This year has been difficult and stressful and it’s only May. We’ve seen Australia re- open its borders causing all-time highs in our COVID-19 case numbers, and floods causing confusion and wreaking havoc for children, women, families and early educators – all of whom are being impacted by one thing or another.

YES, programming, documentation, observation, assessment, reflection, and so much more, are part of our professional obligations as educators. It is the area that many find the most challenging, that causes them the biggest stress and anxiety, that sadly often causes conscientious educators to leave the profession.

With the increasing popularity in Australia of the American product Elf on the Shelf (EOTS), The Sector has prepared the following reflection which offers some perspective on the tradition in line with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), the National Quality Standard (NQS) and the National Quality Framework (NQF), and its appropriateness for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) space.