Scéalta – The Early Childhood Ireland Blog

ALL POSTS BY MAIRE CORBETT
folder EnvironmentsTransitionsWell-being

Settling Babies

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 09 July 2019

Sometimes we hear of people describing childcare as ‘leaving a baby with strangers.’ This always makes me sad. By the time a baby is spending a full day in the setting, ideally, the relationship between the baby, the educator and the parent should be well past being strangers. The process of settling in, in my […]
tags AistearbabiescommunityEnvironmentrelationshipsScéalta BlogSettling inSíolta
1097 views
1 comments
folder Environments

Universal Design: Design for all

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 11 June 2019

The culmination of a year and a half of research, consultation, collaboration and learning took place yesterday, June 10,  when Dr. Katherine Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, launched the Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care settings. It was a great occasion, marked by inspiring words from many. Minister Zappone spoke about […]
tags AIMAistearAutismDCYADepartment of Children and Youth AffairsDesignJapanSan MiniatoScéalta BlogSíoltaUDUniversal Design
1149 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearning

Celebrate Good Times!

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 16 April 2019

Sitting in the function room at The Alex in Dublin city centre last Friday night at the Annual Early Childhood Ireland Awards was an amazing feeling. The words of that song, ‘celebrate good times, come on!‘ kept ringing in my ears as I reflected on the talent, passion, commitment and dedication of the people in the […]
tags AistearAnnual Conference 2019Awards 2019CelebrateEarly Childhood Ireland National AwardsSíolta
555 views
0 comments
folder

Minding yourself

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 02 April 2019

Working in early learning and care settings is fun, enjoyable, relaxed, happy, entertaining, amusing, and stimulating. That is why we do what we do. We love being with young children, we love their confidence, their huge capacity for fun, laughter, smiles, love, and learning. However, it is also challenging, messy, and can be very stressful. […]
tags AistearAnxietyChallengesChangeDanceLaughMindfulnessMusicScéalta BlogSíoltaStress
1130 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearning

Shapes are Everywhere

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 05 February 2019

Maths was never my thing. I am proof that just because something has been taught, it does not mean it has been learned. I don’t know how many maths classes I sat through up to my Leaving Cert… but I never understood the relevance of trigonometry and theorems. Beyond arithmetic I was lost… and was […]
tags AistearArithmeticMathsPatternsShapesSíoltaTrigonometry
791 views
0 comments
folder LearningResearch

Formalised Curiosity

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 22 January 2019

I recently came across this quote: ‘Research is formalised curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose’ (Zora Neale Hurston). As we in Early Childhood Ireland plan our fifth annual National Early Childhood Research Conference, it struck me as very apt. Aistear encourages curiosity. The themes of Identity & Belonging and Exploring & Thinking both […]
tags AistearAlbert EinsteinblogEarly Childhood Ireland’s National Early Childhood Research Conference 2019Exploring and ThinkingIdentity and BelongingPobal sector profileresearchResearch Conference 2019Scéalta BlogSíolta
720 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentRelationship Building

The Power of Touch

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 02 October 2018

Touch is powerful. For most of us, a hug or pat on the shoulder from a partner, friend, or colleague can work wonders when we feel down or upset. It won’t solve the problem or make the hurt go away, but it shows us someone is there, someone cares, and the world doesn’t seem quite […]
tags scéaltaScéalta BlogTouch
7399 views
0 comments
folder Relationship BuildingTransitions

Getting to know you

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 04 September 2018

Now that the initial new year busyness is easing, the ‘new’ children are settling in and parents are a bit less anxious about letting their little ones off to embark on a new journey.  We think about building a community in the preschool and we know that it takes more than a few weeks of […]
tags AistearFamily wallLearning journalsrelationshipsSettling inSíoltatransitionsWendy Lee
3200 views
3 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningPlay

Mixing the Ages: Part 2

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 28 August 2018

In the last Scéalta post, Mixing the ages, Sarah O’Leary described how in her setting, Cheeky Cherubs in Cork, children of mixed ages play and learn together very effectively. I have long been an advocate of children being in mixed age groupings. My initial training was as a Montessori teacher and the Montessori approach views […]
tags AistearERASMUS+Meal timemealsMixed age groupsMontessoriSan MiniascéaltaScéalta BlogSíoltaTuscan Approach
1292 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningResearch

Children doing it for themselves!

