Male primary school teachers Understanding childhood obesity Who is the boss of normal? A response to the ‘two mums’ on Play School Australia’s premier national early childhood magazine Children’s Book Week 2004 VOL.10 NO. 3 2004 No children in detention: Passionate members of the community speak out Making a difference Feeling out of the loop? Stay informed … SUBSCRIBE NOW! Published nationally each week PUBLISHED NATIONALLY EACH WEEK Everyday Learning Series Subscribe to CSNews This new series focuses attention on the everyday ways in which children can be supported in their growth and A free, weekly, comprehensive, national email development. 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Past issues have from unauthorised usage. focused on behaviour, autism, boys and planning. $42.40 for one year’s subscription (4 issues) incl. p&h Judy Radich – President, Early Childhood Australia To subscribe send an email address to offi [email protected] Australian Journal of Early Childhood A premier early childhood academic journal. It is current, Use online technologies successfully: topical, and features insightful, innovative research from A workbook for children’s services and other small businesses leading early childhood academics. Derek Newman $60.00 for one year’s subscription (4 issues) incl. p&h Use online technologies successfully: A workbook for children’s services and other small businesses provides To order your copy a practical, step by step approach to implementing online call toll free Every Child Magazine technology solutions to a range of issues in the provision Every Child is Australia’s premier early childhood publication, of children’s services. 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Subscribe to the new Everyday learning series and recieve 4 editions for just $40.00 ($50.00 for international subscribers). $14.95 for individual copies Phone: 1800 356 900 Contents ■ Editorial ■ Parents’ Page ■ Profi le 2 Closing the investment gap 11 Everyday learning in the 22 Louis Bradfi eld backyard ■ Guest Statement ■ Research ■ 3 Sharing the responsibility Regulars 26 Gender in early childhood for early learning 15 Children’s book week 2004 education 26 KU Children’s services ■ Features 27 TV for toddlers ■ Viewpoint 4 Who is the boss of normal? ■ 30 Essential connections: A 8 Male primary teachers Health guide to young children’s 12 No children in detention 16 Understanding childhood learning obesity 20 Choosing a school for your ■ child 17 Keeping abreast of your News & Views 24 A time to simply ‘be’ health 32 The Secretariat of National 28 Oh boy! The increasing ■ Aboriginal and Islander debate about young males Book Reviews Child Care: Seven priorities and their education 18 Parent Talk for Aboriginal and Torres 18 Cranky Granny Strait Islander children and ■ Schools 19 Parenting after separation families 6 Utopia homelands school 19 Use online technologies successfully www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au Copyright © 2004 Advertising Policy: Editorial Policy: Early Childhood Australia Inc. Early Childhood Australia reserves the right The material published in the magazine will aim to ISSN 1322-0659 Print Post PP 232100/00035 to determine the suitability and quality of any be inclusive of children in Australia wherever they ABN 44 950 767 752 camera-ready artwork supplied by advertisers. No live, regardless of race, gender, class, culture, or Printed by: Pirion advertisements for products that would be harmful disability. The magazine will not publish material to families, children and their environments will be which runs counter to the wellbeing and equality of Editor: Alison Elliott accepted. Claims made in advertisements are the all children and their families, and those who work Editorial Board: Pam Linke (Chair), responsibility of the advertiser. with them. Early Childhood Australia is a registered Alison Elliott, Lyn Bower, Carmel Richardson commercial publisher with DEST. Early Childhood Australia Disclaimer: Marilyn Fleer Address correspondence and advertising The opinions expressed in this magazine are those In-house Editor: Rebecca Meston queries to: of the authors and not necessarily those of Early Graphic Designer: Claire Connelly Childhood Australia. The Publications Section, Work experience Graphic Design: Alicia Bryden PO Box 7105, Watson ACT 2602 By publishing a diversity of opinion, we hope to Tel: (02) 6242 1800 Fax: (02) 6242 1818 Publications Offi cer: Sue Wales provide a forum which promotes professional Email: [email protected] growth, creativity and debate in the early childhood Communications Coordinator: Ben Galdys Website: www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au fi eld. Cover Photograph: Andrew Sikorski About Early Childhood Australia: Photographs: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, For further information visit C. Connelly, R. Harris, Network Ten, A. Sikorski www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au 1 Editorial old children and 64 per cent of three-year olds attended centre-based early childhood education and care, and most for only a few Closing hours. the investment That many Australian children don’t have any early educational experiences is worrying, given that good early childhood gap education is important to later educational success, especially for the most vulnerable children. Despite evidence of the positive impact of quality experiences on outcomes, there is no universal commitment to provide The question of what qualifi cations are all children with quality early education ith a Federal election around the appropriate for persons providing care experiences. The investment gap between corner, families, child wellbeing, and education for young children is yet rhetoric and reality is huge. childhood obesity, child care W to be decided. We’ve talked around the Let’s hope policy promises in this current and education are all hot political topics. issue for decades with no resolution. election will fi nally commit our community As in previous elections, the family is a What we’ve ended up with is a two- or to public funding of quality education and major focus - with baby bonuses, one- three-tiered system that perpetuates the care for all children in the years before off family payments, increased child care traditional ‘care’ versus ‘education’ divide. school, quality staffi ng and commensurate places and new reading schemes as election There are no nationally agreed qualifi cation remuneration, and greater uniformity of sweeteners. While new places are welcome, guidelines, standards or frameworks; no preschool education and care experiences I do wonder how quickly the 40,000 plan to include early childhood teachers to ‘make a difference’. promised out-of-school care places will in the new The National Institute Quality This issue of Every Child focuses on ‘making become realities, given the infrastructure Teaching and School Leadership; and no a difference’. It contains articles that needed to support such expansion. alternative body. highlight current issues in early education And it was disappointing that Labor Lack of agreement is understandable given that ‘make a difference’, including some abandoned the idea of providing a publicly- the multitude of government bodies, that have been controversial in recent funded preschool place for all children in licensing and regulatory authorities, months. Boys’ education, childen in the year before school. terminology, unions and industrial awards detention, the debate about whether the that cover early childhood