Play is vital for children’s mental health and wellbeing

Play is vital for children’s mental health and wellbeing

Originally posted in 2015, this post was updated in August 2020.  Play helps children to develop healthy bodies, minds, social and emotional capacities, thinking and learning abilities. Play is essential for children. Play can be pretending,…
the documentation pilgrimage

The documentation pilgrimage

In the children’s literature classic Alice in Wonderland there is the following exchange between the curious, brave and intelligent Alice and the mysterious and devious Cheshire cat. “Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought…
Why play-based learning?

Why play-based learning?

‘ … for the EYLF to be implemented properly, all early childhood educators need to know what play is, why it is important, how to implement and assess a play-based program and their role in it.’ Questioning practice The Early Years Learning…
Collaborating with families: Not a problem!

Collaborating with families: Not a problem!

Relationships with families have always been considered an important area of early childhood educators’ practice. However, in the past many educators’ interest in relationships with families has focused mainly on problems or challenges:…
Documentation—what’s the point?

Documentation—what’s the point?

Over-attention to documentation continues, often seemingly with more emphasis on quantity than on quality. It would be heartening to hear of a service where practices were rated as outstanding in every respect and at every level, but the National…