Going to a childcare or early learning centre is often a child’s first experience of being away from their family or carers. This can generate feelings of separation anxiety for the child, which can be distressing for parents and educators as well as the child. STEP4 looks at why separation anxiety occurs and how to manage it.
Celebrating love and appreciation for others at Early Learning Centres can be simple and fun. Here are 9 easy to plan and exciting Valentine’s Day activities that everybody will enjoy!
The Holiday season provides so many fun and colourful (and glittery!) craft activities for daycare centres. Here’s our list of 15 fun suggestions that will get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
A strong sense of individual identity can be encouraged through engaging in activities that stimulate shared identities. Harmony day is an important time for children and educators to embrace the local community and engage in conversations about inclusion, respect & helping others. Thinking about children around the world and the need for us to all work together will ensure a healthy and happy world, and a sense of belonging for everyone.
The National Quality Standard (NQS), Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and My Time, Our Place (MTOP) have altered educators’ beliefs about outdoor play spaces in early childhood education and care settings. This includes how these spaces should look, how and when they should be used, the learning that occurs, and how each of these needs to be documented.
As educators, we welcome the National Quality Standard’s recognition of the close connection between the physical environments in childcare centres and the quality of the education and care programs they provide. We know all too well how poorly designed learning spaces and ancillary areas (e.g. nappy change, bottle preparation, sleep rooms) hinder our work with the children and negatively affect our own wellbeing.
The National Quality Standard (NQS), Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and My Time, Our Place (MTOP) require educators to ensure children spend sufficient time with nature to connect with it, develop respect for it and, with their educators’ support, learn how to care for nature and its creatures.
There is so much to organise when opening or refurbishing a child care centre. Staff, processes, compliance, insurance and enrolments … the list is endless. But there is one aspect of opening a new child care centre that can be fun and