turn a simple veggie patch into a Sensory Salad Garden play provocation. Even if you’re stuck indoors, Aimee shares how a Nature Weaving station can bring the textures and scents of the unbuilt world to the classroom. Tune in to discover how these intentional arrangements of natural materials encourage children to investigate and lead their own learning journey through nature play.

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- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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In this moving episode, we are joined by international guest Jeanette Yoffe, Clinical Director of Yoffe Therapy and founder of the Celia Center in LA. Jeanette shares her profound personal journey through the foster and adoption systems, explaining how her own history of separation fueled her mission to become a therapist and advocate. She introduces powerful therapeutic tools — such as the "anger, sad, and out-of-control bags" — designed to help children process the complex traumas and instabilities often associated with being in care.

For educators, Jeanette highlights the critical role of becoming a "safe attachment figure" through consistency and routine. She discusses how predictable environments provide an essential anchor for children who have experienced upheaval and offers guidance on building respectful, non-judgmental partnerships with foster and adoptive families.

This episode is an invaluable resource for any professional looking to provide trauma-informed support and a sense of belonging to children navigating the complexities of the child welfare system.

Find out more:
https://celiacenter.org/
https://yoffetherapy.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorTYpNvgu1cMzthnTPrz43GYzuqIGC-kb7xrzw_NzQ6Awa2Xxch

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- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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Join us for a heartwarming new episode of the Learn Play Thrive: Little Library mini-series! Host Linda Harrison sits down with bestselling children's author Ashleigh Barton to explore her latest picture book, What Do You Call Your Mum?

This rhyming story takes readers around the world to discover the many names for "Mum"—from Okaasan in Japan to Tina in Fiji. Ashleigh shares the inspiration behind this "love letter to families," explaining how the story shows that while languages and cultures vary, the nurturing role of a mother figure is a shared human experience. It’s a soulful conversation that highlights how diverse representation in quality children's literature can help create a sense of belonging for every child.

This episode also dives deep into the pedagogy of play and early literacy. Linda and Ashleigh discuss how the book’s rhythmic structure builds phonological awareness and aligns with EYLF V2.0 learning outcomes by fostering effective communication and cultural safety. You'll hear Ashleigh read enchanting snippets from the text and share story-inspired learning experiences—including creating a 'Name Sound Wall' and setting up a 'Finnish Café' for pretend play.

Whether you are an educator looking to acknowledge linguistic diversity or a parent wanting to spark a love for diverse cultures, this episode is packed with practical tips to help the little ones in your life read, play, and thrive! Listen now and share your play-based setups using #LPTLittleLibrary!

Find out more:
https://www.ashleighbarton.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ashleighjbarton/

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Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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In this episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, we are joined by Megan Jones, a Clinical Psychologist with over 26 years of experience, to unpack the science behind building secure attachments.

Megan clarifies common misconceptions, explaining how research-driven attachment-based parenting is vastly different from permissive parenting. We explore the "control center" of the parent-child relationship, focusing on how co-regulation and emotion coaching allow parents to stay deeply connected with their children even during the most challenging tantrums and bedtime battles.

The discussion provides a practical roadmap for setting clear, age-appropriate limits without sacrificing warmth. Megan introduces evidence-based approaches like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), illustrating how consistent boundaries actually help children feel safer and more understood.

This episode is a powerful reassurance for parents, reminding us that "perfect" isn't the goal... rather, it is the combination of attuned responsiveness and calm, predictable guidance that sets a child on a trajectory for long-term emotional security.

Find out more:
www.arcfamilypsychology.com.au/
www.facebook.com/arcfamilypsychology
www.instagram.com/arcfamilypsychology

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 [email protected]

Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_

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- Email: [email protected]

In this next episode of our Road Safety in Early Education mini-series, host Linda Harrison is joined by experts Amanda and Bec to shift the conversation from "one-off incursions" to a deliberate, ongoing commitment. We dive into the three core pillars of effective road safety education - partnerships, policies, and programming. Discover why road safety shouldn't be a stand-alone topic, but rather a living part of your service’s daily routines. Our guests explain how to move beyond basic messages and create a robust framework that embeds road safety into the very fabric of your early childhood environment.

