Thriving Language - Early Years

Becky and Rebecca

We are the Beckies, we work together mentoring and coaching early years professionals to be the best they can be and create happier brighter futures for themselves and the children they work with. Our podcasts offer easy to use top tips to help ease your workload and build confidence in practice. Speech and Language Therapy and Early Years are what we love, so join us and discover how to make your life and career happier.

  1. May 11

    Here The Beckies talk with Trisha Lee all about the power of storytelling, music and poetry with children

    Trisha is the founder of Make Believe Arts Charity- she has a wealth of knowledge around children's learning and the benefits of storytelling. She worked alongside the wonderful Vivian Gussin Paley - researching storytelling and acting.   We discover how from this friendship and collaboration Helicopter stories were created.  Helicopter stories can boost children's communication skills through storytelling & poetry.  The most educationally, connected  powerful way to work with children is to observe and listen to all their communication.  We explore how a story could be one word and how we can treasure this.  This can be such a boost for every child, every child is involved.  Education is individual for all children and we love the way this approach captures this is fabulous.  To find out more about Helicopter Stories  & Poetry Baskets, head to helicopterstories on Instagram  Websites: helicopterstories.co.uk  makebelievearts.co.uk   Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    13 min
  2. Apr 6

    The Beckies chat all about Thriving Smiles – Small Habits, Big Impact for Teams & Tiny Teeth – with Flosst

    Here the Beckies chats with Leanne and Lydia the co-founders of Flosst all about wellbeing and looking after ourselves.   We delve into why babies, children’s and adults’ wellbeing and oral health is so crucial. We discover the benefits of mouth care for our whole body.   We learn top tips and helpful information that enables busy people to really look after themselves in a few easy ways.  This fits in so well with everyone's wellness journey.  Small consistent daily habits really do work.  So thinking about how to create healthy habits for little ones is so helpful. Leanne and Lydia have so much everyday practice to share with us.  The reason for creating their App is to use education and build ‘the why’ into caring for teeth and our whole self.  Let’s build everyday routines that matter and make a difference not only for now but for the children’s and our own healthy futures.  The Flosst App team have some free codes for Thriving Language listeners to say thank you for the vital work early years educators and teachers do.  Instagram flosstapp  www.flosst.com  Grab a cuppa and have a 10 min listen together with us, you never know this could be the information you have been searching for.  Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    12 min
  3. Mar 14

    Mother's Day Episode - Here Becky & Mindy chat with two amazing forest school Mumma's

    Here we chat with two amazing forest school Mumma’s and discover what it feels like to join a session, what they thought it would be like and what benefits they believe being outside has brought to theirs and their children’s lives.  We also have a very special guest ‘Kit’ who you can hear and who has been at our forest play sessions from 10 days old.  We discover what helped them to choose forest school?  Why being outside in another space other than your garden can help you be in the moment.  Vicky and Tarryn also chat honestly about being outside in every weather, they talk about being in the right clothes and having the shelter to keep them dry.   It helped them to discover that the weather does not have to dictate your life  Toddlers run around so much and move that they stay warm, they often end up taking layers off. Vicky chats about how her 10-day old baby was snuggled, warm and dry in his carrier next to her.  We chat together about feeding, helping and supporting each other. Trusting children and helping them to be independent is key to our forest school and learning outcomes. This starts with tiny babies where sleep can be improved, friendships are made and serotonin is boosted.   We look at how forest school can help you and your little ones to thrive: Having a warming cuppa made for you whilst creating, making, learning, developing brains and starting parenting life together with your baby in a positive environment.  If you would like to know more about our outside sessions: ‘Cosy Mumma’s Thrive Tribe’,  ‘Family Forest Play Sessions’  or our Outdoor Training for adults, educators and teachers please contact us at Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk or mindy@badgerwoodadventures.co.uk   Thank you for joining us and listening to Thriving Language Podcasts  Creating Environments Where Everyone Thrives  Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    11 min
  4. Mar 2

    Why being Outside when pregnant and also with your newborn baby can help you both to Thrive

    Here Becky and Mindy chat all about the benefits of being outside when pregnant can help you to thrive.  These benefits also help all adults and children so it is well worth a 10 minute listen.  What helps to lower cortisol so this is at a lower level?  We discover what helps to boost serotonin and helps baby and mumma to connect.  How does this relate to outside and being in nature?  Are green spaces the best places to be in and why?  Why do we need to be in nature and what happens to our brains when we are in green spaces?  What practical advice do we have for experiencing every weather with little ones.  We discover what petrichor is and how this makes us feel good, supports our immune systems and can only be experienced by going out in the rain.  We chat about what the latests indepth research says about outside and it really is extremely clear: Outside helps developing eyesight and eye muscles from a young age.  Feeling calm, feeling settled, and your well-being comes from being in nature and being part of a welcoming community.  If you would like to join us or share this information with Prengnant Mummas and their families please head sign post them to Thriving Language and Badger wood Adventures www.badgerwoodadventures.co.uk.  'Cosy Mummas Thrive Tribe' outside groups for pregnant women and their babies, Partners & Grandparents very welcome to.  Thank you for listening love  The Beckies and Mindy    Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    12 min
  5. Feb 6

