In this weekly update:

1. An Analysis of Election 2011 Results for Early Childhood
2. All You Need to Know About Creating a Fabulous Sandpit and Supporting Learning and Fun
3. Heuristic Play Philosophy and Treasure Baskets for Infants and Older Children
4. Register Now for the Early Childhood Conference
5. Research on Discourses of Happiness in Infant-Toddler Pedagogy

1. An Analysis of Election 2011 Results for Early Childhood

The 2011 Election results mean NZ will see a government very similar to that which we have had over the past three years, but with National having a larger share of seats in the House and therefore, possibly, a stronger ability to do whatever it wants.

* READ MORE:   ECE & Childcare Under a New National Government - Their record to date and what you can expect

2. All You Need to Know About Creating a Fabulous Sandpit and Supporting Learning & Fun

3. Heuristic Play Philosophy and Treasure Baskets for Infants and Older Children

In the modern world where many toys are made of shiny coloured plastic and have buttons to press with flashing lights and noises, it is often easy to forget that simple things can interest and stimulate young children.

* READ MORE:  Heuristic Play

4. Register Now for Early Childhood Conference

Register before the 18th December and save on conference registration. The NZ Early Childhood Annual Research Conference, from Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th January 2012, is being held in Wellington city.   

Speakers include:  Dr Ken Blaiklock - speaking on Te Whāriki,  the rhetoric behind the national curriculum and the reality as well as what we can learn in NZ from curriculum innovations in other countries.  Associate  Professor Claire McLachlan -  speaking on the quality of literacy teaching in NZ,  what effective literacy teaching would look like, and what an early literacy policy in our NZ context would contain.

Register Now

* Online registration - click here to go the EVENTS page

* Download and print a copy of the registration form   - click here

* View the programme including key note speakers and presenters, abstracts, and timetable    - click here for a copy of the programme

* A conference poster for your noticeboard and to forward to students and colleagues  - click here to print an A4 flyer

5. Research on Discourses of Happiness in Infant-Toddler Pedagogy

Research by Jean Rockel (University of Auckland) & Janita Craw (AUT University)
Published in the NZRECE Journal, Vol. 14, 2011, pp. 121 - 131

In a recent investigation of teachers' pedagogy with infants and toddlers in New Zealand early childhood care and education centres, the theme of happiness was identified as a pedagogical aspiration. This theme is a component of a two-year qualitative multiple case study research project in which five researchers worked with twelve infant-toddler teachers in five early childhood centres in two cities in New Zealand. The research project examined ways in which the teachers understood the infant and toddler as 'learner' and considered multiple pathways of early learning. The desire for children's happiness is often mentioned by teachers and parents as an important goal but left unexplored and un-theorised in regard to infant-toddler pedagogy. This article focuses on selected data from one early childhood centre.

* READ MORE: Discourses of Happiness article in Volume 14 (2011)

For much more on a range of Childcare & Teaching, ECE Service Management, Early Childhood Research and Education Policy matters go to our website www.childforum.com

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