National Recycling Week is an important time to teach the children they can make a difference – after all, they are our future! Teaching children to care for the environment is a learning experience that is an important part of growing up. It gives them skills in respect, empathy, responsibility and teaches them about consequences. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
As winter sets in, it’s often not possible to make full use of outdoor spaces at childcare centres. Yet the challenge remains to keep children active whatever the weather. Physical activity is important for children’s cardiovascular fitness, building stronger muscles, motor skill development and maintaining a healthy weight. It’s also fun, develops social skills and promotes good sleep.
Early Education centres, Pre-schools & Kindergartens have a great opportunity to incorporate gardening into their learning processes, to aid child development and give little ones an important sense of accomplishment.
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.
Nicky McCarthy – Queanbeyan and District Preschool Association
Nicky has worked in the Early Learning industry for more than 25 years in a variety of roles from Educator through to Centre Director, Area Manager, Advisory & Development Coordinator, Program Manager and Quality Advisor. Currently, Nicky is the Managing Director of a group of community-based Preschools in NSW. In this role, she has recently project managed the construction, fitout and opening of a new community Preschool for her organisation and it is through this process that she partnered with Step4 for the fitout of the new Preschool.
After spending part of her teenage years living in a remote part of the Kimberley in Western Australia, Nicky’s appreciation for the indigenous history of Australia began. Through her career, she has worked with and assisted Educators and Directors in their journey of understanding this important aspect of learning and history and how to ensure that their approach is collaborative, respectful and appropriate.
Nicky has recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Education as a specialisation subject for an ongoing Masters of Education. The extension of her own understanding of Indigenous perspectives was something that she wanted to support and this has assisted her in identifying ways that she can further support Educators across all levels and experience in reflecting on and extending their own knowledge.
Prue Gardner
Prue commenced her career as an early childhood educator before progressing to a centre Directors role. She later became an Area Manager supporting children, services and families throughout Sydney..
Prue has been working with STEP4 for almost 4 years now supporting services with their ongoing needs and requirements for resources, furniture and equipment as well as contributing her industry knowledge and design concepts to new centre startups. She loves the creative process of working with service owners, managers and educators to enable their vision come to life and create engaging and bespoke learning environments where children’s curiosity and engagement can be fostered. She loves sharing her passion and ideas and working collaboratively with industry leaders, educators and owners.
Be notified when our next EarlyEd Talk is streaming
Error: Contact form not found.
Join us for an EarlyEd Talk!
Error: Contact form not found.
Have a topic suggestion?
We want to be bringing content that is valuable to everyone within the Early Years Industry. So if there is something you’d love us to focus on, Please let us know!
Error: Contact form not found.
Be notified when our next EarlyEd Talk is streaming
