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A guide to the environment as the ‘third teacher’

A guide to the environment as the ‘third teacher’

Are you curious about why the environment is called the ‘third teacher’? This concept rose in popularity through the global growth and influence of the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy. The founder, Loris Malaguzzi, said there are three…
Playwork at Forrest Out of School Hours Care

Playwork at Forrest Out of School Hours Care

In this article, the FOOSHC team discusses the Playwork Principles, which the service has embedded in its practice, resulting in strong developmental outcomes for children and awards for excellence. Forrest Out of School Hours Care…
Eight Reggio Emilia ideas to inspire your early learning environment

Eight Reggio Emilia ideas to inspire your early learning environment

Even if you aren’t working at a Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood education and care service, there are plenty of ideas from this acclaimed approach that you can use in your own early learning environment.  What is Reggio Emilia?  Reggio…
Bush kinder program: taking the classroom and learning outside

Bush kinder program: taking the classroom and learning outside

Imagine walking through your local nature trail and seeing a group of kindergarten children playing and exploring. Some are climbing a tree and playfully hanging on a branch. Some are jumping in puddles and splashing muddy water all over themselves.…
Why climate change matters in early childhood

Why climate change matters in early childhood

The sustainability practices educators implement in services give children the opportunity to learn how they’re making a difference towards a sustainable future. HESTA is committed to driving change, stating in their recent ‘Our path to…
Enabling environments and children’s agency: Connecting the pieces

Enabling environments and children’s agency: Connecting the pieces

The Early Years Learning Framework (DEEWR, 2009, p. 45) defines agency as being able to make choices and decisions, to influence events and to have an impact on one’s world. Children’s agency is supported through intentional teaching, involvement…
Early childhood educators learn how to build a world-class STEM PlayWorld

Early childhood educators learn how to build a world-class STEM PlayWorld

‘Mesmerised. Excited. Engaged. Amazed.’ These were the words early childhood educator Kristy Edwards used to describe the childrens’ reaction at her early learning centre when they took part in their first Conceptual PlayWorld. It…
The values we lay in outdoor play

The values we lay in outdoor play

‘The outdoor environment is suited to meeting children’s needs for all types of play, and builds on their firsthand experiences.’ Claire Warden shares the value of indoor and outdoor play through 10 visions and values collated from different…
Bonnie-2-main

How to create a learning environment

This blog was originally posted during the pandemic but reflects on children spending time at home and shares tips on creating a learning environment.  With additional social distancing, self-isolation, school closures and working from home…
Disengagement from learning

Disengagement from learning

Why are so many young children disengaged from learning? How do we know if children are, or are not, engaged in learning? GILLIAN KIRK and MARIANNE KNAUS explore this through research and share findings from a case study examining classroom…
montessori

The importance of outdoor play in winter

Montessori Academy shares how important it is for children to continue outdoor play in the months of winter. It is common for adults to restrict children to indoor play, and only permit play outdoors when it is warm and sunny. The benefits explained…
sue-elliott-blog-sustainability

Education for sustainability

DR SUE ELLIOTT explains sustainability, the key concepts, the research and what changes we can make to the environment in early childhood settings through sustainable practice. This piece is an extension of the ECA e-newsletter, ‘Spend a…