How should I respond when a child says ‘I don’t want that one, that’s for girls/boys’?
Answer: With curiosity. Questions like this are a great opportunity for reflection; not just for the children, but also for educators. The EYLF states that ‘childhood is a time to […]
What is the difference between critical reflection and reflective practice?
Do you have to do both, or just one? Every day, every week? Answer: Both are thinking skills to be used depending on the situation. Critical reflection means ‘closely examining […]
Parents are complaining about other children’s behaviour.
How can we encourage them to be inclusive of other families’ children? Answer: Stay empathetic and respectful. Nothing is trickier than addressing a family’s concerns about another child’s behaviour in […]
Is it wrong for two educators to speak their own language to each other in the room?
Answer: No. Let’s take a moment to reflect. If a child speaks their native language with another educator or child, do you stop them? Think about all the benefits this […]
How often should we document children’s learning?
My background is early childhood where daily observations are required. Just wondering if there are different requirements for MTOP? Answer: Adjust your mindset. Quality is best. When it comes to […]
Children in my room don’t want to play together because they are different genders.
What can we do to encourage mixed-gender play? Answer: Reflect on your own attitudes and thoughts around gender roles and inclusive play. How do you program for children of different […]
Is it worthwhile continuing with time-intensive documentation like portfolios next year?
Answer: It’s up to your team to reflect on whether portfolios are the best documentation method for your service. There is no one way to document children’s learning. As educators, […]
How do we keep a strong workforce?
I keep hearing about how there aren’t enough educators and teachers. What can we do to stop this affecting our children’s service? Answer: Whilst there isn’t a magic fix-all, there […]
What if I disagree with an Authorised Officer during A&R?
What happens if I disagree with an Authorised Officer during Assessment and Rating? Is it a bad idea to politely question them on the spot? Answer: Don’t be afraid to […]
How can we achieve an equitable workload?
Answer: Review workloads, check in with staff, and play to their strengths and interests! Audit the tasks that need to be undertaken at your service. Ask staff to list the […]