Scéalta – The Early Childhood Ireland Blog

Sort by: Date / Popularity

Please note: Submissions for this blog are requested by invitation only.

folder Learning

Technology in Early Years Settings

By Sandra O'Neill

Wednesday 08 January 2020

We hear a lot about the fact that screen time is bad for babies and should be limited for children over two years. But this is only one aspect of technology and it is important that we realise that technology is a fact of life now. This week’s Scéalta post comes from Sandra O’Neill from DCU and she looks at how we can use technology to support play.
tags AistearDigitalDigital DevicesDocument LearningEngineeringlearningMathsSíoltaSTEMTechnology
5829 views
0 comments
folder Development

Play is a Child’s Right

By June O'Sullivan MBE

Wednesday 04 December 2019

Not so long ago, Lego commented about a worrying shift in parents’ attitude to play.  They noted that parents seem to be squeezing free and spontaneous play and replacing it with playdates, play programmes and organised activities where adults are present. Many of us working with children recognise this pattern which is infiltrating early childhood […]
tags Building ResilienceChildren's RightsFee Playlearningplay
3403 views
0 comments
folder Learning

I say OOH, you say AAH – Book Review

By Anne Comerford

Wednesday 27 November 2019

We love books and reading in Early Childhood Ireland….and we know you do too. Recently Dr. Mary Roche in her Scéalta reminded us why story reading and storytelling are so important for children. We are delighted to introduce our first Scéalta book review from the lovely pre-schoolers in Spraoi Playschool, in Tipperary.
tags Book ReviewlearningParticipationScéalta BlogScéalta Book ReviewStorytelling
1358 views
0 comments
folder Learning

Aistear is ten years old!

By Mary Daly

Monday 14 October 2019

In this weeks’ Scealta ‘Aistear’s Celebrates its 10th Birthday and reflects on how many practitioners around Ireland started to dip their toe in the water and saw that the framework wasn’t something to be feared. Instead, it was something to be embraced. It reflected very well what they were trying to do every day – helping children to learn and develop through play within the context of loving relationships.
tags AistearChildren and familiesDepartment of Education and SkillslearningNCCAplayrelationships
2670 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentPlay

Social Skills Versus Academic Skills – Why the Conflict?

By Carol Duffy

Tuesday 25 June 2019

Recently we had a call to the Early Childhood Ireland office. A journalist was writing a piece on the importance of developing social skills over academic skills at the preschool stage, and wondered if we had a comment. As I played with the reply in my head, I quickly recognised the complexities of providing an […]
tags Academic SkillsAisteardevelopmentlearningplayScéalta BlogSíoltaSocial Skills
3644 views
1 comments
folder LearningResearch

Preparing Professionals

By Dr. Mary Moloney

Tuesday 17 July 2018

Is classroom-based learning enough to prepare early childhood teachers for their professional responsibilities?   Early childhood is a time of great opportunity and tremendous vulnerability for young children. Decisions made and actions taken during early childhood, affect children’s attitudes towards, and engagement with, learning for life. Yet, there is no consensus nationally or internationally about […]
tags AistearCollegeECEClearningNational Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher EducationScéalta BlogSíoltaUniversity
4377 views
0 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
4454 views
0 comments
folder LearningPlay

Listening to Children: Children’s Perspectives on Quality

By Karen Cremins

Friday 28 April 2017

Whilst researching the topic “Quality in ECEC” as part of my Degree in Early Years Studies, it became apparent that there were a lot of opinions (from adults!) on what quality in an early years setting looked like. However, I was interested in what the preschool child’s perspective was on quality in an early years’ […]
tags DegreelearningplayQualityTraining
6766 views
2 comments
folder Learning

Reflections on Degree Level Training

By Dr. Mary Moloney

Tuesday 25 April 2017

People often ask why somebody would need a degree to work with young children. The assumption being, that little training is needed to ‘mind’ a child. Thankfully, there has been a shift with regards to the importance of early childhood education and care worldwide, and the complexity of working with young children is increasingly in […]
tags AistearlearningplayScéalta BlogSíoltaTraining
14120 views
2 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningRelationship Building

Capturing the Wonder of Childhood

By Catherine Mc Hugh

Tuesday 21 February 2017

A day in the life of an early year’s educator can be fun, interesting and full of playfulness. It is commonly heard from educators that they love working with children because no two days are ever the same. Children are spontaneous, unpredictable and full of curiosity. We, as adults, need to find our place in […]
tags AistearblogChildhoodcuriositylearningLearning StoriesSíoltaWonder
5403 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
4825 views
0 comments
folder DevelopmentLearningRelationship Building

