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Understanding resilience: adversity, supports and skills

What Surrounds Us Shapes Us: Brain Building in the Early Years

This week, as part of Brain Awareness Week, we celebrate the science of how brains grow, learn and adapt throughout life. One of the most powerful insights from neuroscience is simple but profound: children’s brains are shaped by what surrounds…
Policy and Advocacy - Facebook

Early Learning Matters Week Wrap Up Event—Address

Zoe McKenzie MP  Shadow Assistant Minister for Education and Early Learning Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health Federal Member for Flinders Early Childhood Australia is grateful to Zoe McKenzie MP, Shadow Assistant Minister…
Early Childhood Learning Trajectories: What, why, how?

Early Childhood Learning Trajectories: What, why, how?

ACECQA data show us that the most challenging quality area for ECEC services to meet is QA1: Educational Program and Practice. Within QA1, Element 1.3.1, Assessment and Planning Cycle is the most likely element to be awarded a ‘not met’…
Children’s wellbeing and literacy – how they go hand in hand.

Children’s wellbeing and literacy – how they go hand in hand.

Early childhood is an undeniably critical life stage. Decades of research and neuroscience supports this and the knowledge that quality early education and care (ECEC) programs are beneficial for children’s learning and development (OECD,…
Early Learning Matters Every Day, But It’s Critically Important Right Now

Early Learning Matters Every Day, But It’s Critically Important Right Now

Early Learning Matters Week reminds us of the critical importance of high-quality early childhood education and care. As the week comes to a close, it is a timely reminder to consider the significance of current policy interest in the early…
Intentional teaching leads to purposeful play-based learning

Intentional teaching leads to purposeful play-based learning

Evidence-based intentional teaching, write Anna Razak and Dr Jen Jackson from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), can help educators and teachers progress and support children’s learning. It is also important for educators…
The forgotten power of reading aloud

The forgotten power of reading aloud

I recently read the book The Enchanted Hour (Gurdon, 2019) in which the author recalls what novelist Kate DiCamillo once said to her: ‘We let down our guard when someone we love is reading us a story … We exist together in a little patch…
Understanding the benefits of music education for three to five-year-old children

Understanding the benefits of music education for three to five-year-old children

Three to five year olds love to engage with music and movement and naturally enjoy singing, dancing, exploring sound sources, listening and being creative. At this age, children also experience many great advances in development. Music education…
The key reasons why early learning matters

The key reasons why early learning matters

Early Learning Matters Week is a vital opportunity to celebrate the importance of early learning and the work that early childhood educators do. Universal access to high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) benefits all young…
Block play as an enduring, powerful toy

Block play as an enduring, powerful toy

Associate Professor Kym Simoncini shares research and findings ahead of her masterclass ‘STEM in the early years: We can all do STEM’ at the ECA National Conference from 5-8 October 2022.  If you’re interested in seeing Kym present…
ECA Communities of Practice: A unique learning experience

ECA Communities of Practice: A unique learning experience

A Community of Practice (CoP) is best defined as a space for individuals to interact and learn from one another in partnership with an understanding of sharing knowledge. Engaging in a CoP will allow you to not only deepen your knowledge on…
Preparing children for 21st century success (part two)

Preparing children for 21st century success (part two)

In part two of this blog series, we ask Dr Laura Jana about preparing children for success in the 21st century and what her hopes are for her keynote address at the upcoming ECA National Conference in October. If you missed part one, you can…