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Understanding early childhood learning trajectories: Evidence‑informed supports for quality curriculum and practice
High‑quality early childhood education and care enables children to flourish across developmental domains while supporting educators to make informed pedagogical decisions. The Early Childhood Learning Trajectories, developed by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), offers a research‑based lens to understanding how young children learn and develop in the years before school, and how educators can best support that learning through intentional practice.
2026-01-23 08:06:50
by Fiona Alston
Research
A smartphone program helped reduce short-term eczema relapses in young children, what ECEC services can take from it
A large randomised controlled trial has found that a structured, smartphone-based eczema education program for caregivers reduced relapse risk over the first 12 weeks for children aged 0–6 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. While the benefit did not remain statistically significant beyond 12 weeks, the study adds to growing evidence that scalable digital education can strengthen early flare recognition and timely management, an insight with practical implications for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services working alongside families.
2026-01-16 07:00:04
by Fiona Alston
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Practice
Quality
When heat shapes learning before school: What a major cross-national study means for ECEC practice
Heat management in early childhood services is usually framed as a health and safety issue, sun protection, hydration, rest, and reducing the risk of heat illness. New research suggests it may also be a learning and development issue, with unusually high temperatures linked to lower rates of being “developmentally on track” for some foundational skills in the preschool years.
2026-01-15 08:30:08
by Fiona Alston
Research
Shaping policy through lived experience: ARACY calls for sector input on young people’s wellbeing
The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) has launched a sector-wide Expression of Interest (EOI) call to support the second series of its Young and Wise Roundtables, designed to elevate the voices and lived experiences of priority youth cohorts across Australia.
2026-01-14 06:58:24
by Fiona Alston
Research
Provider
Intentional science play: a three‑stage pathway to foster children’s scientific literacy in the early years
If we are truly committed to developing children’s scientific literacy, we must reconsider where science begins for the young, at the block corner, the water tray, and with the magnifying glass in hand.
2025-12-10 07:45:26
by Fiona Alston
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NSW Child Safe Self-Assessment: Practical tool supports services to strengthen child safety planning
2026-01-20 07:45:27
by Fiona Alston
Research
Policy
Practice
Provider
Workforce
Naming private body parts isn’t optional: Why accurate language belongs in personal safety education
2026-01-23 08:06:52
by Fiona Alston
Research
Practice
Quality
As one in five First Nations children face undiagnosed hearing loss in the years before starting school, Hearing Australia urges early hearing checks
2026-01-21 08:00:16
by Contributed Content
