In this Week's Update

1. Breaking News:  Purchase of ABC Learning Centres & the NZ College of ECE
2. Conference Registrations now Open
3. Laughter and Humour in your Work and Interactions with Children 
4. Your Help Please with a question on whether there is an Early Childhood Centre that can Cater for a Child with ASD Sensory Integration Disorder?
5. Noise Levels Hinder Learning and Harm Hearing

Wanting specific information on a topic or issue?  Refer to our ChildForum website.  For more go to:  http://www.childforum.com/early-childhood-education.html

1. One of NZ's Largest ECE Providers Purchases ABC Learning Centres

Kidicorp Limited, a former NZX company and New Zealand's largest private provider of childcare and education announced today that it has entered into an agreement to buy the 124 ABC Learning early childhood education centres in New Zealand as well as the NZ College Of ECE in Christchurch.

* READ MORE:  NEWS - Kidicorp purchases ABC Learning Centres

2.  Conference Registrations Now Open

Be an Early Bird and register now for the 13th NZ Early Childhood Research Conference, 26 - 28th January 2012 in Wellington city.   The latest research on a large range of early childhood topics will be presented.

Catch up with research colleagues from around the country.   Meet researchers. 

Encourage early childhood educators to attend and participate for their professional learning.  Certificates of attendance can be provided on request for the CV's and evidence for teacher registration.  

There are 2 options:

1. Join us for a fabulous 3 days of thinking, talking, reflecting and learning about early childhood and research - click here for registration information
2. or register for the Friday only special focus on educators putting research into practice - click here for registration information

3. Laughter and Humour

Whatever is intended to be playful or funny is humorous.  There are many reasons why humour at work is good to have.  And if you are working with young children, creating a positive and happy climate is a key part of being an effective teacher.  

* READ MORE:  Article on bringing laughter and humour into your work. Also have a watch of this really funny 'alternatives to childcare' video

4.  Can An Early Childhood Centre Cater for a Child with ASD Sensory Integration Disorder?

Dear Members of ChildForum and ECE Personnel

I’ve recently been approached by the mother of a child with ASD and Sensory Integration Disorder.  He is 3 and a half and finds a standard ECE environment too overwhelming – noise in particular but also visual stimulation and movement affect him adversely. 

Are their any early childhood centres that could cater for his needs?

We had a long discussion about the unspoken belief that all children thrive in a visual stimulating and noisy environment.  ECE centres seem to all provide a veritable circus of colour, text, images and sounds. Is the current pedagogy of stimulating children to this extreme making it harder for children who need a quieter place to cope and learn?

*  READ this letter and add your comments:  ECE Services and Children with a Sensory Integration Disorder

5.  Noise Levels Hinder Learning and Harm Hearing

Early childhood centres can be very noisy places.  It is natural and healthy for young children to make noise, but numbers of children can be kept low and buildings and spaces can be designed to provide an environment which reduces the risk that participation in early childhood education will cause irrecoverable noise induced hearing loss. 

Also, a noise monitor has been developed for use in early childhood centres which acts like a traffic light system warning children and adults when noise levels are getting to or are at unsafe levels.  It helps to guard against what's called the 'cafe effect', this is when voices get louder and louder without even realising as you try to be heard.  

* FIND OUT MORE:

1)  Noise Monitor - available exclusively through ChildForum (member price $292.50 each)

2)  A study published in ChildForum's NZRECE Journal by Stuart McLaren and Philip Dickinson showing that in a sample of 32 centres a quarter of children and one sixth of the teaching staff, received dosages in excess of the maximum daily sound exposures permitted for employees under the health and safety in employment legislation.

3) A checklist of practical tips for early childhood services keen to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for their children and adults

4)  The results of a study on the use of background music to improve the auditory environment in early childhood services

The information provided by ChildForum in this newsletter is general information only.
No responsibility is taken for any errors. If you spot an error please inform us so that it can be corrected. 

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ChildForum Early Childcare and Education Networks, PO Box 58-078, Whitby, Porirua 5245, NEW ZEALAND