With an attitude of growth, fun and connection, Inspired EC has evolved into an organisation that works closely with educators and services around Australia and internationally, providing training, resources, consultancy services and much more.
There's nothing inherently wrong with "home corner" or with creating any type of dramatic play space. But what if there was a different way to do it? What if there was a way to spark dramatic play without being prescriptive?
I often think about what a privilege it is to be involved in the life of a child, particularly in the early years. We share milestones with them and see them grow and develop for a few years, if we are lucky.
While it might be tempting to seek out the short cut - especially at a time where staff shortages are a very real experience and we are all doing our best with the limited time we have - I feel like as a profession we need to hold strong, and remember that "we know stuff!"
What was it we were really trying to achieve? We wanted children to relax, to rest their bodies, to restore their energy. And for some reason, we had thought that meant to sleep or at least be silent.
This is turnover like we haven't seen before. This is a time where previously passionate, skilled, knowledgeable professionals are saying "I'm done" and leaving the education sector altogether.
Simple, and child led. It's what learning needs to be. Why do we have a tendency to overcomplicate the way in which children learn? When we head out into nature, when we slow down and let children explore and create and wonder, magical things happen. Learning happens.
We all want to start well, and often that means throwing everything we have at it. But what if that's not the start we really need? What if by going in strong, we run the risk of burning out fast?
Recently, one of our team shared a reminder message that they had received from their child's education and care service about hats and sun protection, and it led to some discussion about the concept of "No Hat, No Play" in our office.