“Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Doors: Creating Early Childhood Spaces Where Every Child Belongs”
– by Jessica Staines
What happens when children see themselves reflected in the environments around them? What happens when they are invited to look beyond their own experiences and into the lives, cultures and perspectives of others? And how do we create the “sliding doors” that allow children to step into empathy, connection and intercultural understanding through meaningful everyday experiences?
This inspiring keynote explores the powerful role early childhood educators play in shaping inclusive learning communities through the concepts of windows, mirrors and sliding doors.
- Mirrors reflect children’s identities, families, cultures, languages and ways of being, affirming their sense of belonging and self-worth.
- Windows provide opportunities to respectfully encounter perspectives, experiences and cultures beyond our own.
- Sliding doors invite children to actively engage with these perspectives through play, storytelling, relationships, inquiry and shared experiences that build empathy, curiosity and connection.
Grounded in the Anti-Bias Approach, this keynote will also unpack the important difference between children questioning difference and discrimination. Young children are naturally curious about the world around them, and educators play a vital role in responding to these moments with honesty, confidence and care rather than silence or shame.
Together, we will explore how educators can foster environments where diversity is normalised, questions are welcomed, and children are supported to recognise unfairness and act with compassion and respect.
Drawing upon Aboriginal perspectives, intercultural ways of knowing, and real examples from early childhood settings, this keynote challenges educators to move beyond performative inclusion and toward creating spaces where every child feels seen, valued and connected to the wider human experience.
Participants will leave inspired to critically reflect on their environments, resources, relationships and pedagogy, with practical ideas for creating learning spaces that nurture identity, belonging, empathy and social justice from the earliest years.
“Understanding Children, Understanding Ourselves”
– by Lael Stone
Join Lael Stone for this transformative keynote exploring how children communicate through behaviour, play and connection, and why self-awareness is the most practical tool any educator can develop.
Key takeaways:
- Decoding what children are communicating through behaviour, play and connection
- Three reasons children experience big feelings and how to respond rather than react
- The power of play: synaptic development, emotional processing and healing trauma through play
- How personal imprints around self-care, boundaries and anger quietly drive our reactions
- Why self-attunement is the foundation of every meaningful connection with a child
Get to know the Speakers
Jessica Staines is an early childhood educator, advocate and professional speaker, with more than fifteen years of experience working with providers in both urban and regional communities.
As the founder of the multiple award-winning Koori Curriculum, Jessica’s commitment to social justice, reconciliation and anti-bias practices drives her to empower educators to be more culturally aware and inclusive. She facilitates a range of professional development programs, resources and workshops for educators that help guide the inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives in early childhood curriculums.
Jessica has played many significant roles nationally and internationally in building cultural understanding, reconciliation and harmony, including as an Indigenous advisor to ABC’s Playschool and as the National Representative for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People at the World Forum Foundations Global Leaders Program.
Her work has been published in industry journals, and she has previously been a part of the AIATSIS Education Advisory Committee and HIPPY Reference group, contributing to the development of resources and programs that support Aboriginal children and families in the early years.
Jessica’s family are Wiradjuri and have lived off Country on Gadigal and Wangal land for four generations. Her family originally came from Cowra, Molong, Parkes and Wellington, but due to displacement, they were disconnected from their family and communities.
Today, Jessica lives on Darkinjung Country with her two children on a peaceful bush block, and is proud to identify as a Wiradjuri woman, with connections to her local Darkinjung community.
Lael Stone is an educator, TEDx speaker, author, mother and parenting counsellor who has worked with families for over 20 years.
Her work as a birth educator, post-natal trauma counsellor, and parenting educator has seen her work with thousands of families consulting about newborns all the way to the teen years. She spent over 5 yrs in secondary schools working with teens around sexuality, wellbeing and relationships and her great aim is to empower parents to create connections and stronger relationships with their children.
She is the Creator of Woodline Primary School, an innovative new school based on emotional wellbeing and connection.
As well as sitting on a few advisory boards and consulting with organisations around emotional awareness and trauma-informed practices, she spends a great deal of time travelling around Australia as a sought-after public speaker.
Lael’s first book, ‘Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children‘ debuted on many best-selling lists and her second book, ‘Own Your Story’, is available now, focusing on healing our pasts so we can thrive in the future.
You can find out more about her work on her website, Facebook and Instagram.
More details coming soon!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Do you have a question about the Little People, Big Dreams Conference? Want to get involved? We would like to hear from you!