Traffic Lights – a child’s perspective

By Milica Atanackovic

Wednesday 04 January 2017

‘I feel a bit sad today,’ said my five-year-old daughter when I collected her. ‘Did anything happen to make you feel sad?’ I asked. She had just started primary school and it was a few weeks into the term. She described a behaviour management strategy in place in her classroom, ‘It’s the traffic lights, when […]
tags AistearBehaviourExclusionlearningplaySelf-EsteemSíoltaTraffic Lights
4724 views
1 comments
folder LearningPlay

Educating Feisty Children

By Dr. Carmel Brennan

Tuesday 11 October 2016

    Margy Whalley is coming to Dublin. She will present a keynote, along with Aldo Fortunati, at the Early Childhood Ireland conference on Working with Children from birth to 3 years in Marino Institute of Education, Dublin on the 27th October. It’s an occasion not to be missed. Margy has been a long-time friend […]
tags AistearAldo FortunatieducatingfeistylearningMargy WhalleyplaySíolta
2118 views
0 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
2861 views
0 comments
folder Learning

How slowing down builds better curriculum

By Lilian Joyce

Monday 19 September 2016

As an early years educator do you feel you have to be constantly doing something all of the time? Yet we know that just watching and listening to children at play is an important part of the role of an educator. Many educators can immediately tell you what activities interest particular children, “He loves playing […]
tags AistearcurriculumlearningplanningSíolta
2213 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
3342 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
3286 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
12560 views
4 comments
folder Learning

