Early Childhood Australia

The Early Childhood Australia website provided me with a great deal of insight into research that is developing in their country.  There is a link that directly connects you to an index of their “Research in Practice Series.”  Australian early childhood educators are researching many similar topics as are being researched in the United States; learning through play, diversity, building confident learners, engaging families, language, aggression, etc.  There was even research being done about how to practice sustainability in your classroom.  I found this particularly interesting, since I used to teach at a nature-based preschool.  Connecting our children to the environment should be a universal obligation and I was pleased to see that this awareness is spreading across the globe.  Childhood health and obesity was also a highlighted research topic that I was happy to see on the website.  I had previously thought this was an extremely “American” epidemic, but clearly it is all across the world. 

It was surprising to me that childhood obesity is covered in Australia media more than any other early childhood topic.  I had previously thought that American children were the only ones that were up to their ears in media, video games, phones, etc.; thus immobilizing them and encouraging the development of childhood obesity.  Most of the links pertaining to childhood obesity are dedicated to providing parents and childcare providers with information on how to keep their children active and eating healthy.  Most of the habits we develop in early childhood carry with us into adulthood.  Developing healthy eating and exercise habits will encourage Australian youth to continue these ethics into their later years.  It is my hope that American parents are becoming as aware of this epidemic, and actively seeking ways to keep their children healthy. 

Many of the links provided on this website sent me to abstracts and brief descriptions of books available on each topic.  It is necessary to be a member of Early Childhood Australia in order to receive all of the information.  The goals and objectives of this organization are extremely similar to those of NAEYC.  I am interested to hear how others interpreted this website, and possibly found better ways to navigate it.  Does anyone have a membership?  I would love to be able to view some of the articles and information.