Global Sky Education | At-home service

Global Sky Education

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Businesses
• Local service
• Education
• Childcare service
• At-home service

25.01.2022 It seems quite timely that on the eve of Australian Educator's Day, a collaborative entitled Thrive by Five was launched. I had the pleasure to join this open forum discussion last night headed up by Jay Wetherall and included guest speakers such as the likes of Dr Nicola Forest, Professor Fiona Stanley, Michelle ONeil (Trade Union), Julie Bishop (now Chancellor at ANU), early childhood educators, parents etc. Others present included Eva Cox AO (an Australian writer, feminist..., sociologist, social commentator, activist and past academic), Chris Legg (CEO of KU Children's Services) etc. Research has been repeatedly informing us that the size of a child’s brain reaches 90 per cent of an adult’s by the age of five. Early childhood is a time of rapid change particularly for the development of a child’s brain. These early years are critical for lifelong learning and well-being. Thrive by Five along with many other organisations, groups, members of society know the importance of this development and learning process has been ignored by decision-makers who continue to treat our early learning and childcare system as a child-minding service for parents returning to work. It’s time the value of play-based learning is recognised by making Australia’s early learning system high-quality, universally accessible and attached to our public education system so that every child can benefit. So Thrive by Five has begun a campaign with the following aim: A high-quality, universally accessible early learning system will likely allow an extra 380,000 parents, mainly women, to get back into the workforce and remove the financial barriers to women taking on full-time work. In doing so we will stop creating lifelong economic disadvantage for women caused in large part by our out-dated childcare funding arrangements. Reform of early learning is the key economic reform that will drive workforce participation, productivity, GDP and government revenue. Let’s make children, women, families and our economy the winners by delivering a new early learning and childcare system for Australia. Funded early childhood education for all. Here is a link to last night's forum from their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveByFiveCampaign/

25.01.2022 The child is a member of a family and a community, not an isolated individual. The child learns through interactions and relationships with peers, adults, objects, materials, the environment and symbols. Early Learning Services are a system of relations embedded in a much wider social system.

24.01.2022 If we offer a place for children, families and Educators to thrive in, and we also host animals on-site, then we ensure we focus on their environments to support them to thrive as well. In 1984 E.O. Wilson, a biologist, introduced the idea of biophilia-that innate affinity we humans have for other living things. In recent years, many early educators have recognised this affinity in young children and have embraced a philosophy that includes lots of living natural materials ...in the classroom (such as plants and flowers), nature-based play areas with landscape features that include lots of vegetation, and providing plenty of outdoor time for children. Children can truly thrive when allowed extended periods of time in natural settings that are full of life. A biocentric approach to early childhood education means more than providing opportunities for nature play, it canand shouldinclude opportunities for children to connect with living animals. Unlike adults who tend to value animals for what they can provide (food, leather, wool) or how they can serve us (as companions), children tend to value animals simply because they are. They recognise the intrinsic value of animalsthat simply because they are living creatures, they are important and are to be respected and understood. Here is a beginners guide to raising healthy, happy chickens in your education setting.

24.01.2022 Thanks Teacher Tom for this reminder. We have just been discussing this very topic over the last couple of weeks with some of our services about the democratic approach to establishing boundaries and expectations with the children as part of that decision making process. For their voices and suggestions being considered and incorporated into a set of classroom expectations - and these also apply to Educators. All share in abiding by the agreed terms.

