Does this ring a bell? As early childhood educators, we support children’s ability ‘to use their words’ – when we model the words to use to join in with play, to share ideas in small and large group conversations, to express feelings and to resolve peer disputes. However, how often do we intentionally encourage children […]
In a piece in The Conversation, Bernadette Saunders described positive discipline. Parents who practise positive discipline or gentle parenting use neither rewards nor punishments to encourage their children to behave. By “no rewards” I mean they don’t use charts or “bribes” such as lollies or toys. Many don’t even say “good girl/boy” or “good job”. […]
You have to be a tad delusional to imagine that a child can sail through Winter without a cold. The common garden varieties are a good way for kids to be exposed to germs and build up their immunity before they hit school. But there is a whole other range of nasties that I think […]
A new parenting trend focuses on parents dictating less and leaving children to behave in line with their “natural inclination”. The belief is that the child can eventually figure out they should do the “right” thing for the sake of doing what is right, not because their parents told them to, or offered a reward. […]
I’ve visited several primary schools and early education and care services in Melbourne recently where the families have many different cultural backgrounds. Among them are refugees and asylum seekers, families who have experienced trauma and who continue to lead lives filled with uncertainty and difficulty. The conversations I had reminded me of the life-altering role […]
Have you ever heard parents (or maybe even other educators) saying to children, “grow up. Don’t be so silly?” Or have you been guilty of letting a child spend hours on technology devices, or in front of the TV without the balance of exercise and play? When was the last time you meaningfully engaged with […]
One of the best aspects of being a Mum is reading to my kids. As a family project, we decided to read some ‘classics’ together (well, I read to my children). The books we chose were from bygone days, timeless in their description of the human condition. To my surprise (as a now adult), I discovered […]
Little transitions, moving from one setting to another or one activity to another, constantly happen during a child’s life and they offer many learning opportunities. Transitions are opportunities for educators to: Engage and build relationships with children Nurture the development children’s social and emotional skills Communicate to children that they are in a safe, secure […]
Being a parent presents us with daily challenges, including decisions about what things to expose our children to. One of the questions I am constantly asked by parents is what should they teach their children about money, and at what age. Talking about money is no different to talking about how to keep healthy or […]
‘Mindfulness’ as a concept and a practice has rapidly entered the zeitgeist, helping to define the spirit and ideas of our times, including in education. Not much more than a decade ago a Google search for mindfulness and education would show the Garrison Institute Initiative for Contemplative Teaching and Learning at the top of the […]
