Australasian Journal of Early Childhood

WHILE MUCH HAS BEEN written about recent reforms in Australian early childhood education (birth to five) policy, less attention has been directed towards the changes across the whole early childhood period (birth to eight) and potential links between policy covering the prior-to-school and early school years. The near-concurrent introduction of two national curriculum documents covering these sectors has provided opportunities to explore such links.

Recognising that such national approaches do not emerge from a vacuum, we identified a wide range of additional documents that contributed to the history, development, implementation and evaluation of the national curriculum documents, with the aim of exploring the links across these and the policy imperatives guiding these. Qualitative Document Analysis was used to manage the overwhelming number of related documents that were identified. In this paper, we share the processes used in the descriptive coding of a large corpus of documents, and reflect on the advantages and challenges encountered. We share these reflections not only as a means of contributing to discussions about the nature and impact of early childhood policy, but also to provide a transparent basis for future analyses.

THIS PAPER REPORTS ON the findings of a sector-wide survey conducted as part of a multi-component process in Early Childhood Australia's development of a national Statement on young children and digital technology for those working within early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. The survey sought broad comment and feedback from the Australian ECEC sector regarding adult perspectives on young children and digital technology. The cross-sectional online survey included 12 Likert scale items and three open-ended questions. Five hundred and fifteen participants representing various roles, ages and locations completed the survey. Findings suggest the sector holds diverse and complex perspectives, including appreciation for the learning and teaching opportunities afforded via technology, and concerns for children's health and digital citizenship. Findings also highlight the need for evidence-based practices and sector-wide support in the pedagogical use of technology that enhances children's physical, emotional and social health and development.

THIS PAPER REPORTS ON research examining children's use of language in dramatic play and play with construction materials in kindergarten classrooms within three Indigenous and two non-Indigenous northern Canadian rural communities. Underpinned by sociolinguistic theory, the research involves inductive analysis of video-recorded interactions of five-year-old children during play. Participating children used language for 36 different purposes. Children's construction play talk often involved purposes within the categories of Language for learning and Language for own needs. Children often used language for purposes associated with the Language for learning and Language for imagining categories in dramatic play. As part of collaborative action research, teachers and researchers used these findings to develop a formative oral language observation tool. Using the tool, information gathered can inform practice and communication with parents and speech-language pathologists working with identified children.

RETAINING EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS in long day care (LDC) is a pressing challenge for Australia's reform agenda in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Case study research with five early childhood teachers in LDC revealed individual and contextual factors that enabled and challenged the teachers to stay in LDC. Drawing on social constructivist approaches, the research contributes empirically based insights that support the recruitment and retention of early childhood teachers in LDC.

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED PARENT–CHILD interactions around on-screen content. Associated and predictive factors impacting quality of interactions were considered in relation to development of communication and social skills. A quantitative approach was used to analyse online survey responses of 162 Australian parents/carers. Descriptive statistics, correlations, evaluation of differences between groups, and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Children viewed an average of 17.86 hours of on-screen content (SD = 9.03) per week, with their viewing time most strongly predicted by parents’ viewing time, and frequency of unsupervised viewing. Parents did not always ask questions, make comments or conduct follow-on activities around on-screen content in a manner conducive to communication and social skills development. Findings from this study may be useful in informing realistic recommendations made to parents about using on-screen content to assist their children in developing communication and social skills.

EDUCATORS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD education and care (ECEC) settings play a critical role in advancing Australia's agenda for children's health and wellbeing. The LEAPS (Learning, Eating, Active Play, Sleep) professional development program was designed to acknowledge and improve educator knowledge of national healthy eating and physical activity guidelines, as a critical foundation for health and wellbeing of children and families. The program consisted of online reading and face-to-face professional development. Change in educator knowledge and confidence was assessed via pre- and post-questionnaire, with two additional open-ended questions regarding intention to change practice post-program.

Educators (n = 765) participating in LEAPS increased their knowledge of nutrition and physical activity guidelines, and planned to implement practice changes as a result—namely communication of healthy eating and physical activity messages with colleagues, parents and children; and engaging parents in these areas within their service. Professional development regarding health guidelines is important to support evidence-based communication between educators and parents.

PLAYGROUPS BEGAN IN AUSTRALIA in the early 1970s, at the same time as significant changes in early childhood education and care (ECEC) began taking place. This paper explores how early playgroups were positioned in the ECEC policy, and the experiences of playgroup organisers in New South Wales. Methods used were documentary analysis of Project Care (Social Welfare Commission, 1974) and interviews with key players. Findings were that playgroups grew rapidly in response to grassroots demand from mothers wanting their children to learn through quality play, besides the demand for adult social support. Since Project Care was strongly influenced by feminist lobbying and the objective of enabling women to engage in paid work—and playgroups relied on mothers to deliver the service—playgroups were an uneasy fit in the ECEC policy. Although Project Care integrated playgroups into its recommendations for ECEC services, subsequent funding was at a low level. Today, ECEC services would benefit from a strengthening of the community playgroups model.