LISTEN.READ.PLAY Oct 4
Last year’s ECA Conference
Hi all,
We trust you had a fantastic long weekend, enjoyed some down time, and cherished quality moments with family, friends, and loved ones.
This week we are in Adelaide attending this year’s Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Conference. ‘Kumarninthi—Becoming one: Old ways, new wisdom’ is this year’s theme and I can’t wait to bring all we have learnt back to share with the services we work with.
The ECA conference is not only a time for learning and professional growth but also a chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share our commitment to nurturing and empowering young minds.
Over at Concepts HQ, we're hard at work preparing our Story Set Subscriptions for delivery in mid-October. It's incredibly exciting to see how beautifully Set One coming together! If you haven't subscribed yet, fear not—it's not too late. Simply visit our website to place your order or reach out to Nic for an invoice.
So, whether you're joining us at the ECA conference or continuing your vital work in your communities, we hope you find this newsletter a source of motivation and a reminder of the incredible impact we have on the lives of young children.
Thank you for being a part of our vibrant early childhood community, and we look forward to connecting with many of you in Adelaide next week. Until then, may the beautiful weather continue to inspire your work with our youngest learners.
Nic x
LISTEN With the referendum only a couple of weeks away we would love to share this special episode of the ECA Podcast with Thomas Mayor discussing The Voice to Parliament. Whichever way you are considering voting, this interview gives an interesting insight from the child’s lens.
READ Following the above Podcast Recommendation, we suggest you check out …Finding Our Heart – A Story about the Uluru Statement for young Australians by Thomas Mayor. A beautiful book about understanding Australia's past, so we can have a shared future. 'When we all came together at Uluru, we invited all Australian people to accept our voice and culture as a gift. Can you help us find the heart of the nation?’ Thomas Mayor
PLAY During our recent travels, we had the pleasure of spending time with Carol Drummond, an experienced Early Childhood teacher, in Oberon. Our conversation centred around the seemingly simple task of making playdough, and the profound impact it can have when done in a thoughtful manner, involving the children themselves. Please find our recipe and more tips below.
Magic Playdough recipe
Making and playing with playdough is an engaging process that can nurture various aspects of development; including early numeracy concepts, scientific curiosity, problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, the importance of sharing and taking turns, vocabulary expansion, literacy and sound recognition, confidence building, colour identification, the sense of smell, and so much more.
The teacher we admire always includes the children in the playdough-making process; often making it a daily ritual. She encourages them to discuss each ingredient, examining what they look like, how they smell, and what letter or sound they start with as they add them to the mix.
One particularly charming touch is how she introduces the "Cream of Tartar," the ingredient responsible for preventing stickiness. She playfully dubs it the "MAGIC powder," infusing a sense of wonder into the experience and transforming this simple task into a magical adventure.
When it comes to choosing the playdough's colour and scent, the children are given complete autonomy. This practice empowers them to make their own decisions and reinforces their independence.
This conversation left a lasting impression on me, serving as a valuable reminder to slow down and place the children at the forefront of our efforts. It inspired me to incorporate a little "MAGIC" into all my playdough-making endeavours. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Carol Drummond of Galloping Gumnuts Mobile Children’s Service in Oberon for sharing this beautiful practice with us all.
Playdough Recipe
"This recipe produces a generous amount of playdough, ensuring that every child has an ample supply. There's nothing more frustrating than having to limit their creativity due to a shortage!"
Ingredients
5 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 cup salt
4 Tablespoons cream of tartar (MAGIC)
0.5 cup vegetable oil
2.5 cups boiling water
(if working with children we use warm, boiling gives a better consistency)
Food colouring and scents, (optional)
Method
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and cream of tartar.
Add the vegetable oil and boiling water (we use warm water if wanting children to enjoy this step), and using a spatula, mix until combined.
Once it’s cool enough to handle, use your hands to knead the playdough in the bowl until it becomes smooth, about 2 minutes. (It may appear wet at first but will dry as you knead and the water gets fully absorbed.)
Turn the playdough onto your work surface and knead it until it is smooth, about 2 minutes.
Use the homemade playdough as is, or if desired, colour with food colouring of your choice.
