OECD Education at a Glance 2021
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. It recently released the latest edition of the Education at a Glance report, which provides a global perspective on education and includes information specifically about early childhood education and care (ECEC). What does the […]
No Jab, no p(l)ay
No Jab, no p(l)ay: The ethics of vaccination for early childhood educators Catharine Hydon in Conversation with Trent Moy Over the past 18 months of this global pandemic, early childhood educators have navigated a myriad of ethical challenges. We have seen temperature checks for children replace warm hugs and lingering conversations. Parents were barred from […]
Making Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder visible
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD, is often described as the invisible disability. With September being FASD Awareness month, it seems like a fitting time to discuss what FASD is, some of the ways it affects children and families, and the impact it has on development, thereby hopefully making it visible.What is Fetal Alcohol […]
Music in early learning
Inspired by the comments on my previous post, I wanted to write about the practical ways in which educators can facilitate teaching of music in early learning settings. There is growing evidence about the numerous benefits of teaching children music. In early learning settings, music can be used as a learning tool to facilitate growth […]
Indigenous food nourishes connections
When we take authentic steps to embed Indigenous perspectives into our teaching practices, we invite children to construct their own relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges. For educators, this opens a world of opportunities within their professional teaching practices, by examining themes such as art, craft, literature, music, food, sustainability, animals and environments. […]
In the defence of care
Consider the term early childhood education and care. In my experience, including the word care has produced some strong opinions within our sector. I have heard many times that if we are to strive for professional recognition as a collective group of early childhood practitioners, we need to lose the word care. ‘Early childhood education’, […]
A call for voices: What do you think of young children’s use of touchscreen devices?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Touchscreen devices are becoming more prevalent in everyday life. They feature as a key tool for daily tasks and entertainment for most adults and children. They are especially easy for young children to use, resulting in increased engagement and broader scope for digital play (Lowrie & Larkin, 2020). In fact, it is common for […]
Does early learning matter enough in Australia?
Does early learning matter enough in Australia? Well, it definitely matters for children who thrive when they can learn through play. It matters to families who value the benefits for their children, as well as it because it enables them to work. It matters for our amazing early childhood educators, who’ve been at the frontline […]
The industrial worth of early childhood educators
Industry … it is a word I have heard spoken in and about early childhood education and care (ECEC) since I first began working in ECEC centres 20 years ago. I have never liked it (to the point of visibly cringing mid-way through a conversation if I hear it). Back then, I couldn’t explain why. […]
Plastic Free July Ideas Perfect for Teachers Trying to Minimize Waste
If you’re dedicating some of your teacher summer to getting ready for next school year, you’re in good company. As much as we’d like to put our feet up and eat bon bons, the truth is summer break is full of planning for most teachers. But that means we have some time to breathe and […]