Reggio Emilia

When we are looking for a place for our children to spend their time early education, what exactly are we looking for? We are looking for care; to make sure they are looked after and protected. But we are usually looking for more beyond that. We are looking for our children to be appreciated, celebrated…

From the second you meet your child, all you long for is to keep them safe and protected. We watch with anticipation as they take their first breath, walk their first step and say their first word. We build a wall of safety around them, knowing already that the world is not always a good…

From an early age, children start to develop a sense of belonging and connectedness. They seek a safe place that allows them to explore their needs, wants and emotions freely. A place where they feel protected and cared for. (A sense of belonging can be defined as) the extent to which individuals feel personally accepted,…

If you have spent any time in the world of Early Childhood Education, in particular the Reggio Emilia philosophy, you have likely happened across the use of the term Provocations. Provocations are one of the cornerstones of the Reggio Emilia approach to learning and a fundamental aspect of exploration-based understanding. So what are they? As…

When we talk about provocations, a common and increasingly more popular developmental assistant is STEM. STEM, an acronym for Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sounds very technical, but it is actually an incredible source of exploration and discovery. [Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It…

 “There are three teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment.” – Loris Malaguzzi Design and its role in the creation of productive learning environments have become well recognised as an essential foundation of education. The Reggio Emilia approach identifies the child’s physical environment as the “third teacher”. At Orchard Early Learning Centre,…

Creativity is a defining aspect of the human condition. We began painting on the walls of caves at least 50,000 years ago. And creativity has helped us to overcome challenges and prosper as societies. Human beings innately know that being creative is good for us. Creativity makes us feel good. There’s an abundance of research…

An important part of children’s early years has been changing in Australia over recent decades. Children are spending less time playing outdoors. There’s many reasons for it. Children’s use of technology is changing. Things like gaming and YouTube are all engineered for maximum engagement, so children naturally stick to them for longer periods of time. As…

The changes to the Federal Government child care subsidy arrangements that came into effect on 1 July have refocussed attention on child care fees. And for good reason. Child care is a major family expense and the first of many important steps in a child’s out-of-home education. It can be difficult for families to understand…