24.01.2022 If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings. David Sobel

22.01.2022 Reading picture books and story books with young children brings them into magical worlds of fantastical lands and characters, of imagery and symbolism, language and understandings about the world and most important of all - sharing these special moments of togetherness and human connection. Read superb books aloud to your children! Our very own extraordinary children's author Mim Fox offers suggestions for parents to open up new worlds through story reading with their child...ren: "Begin on the day they are born. I am very serious about this: at least three stories and five nursery rhymes a day, if not more, and not only at bedtime, either. Read with passion and expressive abandon, maintaining the same variety in your voice at exactly the same place in the story or rhyme every time, keeping the same louds and softs, the same highs and lows, the same fasts and slows. In this manner your children will begin to remember the words by remembering the ‘tune’ of your reading. Memorising a rhyme or story and turning the pages at the right time is an important step in learning to read and should never be discounted as cheating. Fill their minds with a torrent of wonderful words, familiar and unfamiliar, common and grand, basic and lofty. And always make it a wild and joyful experience" Mem Fox’s 10 read-aloud commandments 1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud. 2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read. 3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot. 4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners. 5.Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time. 6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games. 7. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short. 8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child’s name and yours, remembering that it’s never work, it’s always a fabulous game. 9. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books. 10. Read aloud every day, mothers and fathers, because you love being with your child, not just because it’s the right thing to do. https://www.slq.qld.gov.au//sharing-stories-active-toddler

22.01.2022 A sense of belonging is the foundation for children’s wellbeing and learning, something which is affirmed in the Early Years Learning Framework you can’t ‘be’ if you don’t belong, and it’s challenging to ‘become’ and reach your full potential if you don’t feel a true sense of belonging to the places you live, work and play in. We know that belonging is important for children. It is equally important for those who educate and care for them. https://thesector.com.au//fostering-belonging-in-educato/

22.01.2022 https://ececinnovationforum.com.au

21.01.2022 Debi asked the Magic Question when she asked "Who's shoulders do you stand on?

21.01.2022 Interaction Imagination and Red Ruby Scarlet share their understandings and respect for many cultures and communities that do hold a bonded connection to nature. If you have not already read the Giving Tree storybook, it is an all time classic for adults to share with children, then I highly recommend it.

19.01.2022 Our work as Educators is foundational to healthy societies. Thriving communities depend on the successful development of the people who live in them, and building the foundations of successful development in childhood requires responsive relationships and supportive environments. Beginning shortly after birth, the typical serve and return interactions that occur between young children and the adults who care for them actually affect the formation of neural connections and the circuitry of the developing brain. https://developingchild.harvard.edu//ke/serve-and-return/

19.01.2022 Radically inviting play spaces remind us that play needs to be for everyone.

19.01.2022 The National Gallery of Victoria is running an Under 5s online learning program for NADOC week this year. Learn about NAIDOC Week, this year’s theme of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be‘ and find out about Wurundjeri man William Barak, who used art as a way to record and preserve his culture for future generations. This will be followed by an art-making demonstration which will encourage kids to learn more about the traditional custodians of the land where they live, learn and play. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/program/under-5s-naidoc/

19.01.2022 The rewards offered to children such as stickers, stamps and the like are based on external motivation, however we know that intrinsic motivation is the driving force for human endeavours. Young children will pass up rewards which are a sure thing for the opportunity to explore other options, a new study from Ohio University has found, emphasising the importance of giving children the opportunity to explore their world and make meaning from it. Exploration seems to be a m...ajor driving force during early childhood even outweighing the importance of immediate rewards, co-author Vladimir Sloutsky said. We believe it is because young children need to explore to help them understand how the world works. https://thesector.com.au//young-children-are-motivated-b/

18.01.2022 How good is it just to sit in that space, you know the one where you can relax and just be...

18.01.2022 Sometimes we Educators need a little self-care too. Join this online session from September 12-13 to come home to your body in this time of uncertainty. Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping, which takes practice in our disembodied culture. It’s our bodies that are the most direct way to change our lives, and it’s here we must start. Register here for free: https://embodiedfacilitator.com/self-care

18.01.2022 As educators we hold a key to revealing the joy, laughter, delight, curiosity, questions, revelations, experimentations, discoveries, tenderness, strength, resolve, resilience, creativity, extraordinary imagination, problem solving, beauty, wanderings into relationships, sparks of interest, thinking processes, awarenesses, mindfulness, inquisitiveness, love, challenges ....... of the children who join with us everyday. Learning to tell the remarkable stories of the children requires seeds of creative writing to sprout within us. Learning to grow our own storytelling capabilities is essential to promoting not only the wonder of childhood but also our essential role in providing the right garden for children to bloom. Is your storytelling and story writing in need of a little inspiration?

