Who's in your parenting village?

The early years for Aussie dads

From the first days of fatherhood, dads have an incredible opportunity to shape their child’s development – but how do they navigate the challenges and make the most of those early moments? And what programs, supports and strategies exist to build confidence and connection? In this episode, Kate and Amelia explore the experiences of new fathers with community leader and social entrepreneur, Thomas Docking.   Thomas is former President of the Childbirth and Parenting Educators Association (CAPEA) in Queensland, Chief Executive Officer of Dads Group [https://www.dadsgroup.org/] and Founder of Man with a Pram [https://manwithapram.com/] – an initiative that brings new fathers and their families together across Australia to connect, share experiences and be celebrated within their local community.   Connect with Dads Group on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/dadsgroupaus/] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dadsgroup/?hl=en].   Access further information on mental health and support for Dads via Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia [https://www.panda.org.au/get-support/support-dads] (PANDA). Thanks for listening to the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast! We love hearing from you, so please subscribe, rate and review this episode.  For tools and tips to support your child’s development visit wordsgrowminds.org.au [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/] and follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wordsgrowminds] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wordsgrowminds/]  Thanks to PodBooth [https://podbooth.com.au/] for producing this episode.  We acknowledge this land that we record on as the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people, as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living First Nations people today. We extend this respect to the cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from other areas of Australia and elders past and present.

Childcare in the news for all the wrong reasons

There’s no denying it’s been a really difficult year for parents of children in childcare. In this thoughtful and timely episode, CEO of The Parenthood, Georgie Dent [https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiedent/], joins Kate Ellis and guest co-host Daniela Ritorto to unpack the complex emotions many families are facing after recent revelations about poor quality care and alarming allegations of abuse.  With honesty and care, Georgie explores how to navigate very real feelings of fear and uncertainty, what to look for in a safe and supportive childcare centre - the red flags to watch for and the green flags that signal quality care - and how to make confident choices for your child.   A former lawyer and journalist, Georgie is also an author, media commentator and highly sought after keynote speaker who is determined to enact positive change for families, women and children.    Get involved: The Parenthood [https://www.theparenthood.org.au/]   Follow The Parenthood on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theparenthood]  Thanks for listening to the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast! We love hearing from you, so please subscribe, rate and review this episode.  For tools and tips to support your child’s development visit wordsgrowminds.org.au [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/] and follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wordsgrowminds] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wordsgrowminds/]  Thanks to PodBooth [https://podbooth.com.au/] for producing this episode.  We acknowledge this land that we record on as the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people, as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living First Nations people today. We extend this respect to the cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from other areas of Australia and elders past and present.

Raising a reader

In a world full of screens and endless entertainment options, books remain crucial to the human experience, sparking imagination, curiosity and connection. So how do we ensure we are raising the next generation of readers?  Kate and Amelia sit down with Ali Durham [https://alidurham.com.au/], children’s picture book author, illustrator and early childhood educator. Ali shares her passion for nurturing early literacy and the magic of storytelling, showing how reading aloud can boost communication, cognitive skills, and even strengthen parent–child bonds.  Ali has plenty of practical tips for making reading fun for energetic little ones, choosing age-appropriate books and incorporating stories into daily routines, even for parents who don’t feel confident as readers themselves.   Follow Ali Durham on Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/alidurham70] Words Grow Minds [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/category/read/] has plenty of practical advice on how to read to your child every day. Thanks for listening to the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast! We love hearing from you, so please subscribe, rate and review this episode.  For tools and tips to support your child’s development visit wordsgrowminds.org.au [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/] and follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wordsgrowminds] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wordsgrowminds/]  Thanks to PodBooth [https://podbooth.com.au/] for producing this episode.  We acknowledge this land that we record on as the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people, as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living First Nations people today. We extend this respect to the cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from other areas of Australia and elders past and present.

Understanding attachment

It’s one of the biggest buzzwords in early childhood, but what does attachment really mean? In this powerful episode, Kate and Amelia are joined by clinical psychologist Rachel Samson to unpack why parent-child attachment matters so much in the early years and how it shapes a child’s emotional and psychological development.  Rachel shares achievable ways to foster secure attachment, gently reassuring parents that connection doesn’t have to be perfect, and that everyday moments offer meaningful opportunities to build strong, lasting bonds.  Rachel is a clinical psychologist with more than a decade of experience working with children and families, specialising in family relationships and the law, parenting, child development, women’s health and infant care. She is an author, media contributor and a board member of the Australian Association of Psychologists. Through her platform Australian Psychologist [https://www.instagram.com/australianpsychologist/], she shares clear, evidence-based insights with a growing community of more than 147,000 followers.  Get in touch with Rachel here [https://samsonandbulluss.com/index.php/Home/about/rachel-samson]  Thanks for listening to the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast! We love hearing from you, so please subscribe, rate and review this episode.  For tools and tips to support your child’s development visit wordsgrowminds.org.au [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/] and follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wordsgrowminds] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wordsgrowminds/]  Thanks to PodBooth [https://podbooth.com.au/] for producing this episode.  We acknowledge this land that we record on as the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people, as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living First Nations people today. We extend this respect to the cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from other areas of Australia and elders past and present.

How music powers early learning

Music matters, especially for growing brains. In this episode Kate and Amelia chat with Dr Anita Collins [https://www.anitacollinsmusic.com.au/], a neuroscientist, award-winning music educator and author of The Music Advantage.   With a PhD in neuroscience and music education, Anita shares the extraordinary ways music supports language, cognitive development and emotional growth in young children, priming the brain for learning.   From practical tips for parents who think they can’t sing to exploring how music can be woven into everyday life, Anita explains why music isn’t just fun, it builds brains.   Follow Dr Collins on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/dranitacollins] Words Grow Minds has lots of free resources on how you can add more music into your child’s life visit Words Grow Minds - Sing! [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/category/sing/]  Thanks for listening to the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast! We love hearing from you, so please subscribe, rate and review this episode.  For tools and tips to support your child’s development visit wordsgrowminds.org.au [https://wordsgrowminds.org.au/] and follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wordsgrowminds] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wordsgrowminds/]  Thanks to PodBooth [https://podbooth.com.au/] for producing this episode.  We acknowledge this land that we record on as the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with Country. We acknowledge the Kaurna people, as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living First Nations people today. We extend this respect to the cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from other areas of Australia and elders past and present.