Environments that support brain development in young children

In this course we will learn how to set up the indoor and outdoor environments to support young children’s brain development.

• an overview of the survival, emotional and thinking levels of the brain
• the connection between the environment, the brain, learning, behaviour and understanding
• the influence the environment has on children’s brain development and interest in learning experiences
• photos of home and centre environments to inspire creative and brain friendly spaces
• information to ensure ‘A calm brain is a thinking brain’

As a little girl Dr. Kathryn Murray wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. She played ‘schools’ with the neighbourhood children and knew that she had found her passion. Kathryn began her career teaching in early childhood classrooms in Queensland, Australia. She taught in many different contexts and took on a range of roles along with classroom teacher for 25 years. She continued to study and attended numerous professional development presentations, always striving to increase her knowledge and skills to use in the classroom and with the parents of the children in the classroom.

Kathryn was invited to lecture pre-service education students at the university level and taught into the early childhood and primary (elementary) degree programs. This career change allowed Kathryn to mix her extensive teaching experience with research and share effective teaching strategies with the student teachers. Kathryn continued to research and study and was awarded a Doctor of Education. When working as a tenured lecturer at the university, Kathryn spoke at many national and international conferences on a range of education related topics, many based on her own research projects. She worked locally with community organizations and provided workshops and information sessions to the public. She continues to lecture pre-service teachers on a casual basis. She has won multiple awards for online teaching, and was named “Best Early Childhood Mentor (International) by the Inner I Foundation in India.

Kathryn decided to mix her education background and her commitment to young children to create her consultancy business, Future Strong Education, to support teachers, educators in their classroom practice and provide parents with guidance on raising their children. Kathryn has blended her education background and money coaching training to help parents unpack their beliefs about money and other areas, developed in childhood which may not serve them in adulthood. She supports parents to be a positive role model for their children to build a strong future.

Dr. Kathryn Murray is the CEO of Future Strong Education and works throughout Australia, Europe, North America, Indonesia and Asia and Africa. She is a highly sought after public speaker, workshop facilitator and coach.

Kathryn has four adult children. Her passion is, and has always been, to support adults so that the children they parent or teach will have the best possible start to a life that is Future Strong!