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Child-friendly Anxiety Management Strategy

Child-friendly Anxiety Management Strategy

Anxiety in young children often shows up in subtle ways ummy aches, restlessness, clinginess, or emotional outbursts. These feelings, sometimes described by children as having “the worries” or a “bubbly tummy,” can be overwhelming and difficult to articulate. As educators,…
Opening the Door: Sample Scripts for Initiating Conversations with Families

Opening the Door: Sample Scripts for Initiating Conversations with Families

In early childhood education, our relationships with families are foundational but they’re not always easy to navigate. When a child’s behaviour begins to impact the safety or wellbeing of others, educators often find themselves caught between professional responsibility and fear…
Indoor Loose Parts Play

Indoor Loose Parts Play

Loose parts play is a powerful, open-ended approach that invites children to explore, create, and express themselves using everyday materials. It fosters autonomy, imagination, and problem-solving and can be tailored to your environment and the developmental needs of your children.
Wellbeing Wednesday Ideas That Actually Work

Wellbeing Wednesday Ideas That Actually Work

In the whirlwind of ratios, regulations, and relentless responsibilities, early childhood educators often forget the most vital resource in any service: themselves. That’s why Wellbeing Wednesday has become more than a calendar quirk—it’s a lifeline. Here’s a restorative reboot for…
Five Evidence-Based Features of High-Quality Play Environments

Five Evidence-Based Features of High-Quality Play Environments

In early childhood education, the quality of a play space isn’t defined by how polished it looks—it’s defined by how deeply it invites children to imagine, explore, and belong. Research consistently shows that the most powerful play environments are those…
Ways to Initiate Conversations with Parents About Challenging Behaviours

Ways to Initiate Conversations with Parents About Challenging Behaviours

In early childhood education, our relationships with families are foundational—but they’re not always easy to navigate. When a child’s behaviour begins to impact the safety or wellbeing of others, educators often find themselves caught between professional responsibility and fear of…
Biting Policy Example

Biting Policy Example

The following Biting Policy Example tailored for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia, drawing on best practice from ACECQA, Child Australia, and service-level procedures.
Building Social and Personal Skills from Preschool to Kindergarten

Building Social and Personal Skills from Preschool to Kindergarten

The transition from preschool to kindergarten isn’t just academic—it’s deeply social. As children move from parallel play to collaborative learning, they begin to form friendships, navigate conflict, and express their unique identities. These social and personal skills are the bedrock…
How to Survive a Toxic Work Environment in Early Childhood Settings

How to Survive a Toxic Work Environment in Early Childhood Settings

Toxic environments in early learning services can manifest as gossip, micromanagement, inconsistent policies, emotional invalidation, or even bullying. These psychosocial hazards are not just unpleasant—they’re legally and ethically significant under Work Health and Safety laws.
The Calm Corner That Changed Everything

The Calm Corner That Changed Everything

In a busy early learning room, nestled between a soft rug and a basket of sensory tools, something quietly revolutionary was unfolding. It wasn’t a new curriculum or a flashy resource—it was a space. A space designed not for punishment,…
Beyond Biting: Reclaiming Safety and Partnership in Early Childhood Settings

Beyond Biting: Reclaiming Safety and Partnership in Early Childhood Settings

Over the past decade, many educators have observed a troubling trend: biting, pushing, and other aggressive behaviours among toddlers are increasingly normalized as developmental inevitabilities. While it’s true that young children often lack the verbal tools to express frustration or…
Process vs. Product: Rethinking Creativity in Early Childhood Education

Process vs. Product: Rethinking Creativity in Early Childhood Education

In early childhood settings, educators often face a subtle but powerful choice: should learning focus on the process or the product? While both approaches have their place, understanding the distinction can transform how we nurture creativity, independence, and critical thinking…
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