Newsletter - Weekly Early Childhood Update Being Informed - February 2011
Being Informed - February 2011
Dear ChildForum friends,
I want to express my sadness at the terrible earthquake in
Like most Australians, I have been shocked by the scale of the devastation and particular the loss of so many lives including babies and children. My thoughts are with the children, families and communities who have lost so much. Regards,
You are welcome to forward this newsletter to family, friends and colleagues
Click here to Download a PDF of the Being Informed Newsletter, Issue 2, 2011
What has happened in
We published a short breaking news article online which you can read by clicking here …
Many families have left or are considering leaving the city. We are seeing huge distress. Early childhood services in other areas need to be careful not to capitalise on the disaster by going a little too close to the line in possibly poaching children. So below we have included a short overview of what we know from research about possible psychological effects on young children who are evacuated to another city or who are cared for by others after a natural disaster.
On the 6th March is Children’s Day in
In this Issue:
- Regulation Change – Centre Licenses Extended from 50 to 150 children & up to 75 under 2s
- Effects on Children of Evacuation and After a Natural Disaster
- Children’s Commission Inquiry into Under-2s Care and Education
- “Future for Children” national Policy Forum, 2011,
- Celebrating Children’s Day in
- Young Gifted Children (birth to 8 years) – last chance to respond to this survey
- Is 3-D Technology Safe for Young Children? What about Other Technology?
- Not-For-Profit Conference ,
- Professional Development by Distance Learning
1. Regulation Change Allowing Big Increase in Number of Children in Centres
A change in regulation for service size is to take effect from 1 July 201, increasing the capacity of services to have up to 150 children or 75 under 2s attending at any one time.. Have your say on this by clicking here ... and giving your opinion quickly.
You can read about the regulation change on the Ministry of Education website for NZ early childhood centres by clicking here ...
The maximum license size for children attending at anyone time is 50 – this is going to be increased to 150 children.
Services will be able to ask to be licensed to have more than 25 under two-year-old children and up to 75, if they (a) meet the conditions of being a service exclusively for under 2s, or (b) or a mixed-age service with up to 150 children.
The Ministry of Education online information states that the quality will not be affected for children as minimum standards will be maintained and services must ensure they have environments appropriate to the number of children for which a license is approved.
While license size is being increased – there is no mention in the Ministry information as to what will be done to ensure group size is optimal for young children’s development, their relationships with each other and with staff.
There is also no mention as to whether the Ministry or anyone else has researched what might be the possible consequences of this change in regulation on the smaller early childhood services that currently don’t hold multiple licenses, and on the future shape of early childhood care and education provision in NZ.
We would like to know what you think about this??? Please click here NOW to go to an online survey and give your opinion quickly.
2. What we Can Learn From Research about Possible Effects on Children of Evacuation and Being Cared for By Others after a Natural Disaster
The 22nd February 2011 earthquake will emotionally affect most young children in
Research on children experiencing natural disasters and parental separation can help in giving us guidance on what might help to minimise the chances of long-term negative effects and not exacerbate the risks.
Four key lessons arising from research findings are:
1. It is best for young children, if possible, to stay with a caring parent rather than be evacuated to another city or be put into a foster situation somewhere else in the city. Major studies looking at the effects of separation of young children from their parents during World War II found that being evacuated to foster care or another city or country without a parent had long-term psychological consequences. Those children that stayed with a parent were emotionally better off in the long-term. Why? The researchers can only guess. But one theory is that when children are ‘sent away’ for their safety they don’t have any control over separation and this can make a child feel extremely vulnerable. Note that children who are separated the longest from their parents are likely to be most affected, possibly because they form strong attachments with people they are staying with and then suffer a second traumatic separation.
2. It is better for a young child who has experienced a traumatic situation not to be placed in a new ECE childcare service temporarily. All the research and child development theory shows that very young children need security and familiarity. Adjusting to and settling into a new childcare/ECE environment can take time for a young child. When a young child suddenly can’t go back to their childcare/ECE service and they are taken to a new one having just been within a natural disaster area - it is psychologically a very big ask of a young child to adjust to being left with strangers. Early childhood service providers, who care about children will be aware of this and will be actively supporting parents to stay with their child and not temporarily use a new childcare service until their service reopens. For parents who have to return to work and desperately need childcare, early childhood service owners and managers could provide an informal ‘baby-sitting’ service whereby a teacher/staff member known to the children provides childcare for a couple of children at a time.
3. Getting out of a natural disaster area with your child for a while may be better than staying. A study following preschool aged children after Hurricane Katrina in the
4. A Family-Centred Approach is Needed for Supporting Young Children. The Hurricane Katrina research also suggests that children’s post-traumatic stress symptoms can be closely correlated to their parents/caregivers new symptoms – suggesting that to help children recover successfully from a traumatic event we should also be helping and supporting their parents/caregivers.
Something that the field of early childhood education and care can take from this, is that to truly help and support a young child who has experienced a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a family centred approach is needed. For example, family centred care arose in nursing after World War II when it was realised that nursing had to evolve from its traditional paternalistic attitude toward models of care that allowed for family oriented practice in children’s hospitals.
Encouraging parents to stay with their child at the service, not minding if older and young siblings stay, and transforming from a ‘child’ care service to a ‘family’ care service is what will benefit children and help their recovery most.
As well parents, caregivers, and teachers can help the young child most by being tuned into what matters for the child, their pets, their toys, and the things they like to do which bring pleasure and smiles. Work to understand the loss the young child feels and show your sensitivity and caring. Understand that attachments and relationships can be strained. A parent who has experienced trauma and distress may be physically available but not always emotionally available for their child.
