For this week's blog assignment, I chose to explore following website: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/.
Current international research topics included or linked to this site include:
-Advocating for children as a part of being an EC professional
-Incorporating and using technology as an educational tool and as a collaborative practice between EC professionals
-Researching different Kindergarteners' experiences from around the world
-Researching how much has changed regarding children's involvement in research over the past 7 years.
Three surprising facts/insights/new ideas regarding early childhood on this site include:
-The "Start Early" program, which is a program put in place for the purpose of preventing domestic violence. Start Early is a source of professional development for educators in the EC field and consists of 3 free online learning modules. These modules focus on shaping behaviors and attitudes in young children early in the hopes that they will be able to have healthy relationships in adulthood.
-The parent resources available which included information about health and wellness. There was specific emphasis on establishing healthy diet and exercise patterns in children through adult modeling as a way of preventing childhood obesity. This demonstrated to me that childhood obesity is an issue worldwide, not just here in the United States.
- In an effort to supply support for EC educators there are professional development packages available through a project called "Early Years Connect", which include workshops, online modules, webinars, blogging with experts and information sheets. The purpose of the project is to help improve EC practices for the inclusion of children with disabilities as well as increase the quality outcomes for all children.
Other noteworthy information include:
I reviewed one of the articles linked to this site published in Every Child (which is a journal that this site supports). In the article, an EC professional reflected on the code of ethics published by Early Childhood Australia. The references made in this article reflect similarity to the code of ethics published by NAEYC. By identifying some of the highlights of this code, the author appeared to be supporting the professionalizing of the EC field in Australia, similar to the efforts which are being put forth here in the United States.
Megan-
ReplyDeleteI, too, explored the site for Early Childhood Australia, and missed some of the information you found, so I will have to go back and check it out again. The "Start Early" program you shared sounds like a great, comprehensive program they are implementing. I found a program on the site called "Kids Matter", which focuses on mental health and social and emotional development. It appears the organization really takes early intervention to heart, and applies it within meaningful programs to use with their young children which can benefit them for the rest of their lives. What a honorable, and noteworthy approach to children!
Thanks for sharing,
Julie Ringle
Megan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your blog, after reading your post makes me want to go and explore on my own. This site seems to contain a lot of essential information on research and is different from the site I explored on European research. So different but yet effective in its own way I'm sure!