Early Childhood News Headlines

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Parents warned of risks to TV-watching kids

A third of three to four-year-olds watch more than nine hours of television a week, with more than half those children regularly turning it on themselves. And 80 per cent of preschoolers watch television while eating meals at least some times during the week, new data from a tracking study of 5000 Australian children shows. LSAC's 2007-08 annual report, to be tabled in parliament, reveals the amount of television young children watch ranges widely. The Australian, 2 December 2008.

NSW review of the Children's Services Regulation

A review of the NSW Children's Services Regulation 2004 (the Regulation) has begun. DoCS has prepared a discussion paper outlining the major issues for consideration during the review. Written submissions in response to the issues raised in the discussion paper can be made to the Children's Services Regulation Review until 12 December 2008. DoCS, December 2008.

National Curriculum consultations

The National Curriculum Board is committed to an open process and proper consultation with the profession and the public. The Board has consulted on the issues it raised in the National Curriculum Development Paper, released in June, and now sets down answers to its questions in a new document The Shape of the National Curriculum: A Proposal for Discussion. The Board welcomes public discussion and comments on this discussion paper until 19 December 2008. The Board will determine its final recommendations in Term 1 2009. NCB, December 2009.

New insight into babies' world-view

Studies by researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) suggest that by the age of nine months, babies are as interested in their peers as they are in their mothers. Professor Bradley said that given the intense concentration on infant-mother bonds as the basis for human mental health, the discovery that babies have a group psychology promises to change the way we think about babies' social abilities and social needs, for example in child care. CSU, 21 November 2008.

CFK Childcare placed in receivership

Australia's second largest childcare group CFK Childcare went into receivership, a day after its board placed the company in voluntary administration due to a failed asset sell-off to ABC Learning Centres Ltd. Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard moved to reassure parents, saying no childcare centre in Australia could close without giving 30 days' notice. The Age, 19 November 2008.

One Laptop Per Child to give away laptops to Australian children

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is hoping a local version of its globally successful 'Give 1, Get 1' promotion will result in 5,000 XO laptops for disadvantaged children in Australia and the Pacific rim. ITNews, 25 November 2008.

Child care sector encouraged to implement Government's reforms

The Professional Support Coordinators Alliance has been asked to take a leading role in helping the sector understand and implement the Australian Government's child care reforms. Speaking at a breakfast meeting with the Professional Support Coordinators' Alliance, The Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, outlined the Government's early childhood education and child care reforms and the pivotal role the Alliance can play in supporting their implementation. DEEWR, 25 November 2008.

Tackling a big learning curve

Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, believes that a new approach to early education is taking place which removes the false distinction between care and learning. Sydney Morning Herald, 23 November 2008.

Early Years Learning Framework consultations

The draft Early Years Learning Framework will be the subject of consultations taking place in all states and territories in capital cities, beginning in Brisbane on 18 November 2008. These consultations will provide the early childhood sector with an opportunity to review, discuss and refine key components of the draft Framework. Practitioners, parents and members of the early childhood sector are encouraged to participate in these consultations. DEEWR, 17 November 2008.

Take young children?s opinions seriously

Leading early childhood educators are set to stimulate vigorous debate amongst parents, early childhood educators, academics and policy-makers by challenging the common assumption about young children that they don't know what's good for them, and by suggesting that they can be agents of discrimination based on race or gender. Internationally renowned expert in children's rights, Professor Martin Woodhead, from the UK's Open University, says that young children (from birth to eight years of age) have a right to express opinions about matters affecting them and that adults - especially policy-makers - should take them seriously when they do. The University of Melbourne, 13 November 2008.

Other news

Compiled by Education Network Australia.