EECERA told parents should be gardeners, rather than carpenters

EECERA (European Early Childhood Research Association) conference, hosted by Early Childhood Ireland in DCU today, told parents should be gardeners, rather than carpenters & how we don’t have to make children learn, we just have to let them learn.

“The more we intentionally and deliberately raise children in order to make them happy adults, the less happy we and our children seem to become. As guardians, we don’t have to make children learn, we just have to let them learn and raising children shouldn’t be a goal orientated task, such as a carpenter making a chair and trying to chisel it perfectly.  Rather parents, like a gardener, should create a loving, natural environment for a child to grow.”  This is according to Alison Gopnik, a cognitive scientist and professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of California and author of “Against Parenting” who was keynote speaker at the EECERA (European Early Childhood Research Association) conference today (Saturday 3^rd September 2016), hosted by Early Childhood Ireland in DCU, which was attended by almost 1,000 early childhood educators and researchers from around the world.

Opening the conference this morning, the theme for which is “Happiness, relationships, emotion and deep level learning”, the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone said: “I am  delighted that this major international conference has come to Ireland this year. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am committed to delivering policy that is informed by evidence of the kind that the European Early Childhood Research Association provides.  Ireland’s Early Years sector is at a critical point. Whilst there has been significant investment in recent years to address affordability and quality, major challenges remain and need to be addressed in a committed fashion over a number of years.  Now is the time to ensure that every child and family, regardless of their social or economic background, receives the kind of early years care and education that they need and deserve. I intend to use the strong evidence base that exists internationally to inform how Ireland should best prioritise investment available.”

Introducing the Minister, the Chair of Early Childhood Ireland Jillian van Turnhout said she, “Welcomes the Minister’s commitment and energy to progressing early years education and care, which will stand to her in moving the sector beyond its current ‘Cinderella’ status’.  She went on to describe the two key items she wants to put in the Minister’s ‘inbox’ for the coming weeks that will yield dividends in the medium to long term – “Firstly the Minister should develop and publish a National Early Years Strategy, long promised, but yet undelivered, to guide all State action. The National Early Years Strategy was first promised by then Minister Frances Fitzgerald in January 2012.  That’s two Ministers and over four and a half years ago. I urge the Minister to ensure that the baby is delivered before the fifth anniversary of its conception. Secondly she needs to ensure that the upcoming Budget for 2017 includes significant new investment in the early years to ensure quality for children, sustainability for providers and affordability for parents. We in Early Childhood Ireland look forward to welcoming your realisation of our ambition for children in Ireland.”

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, added that: “Our children are our teachers, our researchers and our scientists, but they depend on us as the adults in charge, for the moment.  We need to pause and give serious thought to our role as early childhood educators in creating a society and education system that keeps children’s sense of well-being, identity and belonging at its core. Doing so, in the sure and certain knowledge that these very attributes of happiness, relationships, emotion and deep level learning are the foundation of lifelong emotional happiness and learning.  While our conference takes place on the very small island of Ireland, we are each conscious that we need to look beyond our national boundaries, especially in this era of forced migration, and recognise that the right to happiness brings with it roles and responsibilities that are global.”

The other keynote speaker today was Leon Feinstein, Director of Evidence at the Early Intervention Foundation and Chief Analyst, Implementation Unit at the Cabinet Office UK, who presented findings from a recent publication on the use of effective early intervention for children with signals of risk.  He focussed on programmes available in England that aim to improve the quality of parent–child interactions in the period from conception to age 5 in ways that lead to improved child development in terms of attachment, behaviour and cognitive development.

Ends.

Further information:  Teresa Heeney 087 7671481 or Dónall Geoghegan 087 2225691 or Carmel Doyle 087 2473537 

Editor’s note –

Early Childhood Ireland, is the representative and support body for early education and care in Ireland.  It has over 3,500 childcare members who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool and full daycare provision nationwide.  Its work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, business support and information for a sector that employs 25,000 people today.