Under Eights Week 2010 'Living Diversity – Act Locally – Think Globally' 21st – 28th May 2010

Under Eights Week 2010

The 2010 theme of Living Diversity – Act Locally – Think Globally provides an opportunity for children to celebrate, value and live the diversity of both their local communities and their world. It is important for children to learn through experiences that acknowledge multiple diversities of their communities. These diversities include cultural, social and environmental factors. Young children live and learn through everyday experiences so an Under Eights event or experience that relates to diversity, in its many forms, could provide children and their families with opportunities to develop their awareness of their local community and the global village. The events and activities of an Under Eights Week theme focused on diversity enables children to experience the many diverse elements of their environment, as well as, tolerance of others and respect for all people in their communities and their world.

Each year, many events, activities and gatherings are organised by local communities, child care centres, kindergartens and schools across Queensland. It is this local focus that gives Under Eights Week its strength – giving young children a forum to shine in their community and to enhance the community’s awareness of the rich and competent contribution young children make to that community.

If you have not yet organised an event for Under Eights Week 2010, it is not too late! Get together with children, parents and colleagues and make a plan (a great opportunity to forge those partnerships you may have been thinking of establishing in your community). Remember it doesn't need to be a grand event – often it is the low key experiences that give children the greatest opportunity to express who they are and how they experience their world. The opportunity to express feelings, thoughts and individual perspectives on diversity, in a supportive and familiar environment is an important component in children’s constructions of their identities.

Here are some suggestions for getting organised:

• Host a planning session and invite representatives from some of the following:
• child care centres and kindergartens
• primary schools
• family day care schemes and playgroups
• local community organizations/centres
• local universities/TAFE institutes
• Work together to brainstorm possibilities – the following are only suggestions let your unique community guide your plans:
• Organise an event that involves the community contributing to the development of a garden that represents the bio diversity of your area
• An activities day – located in one site or across multiple sites where children are located, including activities related to celebrating environmental diversity and/or cultural diversity, such as, plants and wildlife, cooking, musical and art activities from your local area and around the world.
• Host an Open Day, Grandparents' Day, Children's Art Display or family picnic and share visual and oral stories of your local area.
• Organise displays at a local shopping centre, library, etc. (this could include children's work that represents their diversity and information about local, national and global organizations that support children and their families).
• Organise a storytelling session at the local library that focuses on what is special about your community and connections you can make with other parts of the world.
• Instigate the idea of 'litterless lunches' to your service – incorporate the idea of sustainability and the importance of this to your own environment and others
• Plant some Australian native trees/plants and watch the progress with your children.
• Above all have fun and celebrate the diversity of the young children in your community

Download Living Diversity, fun songs and rhymes, specially developed for Under Eights Week (and beyond!) by Under Eights Week committee member Gwen Raynor.

It is important to note that ECA Queensland Branch Inc and the Under Eights Week Coordinating Committee are not and cannot be responsible in any way for any events you may hold during this week. Therefore we advise you that if you are holding an event you check that you have the appropriate insurance.

When your event or activity has been held please provide us with some highlights. You can do this via email by visiting the ECA website www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au selecting the Under Eights' Week page. Our hope is to compile a Queensland wide story of this special week to further promote children and their valuable place in our communities.

Yours sincerely
Under Eights Week Committee.

Under Eights Week 2009

The theme for 2009 was Creativity – Let it happen.

Under Eights Week 2009 was a big success. Read this special Story Board of events held during Under Eights Week to find out more!

Creativity is simply the act of making something new.

Under Eights Week is an event organised annually by the Early Childhood Australia Queensland Branch through its Under Eights Week State Planning Committee. The committee is comprised of individuals who are members of Early Childhood Australia, representatives from early childhood organisations and community members concerned with the care and education of young children.

All over Queensland, schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, family day care schemes, libraries, councils and other organisations will be holding events to bring to you a fun week for children and an informative week for parents.

To continually publicise your support we need your feedback. Please fax your feedback to (07) 3352 3256 or email undereightsweek@earlychildhood.org.au

Following your 2010 activities please send us stories and photos (with permission to use) that you would like to put up on our website and printed in our newsletter. Stay tuned to this site as we post up some of the happenings of the week.

We hope you have a wonderful Under Eights Week 2010 celebrating with children in your communities.

—Under Eights Coordinating Committee

Our aims

• Promote quality early childhood activities
• Highlight the needs of young children from birth to age eight
• Increase public awareness of the importance of the early childhood years
• Increase awareness of issues concerning young children
• Arouse public awareness of the range of early childhood services within the community

Contact us: Getting involved

We continue to look for representatives to join the Under Eights Committee.

If you or your organisation feel you could contribute in this way, please contact ECA Qld Branch:

T: 3352 4640
F: 3352 3256
E: undereightsweek@earlychildhood.org.au
Early Childhood Australia – Queensland Branch webpage

NB. Although ECA Qld Branch encourages the involvement of organisations and individuals in this week they cannot be and are not responsible in any way for the actions, philosophies and opinions of the participants and presenters in the program.

Under Eights Week is coordinated by the Queensland Branch of Early Childhood Australia's Under Eights Week Committee.

ECA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of all organisations and individuals who have supported, sponsored and presented activities and events during Under Eights Week. Under Eights Week is celebrated state wide and is an important week for all Queenslanders.