Posts

Supporting multilingualism: What parents think and what we should do as a community

Supporting multilingualism: What parents think and what we should do as a community

Due to increased global mobility and the unprecedented forces of globalisation, the world has become increasingly diverse. We are all witnesses to social, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity in schools and early childhood services. Research…
Body, gender, and sexuality diversity in early years education

Body, gender, and sexuality diversity in early years education

At the 2022 Early Childhood Australia National Conference, there was a noticeable interest in body, gender and sexuality diversity (BGSD). BGSD interests are relevant to all early childhood education and care settings. Identity, including…
Listen to young people: The impact of our voices

Listen to young people: The impact of our voices

Dean Parkin is from the Quandamooka peoples of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Queensland. Dean was closely involved in the process that resulted in the historic Uluru Statement from the Heart and continues to advocate for constitutional…
Introducing culture and diversity in a monocultural classroom

Introducing culture and diversity in a monocultural classroom

This year for Harmony week, we thought we would share with you some insights from Meni Tsambouniaris at Diversity Kids.  Here they share with us the importance of incorporating inclusion into everyday practice, these examples provide discussion…
Celebrations: Easter

Celebrations: Easter

Celebrations. To do, or not to do? Is it even that simple? Early childhood educators are often faced with ongoing internal discussions, rules, policies or expectations about how national celebrations such as Christmas and Easter are marked.…
In 20 years of award-winning picture books, non-white people made up just 12% of main characters

In 20 years of award-winning picture books, non-white people made up just 12% of main characters

Have you considered the diversity of books in your early childhood service and explored the messages the books present? Work by Associate Professor Helen Caple and Dr Ping Tian highlight this (in the blog below). Their analysis of award-winning…
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,…
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…
Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being

Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is held on 4 August each year. The 2019 theme was We Play, We Learn, We Belong. In this piece, we share the importance of Indigenous culture and language in the early years…
What does engagement with reconciliation look like in practice?

What does engagement with reconciliation look like in practice?

This section showcases snapshot examples of the reconciliation journey undertaken by a number of services across Australia. They are all unique, but share common embedded practice strategies that have enabled the children,…
Communicating family diversity and celebrations

Communicating family diversity and celebrations

There are strong messages in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) that point to the significance of developing trusting partnerships with families and respecting family diversity. These are listed under ‘Principles’. Trust and respect…
Supporting language development in the early years

Supporting language development in the early years

Take a moment to imagine what it would be like to look at the words on this page and not be able to comprehend the meaning these words have collectively. Perhaps you do not have to imagine. According to the 2016 Census, 21 per cent of Australians…