18.01.2022 "Play creates a brain that has increased flexibility and improved potential for learning later in life." - Lester & Russell, 2008 Children need to play everyday. Check out some play ideas at Play Scotland - https://www.playscotland.org/101waystoplay-campaign/

17.01.2022 Still more insights into just how extraordinary young children really are. Did you know................?

16.01.2022 A wonderful opportunity coming in the near future. A FREE online International Conference hosted by Charles Sturt University.

15.01.2022 Early Childhood Educators make a difference in the lives of very child they encounter every day. Annalisa Rabotti, an Educator in Reggio Emilia, understands how important Educators are in the eyes of the child, the family, the community and the society: Children are always throwing out sparks of knowledge, curiosity, and inquiry and adults must be ready to catch those sparks. When the children are investigating and researching.this is what is like, little tiny sparks. You h...ave to be ready to catch them as a teacher and blow on them to encourage them to grow bigger and ignite them further. If you have done your own research then you can be ready. If you haven’t you may not realize that spark and you might miss it. To all our amazing Educators who listen and watch carefully, to discover the glorious sparks that your children send your way, we thank you for making a world of joy, laughter, relationships, delight, and learning by catching their sparks and igniting them further. HAPPY EDUCATOR'S DAY - A DAY TO CELEBRATE YOU

14.01.2022 Marta González, a former lead ballerina with Alzheimers, is played Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. If anyone tries to tell you the arts don't matter, show them this. The arts are fundamental to what it is that makes us human and children rely so heavily on the arts as a form of expression, thinking, learning, exploring and using the many languages of the arts as fundamental to their very BEING.

14.01.2022 The more we experiment with clay (and other materials), the more expert we become in creating - even for our youngest children whose coming to understand the qualities and properties of clay grows with each passing second.

13.01.2022 Giving a gift is a universal way to show interest, appreciation, and gratitude, as well as strengthen bonds with others, sources say. There is the whole act determining what needs to be given and making sure it fits with the person, says Devin A. Byrd, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences at South University Savannah. There is an emotional lift when searching for the gift. Imagine then how much more is gained by making a gift t...o someone you hold feelings for. Better to give than to receive, gift-giving is also an act of altruism unselfish concern for the well-being of others. When we give without expecting anything in return, we are improving our psychological health. Underlying this custom of gift giving is an important purpose: appreciation. We give people gifts to show them that we are grateful for them and value the role they play in our lives. Generosity of the soul. This Friday 13th November is INTERNATIONAL KINDNESS DAY - a reminder that giving the gift of kindness everyday to those we live and work with is a reciprocal act and demonstrates our appreciation of them whilst making our own hearts and their's grow. GIVING THE GIFT OF KINDNESS IS THE BEST GIFT ANYONE CAN GIVE AND RECEIVE EVERYDAY.

12.01.2022 The goal is for children to use language and explore literacy in personally meaningful ways. By the end of kindergarten this ‘may’ include: - Understanding the purpose of texts - Making connections between texts and personal experiences - Identifying the relationship between sound and letters - Inventing simple rhymes and finger plays... - Linking words and pictures in a story - Copying and attempting to write words - Sharing their writing to convey a message (QKLG) Here’s a few activities that will NOT achieve these goals and often hold no meaning for children: * singing the alphabet * memorising the alphabet * tracing letters or words * literacy worksheets * asking a child to write their name repeatedly Here’s a few ideas that can make learning language and literacy personally meaningful: Read, read and read to and with your child- don’t be afraid of big books or vocabulary Talk about books! Predict the endings, change the story line, guess what the page says based on the pictures Talk about text and reading. We start from left to right, bottom to top. There’s a front cover. There’s page numbers. Sing, sing and sing! There’s songs about tidying up, building blocks, animals- don’t be afraid to make up your own Talk with your child about symbols in the environment- stop signs, toilet signs, koala crossings etc Involve your child in reading menus when at cafes, or talk about the pictures on menus Make grocery lists together, first by using images and then later words next to images Make Birthday cards for friends Draw and paint with no outcome rather then to get the fingers and hands moving Engage in role play and encourage two way conversation. Question, respond. Give directions, start with 1 direction and work upwards. Example- put your drink bottle away, go to the toilet and then come and sit on the mat (3 parts) Lastly play, play, play - don’t undervalue the power of play

