Connected & Compassionate Early Childhood Educators | Education

Connected & Compassionate Early Childhood Educators

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25.01.2022 Welcome to our world by Moira Butterfiled This colourful book teaches children about diversity, and is a celebration of children around the world. It teaches children about different cultures, through food, dress and play. I particularly liked the fun fact that "Australian children apparently get to eat sugar sprinkles on toast for breakfast"!

22.01.2022 After watching (and getting upset at) the press conference this morning I wrote this. TLDR; We need to do more to make childcare safe for both educators and ch...ildren During this pandemic, the very fabric of our society has been ripped apart. The way we work and live has been changed drastically for an unknown amount of time. Weve been told to keep our distance, keep apart to stay together. This pandemic has presented new challenges across every industry. Those who can work from home are instructed to do so. Those who cant must soldier on under new conditions and keep showing up. These essential workers are keeping the economy going. Doctors, nurses, cleaners, teachers, supermarket staff, hospitality workers and delivery drivers among many others, deserve our thanks. As an essential worker myself, I know how hard it is to keep showing up to work, when it feels like the entire world is collapsing. My name is Maddy Weeks and I am an early childhood educator. Throughout this pandemic, early childhood education has been a hot discussion point. The roll out of free childcare took pressure off families financially, but overlooked the real problems childcare services are facing during the pandemic. The childcare industry has always had its issues and this pandemic has amplified existing inequalities. A predominately female industry, childcare educators are some of the most underpaid in society. Despite their incredibly important role during childrens formative years, childcare educators get paid minimum wage. To work in childcare, you must have a degree (Cert III or higher) and other training (first aid, CPR, child protection training). It is a highly skilled, intense and important job-yet grossly underpaid. Although this inequality and financial discrimination is not what Im writing about, it is symptomatic of the ongoing lack of respect towards the workers in this industry, that has been amplified through the nations response to the pandemic, manifesting in new and more dangerous ways. Childcare is classified as an essential service and has remained open throughout everything this year. The main argument for keeping childcare services open is that essential workers need safe, consistent environments to send their children. We are in a very scary time and everyone must play their role on this road to recovery. Australian workers may not be able rely on other avenues of care, such as grandparents, as this poses a health risk. The children of Australia need a place to go, and that is childcare. As an educator I understand this and am honoured to help support the workers getting us through us. Theres never been any doubt about how essential childcares are, but an often overlooked problem is-how safe are childcares in a pandemic? Things are business as usual for us childcare educators. As we go back into stage three lockdown and a whole new world of restrictions, Im left confused, scared and worried about our situation. At the press conference this morning (Sunday 19th July 2020), it was announced that as of 11:59pm on Wednesday the 22nd July, face masks or face coverings become mandatory in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. If youre leaving your house for one of the four acceptable reasons, you must cover your face, or you can be fined $200. When the Brett Sutton, the Victorian chief medical officer was asked if this would apply to early childhood education settings-he said, Its not a requirement in childcare. Weve seen very very few cases in childcare. Childcare hasnt closed anywhere in the world that Im aware of, even as primary schools and high schools have closed. At one point involving more than 90% of students. Childcare doesnt seem to be a place that either drives transmission or that we should be concerned about in terms of significant illness. He was then asked, Should masks be mandatory for childcare workers , which he stated firmly No. My eyebrows raised at this and I felt my stomach sink. The things Brett was saying just dont add up. It only takes a quick google search to prove him wrong. In Victoria, there have been outbreaks in many early childhood services. 101 early childhood services have been closed by the Health Department so far. 101 is not a small number. That seems like a very large number of cases to me. Brett stated that childcare hasnt closed anywhere in the world. This is factually incorrect. Outside of Australia, many childcares have closed in line with lockdown restrictions. Both the UK and the US closed some schools, childcares and nurseries to the public. Alternative avenues of care were offered to the children of essential workers (some were still able to attend these facilities, but in a safer environment- with limited numbers of children). An example close to home is New Zealand. During stage four lockdown, New Zealand closed all early childhood education services, allowing educators to come into the homes of essential workers, and provide care and education services from there. They are now the country leading the way to recovery, effectively eradicating the spread of this virus within their borders. We can learn a lot from them. Australias approach to childcare has been built on a shell be right attitude. This is a dangerous approach, not just for educators but for the thousands of children and families using the services. As an educator, I have felt unseen, undervalued and unsupported. When the whole world is shutting down around me, Ive been told its fine to keep going to work. Its fine to keep up a business as usual attitude. Educators come in close contact with many different members of the community daily. We cant effectively social distance, it is impossible to provide care and education from 1.5 metres away (Id pay money to see a nappy changed that way). Whilst we have of course upped our focus on encouraging and supporting the children in learning and developing good hygiene practices, theres only so much we can do, especially with the younger children. The wiggles put out a song about social distancing. But the children dance along to that song whilst reaching out to grab my hand. I want to protect Australias children and their families, but theres no way to create a covid-safe childcare environment using this current model We have been told to take preventive measures we do temperature checks of all staff, children and family members in the morning and throughout the day. Anyone with cold or flu like symptoms is send home and cannot return until they get tested and achieve a negative result. This is all well and good and definitely a step in the right direction. However, it has been proven that in up to 80% of childhood coronavirus cases, the child is asymptomatic, but able to spread the disease. This is where the fear and uncertainty come in. There is likely no way to know if a child is infected, until it is too late. If one single staff member, child, parent or family member comes in with coronavirus-it will undoubtedly spread through the entire centre. It happens with gastro. It happens with Covid-19. Its already happened over 100 times in Victoria alone. Childcare and early learning centres have the makings of hotspots under these conditions. There are not many people in Australia that are in such close contact to other human beings as early childhood educators. Childcare is a ticking time bomb. Everyone wants to be safe and everyone deserves the right to go to work and not be so exposed. Educators have not been afforded that luxury throughout this pandemic. To put it simply, in a pandemic, childcare cannot resemble business as usual. Educators are actively being told that we are not at risk when we are. We are in close contact with bodily fluids and individuals-we should be wearing masks. This PPE should be provided to us, just like gloves and soap is. An argument I often hear is that if educators wear masks, they will scare the children. Ive worn my mask to work for the past week and the children have asked questions about it, which has led to some very productive discussions. Children can understand more than we give them credit for, if we just take the time to discuss things with them and answer any questions they have. We are educators. Educating is what we do. Children will definitely see masks in public, we need to help them understand why people are wearing them and why they are so important. Masks will be so prevalent in their lives, they need to become comfortable around them. What better way to introduce this than in a caring, educational environment? If childcares must remain open, help make them safer. Other countries have shown that alternative methods of care are possible. We shouldnt wait for more outbreaks. The government needs to act fast. Close childcares now and provide alternative methods of care to essential workers-or if they must remain open, provide more support and protection for educators, so they can keep children and families safe. Enough is enough. This consistent disrespect and complacency from the government is plaguing the childcare industry. Australia will lose many talented educators due to the governments continued apathy towards them. The government needs to reevaluate the lens they currently use, and start viewing childcare educators with the respect that they deserve. The work we do is important. We deserve to be heard. We deserve to be safe. We deserve the same protection other workers get. Support us, so we can continue supporting you. Sources: https://www.education.vic.gov.au//heal/Pages/closures.aspx https://www.theguardian.com//coronavirus-school-colleges-n https://www.businessinsider.com.au/pandemic-child-care-clos https://www.cbsnews.com//coronavirus-children-pediatricia/ #melbourne #COVID19