We also tackle the practical side of these pillars, reimagining service policies as active tools rather than documents on a shelf. Learn how to weave road safety into excursion plans, transition-to-school procedures, and emergency evacuations while maintaining a play-based, child-centered approach to programming. This episode emphasises the vital balance of engaging children in the "how" and "why" of road safety without making them responsible for their own safety. Tune in to learn how to build a culturally safe and pedagogically sound road safety program that reflects the EYLF V2.0 and supports your local community.

Find out more:
https://kidsandtraffic.mq.edu.au/

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Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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In this compelling episode of Learn Play Thrive, host Simone Brand joins forces with Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood, to confront the systemic fractures currently defining the early childhood landscape. From 'childcare deserts' and soaring fees to the myth of informal care, this conversation strips away the political jargon to reveal the real-world impact on Australian families. Georgie explains why the current market-driven ECEC model is operating as failing social infrastructure, and she calls for a fundamental shift in how we value the early years.

The dialogue dives deep into the non-negotiable reality of the workforce crisis, highlighting that high-quality education is impossible without a fairly paid and supported workforce. With 20,000 educator vacancies nationwide, Simone and Georgie discuss how professional retention directly dictates the stability and safety net families rely on. This episode is an inspiring roadmap for a system redesign—one that prioritises evidence-based pedagogy and universal access, ensuring that the ECEC sector finally works for children, families and educators.

Find out more:
www.facebook.com/TheParenthoodProject/
www.instagram.com/theparenthood/
Tiktok - @theparenthood
www.linkedin.com/company/theparenthood

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.

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Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

- Instagram: @learnplaythrive_

- Facebook: @Learn Play Thrive Australia

- Email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Navigating the NQS mini-series, host Simone Brand dives into Quality Area 4, Standard 4.1—Staffing Arrangements. Simone tackles the elephant in the room—the national ECEC workforce shortage—and explores how high-quality services can maintain intentionality despite the daily marathon of meeting ratios. We break down how to move beyond simply 'covering the floor' to strategically deploying staff strengths, ensuring that even during high-stress transition times or when utilising relief staff, the focus remains firmly on children’s learning and development.

The discussion explores the critical balance between 'organisation of educators' (4.1.1) and 'continuity of staff' (4.1.2), highlighting why predictable, long-term relationships are the cornerstone of a child’s sense of security. Simone shares practical strategies for building an Exceeding culture, from creating robust induction packs for casual staff to using the ECA Code of Ethics as a living guide for professional stability. 

Whether you are navigating the challenges of a rural setting or looking for critical reflection questions to spark your next team meeting, this episode offers a grounded, empathetic roadmap for ensuring your staffing arrangements provide the stable, enriching environment every child deserves.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.

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Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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In this special live episode of the Learn Play Thrive podcast, we take you to the heart of the ECA Regional, Rural and Remote Early Childhood Forum in Coffs Harbour. Host Simone Brand explores the vital work being done by professionals who champion quality early education across NSW’s most diverse landscapes. This episode dives deep into the unique challenges and incredible opportunities facing regional services today—from overcoming distance barriers for professional development to building cross-sector partnerships that strengthen local communities. 

Straight from the exhibition floor, we bring you the voices of the educators and exhibiting organisations including:
- Educationall Australia 
- Education Services Australia
- Education National. 

Join us as we celebrate the resilience of our sector and share inspiring stories from the field. Tune in to hear how we can all work together to ensure that quality early childhood education isn't defined by a postcode, but by the passionate changemakers working within our communities.

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Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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- Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Play Provocations returns with a deep dive into Small World Play. Host Linda Harrison is joined by Centre Director Aimee Hansen to discuss how miniature environments—filled with tiny figurines, recycled loose parts, and natural materials—are powerful vehicles for child-led learning. We explore how small world play allows children to act out complex emotions and make sense of the world around them. 

Aimee and Linda share three inspiring play provocation set-ups. You'll hear how to create a dinosaur garden that blends kinetic sand, moss rocks, and wood slices to foster early math and engineering skills. You'll also discover how to build a vertical, multi-level 'Gruffalo’s Deep Dark Wood' using stacked crates and artifical plants. Whether it’s stomping through prehistoric sand or weaving a story through a woodland canopy, these small world play provocations provide the perfect stage for children to become confident, involved learners.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving us a review on your favourite podcast platform.

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Connect with Us:

- Website: www.learnplaythrive.com.au

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