    How do we create communities where Mumma's and babies thrive - Becky & Mindy chat about their own experiences of pregnancy and being a new Mumma

    Becky is delighted to be joined by Mindy as they chat all about what Mumma's might need to help them and their children to thrive in the early days of parenting. We find out about both their experiences from being pregnant to having a young baby.   We discover what helped us and what we could of had in place that would of really made a difference to our journey into motherhood.  It turns out for us some of the very simple things in life like snuggling up at a friends house, getting cosy in a sleeping bag, having a cuppa and dunking several chocolate biscuits, chatting about all sorts of things and just being able to say whatever you need to, might hold the key to perinatal wellbeing.  Being a new parent is different for everyone, however perhaps creating a community where everyone feels accepted and supported with no judgement might just be what makes all the difference.  We would love to hear what helped you in your pregnancy and new baby journey? Discover more about outdoor learning, family forest play & cosy Mumma's thrive tribe head to  www.badgerwoodadventures.co.uk  Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    11 min
  6. 10/29/2025

    Here the Beckies talk with Jo Davies the awesome founder of Recycling Resources for All

    Jo has a wealth of knowledge in early years and primary education, she is now using her expertise to specialise in sustainability. Jo designs and creates the most useful, curriculum and bespoke based resources from repurposed, recycled and natural objects.  Personally, we are delighted to use Jo's resources in schools and settings we work with and in our own forest play approach sessions.  Jo also holds monthly 'creating resources evenings', where you and your team can visit her at the Gloucester Resource Centre and make your own resources to take away to your setting. These are a delightful evening of creating, team building and help to start your sustainable journey. There really is another way to resource your environment and to help the children to respect and understand their natural world.   Jo has a fabulous stock of brilliant resources at hand, so before you pop in your next order, we think you should head over to her Instagram and create your environment where the children and adults can celebrate enquiry based learning which doesn't cost the earth! Want to know more head to  rr4all_recyclingresources4all   Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    15 min
  7. 09/10/2025

    The Beckies chat with Dr Janet Rose all about shaping children's brains

    The Beckies are delighted to be joined by Dr Janet Rose, Emotion Coaching Co-Founder and Principle of Norland College.  We discuss shaping children’s brains and the importance of our communications as educators and teachers upon children’s lives, not only in practice now, but for their futures.  Janet explains how the way we talk and communicate with children shapes brains. She shares the latest research that is needed for practice. She enlightens us about the way children process the tone of the voice first.  They are scanning their world; non-verbal interactions are recognised and processed.  We are wired to connect with our social world. Babies and young children are seeking a response to their gestures – baby is connection seeking and communicating, and how the adult responds will literally be shaping the neuro-wiring in the child’s brains.  A career with children could be viewed as  not being rocket science ( one of the children you listen to and teach may become a rocket scientist), however it is definitely  brain science and choosing a career in early years and education or with any age child, mean’s you are responsible for creating the environments where brain development is optimal! Connections, communications, listening and trusting children’s ideas really does matter!       Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    20 min
  8. 07/10/2025

    Speak up and Speak out - What does being an advocate for children really mean

    Here The Beckie's chat together about what children really need from the adults in their lives, we explore what it means to be an advocate for children and why this really matters.  Why do children need advocates?  What is the role of all educators for children of all ages?  What does this look like in everyday practice, how are children seen and heard ? We discover how to really observe and understand what the children are communicating.  Open communications are based on how we feel and what we see,  use your power for good to ensure all children and adults are supported, can thrive and feel safe to learn. The child should always be at the centre of their curriculum and their ideas should lead it.  We look at challenging the status quo, advocating for yourself and for the children. It is important to speak up and speak out professionally.  If you are in a family with children you also have the ability to advocate.  After all, it's not every career that is key to developing brains for now and for the future, so we must take our role seriously and keep researching and advocating every day.  Want to chat, connect, work with us or run something by us, then head to Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk and email us.  Thank you for listening and being part of this amazing community. Love The Beckies   Head to  www.thrivinglanguage.co.uk to discover more with The Beckies. Training for educators, key note speakers and workshops, one to one sessions for speech language and communication  play sessions for children and families. Publications Routledge: Speech Language and Communication in the Early Years Speech Language and Communication for Healthy Little Minds Email Rebecca@thrivinglanguage.co.uk Thank you for listening and being part of this awesome Thriving community who empower all children to be understood.  Love The Beckies

    9 min

About

We are the Beckies, we work together mentoring and coaching early years professionals to be the best they can be and create happier brighter futures for themselves and the children they work with. Our podcasts offer easy to use top tips to help ease your workload and build confidence in practice. Speech and Language Therapy and Early Years are what we love, so join us and discover how to make your life and career happier.