Early Years Explorers

About Early Years Explorers

Welcome to Early Years Explorers, where play is serious business, curiosity is celebrated, and apparently where glitter makes everything better. I’m Afaf Zaidan, an early childhood educator with two decades of experience and self-proclaimed glitter magnet here to share the joy, chaos, and occasional sticky-fingered moments of the early years. Each episode takes you inside real classroom stories that will make you laugh, nod (or gasp!), insights that will keep you going, and reflections on how young children grow, connect, and explore the world — all backed by research. Whether you’re a teacher looking for inspiration or a parent curious about the magic behind those little eyes and big imaginations, there’s something here for you. So grab your coffee, hit that play button, and join me as we dive into the world of early childhood and unpack those messy, magical, and wonderfully unpredictable moments in the early years — one playful story at a time.

Publisher

Afaf Zaidan

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Apr 2025

Latest episode

21 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Aug 2026

   Episode 24:- Big School, Tiny Shoes – Preparing Your Child (and Yourself!) for Preschool

   Starting preschool is a big milestone—for children and parents alike. 🎒 In this episode of Early Years Explorers, Afaf explores what school readiness really means, how to prepare your child for preschool, and why tears, nerves and forgotten lunchboxes are all part of the journey. With practical tips, classroom stories and a little humour, we look at how to build confidence, independence and a positive transition into those first big steps of school. Because being ready isn't about knowing everything—it's about feeling safe enough to begin. Big school. Tiny shoes. One very big adventure.

2. 

   7 May 2026

   Episode 23 - Raising Resilient Children (What Research Says + What It Looks Like in Real Life)

   In this episode of Early Years Explorers, we explore what it really means to raise resilient children—beyond buzzwords and into the reality of everyday life at home and in the classroom. Drawing on key research in emotional development and scaffolding, we unpack how children learn to navigate big feelings, manage challenges, and build independence over time. From the “rescue reflex” many adults recognise in themselves, to the small but powerful moments like forgotten water bottles and glue-stick meltdowns, this episode brings theory to life through relatable, real-world examples. Warm, practical, and grounded in experience, this episode is for teachers and parents who want to support children without over-rescuing them—and trust that resilience is already growing, even in the chaos.

3. 

   27 Apr 2026

   Episode 22: What is Concept-Based Inquiry? Is it more than just a theme… and why does it matter in the early years?

   What does concept-based inquiry actually look like in an early years classroom? In this episode of Early Years Explorers, Afaf Zaidan unpacks the difference between teaching through themes and teaching for deep, meaningful understanding. From the “theme trap” to real classroom examples, we explore why busy classrooms don’t always mean thinking classrooms. You’ll hear how focusing on big ideas like change, function, connection, and responsibility helps children make connections, transfer their learning, and build lasting understanding. If you’re an early years educator, teacher, or school leader looking to move beyond activities and into authentic inquiry, this episode offers practical insights grounded in real classroom practice.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Early Years Explorers

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.