11.01.2022 I love the inspirations of Roberta Puccilab. As a Reggio Emilia Atelierista, she finds the wonders hidden in everyday objects and items as a form of re-imagining what lies within - brought to life in a new way by children. Here she reminds us of the rich imagery scattered throughout magazines for children to explore and repurpose. A reminder to keep at the forefront of our minds is the selection of magazines on offer. Thoughtful choice is needed by the adults.

11.01.2022 Loose parts are not just small items, they can also be large and require the whole body and mind working together. Yes there is risks involved. Anji Play at play

11.01.2022 A wonderful way to reflect on and share happy memories

10.01.2022 We have been discussing the setting of boundaries with young children in early childhood education very recently, so this post is so timely. Children’s involvement and participation in developing their own classroom set of boundaries is a crucial element in determining how successful the application becomes.

10.01.2022 In wonderful celebration of NAIDOC week, a wise Indigenous proverb to share.

09.01.2022 Indigenisation of our curriculum and pedagogical practices is a strong focus for us at Global Sky Education. So inclusion, unification and ongoing reflection of anti-bias principles guide us in our everyday work with young children. This week we celebrate NAIDOC Week as an ongoing relationship and support of our responsibilities to actively and respectfully connect with our local indigenous community. Thank you to Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc. for sharing these resources.

09.01.2022 What can be found in the pockets of young children? What do they collect, what do they hold as valuable, memorable or worthy of keeping safe in a pocket? San Francisco photographer Melissa Kaseman knows that imaginative art can come in tiny packages. That much is evident in her latest photo series, "Preschool Pocket Treasures," which depicts the small objects she finds stuffed in her son's pockets each day when he comes home from preschool. "The magic of childhood is so fleet...ing, and these objects I kept finding in Calder's pockets represent a chapter of boyhood, his imagination, and the magic of finding a 'treasure,'" Kaseman adding, "I like the idea of the photographs being a taxonomy report of a child’s imagination, specifically Calder's. I hope he carries the wonderment of discovery throughout his life." We all hold emotional and embodied attachment to found objects that become precious to us. Children also do the same. Here is such a lovely collection of artistic images of a child's collection of treasures gathered and kept safe in the pockets of one child. As Educators we also gather precious items throughout our working day - what have you found in your pockets and what precious treasures has a child shared with you from their pockets? http://www.melissakaseman.com/preschool-pocket-treasures/

09.01.2022 A schema is a repeated pattern of behavior a child employs in order to explore and learn about his or her environment. This is a fabulous article on the connection between Loose Parts and Intelligent Playthings Categorised By Schemas ..... The picture below is just page 1 - you can download the PDF using the link below which has all the pages of the chart and is easier to enlarge. The chart was created by Michelle Thornhills ... http://mthornhill.weebly.com//loose_parts_by_schema_2017.p

08.01.2022 As a respected and highly valued member of our centre teams, you will deliver high quality and progressive programs using your advanced ideas, expertise and inclusive approach. You will build lasting and quality relationships with families and keep them updated on their little one’s development via personal interactions and Storypark. Various roles available - permanent, full time and casual opportunities based in either Rockhampton or Yeppoon. Trainees welcome to apply.

