Do you immediately think of slime when sensory play recipes are mentioned? We've all seen the viral videos and have our own experiences of children excitedly playing with slime - that gloopy, stretchy, oddly satisfying goop that fascinates children and adults alike (until it ends up in the toilet bowl amid desperate cries of ‘get it out’ or as sticky handprints that seem to cover every chair …and ultimately end up on the back of your shorts which you don’t see until you get home!) Yes, obviously I've had a few awkward moments with slime play over the years - that’s why I prefer to make my own ..read more

Do you ever feel frustrated when children don’t seem engaged during activities you planned? Or wonder if your teaching is actually helping them reach key milestones and learning outcomes? As educators, we all have those doubts sometimes. The solution is shifting to a more intentional approach. But doesn’t that mean rigid lesson plans and scripted activities with no room for spontaneity? Not at all! Intentional teaching is about being thoughtful in utilising those spontaneous teachable moments too. In this blog post, you’ll find out how to incorporate intentional teaching in a flexible, re ..read more

The transition to school is a milestone that's often awaited with a mix of excitement and nervousness, not just by children, but also by their families and educators. It's a big step up from the cosy, play-based environment of preschool: it's the start of a more structured educational journey. But what does it really mean for a child to be 'ready' for kindergarten? I can guarantee you It's not simply about being able to recite the alphabet or count to ten contrary to what many parents are told. Image created with the use of Dall-E 3 AI School readiness and transition covers lots of impo ..read more

As an early childhood educator, have you ever noticed a child endlessly filling containers or obsessively lining up objects? These behaviours likely reflect "schemas" - patterns of repeated actions that reveal how a child engages with the world.  Understanding and supporting play schemas can transform your teaching by providing unique windows into each child's strengths, interests, and approaches to learning.  Understanding Recurring Patterns Of Play In Early Childhood When we understand how to tune into play patterns called “schemas,” we can uncover the meaning behind behaviour ..read more

How can early childhood educators implement continuous quality improvement with the Early Years Learning Framework? The journey of evolving practice and making meaningful improvements never ends when it comes to enriching early learning and development outcomes for children. That’s why the updated Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Version 2.0 offers such a valuable opportunity for services to lift quality to the next level - even though self assessment and the need for continual improvement goals to be created can feel overwhelming at times. So the good news is this doesn’t need to be y ..read more

Supporting sensory regulation in early childhood is crucial for young children's participation and early learning, and fortunately, recent AI innovations are unlocking new possibilities, equipping busy educators with smarter methods to identify and support these children through enhanced observation, evidence-based planning and modified environment setup. For example, Maria was an energetic and bright 4-year-old who loved imaginative play and learning new things. However, teachers noticed she would often cover her ears and avoid the blocks and dress-up stations which tended to be noisy.&nb ..read more

I love taking a peek into REAL LIFE educator environments! This year Empowered Educators have been kind enough to share their enviroments and educator spaces with us and we are excited to continue this series.  We have been highlighting some of the wonderful work that professional family day care educators do here in Australia and also overseas.  We take a peek into their home based early years environments, talk about why they love what they do and even share a few of the unique challenges that only this role offers. Last month I put the spotlight on Lil Critta’s Family Day Care ..read more

As an early childhood educator on Australia, creating opportunities for early learning and engagement in our everyday practice, environments, activities and programs when it comes to the significant cultural events below must always be a priority. NAIDOC Week Aboriginal And Torres Strait Island Children’s Day Reconciliation Week  Unfortunately,  many educators are hesitant to plan for these special celebrations and use them as an opportunity to further explore and incorporate the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander perspectives throughout their programs and learning environ ..read more

Looking for realistic ideas to help setup your home daycare areas and activities? You will LOVE this series where I am sharing REAL LIFE educator environments.  In this series I have been highlighting some of the wonderful work that professional family day care educators do here in Australia and also overseas. We take a peek into their home based early years environments, talk about why they love what they do and even share a few of the unique challenges that only this role offers. Last month I put the spotlight on Mannu’s Family Daycare and this month I’m continuing to highlight some ..read more

Does your early learning environment encourage child-led play and a sense of ownership ?  Setting up your play spaces and deciding what materials to include should always be about more than just making it aesthetically pleasing or ready for an Instagram/Pinterest snap or two. As early childhood educators and/or homeschool facilitators, our aim is to provide opportunties for young children to make their own choices and direct their own play in a way that makes sense to them...and how you set up your indoor and outdoor spaces can certainly influence this. Consider The Questions Below ..read more