Who they're becoming: why the early years window changes everything
Mana
01:10:37
The early years are unlike any other period in a child's life. During this remarkable developmental window, children form their first sense of who they are and how the world sees them. What happens here matters more than most of us realise.
In the first session of this three-part series, bestselling author, educator and "Queen of Common Sense" Maggie Dent joins Mana CEO Himal for an honest, research-grounded conversation about why the early years window is so critical to children's sense of self.
Together, Maggie and Himal will explore:
- Why the early years are the most important developmental window for children's sense of self
- Key developmental differences between boys and girls, and how to distinguish what's real from what's shaped by culture and expectation
- How our everyday responses as educators and parents either reinforce or challenge the stories children begin to tell about themselves
Who this is for:
- Early childhood educators and Family Day Care professionals who want to understand the foundations of child development
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.
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Who they're becoming: why the early years window changes everything
01:10:37