Early Childhood in Australia

            I explored Early Childhood in Australia (http://www.earlychildaustralia.org.au/). This organization is the equivalent to the United States organization, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The website provides early childhood professionals with a Code of Ethics which reads like a pledge. The Code of Ethics values respect, democracy, honesty, integrity, justice, courage, inclusivity, social and cultural responsiveness, and education.

Early Childhood Australia also provides it members with journals, magazines, and newsletters. The Australasian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) focuses on early childhood research, innovation, and development. Some of the current research topics were moral and social development; attachment theory; play based learning; and the physical environment and early learning. Their main early childhood magazine, Every Child, spotlights issues on health, education, and social trends in the early childhood field.

I found their Research in Practice Series to be very interesting. This publication focuses on the “hands-on” aspects of early childhood. It offers its readers new approaches to challenging issues within the care and education of young children. Some of the research topics include assessment; resilience; learning and teaching through play; engaging families; and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). The Everyday Learning Series provides its readers with suggestions on how to create positive learning environments for young children. This resource is geared towards parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Some of its topics include feelings; promoting positive behavior; managing change; storytelling; and confidence and coping skills.

I enjoyed exploring this organization. It would have been nice if some of the resources were not so costly. One of the books in the Everyday Learning Series cost around $16. I think that such a valuable resource should be more accessible and less costly to families.