Your one stop guide to early childhood links and resources... This issue of ECA WebWatch is all about boosting children's creativity and encouraging their curiosity about the world. In this issue: Plus, don't forget to check out our guide to the latest early childhood news and events. Stop press! PM makes children top priority PM's 2020 vision puts children first In Early Childhood Australia's media release, National President Margaret Young responded to Rudd's speech, saying: 'It acknowledges the significance of early experience and learning for individuals and society, the realities of life for today's young families and the long-term impact of both on long-term productivity. In proposing to make high-quality integrated services available for families with babies and pre-schoolers, Mr Rudd rightly puts young children first.' Read the full ECA media release: PM's 2020 vision puts children first Supporting Best Practice – new section on curiosity Early Childhood Australia has just created a new section in its popular Supporting Best Practice web directory, for all carers who want to encourage and make the most of young children's natural curiosity. Here's a sneak peek at just two of the new links you'll find in the curiosity section: Exploration and curiosity go together Initiative and curiosity Curiosity (Supporting Best Practice) Quote of the month 'Collaborative relationships based on trust, respect and honesty generate a positive working environment and support our work with children and families.' Learning and creating with cameras Moran Foundation of the Arts photography workshops Each workshop is run by a professionally trained photographer and caters for up to 30 children, providing guidance in creating individual, group and class works while learning the basic skills of making and appreciating photography. Primary schools can express interest in hosting a workshop by registering online. Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2008 Finalists – Primary Capture the moment – sample chapter (PDF) Read more about Capture the moment: Using digital photography in early childhood settings in Early Childhood Australia's online book catalogue. Call for participation in parental separation survey Researchers from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Law are looking for participants to take part in the world's first study on the effects on families relocating after parental separation. More information is available by contacting Judi Single at: J.Single@usyd.edu.au or (02) 9351 0352. Upcoming early childhood events National Close the Gap Day 2008 An opportunity to do your part to close the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and campaign for health equality. National Playgroup Week 2008 During National Playgroup Week, playgroups across Australia will host a range of family events. Walk Safely to School Day Walk Safely to School Day encourages all primary school children in Australia to walk and commute safely to school – register your school now! Visit Early Childhood Australia's online calendar – it's the easy way to keep track of important events, conferences and dates. Time to register your events for Under Eights Week Under Eights Week 2008: Our children, Our world, Our future 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. Latest news items Read about the latest early childhood events on Early Childhood Australia's news page. Great books from Early Childhood Australia We understand that professional development is an important part of early childhood advocacy and encourage all educators and carers to invest in their growth as professionals by using Early Childhood Australia's high-quality resources – all publications in our online book catalogue are quality-assured by early childhood experts. Picture science: Using digital photography to teach young children is a comprehensive guide to making use of digital photography to teach and explore every stage of scientific processes. Overlooked curriculum: Seeing everyday possibilities is an essential resource for all eductors and carers who want to maximise the educational and learning opportunities presented in their everyday interactions with children. Let us know what you think ... Past issues of ECA WebWatch are available on the Early Childhood Australia website. Subscribing (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 50, April#2 2008. © Early Childhood Australia. 
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Early Childhood Australia has applauded Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's speech, given yesterday, in which he announced early childhood care and education would be a top priority for this weekend's 2020 summit.
Easy everyday activities you can use to support young children's curiosity and desire to explore the world.
Lots of ideas for tasks and activities that help children learn, building on what they already know.
The Curiosity section is a new part of the Curiosity-Imagination-Persistence category of the Supporting Best Practice web directory. Be sure to visit the other two popular sections: Exploring and discovering and Problem-solving and mastery.
—Lennie Barblett, Catharine Hydon & Anne Kennedy, The Code of Ethics: A guide for everyday practice.
The Moran Foundation of the Arts is offering 100 free workshops to primary schools in urban and rural areas across Australia.
The finalists in the primary school category of the 2008 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize are available to view online – take a look and get inspired!
This sample chapter from Early Childhood Australia's bestselling Capture the moment: Using digital photography in early childhood settings explores the potential that digital cameras and other equipment have to provide more effective ways of engaging children, producing resources and encouraging interaction with parents.
Support health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
22 April 2008
Learning through play
27 April–3 May 2008
Active kids are healthy kids
2 May 2008
23–30 May 2008
All over Queensland
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ECA WebWatch – Issue 50, April#2 2008
Early Childhood Australia's ECA WebWatch
Last updated: (May 16, 2013 at 11:50 am)
