My Story

My name is Tríona Gunning and I founded Early Years Insights in 2020. I am married to Jay and we have two young children, aged 4 and 2.
I am from Dublin, now living in Kildare, and my journey to becoming an early years professional was not a traditional one. I completed my Degree in Physics with Astrophysics and soon after, taught English as a second language in South Korea for a year. It was here that my love of working with young children began.
Upon my return to Ireland, I enrolled in and completed my Childcare FETAC 5 qualification. I began working in an early years setting soon after and quickly realised there was so much more for me to learn. I went on to complete my Early Years Education and Care while working full time in a childcare setting and I continue to undertake various professional development courses to build on my knowledge in the various areas of child development.

I have also completed a Certificate in Training and Continuing Education which enables me to develop my workshops and deliver high quality content relevant to parents and young children today.
As a parent to two young children, I am also experiencing the parenting rollercoaster so can easily identify with the questions and concerns that parents have.
One of my passions is play for young children and how powerful it is as a tool for children’s learning and development. Sharing information on play and its connections to child development allows me to demonstrate how much children are already learning and also how we, as parents, can enhance and expand young children’s experiences to support them further.

I provide information and guidance to parents, families, and various early years stakeholders on early years topics. I deliver in-person workshops, live online workshops, and online training videos in order to support parents throughout the growth and development of their child’s early years of life. In order to do this, I unite my experience from my years working in an early years setting with my experience of being a parent who is aware of the intensity and pressure that can place on us every day.
My aim is to teach parents how various methods can be introduced to and used within their existing family structure and routine. I will demonstrate to parents that they have everything they need to observe their child’s current abilities and build upon these to promote their development and play opportunities.
My goal is to empower parents to be fearless in their own parenting.