08.01.2022 Felt like a good day to reshare this post Construction materials Each room here at Nido Scuola ENI06 in Milan has a slightly different construction area in the...ir rooms - but also with threads of similarities - such as large flat surfaces, mix of materials, large and small, ropes, threads, lines, soft and hard... Each space chosen to provoke and extend play. What I see is the opportunity to feel safe with the familiarity of materials but at the same time be challenged by its novel nature... I think security allows children to take risks in their play and construction designs.. it allows them to build on their knowledge and extend it... The rooms, the three piazzas and the various ateliers in this school reveal that construction is considered an important language of exploration, problem solving, collaboration etc #originallearning #play #construction #preschool #forskola #konstruktion #lek #undervisning #reggioemiliaapproach #reggioinspired #100languages #100languagesofchildren #looseparts @ San Donato Milanese See more

06.01.2022 Remembering our own childhood from the past informs our work with young children today and all the tomorrows thereafter.

06.01.2022 With a focus on sustainable education, ecological practices and support for the theory of Loose Parts in learning and creative thinking, we choose to use a wide array of recyclable materials in our work with children. Why throw away a perfectly good egg carton when they can be used in so many ways in the hands of creative and imaginative children? Children love to construct with these pieces, keep treasures in the little cups or hide them underneath, or drop items throug...h the holes. These kinds of materials can be used so many ways - the opportunities to learn and explore with recyclable materials are unlimited.

06.01.2022 What is a Schema? #Schemas are patterns of repeated behaviour that allow children to explore and develop their play through their thoughts and ideas. As an adult, you can learn about your children’s interests by observing their play. By stepping back and watching, you may notice how apparent some of these schemas are. Some children clearly display schematic play; however, it may be more difficult to recognise the schemas other children are exploring....Continue reading

06.01.2022 CONSTRUCTION PLAY (also known as constructing play or construction play) involves manipulating elements of the play environment to construct something new. This may involve all sorts of different construction methods stacking, assembling, disassembling, sorting or molding, to name just a few. Children should be encouraged to fully explore and enjoy constructive play for all of the fabulous developmental opportunities it offers, and, according to Piaget, as an important stag...e of play in and of itself. This video interview with renowned architect Frank Gehry offers some extraordinary insights into creativity and learning with BLOCKS when there is freedom to create at will. There are so many ways to construct! Here are thirteen simple ways to invite (or extend) construction play experiences in your home or early learning centre; 1. Add a range of open ended loose materials to your child’s block play (or to other construction sets) pieces of vinyl, pieces of fabric, balls of wool, small tiles, shells, bottle tops, lengths of ribbon, planks of wood, stones. 2. Add lengths of PVC pipes, clean tin cans, and measuring tapes to your block play area. 3. Add a variety of figurines and vehicles to your construction area, to be used with construction sets. 4. Look for interesting block shapes to stretch the child’s constructing abilities. 5. Add clipboards, paper and pencils to your construction area so that children can draw their building ideas. 6. Buy a bag of wood off cuts and some strong glue as an introduction to woodworking. Over time, add a small handsaw, nails and small hammer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az-m56vUjgw

06.01.2022 Many children have difficulty regulating their emotions. Tantrums, outbursts, whining, defiance, fighting: these are all behaviors you see when children experience powerful feelings they can’t control. While some children have learned to act out because it gets them what they want attention or time on the iPad other children have trouble staying calm because they are unusually sensitive. The good news is that learning to calm down instead of acting out is a skill that ca...n be taught. Here are some practical suggestions: Rethink emotions Model managing difficult feelings Validate the child's feelings Active ignoring Positive attention Clear expectations Give options Coping ahead Solving problems Special minutes in the day https://childmind.org/artic/how-to-help-children-calm-down/

05.01.2022 Young children must move to learn today, and they must move to prepare their bodies to learn in the future. Children naturally desire, find ways and need to move as a part of their physical and neurological development. Here are some of the important reasons why we should be encouraging and offering as many opportunities to enable children to follow their natural learning and development pathways as possible. https://notjustcute.com//the-paradox-of-sitting-still-in/

