Welcome to the April 2025 edition of Rattler.
This edition exemplifies the quality practice that CELA strives for, with the theme of children’s rights threaded throughout the articles.
We unpack the fundamental tenets enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the National Quality Framework and discuss how educators can uphold these values in their daily practice. One CELA member service doing an excellent job of this is Manuka Childcare Centre (MOCCA) in the ACT. Prioritising professional development has a ripple effect that extends from the staff to the children and community. “If you nurture staff, they’ll nurture children,” says Director and Pedagogical Leader Kara Bromley, and we couldn’t agree more.
We celebrate neurodiversity and look at how to embrace all learning styles by taking a strengths-based approach to early education. Similarly, our article on supporting children with complex medical needs provides some tips on how to ensure early learning settings are a place children feel safe, valued and thrive. ‘Beyond the screen’ discusses how digital technology can be used to foster connectedness, confidence and enrich learning, while CELA’s Cultural Advisor, Lisa Walker, shares the importance of truth telling in creating culturally responsive learning environments for educators, families and children.
The Early Childhood Educators’ Wellbeing Project researchers provide insights on the value of clinical supervision in providing support for educators, and we circle back to children’s rights with our article on ‘routines to rituals’, which looks at how meaningful moments can provide a sense of security and a stronger sense of self for children. Finally, get ready to bring the pots and pans out: our joyful article on bringing music into everyday practice is not to be missed.
In this edition
| 9 great insights from this edition |
2 |
| Legacy of caring: The MOCCA approach |
4 |
| Celebrating perspectives: Connecting with autistic children and discovering joy through a strengths-based approach |
8 |
| Children’s rights: What are children’s rights and how do they apply in early education and care? |
14 |
| Early education research from Australia and around the world |
18 |
| Sound foundations: Bringing music into everyday early learning practice |
22 |
| Beyond the screen: Children's use of digital technology in early childhood education |
27 |
| Clinical supervision: A new approach to supporting educators |
32 |
| Our shared history: Truth telling with very young children |
37 |
| Navigating inclusion: Supporting children with complex medical needs |
42 |
| From routines to rituals: Everyday practices for meaningful learning opportunities |
46 |
Learn more about CELA membership.
This is a digital item.