Scéalta – The Early Childhood Ireland Blog

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folder DevelopmentEnvironmentsLearningRelationship BuildingWell-being

The Beauty of Partnership in a Challenging Time

By Racheal Govan

Monday 01 February 2021

Partnership with parents and families in the early years is at the foundations of all aspects, the philosophy, ethos and curricular approach to name a few. These are all informed by how we develop an inclusive and engaging educational setting for both the children and their parents/guardians. This year and last year have proved challenging […]
tags blogpartnershippartnership with familiesscéaltaSíolta
1998 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentWell-being

Looking back and looking forward

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 22 December 2020

As we approach the end of another year, we traditionally tend to take stock of the year that has passed and look forward to the new year in anticipation. We reflect on what we want to change perhaps and what we want to continue into the new year to come.  But if this year has […]
tags AistearblogCOVID-19Looking BackLooking ForwardscéaltaScéalta BlogSíolta
1904 views
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folder DevelopmentEnvironmentsLearningPlayRelationship BuildingWell-being

Relationships and Interactions

By Lilian Joyce

Monday 09 November 2020

In this week’s Scealta, Lilian Joyce discusses how “Relationships are at the very heart of early learning and development” – ‘this has always been my favourite quote from Aistear’, (Learning and developing through interactions, Aistear, Guidelines for good practice [NCCA, 2009, p.27]). The impact of the Covid 19 pandemic has shown just how much relationships between children and their families, and the early years educators, matter.
tags COVID-19European Early Childhood Education Research Associationinspiring interactionsInspiring PracticeInteractionsLoving Relationshipsrelationships
2320 views
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folder LearningPlayRelationship BuildingWell-being

Loving Relationships

By Dee Finn

Monday 24 August 2020

In response to the question “how would you describe love?” my darling friend Biel said “it feels like everything. Love the people and love the trees, love everything. It’s a really happy feeling of your heart, the heart which you feel in your body”. Biel, at five years of age, has true wisdom of the […]
tags blogemotional well-beingLoveLoving RelationshipsscéaltaSíolta
1265 views
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folder DevelopmentEnvironmentsLearningPlayWell-being

Stay Safe. Stay Outdoors!

By Edel Graham

Monday 17 August 2020

In 2009, I opened Corrig Kids Playschool, a huge one-acre facility, which I have developed over the course of the subsequent years. When COVID-19 hit on the 12th March, and over the following months and with emerging guidelines, I took time to consider how I could best serve the needs of my staff, pupils and […]
tags blogCovid responseCOVID-19outdoorsscéaltaSíolta
2275 views
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folder Relationship BuildingWell-being

Because You Matter

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 11 August 2020

Anthony Semann from Australia was booked to be the keynote speaker at the Early Childhood Ireland conference last April. I had heard great things about Anthony’s insights and was looking forward to both his keynote and masterclass. Then of course Coronavirus hit and the Conference, along with so much else, fell victim to the Covid […]
tags Anthony SemanncoronavirusCOVID-19DCYAMental HealthWell-Being
1972 views
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folder DevelopmentLearningWell-being

Trauma Sensitive Early Childhood Care and Education

By Dr. Judith Butler

Monday 20 July 2020

Early childhood adversity is a topic that is widely covered in the literature and in initial practitioner education.However, until recently the topic of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has been less well covered.The World Health Organisation’s recognition of ACEs as a major public health challenge has raised awareness and as a result, societal change is happening […]
tags Adverse Childhood ExperiencesblogECECmental health problemsresponsive relationshipsscéaltaSíoltaTrauma-SensitiveWorld Health Organisation
3037 views
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folder PlayResearchWell-being

Play Therapy

By Mary Barry

Wednesday 06 May 2020

In this weeks’ Scealta, Mary Barry, a long-time practitioner, discusses play therapy. Mary shares her passion for working with children in a supportive, facilitative manner, enabling them to use the curiosity, drive, fun and spontaneous traits that support their optimum learning and development.
tags art of the relationshipChildrenchildren developmentemotional environmentplayplay therapy
1660 views
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folder DevelopmentEnvironmentsLearningPlayRelationship BuildingWell-being

Trust, Opportunity, and Time

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 28 April 2020

Aldo Fortunati from Tuscany has spoken at a few Early Childhood Ireland events, most recently in Carlow last September. I am always taken by his mantra of Trust, Opportunity and Time. He says children need to be trusted to lead their own learning and experiences, must be given the opportunities to do this and have […]
tags Aistear Siolta in ActionCovid pandemicCOVID-19family timeOpportunitiesScéalta Blogtrust
1454 views
2 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningPlayRelationship BuildingWell-being

Staying connected through Super Shed Stories

By Samantha Hallows

Monday 23 March 2020

Over the past week we have been hearing about the trojan efforts that Early Childhood Ireland members are making and finding innovative ways to stay connected to their children while all early learning and care settings are closed. In this week’s Scealta blog we hear from our member Samantha who describes how she uses stories […]
tags COVID-19Reading TimeScéalta BlogStorytellingSuper Shed StoriesYoutube Series
4063 views
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folder DevelopmentLearningPlayWell-being

Young children’s use of apps

By Sandra O'Neill

Tuesday 10 March 2020

Increasingly, children are seen using wi-fi enabled devices out and about, on public transport, in cafes or restaurants and in their own homes. On average, children under five are using tablets and other screen media for up to 2.5 hours per day (Australian Child Health Poll, 2017; Rideout, 2017; Marsh et al., 2015). Many children […]
tags Aistearaistear blogapps for childrenbloom appimotioniOSkeezylearnerspablophone appsSíoltaSiolta blogyoudoodle
2058 views
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folder DevelopmentPlayWell-being

So, this is Christmas!

