Posts

Swings

A testing challenge for early childhood

Do cross-national assessments of young children confirm what we already know or is it worse: are they ‘robbing meaning from individual histories’? Peter Moss—international keynote at ECA’s 2019 national conference—and Mathias Urban explore…
We matter - AK blog

‘Early Learning Matters’ in the time of a pandemic

This blog was originally published in 2020 in the lead-up to Early Learning Matters Week, however, it is still a timely piece to think about what early learning means for children who are experiencing the hardships, disruptions and possible…
What lies ahead

What lies ahead

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has been working hard to understand the issues for members, families and children and provide effective advocacy and representation. As we face the second half of 2020, it might…
Racism blog

Tackling difficult conversations

As Black Lives Matter protests have swept across the world, many of us are motivated to learn more about racism, and talk to our students and children in ways that can facilitate change. Education is a powerful tool for creating change. So,…
The power of community

The power of community

This is a story of one early learning service and how they have responded to the pandemic within their community of children, families and fellow educators. Windsor Community Children’s Centre (WCCC)  in Melbourne, share how deep reflection,…
What can the new ‘normal’ teach us?

What can the new ‘normal’ teach us?

What can the new ‘normal’ teach us about how and what young children should be learning? ‘Is it possible that we can use this opportunity to create a new normal around what and how young children learn?’ KAREN HOPE explores theories…
AJEC-blog-Leanne-Gibbs-768x403

Who do you believe?

What is a professional to do? CATHARINE HYDON asks when events outside of our control upend all our professional certainties and make the present and the future complex and hard to navigate. This blog considers another angle on professionalism…
Challenges for young children during the pandemic

Challenges for young children during the pandemic

DR FAY HADLEY and DR LIZ ROUSE look at what it looks like to be a child citizen in a pandemic and the invaluable role of educators for children and their families, in this time of rapid change. Fay and Liz also suggest ways services can…
large-ECAs top reads this year (1)

Having each other’s back

Professionalism in times of uncertainty—a conversation worth having, writes CATHARINE HYDON, who, among many contributions to the sector in Australia, is a leading advocate on ethics for early childhood education and care.  In all…
Writing and reading links

Writing and reading links

At the moment the news is changing hour by hour, day by day. In this environment stories change and we don’t always have the time to catch up. And knowledge brokering is not the same as advocacy. So when ECA shared a mainstream media article…
Supporting children in complex families

Supporting children in complex families

Developing and delivering an innovative approach for supporting children in complex families to attend an early childhood education program PROFESSOR LINDA HARRISON and researcher CATHERINE JONES write about their upcoming Round Table…
Disrupting school readiness

Disrupting school readiness

School readiness—what’s the problem with it? and how can this commonly used phrase be disrupted? DR KATHRYN HOPPS delves into these questions and shares tips for educators to implement in their services. Continuing the conversation…