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 01 May 2018

One day, a few months ago, I was walking along a beach. Two little boys ran past me. They were maybe 6 and 4 years old. They came to some rocks and the older boy held out his hand to his little brother or friend. The older one wanted to help the other negotiate the […]
tags AistearCapableCompetentConfidentFeedingIndependenceSíolta
2125 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningRelationship Building

National Holiday!

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 13 March 2018

It’s March and so our thoughts turn to celebrating our National Holiday…St Patrick’s Day. Harps and Shamrocks abound and everything appears though a greenish haze. Leprechauns and shillelaghs are produced and we all feel proud to be Irish. Indeed, the whole world seems to claim Irishness, with rivers dyed green and buildings bathed in green […]
tags AistearCelebrationsCultureIrishLeprechaunsNational HolidaySíoltaSnakesSt. Patrick's Day
1849 views
1 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningPlay

Montessori Musings

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 16 January 2018

Back when I left school, I knew I wanted to work with young children, very young children. Yes, there was Primary Teaching, but those children were too old! I heard something from someone about Montessori, an approach to working with children under six and I was sold! I bought a book by EM Standing called […]
tags AistearblogECCEEM StandingHome CornerlearningMaria MontessoriMontessoriplayScéalta BlogSíolta
2967 views
0 comments
folder ArtDevelopmentLearningPlay

Performing… For Who?

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 12 December 2017

This time of year is full of celebrations, creativity, concerts and plays. But, I wonder, is there a stage where we need to reflect on who this is all for? Surely it is for the children, so that they can experience the joy and wonder of this magical time of the year? I spoke to […]
tags AistearArtCelebrationschristmasGraduationPerformingScéalta BlogSíolta
3879 views
3 comments
folder

Let’s Be Positive!

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 19 September 2017

Technology is wonderful. It gives us instant access to so much information, entertainment and it simplifies work lives and saves money! What’s not to like about it! Similarly, social media has transformed the way we live.
tags FacebookOnlinesocial mediaTwitter
2893 views
0 comments
folder

Making Children Visible

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 01 August 2017

I was lucky enough to spend a month visiting my son in Australia recently. It was an amazing experience. One of the things that struck me was how visible children are in the community. Síolta (Standard: 16 Community Involvement) and Aistear (Theme: Identity and Belonging) talk about community involvement and how important it is for […]
tags AistearcommunitySíolta
2253 views
2 comments
folder

Valuing Professionals

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 11 July 2017

On a sunny Saturday in June I delivered a 5-hour training session on Aistear Síolta in Action to a group of early childhood educators. It was a lovely day.  We explored what our image of the child is. We discussed and shared lots of ideas on play, open-ended materials, minimising transitions and enabling children to […]
tags AistearProfessionalisationSíolta
3438 views
2 comments
folder

Scéalta is 1 year old!

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 04 July 2017

Máire Corbett and Kathleen Tuite in conversation about Scéalta, a year in the life……. Communication with members is important to us in Early Childhood Ireland. Drawing on the expertise and good practice we see in settings every day and finding a way of sharing that with other members is something we felt should be happening […]
tags Scéalta Blog
1937 views
0 comments
folder

Wings to the Imagination

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 16 May 2017

Plato is said to have believed ‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.’ I love this quote and I believe that music is a powerful, enjoyable and fun way for children to experience movement, listening, playing and sounds. But, probably like many of […]
tags AistearMusic
2343 views
1 comments
folder

Wonderful Loose Parts

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 18 April 2017

In the run- up to Easter I was in a preschool setting. The educator had brought in some polystyrene eggs for the children to paint for Easter. She had them on a counter top ready to introduce them when the time was right. One little boy saw them an immediately appropriated them! You see, he […]
tags EasterplayScéalta Blog
2768 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningPlayResearch

Builders of the future

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 07 March 2017

It is Engineers Week this week. The purpose is to celebrate engineering in Ireland.  This starts with us, the educators who are passionate about play, the educators who realise that the very young children we work with everyday are the builders, scientists, architects and engineers of the future! The concept of STEM subjects is a […]
tags Aldo FortunatiblogBuildersEngineeringEngineers WeekJengaLegoMathsNAEYCScéalta BlogscienceSTEMTechnology
3110 views
0 comments
folder ArtDevelopmentLearningPlay

