Member Resources
Philosophy into Practice: Topics and ideas
The following links provide ideas for putting Early Childhood Philosophy into Practice. These resources will be added to from time to time. If you would like to contribute information and photographs from your own practice, please contact AGECS admin@agecs.org.au
- Aboriginal Perspectives
- Childhood Self-control
- Gender Identity and Gender Diversity
- Environments
- Embedding Cultural Diversity for Under-threes
- Cultural Diversity
- STEM
- Loose Parts
- Responding to children’s challenging behaviour
- What is inclusive education and care?
- Think Equal – Empowering Change through Education
Possum Skin Pedagogy
Possum Skin Pedagogy: A Guide for Early Childhood Practitioners is authored by Sue Atkinson Lopez. The guide addresses some of the complexities around embedding Aboriginal perspectives through seven narratives that can be explored with children referencing the possum skin as a marker of the maintenance and revival of Victorian Aboriginal culture and identity. Most significantly this guide was constructed in consultation with Victorian Aboriginal Elders and other leaders of the Victorian Aboriginal community through the lens of a ‘Possum Skin Pedagogy’.
Download: Possum Skin Pedagogy – A Guide for Early Childhood Practitioners Journeys and Outcomes
An additional resource Reflecting on the Possum Skin Pedagogy provides case studies of how early childhood practitioners have embedded Aboriginal perspectives into their programs.
Download Reflecting on the Possum Skin Pedagogy Learning Project
Free resources and training events for ECE
2020 Annual General Meeting documents
Emotional Freedom Techniques - Tapping
If you are feeling stressed as an educator, overwhelmed by COVID 19 and worried about what is happening in your own and the early childhood world, then this 40 minute information/training session is for you. Looking for a tool that is free, easy to use and will reduce stress, tension and anxiety in your body after just a few minutes?
At the end of the video, you will have learnt the basic Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping) and be able to use the tool to relieve your own stresses.
What is EFT:
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a simple technique which is a self applied, stress reduction tool – it is similar to acupuncture but without the needles! EFT stimulates various pressure points on the face and body to relieve stress, which then releases many psychological based illness and complaints, such as anxiety/stress, pain, trauma, and weight/food issues.
How does it work:
Using two fingers to tap on certain pressure points on the body, EFT will have a calming effect on the stress centre of the brain, the amygdala, and the hippocampus (the brain’s memory centre). This calming effect will reduce the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, that is in your body.
Clinical trials have shown that EFT will rapidly reduce the effect of emotional distress, and have an immediate calming effect. EFT can be used easily throughout the day, at home, in the classroom or in the car. It can be used by children as young as 3 years of age.
Presenter Bio:
Sarah trained as a kindergarten teacher and has performed a variety of roles from PSFO to managing local council services in her 25 years in early childhood services. Finding herself exhausted and a little burnt out, Sarah discovered the importance of self care and started on a new career path. Now trained as meditation teacher, and Emotional Freedom Techniques practitioner she is passionate about sharing the simple skills she has learnt to ensure maintaining good health and wellbeing whilst working in a profession that often requires staff to give so much emotionally and physically. Whilst Sarah still works in early childhood part time, she also manages her own business Empowered Living, is an advisory Board Member of the Mind Heart Foundation, and supports the work of the foundation to build resilient communities such as in the Kimberley.
Conference and Seminar Papers
AGECS Leadership for Change Seminar – July 2017
From the Supporting Engagement and Learning Conference sponsored by the Foundation of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies: 6 August 2011
- Claire Boling: Supporting and Engaging Young Children with Communication Difficulties
- Di Chandler: High expectations for every child Di Chandler
- Hilary Henshaw: Interactive Musical Fun To Build Communication And Relationships During The Early Years
- Kay Margetts: Understanding Transition to School
- Louise Porter: Managing Difficult Behaviour
- Pat Jewell: Family-Centred-Practice
- Rebecca Pell: Making Sense of Sensory Processing
- Ros Patterson: Outdoor Play
- Sally Rigley: Asperger Syndrome and the Autism Spectrum in the Classroom
Papers by Awardees (presented 2016)
AGECS Fellowship Programme for Leadership and Change
Conference and Seminar Papers
AGECS Leadership for Change Seminar – July 2017
The Importance of Childhood Self-control for a Prosocial, Successful Life. Presented by Dr Sandhya Ramrakha, Otago University, Dunedin, NZ.
Video – Episode 1 The Early Years. Beginnings Count – A Lot.
This episode sets up the Dunedin Longitudinal study – it explains what a longitudinal study is, and why this one is so special. This programme then asks what lasting effects does our childhood have on us? Answer; plenty, but they may not be what you expect.
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Password to access this video: agecsvideo