Creating a world-class early education system

Creating a world-class early education system

As an early childhood educator in Melbourne, I found myself in a bit of a funk at the beginning of September. Working through the COVID-19 lockdowns had taken its toll. I think it’s a place many educators will probably identify with this year. I…
Mythbusting professional love

Mythbusting professional love

Professional love, also known in the academic literature as teacherly love or pedagogical love, is a wonderful addition to any early childhood education and care profession, particularly where infants and toddlers are present. Defined by Page…
Perinatal Mental Health Week

Perinatal Mental Health Week

Perinatal Mental Health Week: It’s more common than you think  Early childhood educators have an important role in the lives of children, families and communities. Supporting families with mental health issues is complex, and an educator’s…
Words matter

Words matter

How do you talk about early childhood education and care? The words we use daily to describe early education matter. Professional language is one way to advocate and begin the changes necessary to support the work we do every day. If we…
AJEC 2022: Embracing challenge in early childhood research

AJEC 2022: Embracing challenge in early childhood research

It has been a busy and sometimes challenging year for many in the early childhood field. Educators have supported children and families through periods of lockdown, restrictions and uncertainty, while researchers, policy-makers, students and…
Can we belong everywhere?

Can we belong everywhere?

‘We welcome everyone and respect every person’s right to belong’. Early childhood professionals say this all the time. It’s one of our sector’s dearly held mantras. Every day, through our words and actions, we endorse this sentiment.…
Can robots support development?

Can robots support development?

Using robots to support children’s social and emotional development: A five-step framework In an early learning centre, George (3 years and 8 months old) and Theo (4 years and 2 months old) are playing with a LEGO BOOST robot that is coded…
OECD Education at a Glance 2021

OECD Education at a Glance 2021

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. It recently released the latest edition of the Education at a Glance report, which provides…
No Jab, no p(l)ay

No Jab, no p(l)ay

No Jab, no p(l)ay: The ethics of vaccination for early childhood educators Catharine Hydon in Conversation with Trent Moy Over the past 18 months of this global pandemic, early childhood educators have navigated a myriad of ethical challenges.…
Making Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder visible

Making Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder visible

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD, is often described as the invisible disability. With September being FASD Awareness month, it seems like a fitting time to discuss what FASD is, some of the ways it affects children and families, and…
Music in early learning

Music in early learning

Inspired by the comments on my previous post, I wanted to write about the practical ways in which educators can facilitate teaching of music in early learning settings. There is growing evidence about the numerous benefits of teaching children…
Indigenous food nourishes connections

Indigenous food nourishes connections

When we take authentic steps to embed Indigenous perspectives into our teaching practices, we invite children to construct their own relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges. For educators, this opens a world of opportunities…