By Michelle Crean

Two Killarney women who are no strangers to chatting are using their skills to highlight topics which is sure to interest parents.

Aoife Murphy (27) and her sister-in-law Jenny McCarthy (25), both Early Years professionals from Killarney recently set up podcast 'Little Steps, Big Futures: The Podcast' talking everything child related and it's proving very popular.

The idea came in August when chatting one day about the changes in childcare and how there were no real resources out there for parents and guardians. They immediately decided to create an Instagram and Facebook account and it proved so popular they they soon put together podcasts covering a range of topics including biting, toilet training, screen time, attachments, childcare schemes available to single parents, wages, and men in childcare.

"The Instagram was doing well and we had a wild idea to start a podcast then as we can expand on so much more on there," Aoife, who managed a Naionra in Killarney but after the lockdown in March moved to Washington DC, explained to the Killarney Advertiser.

"So in September we started the podcast with just myself and Jenny. We chatted about who we were and why we were here. Then we expanded and asked some guests to come on. We wanted to set up an informative and educational platform for educators, carers, parents and guardians as there was a gap in the market. We received lots of messages about the music therapy and the ASD preschool guests as many parents did not even know these resources existed. Helping spread awareness about the different channels available for children and families is so rewarding."

Recently they had a guest called Megan Buckley Heelan who spoke about her sister Mia who has a very rare condition called Chromosome Deletion Syndrome 13q.

"The response we got from that episode was unreal and because of that we have set up a fundraiser for CUH Children's Charity and BUMBLEance both picked by Mia and Megan's family as they are close to their hearts."

On Wednesday they had a 'Raise Awareness Day" for this condition using the #wearpurplefor13Q.

For more see their Instagram and Facebook page: 'Little Steps, Big Futures'.