Hosted by mums—Kate Ellis, CEO of Raising Literacy Australia, and Amelia Mulcahy, 7NEWS journalist, the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast brings parents the latest insights from researchers who know all about how babies’ brains work and how toddlers grow.
In each episode, Kate and Amelia chat with experts to answer all the big questions about your little one’s first few years. They’ll explore topics like screen time, communication milestones, temper tantrums, and even the importance of letting kids take risks while they play!
This podcast is part of the Words Grow Minds campaign, which has been running for more than a year. The aim is to get more parents talking, reading, singing, and playing with their babies every single day. These simple activities help little brains develop and set them up for success in life.
Launched by the South Australian Early Years Taskforce, and recommended by the Royal Commission into Early Childhood, this campaign is working hard to turn around worrying trends about children’s development in South Australia.
We hope that when you listen in the car or on a walk with your baby, you’ll feel empowered by knowing what’s happening and why, how you can support your kids and yourself without any added stress or guilt.
According to the Australian Early Development Census, nearly one in four kids in the region start school with developmental gaps in areas like health, social skills, emotional growth, and language.
Kate Ellis, CEO of Raising Literacy Australia and Chair of the South Australian Early Years Taskforce, explained: “The Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast is all about breaking down complex infant neuroscience into practical tips and tools that already very busy parents can use to help their children thrive.
“We know that up to 85 percent of a child’s brain development happens in the first three years of life but it’s hard to focus on when you’re in the thick of juggling sleep schedules, feeding and nappies.
Amelia Mulcahy, 7NEWS presenter and mum-of-two, said: “I’m by no means an expert in the field of parenting, just a mum who loves her kids madly, and is doing her best. I hope parents love these conversations as much as we’ve loved having them.”
“We laugh, cry (mostly me) and try to work out how to make the most of these early years – because as we all know – blink and you’ll miss it… That thought alone enough to make me reach for the tissues again!”
More information or to listen to the Words Grow Minds Parent Podcast: wordsgrowminds.org.au/podcast
