Children becoming safe and active agents

Children becoming safe and active agents

Engaging children in a conversation on active supervision Active supervision of children is an integral part of quality early childhood education and care. Educators fulfil their essential ethical and professional responsibilities to…
Language and learning in early learning settings

Language and learning in early learning settings

English is not the first language of many families in Australia, with 21% of Australians speaking a language other than English at home (ABS, 2017). Today, Australia is one of the top 10 countries in the world where the most languages are spoken…
Music education and play-based learning

Music education and play-based learning

Australian early learning settings follow a play-based pedagogy, in line with the emphasis placed on play in the national frameworks. Music is not a core part of this pedagogy, perhaps because of the perception that music education is about…
Nourishing bodies and relationships

Nourishing bodies and relationships

Nourishing bodies and relationships: Ritualising and celebrating slow mealtimes It’s fair to say that many educators would use the descriptor ‘busy’ to describe their days with children. With workdays full of routine care mechanics…
Emma Stenhouse

Inspiring richness and diversity in arts practice: An Aboriginal perspective

In the lead up to National Reconciliation Week (27 May–3 June) and in celebration of the 2022 theme ‘Be Brave. Make Change’, we reached out to Aboriginal artist and early childhood professional, Emma Stenhouse to share part of her journey,…
Coalition commits to continuing to deliver for Australian families

Coalition commits to continuing to deliver for Australian families

This blog post from The Hon Stuart Robert MP, Acting Minister for Education and Youth, follows the federal election candidates forum with cross-party leaders co-hosted by ECA on 2 May 2022. Each candidate was invited to share their policies…
Election message from Hon Amanda Rishworth MP

Election message from Hon Amanda Rishworth MP

This 2022 federal election we are calling on candidates across politics to support high quality early learning access, affordability, inclusion and stability for every child.    On 2 May 2022 we invited cross-party leaders with early…
Workforce issues a big concern at ECA’s Federal Election 2022 Candidates Forum

Workforce issues a big concern at ECA’s Federal Election 2022 Candidates Forum

In case you missed all the action from Early Childhood Australia’s Federal Election 2022 Candidates Forum, here is a quick summary to bring you up to speed because #EarlyLearningMatters this election. ECA’s Federal Election 2022 Candidates…
Greens push for free universal early childhood education and care

Greens push for free universal early childhood education and care

  This 2022 federal election we are calling on candidates across politics to support high quality early learning access, affordability, inclusion and stability for every child. On 2 May 2022 we invited cross-party leaders with…
What’s the ‘big ideas’?

What’s the ‘big ideas’?

How quality STEM education can be integrated into family day care through children’s everyday activities. Research shows that young children— including infants—are capable of learning mathematics and science concepts (Baroody, 2003).…
Leading play-based pedagogies

Leading play-based pedagogies

In this article, Lennie Barblett, Sandra Cheeseman and Catharine Hydon emphasise children’s right to learn through play no matter the age. Additionally, they suggest that all educators lead and be articulate in their advocacy of play-based…
Creative arts in early childhood

Creative arts in early childhood

Artistic pursuits such as music, dramatic play and the visual arts contribute to how children understand creativity and develop their own sense of identity. Popular theories in this field suggest that children’s artistic abilities are often…