Since you asked…

Community Child Care Association’s blog for early childhood educators

School aged child wearing a backpack, walking to school with an adult

Question: What do your transitions from before school care to school look like in the mornings?

Answer: Bright vests, transport logs, strong teacher relationships and wet weather plans!

At Indigo North Health Rutherglen OSHC, we have children from three local primary schools and one kindergarten.…

Two educators having a conversation together

Question: How can I go about finding a mentor for a director who is feeling alone in their role, with no one higher up to offer support, guidance or to bounce ideas off?

Answer: To feel more supported, connect with networks, restructure your team to build staff capacity and seek advice and resources from experienced professionals through Community Child Care Association

As a director, I often felt alone in leading my service. To change that and help myself feel more supported, I…

Educator assisting children with organising crayons for a drawing activity

Question: How can we collaborate with families to set realistic goals for children?

Answer: Through clear communication with families, educators can align learning strategies with children’s interests, abilities and expectations, ensuring all parties are working towards shared and achievable outcomes that support each child’s overall development

Working together with families is a key part of our approved learning frameworks and practices as educators. It’s…

A child lying down on a blanket with eyes open, looking away from the camera

Question: Do all children need to have a rest time?

Answer: The simple answer is no, but you must meet each child’s daily need for sleep, rest and relaxation while respecting the wishes of their family

Quality Area 6 (specifically Element 6.1.2) says that families should be involved in making decisions for their…

School-aged children wearing red baseball caps, celebrating with hands up in the air

Question: How can my service build a strong relationship with my community?

Answer: Using reflective practice, following and extending children’s ideas, and learning and implementing key intentional teaching activities will naturally connect you with your broader community

Here are some tips and ideas:

Get out and about – organise regular excursion programs for all your age…

Person holding a mobile phone and taking a picture of a child sitting at a table

Question: Can I use my personal mobile phone at work?

Answer: No, it’s not best practice to use your personal mobile phone

Also, if your service has adopted the new National Model Code for early childhood education and care you, shouldn’t…

Educator looking up at the ceiling with a chalk drawing of a set of balanced scales on the blackboard behind them

Question: How can we achieve an equitable workload?

Answer: Review workloads, check in with staff, and play to their strengths and interests!

Audit the tasks that need to be undertaken at your service. Ask staff to list the tasks they undertake each day and…

Educator looking at a device with thumbs up and thumbs down in the background

Question: How do I stop comparing myself to other educators on social media?

Answer: While social media can be a useful tool for finding new ideas and networking, it can be debilitating when it makes us feel inferior or like we’re not doing enough. The good news is, there are strategies that can help keep the comparisons in check!

Keep an eye on your feelings – notice which posts, pages, groups and people bring out the comparisons. Consider…