Developing curriculum for children in mixed age groups

By Kathleen Tuite

Wednesday 29 June 2016

Is your curriculum designed to follow the interests of children? Is it open-ended enough to meet the needs of mixed-age groupings? With the introduction of the second free pre-school year many practitioners are wondering about their curriculum.  How will they cope with children from maybe 2 and a half years old to 5 years plus, all […]
tags AistearcurriculumlearningplaySíolta
20458 views
10 comments
Wonder(1) Emergent Curriculum(1) Dr Mary O'Kane(1) Plastic(1) Leargas(1) aistear blog(3) Special Needs Assistants(1) Plants(1) early childhood(1) Design(1) communication(4) General Data Protection Regulation(1) EECERA 2016(1) Fantasy play(1) Well-Being(10) Playschool(1) Independence(1) outdoor environment(1) Academic Skills(1) Santa(2) Síolta QAP(1) routine(2) Training(2) Montessori & Early Childhood Professionals Ireland(1) Jillian van Turnhout(1) Laugh(1) Universal Design Guidelines(1) San Miniato(4) Arts(1) Irish guidelines(1) Administrative Burden(1) STEM(3) Budget 2020(1) Fee Play(1) Engagement(1) Fabric(1) Weather(1) Visual Impairment(1) Affordability(1) MA(1) value(1) curiosity(3) risky play(2) Human Resources(1) Self-Esteem(1) bonds(1) role playing(1) Leaders in Practice(1) Participation(2) UNCRC(2) Mark Twain(1) Inspired Practice Award(5) Thinking(1) Aistear Siolta in Action(1) Builders(1) Digital Devices(1) Drawing(2) Mud kitchens(1) Interaction(1) Mindfulness(2) christmas(9) Buddy Bench(1) MECPI(1) Budget 2019(2) Patterns(1) Leprechauns(1) listening(1) Storytelling(6) child-centred approach(1) baby room(1) Behaviour(3) Culture(2) Twitter(1) Covid response(1) education(2) Research Seminar(1) Games(1) Halloween(2) stories(3) Sleep(1) educating(1) behavioural science(1) Socioemotional development(1) Pen green(1) outdoor play(6) ECCE(7) Photographs(1) Mixed age groups(3) gender stereotype(1) Opportunities(1) Reggio Emilia(1) books(4) Investment(2) Children's Voice(1) UD(1) INTO(1) curriculum(5) preschool(4) meals(3) Magnavacchi(1) Meet the Members(1) conversations(1) children development(1) Sport(1) story time(2) apps for children(1) Maths(5) Educator Award - Leader in Practice(1) Maternity Leave(1) research(6) Your place(1) Mealtimes(1) Reggio Children Network(1) Early Years(1) Sustainability(3) Laughter(1) Childcare Barometer 2018(1) Meal time(1) animals(2) Nuturing interactions(1) art of the relationship(1) Pre-School Services(1) Access and Inclusion Model(2) Department of Education and Skills(1) Reading Time(1) Competent(1) Brain(1) educarer(1) development(8) Learning Story(1) parents(6) Masterclass(2) Music(3) RTE Investigates(1) Stress(2) Valentine's Day(3) Blocks(1) Exit interview(1) Graduation(1) listen(1) keezy(1) Exploratory Play(1) Scents(1) Recycling(2) Síolta(125) Wrapping paper(1) relationships(17) Early Childhood Ireland National Awards(2) early life(1) Covid pandemic(1) Maths Week Ireland(1) refugees(1) National Holiday(1) Pedagogical leaders(1) Favouritism(1) St. Patrick's Day(1) Time(1) mental health problems(1) Event Guide(1) Titles(1) NAEYC(1) Anxiety(2) Workforce(1) Albert Einstein(1) Japan(1) Educator - Leader in Practice Award(1) Potential(1) Maynooth(1) Health(2) play therapy(1) LINC Award for Leadership in Inclusion(2) science week(2) Maths Week(1) Supernanny(1) Change(1) Building Resilience(1) Ceremony(1) Deirdre Rogers(1) Leadership(1) Educators(2) Sequins(1) Scéalta Book Review(1) eating(1) Exercise(1) Elders(1) Bereavement(2) continual professional development(1) worries(1) Performing(1) Painting(1) Limerick(1) Party(1) Seas Suas(1) documentation(4) Vivian Gussin Paley(1) Reflective Practice(1) Learning Journal(2) early childhood educator(2) reopening(1) IGL(1) The Lullaby Book(1) Budget 2018(1) Traffic Lights(1) Care-giving routines(1) Super Shed Stories(2) Pretend Play(1) Kerry(1) childcare services(1) pets(1) Montessori(3) Celebrations(4) pablo(1) Reopening Childcare(1) Providing Leadership to the First 5(1) Childhood(1) InspireMe.ie(1) Early Childhood Ireland’s National Early Childhood Research Conference 2019(1) Family wall(1) Window(1) child-centric(1) Child mental health(1) purpose(1) Frosty the Snowman(1) Scéalta Blog(99) Annual Conference 2017(2) Support(1) Degree(1) Treasure Chest(1) Snack Time(1) Appreciation(1) Funding(1) Academics(1) Through the looking glass(1) European Project(1) structure(1) Kids Own(1) Inter-generational(2) Sessional service(1) respect(5) Recycle(1) Learning journals(1) First 5 strategy(1) emotions(2) Winter(1) Cork Institute of Technology(1) Biting(1) United Nations(1) linc(1) Trade union(1) National Bereaved Children's Awareness Week(1) Arithmetic(1) Ariana Pucci(1) Liz Kerrins(1) Department of Children and Youth Affairs(2) Children(4) Diversity(1) Sustainable(1) developing motor skills(1) Nutrition(1) dining(1) Growing up Outdoors(1) Sweets(1) Running(1) Belonging(3) Autism(4) TOY Programme(1) Magic(1) Research and Professional Learning(1) Exploring and Thinking(1) Workplace well-being(1) creche(1) Gardening(1) outdoors(4) Imagination(3) Queues(1) Toby Bears Camping Trip(1) First 5 transitions for children award(1) Yoga(1) Trade Unions(1) Awards 2019(1) Self Help Skills(1) Positivity(1) Workplace Relations(3) Obesity(1) Staff Motivation(1) ECEC Setting(2) dublin(2) Upcycling(1) Gratitude(1) Identity(5) Time