All the early childhood news you want to know!

Welcome to the latest issue of ECA WebWatch. This fortnight, we are once again asking you to reflect on this newsletter and give us some feedback on how we are doing, or what you would like to see in the newsletter in the future.

Also in this issue:

• Getting the best out of the Government's 'My School' website
• Science at home
• Support for parents of children with a disability

Plus:

• ECA calendar
• Quality-assured early childhood resources
• ECA Greenwatch

ECA WebWatch feature item

If we could do one thing for you what would it be?

Early Childhood Australia is seeking your feedback about the future of ECA WebWatch. We need to hear from you, our subscribers. Please let us know what you would like to see in future issues of the newsletter. No idea is too serious or too trivial – let us know by sending your thoughts to webwatch@earlychildhood.org.au with the subject line 'One idea about Webwatch'. We really value your input and will publish your thoughts in a couple of weeks.

Thanks
Pam Cahir
CEO, Early Childhood Australia

Getting the most out of the 'My School' website

Free guide from Australian Parents Council
The Australian Parents Council has released a new document for parents, aimed at helping them understand and utilise the new My School website recently launched by the Government. How to get the best out of the My School website provides simple, unbiased but accurate information about the new website, so parents can learn to use and interpret the website effectively.

Supporting parents of children with a disability

'My time' support group for parents and carers
MyTime groups provide facilitated peer support for mums, dads, grandparents and anyone caring for children with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical condition. You can socialise and share ideas and information with others who understand the rewards and intensity of caring for a child with special needs.

Calculating education costs for your child

Online calculators to help you plan for the future
The Australian Scholarships Group has a series of online calculators to allow parents to see the itemised and total estimated costs of their education choices for one or all of their children, along with a year-by-year listing of the amounts required annually, at a glance. These calculators are a guide only, but will help parents get a clearer picture of education costs into the future.

More preschool time for SA families

Another round of 'universal access' to preschools announced
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis, and SA Minister for Early Childhood Development, Jay Weatherill, have recently announced a new round of universal access to preschool in South Australia.

38 more preschools (yet to be announced) will be funded in this round. The program means that more families will be able to access preschool up to 15 hours per week – up from 11 hours.

Congratulations and thank you to carers, parents and childcare workers

Kate Ellis says 'thank you' to childcare workers for 2009
Kate Ellis has written an open letter to childcare workers across Australia, through the LHMU, thanking them for their hard work and commitment in 2009.

Hands Up for Quality campaign
Kate Ellis also wrote a letter to Early Childhood Australia in regards to the recent Hands Up for Quality campaign, including the community support in the form of emails to all Governments, and the important role this played in achieving quality improvement outcomes at the recent COAG meeting.

Young children are natural scientists!

Support children's curiosity and build scientific thinking skills
You don't need to be a science expert to do great science with kids. You can help strengthen their natural curiosity by helping them learn to ask questions and find answers for themselves.

ECA Greenwatch

Eco tips for your school or centre
Useful hints for making your school or centre cleaner and greener! Help children to establish good green habits and develop an understanding of the small things they can do to make a big difference.

Quality-assured early childhood resources

All of ECA's publications are peer-reviewed by early childhood experts, so you can be assured that all our publications are of the highest quality, and relevant to you and your work.

Dealing with bullying together: Prevention and resolution
Bullying can have a significant impact on children's lives, whether they are the instigator or the victim of the bullying. However, early childhood educators can help children, and their parents, to deal with bullying.

Teaching infants, toddlers and twos with special needs
For all teachers and directors who work with infants, toddlers and twos, this book addresses the needs of children with developmental delays, as well as children at risk of developing special needs.

ECA calendar

International Mother Language Day 2010
21 February
World-wide

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. International Mother Language Day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity.

Coping with bullying
25 February
Balgowlah RSL Club
30-387 Ethel St
Seaforth

This productive course identifies the structure of bullying. Participants will receive positive strategies in coping with bullying for staff, children and families, including working with the bully and the victim.

Visit Early Childhood Australia's online calendar – it's the easy way to keep track of important events, conferences and dates.

Help us expand the ECA WebWatch community
Please pass this e-newsletter service on to friends and colleagues with this link to subscribe: www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/mail

Early Childhood Australia's strength is determined by the strength of its members and supporters. It is only through your support that we can advocate for and on behalf of the sector. As a reader of ECA WebWatch you can make a big difference to the sector. By forwarding this newsletter to colleagues and inviting them to subscribe, you extend our advocacy chain – increasing our ability to communicate and work with the sector.

Let us know what you think ...
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Past issues of ECA WebWatch are available on the Early Childhood Australia website.

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ECA WebWatch - Issue 87, February #2 2010. © Early Childhood Australia.