Bringing you the best of the web each and every fortnight.
In this big issue of ECA WebWatch we provide links to some great practical ideas, including how to go carbon neutral in your service and ways to help young children learn through everyday experiences.
- Encouraging imaginative play
- LMHU extends closing date on parent survey
- Supporting diversity in child care
- More advice on giving praise
- How young children learn
- Your last chance to get a free copy of Your child's first year at school
- How to register your event for Under Eights Week.
Plus new books from Early Childhood Australia, what's on in the coming month and the latest sector news.
Encouraging imaginative play
Play builds serious skills
This interesting article traces changes in children's play since the 1950s, and the effects on cognitive and emotional development. The article also provides simple games and activities that parents and carers can use to encourage children's imaginative play.
LHMU extends parent survey deadline
Early Childhood Australia strongly encourages all long day care staff to ask their parents to complete LHMU's online survey.
LHMU's online survey for parents
Please be quick! The survey closes 5pm Friday 4 April 2008.
Every completed survey will give your long day care centre a chance to win educational resources.
The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU), which represents childcare workers, is conducting this survey to assist them in campaigning to improve the Australian childcare sector.
A print version of the survey is also available to download as a PDF at http://lhmu.org.au/_dbase_upl/Long-Day-Care-Survey.pdf
Supporting diversity
Diversity and difference (Supporting Best Practice)
These four links from Early Childhood Australia's Supporting Best Practice web directory provide practical and valuable suggestions on representing and supporting cultural diversity in all kinds of early childhood settings.
Latest news
Read the latest on Early Childhood Australia's news page.
More advice on giving praise
98 ways to say 'very good'
In issue 46 of ECA WebWatch, we included several links to assist you in giving praise that helps, rather than hinders, children. This link provides further support in giving praise, demonstrating the variety of ways you can say 'very good'.
Helping young children to learn through everyday experiences
There any many easy, enjoyable ways for young children to learn through everyday experiences. The following examples are from Early Childhood Australia's new book, Everyday learning in families, by childcare expert Judy Radich.
How young children learn
Children learn best when parents and significant other adults in their life share in their experiences. We can share many everyday experiences that involve the five senses with our children:
- We can encourage them to watch the wind blowing leaves down the path, or to watch older children at play.
- We can listen with them to the sounds around them.
- We can direct their attention to the smell of dinner cooking, and join with them in smelling freshly washed clothes on the line or flowers in the garden.
- We can introduce them to the taste of different foods, and describe their taste ('sweet and juicy' as they suck on an orange).
- We can encourage them to touch things, such as grass or sand, for the first time; and we can talk to them about the feel of their cuddly blanket.
Everyday learning in families is the latest book in the popular Everyday Learning Series. It outlines lots of practical ways to make the most of children's early years, supporting them in becoming engaged learners.
Read a free sample chapter (PDF) from Everyday learning in families, on the connection between early relationships and brain development.
Last chance to get a free copy of Your child's first year at school
Time is running out to get a free copy of Your child's first year at school: A book for parents – for all orders over $100 from Early Childhood Australia's February/March book catalogue (PDF).*
You must place your order by 5pm Monday 31 March 2008 in order to be eligible for your free copy.
Your child's first year at school: A book for parents is the bestselling publication produced by Early Childhood Australia and the Australian Primary Principals Association. Previously Your child's first year at school has only been available in bulk to Australian primary schools for $9.99 each, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Australian Scholarships Group.
* Free book only available with single orders of $100 or more worth of books from ECA's February/March catalogue (not including subscriptions or memberships). One book per service only.
How to go green in your service
Going carbon neutral: Aldinga Community Children's Centre
The latest issue of Early Childhood Australia's Every Child magazine contains this great article profiling Australia's first climate-neutral childcare centre – and a guide to making the same changes at your centre.
Under Eights Week 2008: Our children, Our world, Our future
23–30 May 2008
Queensland
Under Eights Week is coming up again – make sure you register your event through Early Childhood Australia's Under Eights Week webpage.
Under Eights Week is organised annually by the Early Childhood Australia Queensland Branch to support schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, family day care schemes, libraries, councils and other organisations across Queensland to create fun and informative events for children and parents.
Register your event now.
What's on
National Child Studies TAFE Teachers' Conference
Different spaces: Learning places
9–11 April 2008
Mercure Grosvenor Hotel, Adelaide
A conference promoting dialogue on innovation and best teaching practices that are current and relevant to the everyday work of a Child Studies/Children's Services tertiary teacher or lecturer.
First National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference
14–16 April 2008
The University of Newcastle
This conference is convened by a partnership of the Family Action Centre and the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care and focuses on the strengths of Indigenous families and communities.
Keep track of sector events – visit Early Childhood Australia's online calendar.
Quality-assured books from Early Childhood Australia
Music, moving and learning in early childhood is a vital resource for teachers, students and parents, providing a comprehensive guide to young children's musical development.
Springboard to learning through play: How parents can help their children from birth to 6 years is a great source of diverse, simple activities to help children develop psychical, social and cognitive skills.
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.
Subscribing
If you have received this copy of ECA WebWatch from a friend and wish to subscribe yourself, simply send a blank email to subscribe@earlychildhood.org.au.
Unsubscribing
If you do not wish to receive ECA WebWatch, send a blank email to unsubscribe@earlychildhood.org.au from the email address it was sent to.
Change of address
Please send an email to webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au, clearly stating your old email address as well as your new address.
(Please remember to add webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au to your safe senders list to ensure that you receive your copy of ECA WebWatch promptly.)
ECA WebWatch - Issue 48, March#2 2008. © Early Childhood Australia.
| 
