Professional curiosity is often spoken about in early childhood practice, yet its meaning can remain abstract until it is grounded in everyday interactions with children, families and colleagues. This article and podcast episode explore what professional curiosity looks like in practice, why it matters, and how it can be nurtured within early childhood communities.

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/professional-curiosity-creating-cultures-of-reflection-safety-and-growth/

This episode is in partnership with The Early Years Leadership Conference

To find out more and grab your tickets visit: https://theearlyyearsleadershipconfer6.godaddysites.com/

Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

· What is professional confidence? – with Dr Lewis Fogarty - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/professional-confidence-finding-the-confidence-to-speak-out/

· Hurt from conception: The impact of domestic abuse on children – with Tina Pokuaah - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/hurt-from-conception-reflecting-on-the-impact-of-domestic-abuse-on-children/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Introducing the topic: what is professional curiosity?

02:31 – Defining professional curiosity: going deeper, not asking more

03:11 – Reflection as a foundation for learning

04:24 – Balancing curiosity with respect and non-intrusiveness

06:23 – Psychological safety and creating open cultures in settings

07:51 – Communication skills and asking questions in the right way

09:01 – Supporting apprentices and recognising different starting points

11:24 – Building reflective team cultures (example of shared communication approaches)

12:42 – Learning from each other and empowering educators as leaders

14:38 – Risks of lacking professional curiosity (complacency and stagnation)

16:04 – Impact on staff wellbeing, retention and relationships

17:42 – Early intervention and the dangers of assumptions

19:34 – Challenging bias and recognising personal perspectives

21:24 – Role modelling curiosity, vulnerability and reflective leadership

22:44 – Strengthening relationships with families through curiosity

24:22 – Generational impact of professional curiosity on children's learning

26:44 – Curiosity in training, CPD and professional development

28:58 – Supporting educators to develop their own pedagogy

30:45 – Moving beyond fixed approaches and embracing critical thinking

32:11 – The importance of collaboration beyond individual settings

34:38 – Introduction to the early childhood leadership conference

37:01 – Creating community, safe spaces and inclusive dialogue at events

39:02 – Amplifying diverse voices, including apprentices

41:15 – Encouraging participation and shared learning at conferences

43:28 – Final reflections: what should listeners take away?

43:44 – Closing remarks and episode wrap-up

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

What might early childhood practice look like if relationships truly came first?

In this article and podcast episode, we explore the idea of unconditional positive regard through the work of two influential figures who shared more than a surname: Carl Rogers and Fred Rogers. Although they worked in different spaces, both highlighted the power of acceptance, connection, and respect in supporting children's growth.

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/unconditional-positive-regard-in-early-childhood-what-we-can-still-learn-from-carl-rogers-and-mister-rogers/

This episode is in partnership with BookedIn

BookedIn is a CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes.

You can discover, compare, and manage bookings in one place – designed to help you book with more clarity and confidence.

Whether you're booking CPD or are a speaker yourself, they're opening early access soon, and if you want to be first to hear when it's live, join the waiting list NOW!

To find out more and sign up to the wait list visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/

Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

· Growth mindset in early childhood by Matt Bawler: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/growth-mindset-in-early-childhood-2/

· Proactively promoting positive mental health by Matt Bawler: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/proactively-promoting-positive-mental-health/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Introduction and welcome
02:15 – Katie and David share their journeys into counselling and early childhood education
05:20 – Why they wrote together about unconditional positive regard
08:15 – What unconditional positive regard looks like in everyday practice
11:00 – How to balance empathy with clear boundaries using the ACT approach
14:30 – Practical examples of setting limits with children
16:45 – How boundaries can communicate care, safety and love
19:10 – Why connecting Carl Rogers and Fred Rogers matters for the early childhood community
22:30 – The ongoing lack of respect and support for early childhood educators
26:00 – Emotional labour and how educators manage feelings in the classroom
27:15 – Natural emoting, surface acting and deep acting explained
31:30 – When "faking it" protects relationships and when it leads to burnout
34:00 – Why teaching in early childhood is emotionally intense and highly complex
37:00 – Helping children build a richer vocabulary for emotions
41:00 – Why modelling emotions is central to children's social and emotional learning
44:00 – Reflecting on whether children feel genuinely wanted and valued
46:00 – Final reflections and episode close

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com