The best early childhood resources, links, news and events – each and every fortnight.

Welcome to another big ECA WebWatch. In this issue we continue our celebration of Early Childhood Australia's 70th birthday by taking a look at another highlight from 2007.

Also in this issue:

• Why we must offer a national apology
• Support for starting school
• Supporting children with separated parents
• Win prizes by filling in our online Every Child survey.

All of this, plus: quote of the month, important dates for your diary and great books from Early Childhood Australia.

Please keep inviting people to subscribe

Before we get on to the links we'd like to thank everyone who invited friends and colleagues to subscribe to ECA WebWatch.

We had a great response over the past fortnight – but please don't stop. When you invite others to subscribe you are strengthening the early childhood sector by increasing the reach of Early Childhood Australia's advocacy.

The more people who subscribe, the more we can do to support the field!

ECA National Conference Call for Papers – deadline extended

We have extended the Call for Papers deadline to next Friday 15 February 2008.

Submit your abstract now – applications will be accepted no later than close of business (5pm EST).

An apology – a must

Essentials for social justice: Sorry
Late last year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma gave this powerful speech – the first of six on social justice – in which he states the need for a public apology.

'Bringing them home' – state and federal government responses to the 10th anniversary
Read how the federal government and each of the state governments have responded to the 10th anniversary of the Bringing them home report.

Support for starting school

Australian Scholarships Group
A proud supporter of Early Childhood Australia, the Australian Scholarships Group is an independent, not-for-profit Friendly Society helping families to provide for the future costs of their children's education. Over the past 33 years, Australian Scholarships Group has supported children, families and teachers through a range of support initiatives, including publishing activities, parenting support and resources, social-emotional curriculum programs and multimedia educational products.

Your child's first year at school: A book for parents
Australian Scholarships Group is a supporter of Your child's first year at school: A book for parents – the bestselling book produced by Early Childhood Australia and the Australian Primary Principals Association – available in bulk to Australian primary schools exclusively for $9.99 each.

Looking forward to kindergarten
A great collection of tips to support children and parents in the days leading up to the beginning of school.

Living between two houses

Many children regularly travel between different parents' houses – it is important to support children to do this in a confident and optimistic way.

Separation and divorce (Supporting Best Practice)
Four links from Early Childhood Australia's Supporting Best Practice web directory for parents and other carers to help children when families break up.

How to help your children with separation and divorce (PDF)
A very useful, practical resource that will support separated parents in cooperating to make sure children get the support they need.

Because it's for the kids: Building a secure parenting base after separation (PDF)
This booklet was written for Children in Focus by Dr Jennifer McIntosh. It is a very valuable resource which assists parents in maintaining a secure base for children.

Win books from Early Childhood Australia

Tell us what you think of Every Child magazine
We'd like to thank everyone who filled out surveys on Early Childhood Australia publications last year – we value your opinions and advice and look forward to bringing you more high-quality publications in 2008.

Meanwhile, we'd like to invite you to tell us what you think of Every Child, Early Childhood Australia's flagship magazine. Fill in the quick, online survey by 9 April 2008 to go in the draw for five gift packs of three books.

Quote of the month

'What can't be over-emphasised is the pleasure – all too fleeting – that a toddler getting to grips with language brings. They do "discombabulate" it, as Doddy used to say of the Diddymen. Misuse, mispronunciations, inappropriate context, they really do say the funniest things.'

—Vanessa Howard, Junior magazine.

Early Childhood Australia 2007 highlights: Part 2

Sustainability, global warming and climate change (ECA resource theme)
In 2007 Early Childhood Australia increased its emphasis on promoting sustainable environments and averting dangerous climate change. One of our important initiatives was the 'Sustainability, global warming and climate change' resource theme which contains sample chapters, links and articles from Early Childhood Australia's Global Warming e-Group.

Part 1 also available:
View Early Childhood Australia 2007 highlights: Part 1 in ECA WebWatch #44.

Workplace Ombudsman – Education and Compliance Campaign

Australian Government Workplace Ombudsman
This month the Workplace Ombudsman will be rolling out a national education and compliance campaign which will investigate and audit employer and employee observance of workplace regulations.

Quality-assured books from ECA

Early childhood environmental education: Making it mainstream is an inspirational guide to using children's natural curiosity about the world to engage them in learning.

Helping children in times of need: Grief, loss, separation and divorce provides useful advice for parents, carers and educators on identifying children's grief reactions and how to talk to them about difficult events.

What's on

Early Childhood Australia National Conference
Children: A nation's capital – Investing in our children
3–6 October 2008
National Convention Centre, Canberra

Don't miss Early Childhood Australia's 70th birthday conference! The call for papers has been extended to 15 January 2008 – make sure you submit your abstract.

SJIEC Annual Conference 2008
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater
12 April 2008
Commission for Children and Young People, Surry Hills, Sydney

This year's Social Justice in Early Childhood conference focuses on state and federal issues relating to the changes taking place this year, including changes to accreditation and approaching a national curriculum.

Find out what's happening this month – visit Early Childhood Australia's online calendar.

Let us know what you think ...
We welcome any suggestions or comments you have: webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au.

Past issues of ECA WebWatch are available on the Early Childhood Australia website.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 45, February 2008. © Early Childhood Australia.