We know that quality early childhood education is critical, writes Dr Jan Deans and Professor Collette Tayler but what is actually happening in kindergartens, childcare and homes across Australia? Over five years, dozens of researchers from the University of Melbourne and Queensland University of Technology have...
Too much screen time and a penchant for computers is playing havoc with children’s school readiness, as new research from the University of South Australia shows that modern lifestyles are influencing our young generation’s prevalence of developmental delay, reports Annabel Mansfield Conducted by UniSA researchers, Dr...
After a year of digital learning and virtual teaching, let's hear it for the joy of real books! Says Kathryn MacCallum. We know COVID-19 and its associated changes to our work and learning habits caused a marked increase in the use of technology. More surprising, perhaps,...
Some unusual picture books this month especially the one on Synaesthesia. Sometimes described as a handicap and often as a gift. Who am I? by Percy Shozi & illustrated by Maren Mia du Plessis p/b, RRP$24.(available directly from the author at Percys Poems) Ages 5+ The author grew...
Kate Noble and Sarah Pilcher report that many families in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales have been paying around double what families in other states and territories pay for preschool. Median out of pocket costs for preschool, per hour, range from A$2.82 to $3.82 in...
The Fair Work Commission handed down a decision today supporting pay rises of up to 10% for early childhood teachers, in response to a claim by the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA). The decision is the result of an eight-year long action by the IEUA...
Karen Ford, Andrea Middleton and Steven Campbell asked children around the world what they knew about COVID. This is what they said. During the pandemic, children have been separated from family and friends, schools have been closed and there have been limitations on important activities, such...
Children, like adults, are spending more time online. At home and school pre-schoolers now use an array of apps and platforms to learn, play and be entertained. While there are reported benefits, including learning through exploration, many parents are still concerned about screen time, cybersafety...
Nicholas Gamble, Christine Grové, Emily Berger, and Kelly-Ann Allen, suggest there are 5 things to consider! Homeschooling registrations for children in Victoria in 2020 grew by almost four times the rate of the previous year, recent reports show. Some families who had children learning from home during...
The effects of mobiles phones and other technology at school is a hotly debated topic in many countries, writes Louis-Philippe Belan. Some advocate for a complete ban to limit distractions, while others suggest using technology as a teaching tool. Kids in public South Australian primary schools...