By Maire Corbett

Tuesday 17 December 2019

Over the past few weeks we have been looking back at seasonal posts from the past few years of Scéalta. In this final post of 2019 Máire Corbett reflects on the popularity of one particular post, Performing….for Who?, both 2 years ago when it was first published and on Facebook this past week.
tags AistearChildrenchristmasScéalta BlogSíoltaSiolta blog
760 views
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folder Well-being

Let’s talk about dying!

By Mary Daly

Wednesday 20 November 2019

Mary Daly reflects on her own experience of bereavement when she was a child. She outlines the impact bereavement has on children and how we need to give time and space to understand and how we can support this process. We have included some books that might be useful.
tags AistearBereavementDeathscéaltaScéalta Blog
1328 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentRelationship BuildingWell-being

Are you feeling heard?

By Dr. Jennifer Pope

Wednesday 02 October 2019

Have you ever been in a situation where it feels like you are not being listened to? Ever been waiting at the end of a customer service helpline listening to… ‘you are a valued customer, but all our lines are busy so please hold…you are in a queue, all our operators are busy, you are […]
tags Children's RightsLearning StoriesscéaltaScéalta BlogWell-Being
4754 views
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folder Well-beingWorkplace relations

Together we can do so much

By Kathleen Cash

Tuesday 17 September 2019

“Decisions made about staff are decisions made about quality”- Síolta Standard 11, Professional Practice. I have so many fond memories from my years in Tir na nÓg. I have to say, one of the best feelings is sitting around with my family and team after a big event such as graduation or the Christmas show […]
tags collaborationHRLeaders in PracticeLeadershipProviding Leadership to the First 5QualityrelationshipsScéalta BlogSíoltaStaff Motivationsupportive environmentsWell-Being
1703 views
0 comments
folder EnvironmentsWell-beingWorkplace relations

Without trust, what is left?

By Gillian Moore

Tuesday 06 August 2019

There has been much debate in recent days about whether mandatory CCTV in all early learning and care services is needed. For me, both as a parent and as a HR Practitioner, this begs the question; where is the trust gone? Is this the legacy we want to leave our children with, that at all […]
tags CCTVConfidenceHuman ResourcesScéalta BlogSupporttrust
2558 views
2 comments
folder DevelopmentRelationship BuildingWell-being

A Caring Presence

By Milica Atanackovic

Wednesday 31 July 2019

Throughout my career, I have worked with babies. I fully understand the challenging nature of meeting the diverse and individual needs of babies. It is not an easy job. It is physically and mentally demanding. Too often, we do not discuss the complexities of the role. Every day wasn’t perfect; we can’t strive for perfection […]
tags AistearbabiesrelationshipsrespectRTE InvestigatesScéalta BlogSíolta
1938 views
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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
3823 views
1 comments
folder Well-being

Controlled Breathing: The 90 Second Rule

By Dr Mary O'Kane

Tuesday 09 April 2019

Childhood Anxiety, Controlled Breathing and the ‘Ninety Second Rule’ Child mental health is a growing concern for parents and educators in Ireland. Research shows increasing numbers of our children are experiencing mental health challenges. By the age of thirteen, one in three are experiencing some form of difficulty (Kelleher et al, 2012). To put this […]
tags AistearAnxietyBreathingChild mental healthECCEMental HealthSíoltaStressWell-Being
6526 views
0 comments
folder Well-being

Little Buddies

By Samantha Synnott

Tuesday 26 March 2019

Evidence tells us that good mental health is essential for children to learn and achieve. By providing opportunities for young children, and the adults surrounding them, to develop the strengths and coping skills that underpin resilience early learning and care settings can help their children (and staff) flourish and succeed. ​To be effective, the ethos […]
tags AistearBuddiesBuddy BenchLittle BuddiesMaynooth UniversityMental HealthscéaltaScéalta BlogSíoltaWell-Being
2831 views
7 comments
folder Well-being

Mindfulness at Work

By Natasha Bryant

Tuesday 12 March 2019

As a children’s yoga instructor, I often get asked by parents and caregivers for ways in which they can encourage mindful practices with their young ones. Now I could give you lots of different techniques, breathing exercises etc. but my most solid bit of advice would be look after yourself first. How often have you […]
tags AistearBreathingExerciseMantraMindfulnessRelaxationscéaltaScéalta BlogSíoltaYoga
2094 views
1 comments
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