Links, news and updates on the early childhood sector each and every fortnight

This ECA WebWatch is filled with helpful resources on building quality environments, protecting children, solving social conflicts and working in a strengths-based program. We also provide links to:

• SNAICC's response to Australia's children: Safe and well
• learning vignettes on scaffolding and sensitivity/respect
• an update on the national curriculum
• the Federal Government's report on sexualisation of children in media
• free resources from NPS' 'Common colds' campaign.

Plus we take a look at more high-quality resources from Early Childhood Australia and highlight important early childhood events.

SNAICC's response to Australia's children: Safe and well

SNAICC response to discussion paper
ECA WebWatch readers will remember being informed about the call for submissions on the Government's Australia's children: Safe and well discussion paper in issue 54. This is the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care's submission – important reading for everyone working in the early childhood sector.

Pam Cahir speaks about meaningful consultation with children

Meaningful consultation with children: Raising children's voices
Read comments by Pam Cahir, CEO of Early Childhood Australia, made at the ACT Children's Plan Community Network Forum on Creating Child Friendly Environments.

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

ECA members save up to $150 on conference registration!

Register online now
Alternatively, you can fax, email or post the conference registration form (PDF).

Exploring the High/Scope program

High/Scope is a strengths-based program – it focuses on what children can do rather than what they cannot. It spells out the learning expectations and is clear about how each part of the program contributes to children's learning. It foregrounds teaching as an intentional activity, hence the use of Key Development Indicators (KDIs). The High/Scope program avoids didactic teaching – to learn, children must experience the world first hand.

Working with a challenging child (PDF)
An engaging, practical discussion of how ideas for High/Scope programs can assist you in working with challenging children, including a useful six-step guide to conflict resolution.

KDIs (Key Experiences)
High/Scope is unequivocal that to plan appropriately for individual children and evaluate the effectiveness of the program there must be observable indicators supporting children's development.

Learnings from High/Scope: Enriching everyday practice (PDF)
This sample chapter from Learnings from High/Scope: Enriching everyday practice, the latest book in Early Childhood Australia's Research in Practice Series, outlines key areas in which High/Scope approaches could be applied to Australian contexts.

Quality environments

Physical environment (Supporting Best Practice)
These four quality-assured links from Early Childhood Australia's Supporting Best Practice web directory support the planning of stimulating and challenging environments for children.

Learning vignettes

Scaffolding and Sensitivity/respect
These vignettes provide quick, inspiring ideas to enhance your everyday interactions with infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Sexualisation of children in media report

Sexualisation of children in the contemporary media report
This Senate Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts report examines the sexualisation of children in the media.

Upcoming early childhood events

National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day
4 August 2008

Celebrates the importance and value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in families and communities across Australia.

Sharing Our Way in Community Care Conference
A conference run by Aboriginal people for non-Aboriginal service providers
6 August 2008
NSW Teachers Federation Auditorium, Sydney

A conference run by the Council of Social Service of NSW and the NSW Aboriginal Community Care Gathering Committee to share ideas about better practice in policy and service provision for Indigenous people.

National Science Week 2008
16–24 August 2008

National Science Week provides children, carers and families with a huge range of activities and events that explore science, technology and innovation.

National Child Protection Week
7–13 September 2008

Raises awareness of child abuse and neglect. Events will be happening across Australia which highlight child abuse and inspire individuals to take action to prevent it.

Early Childhood Australia's online calendar helps you stay informed about important early childhood events, conferences and dates.

Update on the national curriculum

Media release: National Curriculum consultation begins (PDF)
The National Curriculum Board began its process of national consultation at the Future Forum in Melbourne on 27 July 2008.

Board Chair Professor Barry McGaw said the national curriculum 'will make clear to teachers what has to be taught, what students should learn and what achievement standards are expected of them'.

The National Curriculum development paper (PDF) outlines the Board's approach.

Common colds campaign

'Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics' campaign
The National Prescribing Service's awareness campaign aims to encourage people to recover from colds without using antibiotics, which do not work on cold viruses.

Quality-assured resources

Professional reading is an important part of early childhood advocacy and professional growth. Experienced early childhood practitioners quality assure every book sold by Early Childhood Australia.

The potential of a puddle helps create exciting and dynamic indoor and outdoor play areas.

Be calm: Strategies for dealing with bad behaviour contains lots of ideas to help carers in managing difficult behaviour.

Books for children in China

The Library Project
This is a great project, working primarily in China's Shaanxi Province, to provide isolated primary schools and communities with quality books.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 57, July#3 2008. © Early Childhood Australia.