Rate My Professor Kylie Ridder

Kylie Ridder serves as a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Murdoch University’s School of Education, where she also holds the position of Academic Chair for the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching). With over 30 years of experience in the field, she has taught in schools and early learning and development services across England, New Zealand, and Australia. This extensive international teaching background provides a practical foundation for her contributions to pre-service teacher education at Murdoch University.

In her academic role, Ridder teaches units encompassing curriculum areas, the principles and practices of early childhood education, and children’s literature. She is currently completing a Doctorate in Education, with research focused on play schemas and how they support early mathematics learning. Her research specializations include early childhood education, play schemas, teaching mathematics in the early years, and play-based learning. Ridder has undertaken targeted professional development, including a SchemaPlay trainers course from a Community Interest Company, granting her a licence to train; the Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) Theory and Observation course on the Magda Gerber approach for infants, toddlers, and families; and the Tribes Learning Community program to develop inclusive learning communities.

Key outputs include the 2022 poster 'Environmental Guardian Network'. Ridder extends her impact through public-facing work, such as her January 2025 The Conversation article 'Dreading the school or daycare drop-off? How to handle it when your child doesn’t want you to go', providing evidence-based advice for parents. She contributes to student engagement via podcasts offering real-world early childhood contexts and co-presents Mondays@Murdoch events on early childhood topics with colleagues like Sandra Hesterman. These activities highlight her influence in bridging research, practice, and community understanding in early education.