X Marks the Spot: Following Children’s Interests

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 28 February 2017

I was in a sessional preschool setting the other day. There was lots of talk about our senses. Children and educators shared ideas about seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. There were 3 small group activities for children to choose from, one of which involved Skittles and water, so children could discuss what they saw, […]
tags AistearBook ClubInterestsMapSíoltaSweetsTreasureTreasure Chest
3841 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningRelationship Building

Playing to strengths

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Over the past while I have been thinking about education a lot. Aldo Fortunati and Ariana Pucci, from San Miniato, inspired the practitioners lucky enough to be able to attend their seminars in Cork, Maynooth and Dublin, last October. They spoke passionately about the Tuscan Approach to Early Childhood Education and Care and showed us […]
tags Aldo FortunatiAriana PucciCorkdevelopmentdublinlearningMaynoothPositivityPotentialSan MiniatoTuscan Approach
4399 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentRelationship Building

Christmas: The way we always do it…

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Christmas is the only time these words are acceptable! As early years professionals we reflect, review and keep our practice fresh all year round. However, at this time of year, tradition is key! In any group of people, at Christmas parties, lunches and various gatherings you’ll hear “what do you do for Christmas” many times […]
tags AistearBelongingchristmasIdentitySíoltaTraditions
3122 views
0 comments
folder ArtDevelopmentLearningPlay

Christmas Creativity: Doing it their way

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 06 December 2016

This time of year is magical! Yes, it’s chaotic, noisy, messy, fun, exhilarating…and really, we wouldn’t want it any other way! Between Santa, Christmas Crackers, holly, ivy, snowpeople…there is so much scope for children’s imaginations to have free rein…so much for them to talk about, think about, explore and discover. But, when I see a […]
tags AistearArtchristmasChristmas CreativityCreativeCreativityGlitterSantaSíolta
4288 views
2 comments
folder LearningRelationship BuildingRisk Assessment

Extraordinary curiosity, full of desire and delight

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 04 October 2016

I’m really looking forward to the last week of October this year. This is the week that Aldo Fortunati, from San Miniato comes back to Ireland. He is speaking in Cork on October 25th and in Dublin (with Margy Whalley from Pen Green) on October 27th. Since I last heard Aldo Fortunati speak in Dublin, […]
tags AistearAldo Fortunatilearningrelationshipsriskrisky playSíoltatrust
2381 views
0 comments
folder Research

Why? How? What?… Researchers in Early Years settings

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 30 August 2016

This week EECERA (European Early Childhood Research Association) rolls into town. This is a huge event which will see close to one thousand people passionate about early childhood arrive in Dublin. For the next few days we will discuss, debate and support research and learning about Early Childhood Care and Education. Inspiring stuff indeed. The […]
tags early years researchEECERA 2016learningresearchtoddlersunder 3's
2603 views
0 comments
folder Learning

Sweet like Chocolate: Encouraging a taste for reading

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 26 July 2016

When I say to a parent, "read to a child", I don't want it to sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate. Mem Fox - As an avid reader I just love these words of wisdom from Mem Fox, a leading Australian author of books for children. There is nothing to beat the [...]
tags AistearbookslearningreadingSíolta
2865 views
2 comments
folder Relationship Building