Out(1) Jenga(1) Learning Stories Award(3) education system(1) National Pyjama Day(1) Confident(1) First 5(1) National Awards 2019(1) reading(5) Italy(1) Digital(1) SAC(1) under 3's(3) Decision Making(1) COVID-19 Reopening(2) maternity health(1) Glitter(2) learning(19) feisty(1) Feeding(1) Dr. Emer Ring(1) Arlene Forster(1) Inter-generational learning(2) Together Old and Young Programme(1) Facebook(1) Craft(1) Irish Early Years Research & Practice Seminar 2018(1) Thank you(1) EM Standing(1) CCTV(1) primary education(1) Body Language(1) dining experiences(1) preschool settings(1) Childcare(3) Communications(1) reopening ireland(1) risk assessment(1) Inspections(1) learning bias(1) Loss(1) Routines(2) iOS(1) Trigonometry(1) NCCA(3) Touch(1) Names(1) Rich Documentation(1) Tuscan Approach(2) Pedagogy(2) staying connected(1) Inspirational(2) experience(1) ears(1) Love(3) scéalta(45) Teamwork(1) conference(1) outdoor space(3) GDPR(1) Document Learning(1) youdoodle(1) Nonverbal(1) Syria(1) ERASMUS+(3) Infectious diseases(1) toddlers(3) UN(1) play pods(2) Story(1) Partnership with Families Innovation Award(2) Policy(2) Family(1) Prexit(1) Summer(1) School Age Childcare(1) show and tell(1) Book Club(2) Oireachtas(1) Mo Scéal(1) responsive relationships(1) National Early Childhood Research Conference(1) interacting(2) trust(4) code of professional responsibility(1) National Childcare Scheme(1) Penguins(1) Art(6) environments(1) Kilkenny(1) Wendy Lee(3) World Health Organisation(1) Easter(1) GoToMeeting app(1) emotional well-being(1) Buddies(1) Giraffe(2) Primary School(2) community(5) play stories(2) Confidence(1) Vertical grouping(1) Minister Katherine Zappone(1) Engineers Week(2) Síolta Quality Assurance programme(1) Smiles(1) Quality(4) learners(1) Aistear(123) Snacks(1) Technology(3) Irish Childhood Bereavement Network(1) Anthony Semann(1) Map(1) COVID-19(10) Celebrate(1) DCYA(6) E.coli(1) code of ethics(1) Youtube Series(1) Settling in(4) Flowers(1) Child Care(1) june29(1) man up(1) Graduate(1) keep in touch(1) dogs(1) Little Buddies(1) The Jelly King(1) Challenges(1) Consent(1) Line-ups(1) PIP(1) Policy and Implementation Panel(1) transitions(10) Minister for Children and Youth Affairs(1) gender bias(1) Effect of Lockdown(1) Learning Stories(9) Inspired Practice Awards(1) Social Skills(1) life long learning(1) Employee(1) Communicating(1) Interests(1) Traditions(2) social media(1) Loving Relationships(1) Siolta blog(8) Creativity(5) Children's Rights(3) Relaxation(1) lockdown(1) play pod(1) Eritrea(1) RIE philosphy(1) Children's Research Network(1) HR(1) racism(1) Educator of the Year Award(3) SPICE Framework(1) Playdough(1) Early Years Educators(3) budget(1) Awards 2018(3) Spiders(1) Early Learning and Care(1) Study Trip(1) Vietnam(1) Whole Group(1) AsIAm(2) supportive environments(2) Afghanistan(1) ELC(1) Sculptures(1) Frustrations(1) Thanks(1) phone apps(1) Horizon 2020(1) Capable(1) CIT(1) Dance(1) AIM(2) Xbox(1) Annual Conference 2019(1) Universal Design(2) Exclusion(1) emotional environment(2) Adverse Childhood Experiences(1) overhear(1) risk(2) Awards(2) planning(1) Professionalisation(5) Valerie Gaynor(1) Cognitive development(1) National Awards 2018(2) Early Childhood Ireland(4) Early Childhood Care and Education(2) play(35) Rituals(1) Rising to the Challenge(2) Pobal sector profile(1) UN Sustainable Development Goals(1) Maynooth University(2) family time(1) Awards Night(1) coronavirus(1) Decisions(1) Learning Story Awards(2) Maria Montessori(1) Magda Gerber(1) Cork(1) Covid19 crisis(1) The Play and Learning in the Early Years(1) Engineering Ireland(1) National Council for Curriculum and Assessment(1) Aldo Fortunati(4) TRAP(1) Motor neuron disease(1) imotion(1) Care routines(1) Margy Whalley(1) Mayo(1) Hand Hygiene(2) Visitors(1) Snakes(1) Adoption(1) Light table(1) Iraq(1) annual conference(1) collaboration(1) Shapes(1) Wilenski(1) Wesco(1) National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education(1) Large Doll Play(1) awards 2020(1) Trick or treat(1) Small World Play(1) children’s learning(1) Self-regulation(1) Breathing(2) Advocacy(1) Reggio(1) friendships(1) Iceland(1) Qualifications(1) babies(7) Malaguzzi(1) Empathy(1) bloom app(1) grandchild(1) Online(1) Research Conference 2019(1) peer group(1) mushrooms(1) memories(1) Performance Management(1) ICBN(1) COVID-19 crisis(1) Book Review(1) Mount Everest(1) science(3) Lego(2) Certificate(1) research submissions(1) Norway(2) Mantra(1) Shoes(1) Early Learning and Care Centres(1) early years learning(1) Creative(1) Grief(1) ReCreate(2) Trauma-Sensitive(1) Mathematicians(1) Death(2) Equality(1) Treasure(1) Christmas Creativity(2) Exploring(1) food(1) healthy eating policies(1) Role play(1) College(1) Orla Kenny(1) Inclusion(3) Equality & Inclusion Guidelines Training(1) ECEC(3) Mental Health(4) Home Corner(1) University(1) Children and families(1) Our Little Seed(1) movement behaviours(1) Sociodramatic play(1) Growing up in Ireland(3) Interactions(2) Intention(1) journey(1) early years research(2) Environment(2) Pobal(1) Impact(1) DES Inspection(1) Community involvement(1) New Appointments(1) Irish(1) Identity and Belonging(4) Engineering(3) Aistear Siolta Practice Guide(1) social science(1) Infection Control(1) CPD(1) blog(41)

SIGN UP FOR BLOG UPDATES

SUBSCRIBE
Site maintained and developed by Cloud Nine