17.01.2022 How do you feel about Daniel Andrews announcement just now regarding childcare during Stage 4 restrictions in Victoria? He stated in today's press conference that if parents in Metro Melbourne are a permitted worker, regardless of whether they can work from home doing that permitted work or on-site doing that permitted work, and can attest that no other adult can look after their children, then they will be able to access childcare and kinder. Kinder and early childhood centres in regional Victoria remain open.

15.01.2022 The boy with Big, Big feelings by Britney Winn Lee This story normalises the experience of emotions and teaches children that we all have emotions, and some might experience emotions bigger than others. It is a great read for sensitive children who experience a lot of emotions.

15.01.2022 Play is the BEST way to learn! __________________________ Credit: This quote was inspired by the 'I Am...' series of posters created by Playvolution HQ: https://playvolutionhq.com//origin/original-i-am-3-poster/

13.01.2022 Don't let the Pigeon drive the bus! by Mo Willems This is a great interactive book for behaviour guidance. In the book, the bus driver tells the child that he needs to leave the bus, and instructs the child to NOT let the pigeon drive the bus. Throughout the story, the pigeon does and says all that he can to try to convince the child to let them drive the bus. It is a great way to teach children about consequences and decision making.

13.01.2022 My friend is sad by Mo Willems This adorable story about an elephant and a piggie teaches children about empathy and compassion. When Piggie notices that their friend is sad, she does everything she can to try to cheer him up!

11.01.2022 Remote learning for Melbourne schools was just announced. Early Childhood centres still open. What do you think?

07.01.2022 Just fold it in educators! Just fold it in!

05.01.2022 Keep on going teachers!

05.01.2022 How are you feeling today? by Molly Potter This colourful and interactive book teaches children easy to follow coping strategies to help them manage different emotions, whilst also providing information for parents and educators about emotional literacy.

02.01.2022 Boogie Bear by David Walliams This is a fun story about a polar bear and a group of disgruntled brown bears, that teaches children about accepting people's differences.

02.01.2022 Tough guys have feelings too by Keith Negley This is a lovely book that teaches children, specifically young boys, that it doesn't matter who you are, we all experience emotions. It also breaks down the stereotype of the "tough guy" and encourages boys to feel and express their emotions in a healthy way.