A: No, you don’t have to include theorists in every piece of documentation, but referencing them can deepen your practice, especially when aligned with EYLF V2.0 and the National Quality Standard.
Early childhood education is a dynamic and deeply relational field. Educators are constantly navigating children’s diverse needs, family expectations, and systemic requirements. To sustain quality practice, reflection is essential. Reflection allows educators to pause, analyze experiences, and adapt their approaches to better support children’s learning and well-being.
One powerful framework for reflection is Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1988). Widely used in education, healthcare, and professional development, it provides a structured way to think critically about experiences and plan for improvement. In early childhood, Gibbs Cycle helps educators move beyond surface-level observations to deeper insights about pedagogy, relationships, and environments.
Early childhood education thrives on curiosity, exploration, and authentic engagement. David A. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory offers a powerful framework for understanding how young children learn through doing, reflecting, thinking, and trying again. Rather than viewing learning as a linear process, Kolb positions it as a continuous cycle—one that mirrors the natural way children interact with the world.
This cheat sheet offers quick, accessible reference to major theorists and concepts that shape early education practice. It includes Theories, Concepts, and Documentation Prompts, Quick Tips for Embedding Theory in Documentation, Prompts for Reflective Language, List Of Theorist Language and more.
Applying theorists in observations involves connecting your observations of children’s behaviors, interactions, and development to established theories of learning and development. This approach not only deepens your understanding of children’s needs but also aligns with the EYLF and the NQS. The following article provides information on Understanding Key Theorists and Their Concepts, Linking Observations to Theories, Incorporating Theories into Planning, Practical Examples and more.
Social Constructivist Theory in Early Childhood Education is a learning approach grounded in the idea that children actively construct knowledge through their social interactions and cultural experiences. Rather than viewing learning as an individual process of acquiring information, social constructivism emphasizes that children build understanding through communication, collaboration, and shared experiences. The following article provides information on Key Concepts, Applications In Early Childhood, Modern Relevance In Childcare and more.
This article explores key learning theories, their practical applications, and how they align with the EYLF and NQS. Educators can use these insights to enhance teaching strategies, scaffold children's learning, and create inclusive learning experiences that cater to diverse developmental needs.
Here is the list of the EYLF Learning Outcomes that you can use as a guide or reference for your documentation and planning. The EYLF… Read More
The EYLF is a guide which consists of Principles, Practices and 5 main Learning Outcomes along with each of their sub outcomes, based on identity,… Read More
This is a guide on How to Write a Learning Story. It provides information on What Is A Learning Story, Writing A Learning Story, Sample… Read More
One of the most important types of documentation methods that educators needs to be familiar with are “observations”. Observations are crucial for all early childhood… Read More
To support children achieve learning outcomes from the EYLF Framework, the following list gives educators examples of how to promote children's learning in each individual… Read More
Reflective practice is learning from everyday situations and issues and concerns that arise which form part of our daily routine while working in an early… Read More
Within Australia, Programming and Planning is reflected and supported by the Early Years Learning Framework. Educators within early childhood settings, use the EYLF to guide… Read More
When observing children, it's important that we use a range of different observation methods from running records, learning stories to photographs and work samples. Using… Read More
This is a guide for educators on what to observe under each sub learning outcome from the EYLF Framework, when a child is engaged in… Read More
The Early Years Learning Framework describes the curriculum as “all the interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events, planned and unplanned, that occur in an environment… Read More
Pattern blocks are a classic early childhood resource, and the Christmas Pattern Block Mats add...
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Exploring science in early childhood is a fantastic way to nurture curiosity and a love...
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Many nursery rhymes have been argued to have hidden meanings and origins.
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