Early childhood is the foundation in which a child embarks on lifelong learning and holistic development in every area. Even in early childhood education, things are changing fast. What may have worked for children ten years ago in early childhood education may not work for today’s children. Therefore, educators also need to update their knowledge and skills in nurturing the talents of children in this era. As such professional development courses are meant to keep the educators furnished with new ideas, skills and knowledge that can help children in early childhood education to realise their full potential. Let us look at some of the major strategies employed to ensure effective professional development.

Six major strategies for effective professional development

–          Ongoing learning and reflection

This is among the crucial strategies that are employed in ensuring effective professional development. Educators are frequently furnished with new knowledge and skills that can help children to develop holistically. Educators are greatly encouraged to attend seminars, workshops and online courses to gain new ideas from one another that could benefit children back in their various stations.

Educators need this continuous learning to ensure that they have the skills that can prove useful in the world as it is now. Educators are also encouraged to reflect on their teaching techniques to understand what is or not working and areas that require improvement.

–          Collaboration and peer support

Today, apart from the physical collaboration and peer support team, several online collaboration and peer support groups are meant to keep educators in early childhood education updated with the latest trends. Such online platforms can house professionals from different parts of the world and are crucial for bringing new ideas among peers from the same groups. These groups also allow peers to share the challenges they are facing and get support from the members on how to best overcome the challenges.

–          Mentorship programmes

This is also a crucial strategy that can facilitate effective professional development among peers. The most experienced educators are allowed to mentor and guide newly recruited educators to help them catch up fast with the school culture and programmes. This way, the new teachers have someone to look up to when they need support, guidance and practical advice. Working with a mentor can help a new educator overcome the classroom challenges that they may be experiencing and build confidence in what they do as professionals.

–          Focus on practical application

Most of the professional development courses majorly rely on real-life practical examples of the roles of the trainees. The educators are given a platform that looks like a real childhood classroom where they can practice how they will be going about with their teaching and development. This way, they start to get new ideas before they can even get to start their work with children. Professional development should provide the resources needed by the educators to assist them in learning how they will be using those resources to nurture talents from young children.

Professional development provides effective strategies for educators to stay up-to-date with the new knowledge and skills that can nurture relevant skills in children to help them navigate through the challenges of today’s world. It also gives room for educators to collaborate and exchange ideas that could benefit children in class. Learn more when you go to https://makingeducation.edu.au/childcare-professional-development/.

Starting preschool is an exciting and overwhelming experience for parents and their kids. This is one of the biggest steps in a child’s life towards schooling. For parents, it can be exciting and at the same time worrying when thinking of leaving their child to a preschool. You are not sure if they will remain relaxed or all hell will break for them. But it is a journey that every child has to undergo to become independent and reliable individuals.

Let us learn some of the things that you can use to convince your child that joining best the preschool in Tanilba Bay is an exciting idea and also get some tips on how to ease separation anxiety for your kid.

6 ways of Preparing Your Kid for Preschool

Encouraging social skills:

Since your child is going to mix with other children from different backgrounds. It is important to teach your child some basic socialisation skills like sharing, apologising, and listening to others. This can help them to have an easy time at preschool. A child will quickly form new friends, an important part of school life.

Practice leaving and coming back:

If you are used to staying with your child throughout. Then you need to start practising leaving them with someone else for some time before coming back. This can help to break the bond between the two of you. It will start with a lot of stress on the child’s side, but they will eventually cope with the situation and start being independent.

Organise playdates:

If you are in touch with nearby parents who are also thinking of taking their kids to preschool. You can arrange for playdates where children meet and play together in your home. This will make them get used to playing with other children and will help them develop important social skills before starting their preschool.

Talk about it frequently:

You should also start talking about preschool more often when you are with your child to make them get used to the idea of going to preschool. You should talk about the nice things that are offered in preschool and the idea of getting to play with friends. This will spark their interest in joining preschool and trigger their curiosity in wanting to know more about preschool.

How to ease separation anxiety for your kid

Stay calm and confident:

You should lead by example by ensuring that you remain calm and positive when you drop off your child at the centre. If they notice some signs of nervousness in you, then they will also start to get chills and regret the idea of attending preschool. You should always give them a big smile and hug them while dropping them off, assuring them that you will come bearing gifts to pick them up after the session.

Be patient:

Do not push out at your kid, but instead learn to remain calm and patient. They will sometimes show unwillingness to attend their preschool. In such cases, you should politely talk to them and reassure them that they will gain more if they go to preschool. You can also help them to prepare for school so that they feel like they are not alone.  You should remind them of playing with their friends at school and what they will be missing. All these will help to ease the anxiety of a child and give them a reason to like going to school.

Research shows that an adult nurtures a child’s positive self esteem by helping them understand what they are good at. When children feel competent and skilled at something, they enjoy it and become confident. Caregivers and parents have a huge role in helping children feel good about themselves.

 This is why there is so much emphasis on finding the right quality of childcare. If you live in Revesby and are looking for a daycare, you are at the right place.

 The following are a few things that you must know about high-quality childcare.

 What your child will learn at daycare in Revesby

The caregivers at Revesby daycare facilitate learning in a variety of ways. The way children learn can be grouped into 8 categories. However, each child is unique and it’s necessary that parents and caregivers help them learn what they are good at.

• Some children are great at logic and problem solving. They are naturally inclined towards mathematics. They believe in organizing the world of objects and sorting them by size, color, and patterns.
•  Language learning is about understanding spoken and written language. Children understand how to express themselves and to persuade others by speaking or writing stories.
•  Music has an important role in learning. Some children are naturally inclined towards rhythm, pitch and melody. They learn how to play musical instruments and to form the melody of a new song.
•  Some children are adept at learning about spatial relations. The objects in the environment and then recreate it with what is in their mind sometimes children learn about spatial relations on their own but sometimes they have to be taught. It helps them remember their classrooms at a school or a favorite location. It allows them to read and follow a road map.
• Learning about physical control allows children to understand the movement or their body. They learn how to string beads, play football, indulge in body movement like gymnastics because of physical control.
•  Learning about others is important for children. Teachers help them get on one-on-one and to behave in groups. Such children become socially intelligent and are adept at life than any other individuals.
•  Learning about self is important as well. Children must understand their needs, thoughts, and feelings. Self awareness is crucial for a child’s future. It enables them to undertsand themselves.
•  Learning about nature involves understanding and recognizing plants, animals, and the environment around them.

The caregivers at Revesby’s daycare services work with children to discover and nurture their strengths and abilities. Children are encouraged to practice their skills as they keep growing. When children are provided with the right opportunities, they can understand which activities come to them naturally and helps shape their personality.

Parents can work closely with caregivers to understand whether their child enjoys a specific activity. Sometimes children are not fond of reading but fond of verbal cues. These children tend to become good orators or musicians.

It is only through proper nurturing that parents will be able to provide them with a bright future.