The beliefs behind our behaviour: rethinking gender in childhood
29
1:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Most of us carry beliefs about boys and girls that we've never stopped to question. Boys are strong. Boys are naughty. Girls are good. Girls are fragile. These ideas seem harmless, but they quietly shape everything: how we respond when a child is upset, how much we challenge them, and what we tell them about who they can be.
In the second session of this three-part series, Maggie Dent joins Mana CEO Himal to explore how our deeply held beliefs about gender, as parents, educators and carers, shape the children in our care in ways we often don't see.
With warmth, honesty and her trademark no-nonsense clarity, Maggie helps us examine the assumptions we carry and offers a more helpful frame, one that allows every child to feel genuinely seen, valued and free to be themselves.
Together, Maggie and Himal will explore:
- How family and cultural beliefs about gender become embedded in the way we respond to children
- The most common unhelpful gender stereotypes (boys are naughty/strong; girls are fragile/good) and why reframing them matters
- Practical ways to create an environment where every child feels genuinely seen, valued and free to be themselves
Who this is for:
- Early childhood educators and Family Day Care professionals who want to reflect on how gender beliefs show up in their practice
Speakers
Maggie Dent
Author, educator, & parenting & resilience specialist
Maggie Dent is a much-loved and trusted voice for parents, families and educators across Australia and beyond. A bestselling parenting author, she has written more than 10 books, including Mothering Our Boys, From Boys to Men, Girlhood and Help Me Help My Teen. Maggie hosts The Good Enough Dad podcast and led six seasons of the acclaimed ABC podcast, Parental As Anything. In 2025, she brought her wisdom to television in the ABC series The Role of a Lifetime. A mother of four sons and a grateful grandmother, Maggie continues to support calmer, more connected childhoods.
Himal Randeniya
CEO & Founder, Mana
I'm an early years tragic! I was born into ECE, with Mum starting a home-based service and then purchasing a 28-place preschool in Ermington, NSW, Australia. Being a 4th-generation teacher, our dinner conversations centred around pedagogy, psychology, and the impact of stencils on learning! After completing my Science/Law undergrad at University of Sydney, nearly finished my Masters in Education (Leadership & Management) (although I never finished my dissertation), and a period of time in education tech startups and consulting, it was my great privilege to be the CEO of Being for six years where we created one of Australia’s highest-quality early education organisations. With Mana, I continue my mission to transform early education on this planet - creating extraordinary outcomes for children, their families, and their communities.
Replays
See all29
1:00 AM - 2:00 AM