Maria Aarts, Marte Meo and Storypark
Maria Aarts now sits on the Storypark advisory team alongside other thought-leaders from around the world including Charles Pascal, Joce Nuttall, Sue Robb and Anne Meade. This group helps guide Storypark to ensure we develop features that encourage the best possible practices and outcomes for children, families and educators. Maria Aarts is the founder of Marte Meo, and a world-renowned...
The Golden Gift – Marte Meo at home
Dutch born, Maria Aarts, studied parent-child interactions for 40 years across varies countries and cultures. She recognised the difficulties in explaining scientific observations of a child’s problems to parents and other educators and in turn developed ‘Marte Meo‘. Marte Meo means ‘One’s own strength’ and is a method which is widely used in 43 countries. It gives parents and caregivers information that’s not only...
Helping Children to Identify and Manage their Feelings
How do we raise children to be empathic human beings? One of the biggest challenges faced by those working in early childhood care and education services is managing the behaviour and emotions of young children. “Brain research studies have shown us that when we try to use distraction, punishment or logic with children to help them calm down then they...
Easy, healthy and delicious food for young children
It can be a tireless task coming up with fun and interesting ways to present nutritious meals, but these recipes are all easy, healthy and delicious food for young children. Eating food involves not only taste, but also smell, sight, taste and sound, and these suggestions of foods for children (and adults) are sure to delight all the senses! Most...
The role of men in teaching young children
Men in early childhood education are a minority, not just in New Zealand but around the world. We spoke with Dr David Brody a Lecturer, Author, Academic Dean and Head of Early Childhood at Efrata College in Israel about his research and findings on the topic of men who teach young children. Dr Brody provides us with an international perspective...
Toddlers and the lessons we can learn from them
Toddlers are magical, mysterious, mischievous, and interesting characters. If emotions were seasons, toddlers would certainly live up to the saying “four seasons in one day“, except there would be many, many seasons that unfold in any day. They have mountains of energy, and they are the most determined beings, which all amounts to a lot of laughter, tears, and adventure....
Nature versus Nurture?
This is an age old question. Every year more and more studies are published to show that childhood development is influenced by a variety of factors. Whilst parents supply the gene pool for children, everyday activities and environment have a major impact on childhood development. Everyone is born with a complex system of brain circuitry, but how that circuitry is...
One simple step to a smooth transition
With over 3,000 Early Learning Centres (ELC’s) around the world using Storypark it’s no surprise that children coming to your Early Learning Service may be bringing Storypark with them. Transitioning from one ELC to another can be a big change in a little person’s life, not to mention a big change for their family too. A new environment, new teachers,...
A recipricol learning community at Midlands Kindergarten
Midlands Kindergarten is situated in central Ballarat, Victoria. It is one of 24 learning services managed by ECKA (Eureka Community Kindergarten Association). “We have 95 families attending our service. We have two four year old groups and 2 three year old groups. Here at Midlands we see value in teaching children through the use of an inquiry mode and are...
100% positive at Wyndham Vale Kindergarten
I recently did a Storypark survey to our families through survey monkey and the results were fabulous. 100% positive. Storypark is evolving at our service. The staff have really progressed in their programming using the Storypark tool. Our connections with families has improved dramatically and their contributions to our program have truly benefited the staff and the children. We...