05.01.2022 I think it would be hard to argue that there are some major flaws with our current early learning/childcare system particularly in terms of its funding structur...e. Universal access to quality, PLAY-BASED early learning and care for our precious children would be wonderful. All parents should have that choice when they are ready as a family and all children should have the right to exceptional, high-quality early learning (particularly after the age of 3 when they are much more capable of creating secondary attachments and socialising with other children). The Thrive by Five campaign is launching on Tuesday night and if you're interested in the future of child care and early learning in this country whether you're an educator, early learning professional, a parent, community group, business owner or otherwise you might be interested to attend this free online event to find out more about this campaign. Julie Bishop, Fiona Stanley, Adrian Piccoli, Nicola Forrest, Michele O'Neil and Jay Weatherill will be among those involved. I am interested to watch this campaign unfold... https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/thrive-by-five-campaign-lau

05.01.2022 So many wonderful Reggio Children's resources for home are available right now. Here is one that I just love as I am a huge map fan. Whilst the age range is for 8 year old children, younger children are equally fascinated with maps, plotting their everyday journeys to and from home as well as depicting the many favourite parts of their journey - landmarks, locations, sights......... Find the link below.

05.01.2022 Taking time with babies means we slow down and give them the space and time to explore in their own way, so they can blossom in a way that suits them best.

05.01.2022 Such a wonderful way of honouring the work of children by placing their works into picture fames made from old windows. There are so many ways we can share the creations of children along with creating documentation of the learning process (which is the really important part) that was their journey to come to the final creation. These windows could also house other creations - such as natures creations as a form of window into the world of mini-beasts or pressed flora. Frames can become viewing windows into other worlds. How do you present the work of children in your service or wonderful viewing/observation platforms into other worlds? Maybe you could take a photo and post here to share with our Global Sky Education Community.

05.01.2022 Reading alongside children takes spoken language into a whole new realm, showing a child that relationships exist between sounds and symbols, between words and pictures, and between the reader and the listener. Investing time in both conversation and reading supports all subsequent independent efforts that the young person will make. A child who has been read to will instinctively know that illustrations complement the text and can provide a hint about new words found in the... story. A child who has been read to has had the opportunity to absorb the fact that alphabetical symbols frequently occur in patterns that are repeated and will apply this to new information presented in a formal lesson. A child that has been read to will associate the happiness of past experiences with the suggestion that reading can be a social activity that promotes joy and opens possibilities for discovery. These factors can sow the seeds of connection and positively affect a child’s attitude towards handling early reading material for the first time. In a home where reading is celebrated, a child will understand its relevance in our lives and will have a far greater chance of appreciating the true gift of literacy.

04.01.2022 The hundred languages is a key principle of the Reggio-inspired approach. It refers to communication and emphasises the importance of providing children with one hundred ways to share their thinking of the world around them. The hundred languages also represent the infinite amount of potential each child naturally has and each child’s individual view and perspective of their community. As is widely accepted by educators and supported in research, children learn in a variety of ways - through painting, drawing, writing, singing, dancing, constructing, philosophising, photographing, storytelling, exploring with many different materials in many different ways, playing and many many more...

03.01.2022 Where rocks and weaving come together into a beautiful synergy. The tradition of weaving traces back to Neolithic times - approximately 12,000 years ago. Even before the actual process of weaving was discovered, the basic principle of weaving was applied to interlace branches and twigs to create fences, shelters and baskets for protection. Weaving has and continues to used for many practical as well as cultural and artistic expressions throughout the world. Have you tried weaving with children? Simple palm leaves or thick jute or wool treads can offer so many opportunities for children to create and explore their own techniques that hold an ancient connection to the earth.