This is a time for the community – for all of us to care about children and their emotional well-being and recovery. (This article is available online from www.childforum.com)
3. Children’s Commission Inquiry into Under-2s Care and Education
The Commission has presented its report to early childhood sector stakeholders and is planning to release it publicly in the coming week. You can read more about this, along with some general information and perspectives provided by ChildForum, by clicking here …
4. "Future for Children" national Policy Forum 2011
This national early childhood policy forum is held every three years in election year. You are warmly invited to join us for this important event. Registrations are now open and limited spaces are available.
Date: Thursday 31st March,
Who is Coming: parents, political leaders, educators, employers and ECE managers, child advocates, academics and people with an interest in early childhood policy and young children.
Speakers confirmed include:
- Hon. Anne Tolley, Minister of Education
- Dr Frances Press, leading expert in critical analysis of early childhood policy, from
- Dr Mary Moloney, researcher of implications of change in ECE policy for children in
- Sue Moroney, MP, Labour ECE spokesperson
- Dr John Angus, Commissioner for Children and Dr Janis Caroll-Lind, discussing their office's inquiry into the early education and childcare of under 2s in NZ
- Michelle Rush, parent and discussant
There will also be time for discussion in break out groups so participants can give and record their views. Click here to download a copy of the registration form to print. Or register online easily by clicking here to go to the Events page at http://www.childforum.com.
5. Celebrating Children’s Day
Though Children's Day on 6th March falls on a Sunday, early childhood services can help in doing something to mark the day and celebrate how precious and important our babies, toddlers and preschoolers are.
What can you do? Here's some ideas from ChildForum:
- Do something cool!!! Open the doors of your service on Sunday for all families to come along and share their children's space. Give children the opportunity and time to show the adults important in their lives the things they do. Collect up and discuss with each child examples of their work, favourite toys etc so they are thinking in advance about what to show their family and friends during the open day.
- Surprise and delight the children!!!! Mobilise parents and staff to organise something special for children, e.g. a children's breakfast at the centre where the children are the guests of honour with full table service. Perhaps a special children's breakfast on Sunday - or if your parents aren't working you could do this on Monday morning.
- Help parents not to forget or run out of time to do something to mark Children's Day!!! Offer to parents/caregivers when they pick up their child that you will look after their child for an extra half hour for free if they would like to go into the office and use the resources set out there to make their own handmade card or gift to give to their child on Children's Day.
- Share the love!!! Make a point of giving every child an extra hug on Friday 4th March and wish them a happy Children's Day for Sunday. Some children don't like to be hugged and can shy from touch of any kind, so be aware of this and give these children a huge smile and something to say 'I think the world of you'.
- Let kids rule for a day!!! Celebrate the date on Monday 7th March by telling all the children that they can totally decide what they want to do - do away with the programme, the rituals, the routines and the usual activities on offer to the children each day.
- Get behind your families and help busy parents to share time with their child!! Give each of your families official invitations to pass on to their employers from your service inviting employers to give them a morning off work on the 7th March, so they can share time with their child at their child's 'workplace' 'play-place'. (Note: Most employers should be happy to support this idea. They want to be family-friendly and it is after all only one morning over the course of a whole year. An employee's productivity is improved if they have a better understanding of what their child does in childcare/ECE as they worry less and focus on their work more).
Go to the Children's Day website by clicking here for information on activities around the regions and resources including stickers and posters.
6. Young Gifted Children Survey (birth to 8 years)
This survey will be closed shortly – please make time (about 10 - 15 minutes) to give your views about gifted education and what the current needs are. Click on the following link here to go to the online survey "Young Gifted Children (birth to 8 years)"
7. Is 3-D Technology Safe for Young Children? What about Other Technology?
In some cases technology companies are warning against young children being exposed to their products - but have you time to read the fine print warnings? There are potential dangers for children's development and health that you need to know about - not all of which, like the use of eco-bulbs, are well publicised. Read more by clicking here …
8. Not-For-Profit Conference
This year’s National NFP Conference is promising to deliver some very interesting speakers with an over-riding theme of collaboration and amalgamation within the sector. Increasingly we are seeing many within the sector establishing strategic partnerships, and there is huge potential for those in the ECE sector to develop strong referral relationships with other non-competing NFP’s, share resources and better serve communities. Recognising the changing world within the ECE sector, all ChildForum members who register by 9 March will qualify for a special $100 discount. Go to www.nfpconference.co.nz to find out more about this conference or click here ...
9. Professional Development by Distance Learning
Teaching Central Ltd introduces a new concept in professional development. This is customised PD, delivered through interactive media to suit your needs. This is the ultimate flexible learning option, where you can select to use online, CD, or post. The benefits to early childhood services are that the PD can be run over four, six or eight weeks, for which you can choose the start and finish dates. This means that you can make real progress and long-term changes to practice that will strengthen and enhance your programmes. Also, with the financial constraints placed on early childhood, a major benefit is the cost of this professional development. No expensive staff meetings, yet the whole team is involved and learning together whilst undertaking their routine duties. Certificates and transcripts are provided on completion, for each participant. An exclusive discount of 5% is given to members of ChildForum for services provided by Teaching Central Ltd. Topics include:
- Assessment: Inspirational teaching – a dramatic connection with learning.
- Self-review – through the looking glass: Your journey to best practice
- Leadership: Follow the leader..? How to create effective teams by using empowering leadership strategies.
- Stop it! I don’t like it when I’m feeling out of control...Social and emotional competency
- Learning to learn. Exploring problem-solving, literacy and maths.
- Scheming schema
Find out more by clicking here ... or Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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