Consistent relationships with the under threes

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 05 July 2016

Aistear reminds us that relationships are at the very heart of early learning and development. Through positive early attachments and interactions babies learn to feel secure, to communicate and to enjoy being with people. Some years ago I was in a baby room in a crèche. The room was quiet; many of the babies were […]
tags AisteardevelopmentlearningrelationshipsSíoltaunder 3's
10348 views
4 comments
UN(1) Celebrations(4) Care-giving routines(1) risk(2) Seas Suas(1) Síolta(100) Twitter(1) Traffic Lights(1) Afghanistan(1) Music(3) meals(3) Growing up Outdoors(1) interacting(2) Rituals(1) Builders(1) Belonging(3) Treasure Chest(1) Sculptures(1) Nutrition(1) Oireachtas(1) books(4) Blocks(1) Consent(1) Interests(1) Deirdre Rogers(1) First 5(1) Maternity Leave(1) Kerry(1) Winter(1) Playschool(1) Pobal sector profile(1) Growing up in Ireland(3) Design(1) Irish(1) Positivity(1) PIP(1) Advocacy(1) Support(1) Human Resources(1) worries(1) Mathematicians(1) Upcycling(1) stories(2) Celebrate(1) National Awards 2019(1) Engineers Week(2) overhear(1) scéalta(25) Running(1) Self-regulation(1) Irish Early Years Research & Practice Seminar 2018(1) grandchild(1) Grief(1) Identity(4) planning(1) learning(15) science week(2) The Lullaby Book(1) Leprechauns(1) friendships(1) Frustrations(1) mushrooms(1) educating(1) Research and Professional Learning(1) Inclusion(3) conversations(1) animals(2) Interactions(2) curiosity(3) Dr Mary O'Kane(1) Health(1) science(3) Qualifications(1) Giraffe(2) Appreciation(1) Our Little Seed(1) Children's Research Network(1) Plastic(1) Feeding(1) Shoes(1) Iceland(1) Scéalta Blog(82) Inter-generational(1) RIE philosphy(1) Gratitude(1) Primary School(2) Early Years(1) Kilkenny(1) Event Guide(1) Map(1) Competent(1) Buddies(1) UN Sustainable Development Goals(1) Learning journals(1) Toby Bears Camping Trip(1) Gardening(1) Weather(1) Aistear(105) Mount Everest(1) Penguins(1) Prexit(1) Cork(1) Syria(1) Creative(1) Mud kitchens(1) trust(3) TOY Programme(1) Employee(1) EECERA 2016(1) Decisions(1) Awards 2018(3) Touch(1) Professionalisation(4) GDPR(1) emotions(2) Early Learning and Care(1) ECCE(6) Rising to the Challenge(2) Impact(1) Early Years Educators(1) Learning Stories(7) baby room(1) Meet the Members(1) MA(1) Learning Story Awards(1) Learning Story(1) Brain(1) routine(2) Maths Week Ireland(1) Mo Scéal(1) TRAP(1) St. Patrick's Day(1) European Project(1) Policy(2) budget(1) Magic(1) Budget 2018(1) IGL(1) education(2) Early Learning and Care Centres(1) National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education(1) Snacks(1) listen(1) Degree(1) Administrative Burden(1) Flowers(1) Mantra(1) Orla Kenny(1) San Miniato(4) INTO(1) Stress(2) National Council for Curriculum and Assessment(1) Breathing(2) Online(1) United Nations(1) Leargas(1) outdoor space(3) educarer(1) Montessori & Early Childhood Professionals Ireland(1) under 3's(3) Sociodramatic play(1) Halloween(2) dining(1) Traditions(2) Santa(2) Patterns(1) Funding(1) dublin(2) Trade Unions(1) SPICE Framework(1) MECPI(1) National Pyjama Day(1) maternity health(1) Photographs(1) Emergent Curriculum(1) Tuscan Approach(2) Social Skills(1) listening(1) Mindfulness(2) Diversity(1) Inspirational(2) Minister Katherine Zappone(1) San Minia(1) Maynooth(1) Valentine's Day(3) Identity and Belonging(3) Policy and Implementation Panel(1) curriculum(5) Reggio Emilia(1) Training(2) Síolta QAP(1) Queues(1) Italy(1) play stories(1) Educator of the Year Award(3) Self-Esteem(1) Lego(2) Technology(2) LINC Award for Leadership in Inclusion(1) Scents(1) Workplace well-being(1) refugees(1) Names(1) ReCreate(2) Exclusion(1) Shapes(1) Childcare(2) Creativity(4) Masterclass(2) Equality & Inclusion Guidelines Training(1) Obesity(1) role playing(1) Horizon 2020(1) Annual Conference 2017(2) Book Club(2) Research Seminar(1) Buddy Bench(1) Early Childhood Ireland National Awards(1) CCTV(1) eating(1) Siolta blog(2) Early Childhood Care and Education(1) Party(1) Aldo