03.01.2022 In our first moments, we seek connection. We spend our entire lives seeking or avoiding it depending on whether it feels safe or threatening. Our first and most intimate relationships create a blueprint. We never outgrow the need for connection which helps us fulfill many of our own needs and the needs of others.... Through connection and communication, we learn how to understand and empathize with emotions, and mature to fulfill our own needs and the needs of others. Healthy connections grow autonomy and interdependence. We need a connection to ourselves, trusted others, nature, and creativity. Without connection, we seek unhealthy substitutes and coping mechanisms. Without connection, we cannot thrive. CONNECTION is the cradle in which the child rests and grows -emotionally, mentally and physically. Let's learn and practice how to maintain safe, reliable, authentic and nurturing connections so our children grow to do the same. Clearly, connection is a lifetime need worth learning how to attain and maintain. In our final moments, we will seek comfort yet again through our lifetime connections.

03.01.2022 Are 2 year old's able to serve themselves food for lunch? If you believe they can and should and provide them with the opportunities to do so - then YES THEY CAN!

03.01.2022 Sir Ken Robinson sadly passed away on 21st August. Such a great loss and yet the legacy Sir Ken Robinson leaves with us is monumental. Such an extraordinary human being who has been a strong and influential advocate and activist for education reform and progress, the arts as essential to all forms of education and the need for creativity to be recognised as fundamental to successful human evolution. Here is one of his most famous presentations of all time animated. https://www.youtube.com/watch

02.01.2022 Why are the Arts and imagination essential to our work with children. Imagination offers a vision to look back, to go into the future, to add and evolve culture, to re-imagine the world and allows us to gain conceptual understanding i.e. to imagine how someone else might feel (compassion). Take 10 minutes out for some much-needed inspiration from Sir Ken Robinson. His keynote address to the Earlyarts UnConference in 2012 was beautiful and said it all. https://vimeo.com/53456183

02.01.2022 Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia provides evidence based information, resources and services to support children and adults living with allergic disease. https://bit.ly/3qK2cgT

01.01.2022 Monday musings. We can all live in a temple of knowledge if we choose to bring the joy of reading and story-sharing to our homes and especially our education settings for our young children.

01.01.2022 "To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour." William Blake... Children get excited about life in general. They see everything with fresh and curious eyes, knowing they will find something new, interesting and different every time they look. Adults, on the other hand, look for things they know and expect and so can often miss the finer and more beautiful details. Imagine what we grown-ups are missing. Children can teach us many things about life and the world - through their eyes. There are four ways to be more like a child, no matter how old you are. First, we become curious. "Learn to be curious like a child ... Children can ask a million questions. You think they're through. They've got another million ... Children use their curiosity to learn." Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child's curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn and grow." Truer words were never spoken. Have you ever heard a young child look at a challenge and say, "But we've always done it this way"? Of course not. They let their imaginations run wild and aren't afraid to try unconventional ideas. Children don't have to be taught to "think outside the box." They are experts at pushing the envelope. Second, that we "learn to get excited like a child ... so excited you hate to go to bed at night. Can't wait to get up in the morning. So excited that you're about to explode." Faith is the third childlike quality. "Adults too often have a tendency to be overly skeptical. Some adults even have a tendency to be cynical." Adults need proof that something is good before they will believe it. Children aren't that way inclined. Finally, trust is a virtue that many adults have forgotten. Trust can be in short supply in the adult world. Can you trust that your customers will pay for their orders? Can you trust your employees to show up ready to work every day? Those are big questions, yet we know deep down that most people want to do what's right. It is not about becoming gullible or naïve. But rather it is about adults taking a closer look at the world to take in the details that they have been missing, details that children have a natural ability to harness.

01.01.2022 "When you talk to strangers, you're making beautiful interruptions into the expected narrative of your daily life -- and theirs," says Kio Stark. In this delightful talk, Stark explores the overlooked benefits of pushing past our default discomfort when it comes to strangers and embracing those fleeting but profoundly beautiful moments of genuine connection. When we take those special moments of a very first encounter to connect with new people who come to visit our service or who may be prospective new families joining our service, we make a positive connection to begin to build wonderful ongoing relationships. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFpDK2KhAgw