Category: Featured
5 dramatic play ideas to support children’s development
Dramatic play, where children take on roles, make-believe, and interact with the world through imaginative scenarios, plays a crucial role in early childhood development. For young children, engaging in dramatic play can foster social, emotional, cognitive, and language growth. It encourages creativity, problem-solving, and the development of essential life skills like cooperation, empathy, and communication. But how can we nurture...
The framework helping Sharon from Storypark navigate AI literacy
Today’s digital landscape and the many different tools we now have available to us in ECE, brings to mind the saying “it’s tough to keep up with new technology and be a change agent”. There’s a sense that not only do we have to comprehensively understand tools like artificial intelligence (AI) but also need to be implementing them at the...
What is the place of AI in ECE? Unpicking common concerns from educators
You might have heard that Storypark has been thinking a lot about artificial intelligence (AI) and its place in early childhood education lately. If the conversations we’ve been having and the discussions we’ve been seeing across the sector are anything to go by, you are too! With the pace that AI has leapt forward over the past year, you might...
Asking questions about the use of AI in early childhood education: Creating your AI policy
Early childhood education is easily one of the best spaces to ask questions and be curious. We are continually inspired not only by children, who explore their world with creativity and diligence by asking “Why?” but also by educators and practitioners who hone their practice through critical thinking and feedback. Daniel Wahl, in his book, Redesigning Generative Cultures says, “The...
Documenting the EYLF planning cycle
When planning, documentation is essential and all the elements of the Early Years Learning Framework’s ongoing planning cycle need to be considered. In this blog we unpack the planning cycle’s five separate sections: observe, assess, plan, implement and evaluate. Under each section we will share insights on how rich pedagogical documentation can serve as evidence of planning and support...
Part two: What are the steps to data-based decision making in ECE?
Welcome back to the series on data-based decision making in ECE! We’re looking at how data and analysis coupled with our own professional intuition and insight can inform better decision making in early childhood education. (Missed part one? Check it out here). In utilising data-driven decision-making to tackle childcare problems, Ernst and Young, highlight its importance, “comparable to finding that...
Part one: What are the benefits of data-based decision making in ECE?
Welcome to the series on data-based decision making in ECE! We’re looking at how data and analysis coupled with our own professional intuition and insight can inform better decision making in early childhood education. Data based decision making is simply leveraging data such as parent feedback, ECE market trends, educator and services’ performance, and financials to guide the process of...
Attachment Theory For Early Childhood Educators
Introduction The significance of attachment between an infant and a primary caregiver has long been recognised (Ainsworth et al., 1978, cited in Gonzalez-Mena & Eyer, 2015; Bowlby, 1958); in fact, John Bowlby began investigating this idea in the 1950s. Developing a healthy attachment relationship with an educator is also essential for infants and toddlers in Early Childhood Education and Care...
Welcoming parents and families with Storypark
As we return to work with fresh energy and inspiration for an exciting year ahead, now is a great time to prepare for a thoughtful and stress-free welcome for children, parents and families as they return or start their journey with your early learning service. This blog post shares some of the most successful tips and techniques practised by leading...
Help is at your fingertips
How to Find the Help You Need Do you sometimes find when you are using Storypark that you have a burning question to ask or a problem to solve? Thankfully, Storypark is relatively straightforward to use, but figuring things out through exploring or trial and error costs you the one thing you don’t have a lot of. Time! To help...