Children’s gardens are more than just spaces for growing plants—they are living classrooms where curiosity, responsibility, and creativity flourish. By weaving upcycling into these gardens, educators can transform everyday discarded items into vibrant, functional learning tools. This approach not only reduces waste but also models sustainability and innovation for children in ways they can see, touch, and nurture.

Many parents feel uneasy when their child comes home from nursery with paint on their sleeves, mud on their shoes, or sand in their hair. Yet, as Annette Rawstrone explains, these signs of “mess” are actually proof that children have been engaged in beneficial activities.

Family newsletters are more than just updates; they are a bridge between the centre and the home, fostering trust, transparency, and community connection. When thoughtfully designed, they can strengthen relationships with families while reinforcing the service’s philosophy and values.

 In early childhood, literacy learning is most powerful when it grows from children’s natural curiosity. While handwriting and tracing are often seen as “formal” skills, they can be introduced in ways that honour children’s interests, build fine motor strength, and connect meaningfully to the EYLF outcomes.

Encouraging children to self-serve food and drinks during mealtimes is more than just a practical routine, it’s a powerful pedagogical strategy that builds independence, confidence, and healthy habits. 

From 1 March 2026, the Fair Work Commission has officially increased wages under the Children’s Services Award. This decision came after a review into gender‑based undervaluation, meaning educators’ work is now recognised as more valuable and fairly paid. At the same time, the Worker Retention Payment (WRP) program is still running. It was introduced to make sure services can afford to pay staff more and to encourage educators to stay in the sector.

OSHC educators play a vital role in supporting children’s well-being during transitions, play, and rest. With new child safety reforms under the National Quality Framework (NQF) coming into effect from September 2025 and January 2026, services are required to adopt clearer boundaries and transparent practices around physical contact. This article explores how educators can balance emotional support with safeguarding obligations.

Creating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander displays in early childhood education (ECE) settings is about more than decoration—it’s about embedding cultural respect, identity, and belonging into the learning environment. Here are some practical and meaningful approaches. 

Indoor sand play is a sensory-rich, imaginative activity where children explore sand in contained environments such as trays, tubs, or sand tables. It offers opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional regulation while minimizing the mess of outdoor sandpits.

As parents, we know the indescribable joy of seeing our child’s face light up when they connect with a peer, master a new skill, or simply laugh with abandon. For educators, these moments are equally profound—they are the heartbeat of our work, the evidence of growth, and the stories that shape a child’s learning journey.

Yet, in recent years, the sector has faced a dilemma: should we continue to capture and share these images, or should we restrict them in the name of safety?