Fortunati(4) Exploring and Thinking(1) Graduate(1) Jillian van Turnhout(1) relationships(14) Liz Kerrins(1) Little Buddies(1) Laugh(1) Glitter(2) Síolta Quality Assurance programme(1) Christmas Creativity(2) Role play(1) Sequins(1) Imagination(3) Aistear Siolta Practice Guide(1) Routines(1) Visual Impairment(1) Fabric(1) Home Corner(1) Japan(1) Thinking(1) Settling in(3) documentation(2) Educator - Leader in Practice Award(1) Confidence(1) Performance Management(1) Trick or treat(1) Relaxation(1) Sustainability(3) Irish Childhood Bereavement Network(1) ERASMUS+(3) Family(1) Exploring(1) dogs(1) Wonder(1) blog(28) research(6) Pobal(1) Interaction(1) Communicating(1) Motor neuron disease(1) Wesco(1) Budget 2019(2) Dance(1) Maria Montessori(1) Maths Week(1) dining experiences(1) Art(6) Research Conference 2019(1) risky play(2) Childhood(1) Workplace Relations(3) The Jelly King(1) ICBN(1) Love(2) Certificate(1) Light table(1) Exit interview(1) Cork Institute of Technology(1) Reggio(1) ears(1) Xbox(1) Games(1) Wilenski(1) Maths(4) Child mental health(1) Kids Own(1) Self Help Skills(1) EM Standing(1) Craft(1) early years research(1) Sport(1) Through the looking glass(1) Family wall(1) Easter(1) Change(1) Thanks(1) Bereavement(1) UNCRC(1) Facebook(1) emotional environment(1) RTE Investigates(1) National Holiday(1) Window(1) Well-Being(6) DCYA(4) STEM(2) Universal Design(2) Painting(1) Magda Gerber(1) child-centred approach(1) Inter-generational learning(1) Visitors(1) Capable(1) Montessori(2) Environment(2) linc(1) Educator Award - Leader in Practice(1) Yoga(1) Socioemotional development(1) journey(1) Biting(1) College(1) risk assessment(1) Care routines(1) Investment(1) Sustainable(1) Independence(1) Reggio Children Network(1) toddlers(3) Frosty the Snowman(1) Educators(1) bonds(1) Recycling(2) Malaguzzi(1) Awards(2) NAEYC(1) Spiders(1) play(29) AsIAm(1) Dr. Emer Ring(1) development(8) food(1) Awards 2019(1) Access and Inclusion Model(2) respect(5) Arlene Forster(1) experience(1) story time(1) Body Language(1) Culture(2) AIM(2) Annual Conference 2019(1) Department of Children and Youth Affairs(2) community(5) Graduation(1) Titles(1) Childcare Barometer 2018(1) Margy Whalley(1) Magnavacchi(1) Playdough(1) Autism(3) Engineering(2) Storytelling(2) Behaviour(3) Meal time(1) Treasure(1) UD(1) NCCA(2) Story(1) ECEC(1) Wrapping paper(1) First 5 strategy(1) Nuturing interactions(1) National Awards 2018(2) parents(5) Mark Twain(1) Iraq(1) Academics(1) Plants(1) Affordability(1) Sweets(1) Death(1) Wendy Lee(2) social media(1) Mayo(1) Sleep(1) Trigonometry(1) Community involvement(1) Time(1) Mixed age groups(2) reading(4) InspireMe.ie(1) Fantasy play(1) Communications(1) Eritrea(1) babies(7) Smiles(1) Partnership with Families Innovation Award(1) Albert Einstein(1) Teamwork(1) Vertical grouping(1) Decision Making(1) Children's Rights(1) Special Needs Assistants(1) memories(1) Time Out(1) communication(4) Inspired Practice Award(5) Limerick(1) Jenga(1) University(1) Workforce(1) Learning Stories Award(3) Together Old and Young Programme(1) Ariana Pucci(1) Arts(1) Challenges(1) Drawing(2) Laughter(1) supportive environments(1) Anxiety(2) Pen green(1) outdoors(3) environments(1) Nonverbal(1) Children(1) Ceremony(1) feisty(1) preschool(2) General Data Protection Regulation(1) Cognitive development(1) Mental Health(3) Line-ups(1) Engineering Ireland(1) Exercise(1) Mealtimes(1) Potential(1) Confident(1) early childhood educator(1) Favouritism(1) Early Childhood Ireland’s National Early Childhood Research Conference 2019(1) Loss(1) Performing(1) Minister for Children and Youth Affairs(1) Snakes(1) New Appointments(1) CPD(1) Snack Time(1) christmas(8) Valerie Gaynor(1) CIT(1) Recycle(1) National Bereaved Children's Awareness Week(1) Norway(2) Academic Skills(1) Empathy(1) outdoor play(6) pets(1) Quality(3) Trade union(1) Maynooth University(1) Arithmetic(1) transitions(10) Thank you(1) Vietnam(1) Adoption(1) Supernanny(1) Study Trip(1) Vivian Gussin Paley(1)

SIGN UP FOR BLOG UPDATES

SUBSCRIBE
Site maintained and developed by Cloud Nine