What would you say if someone asked you what words come to mind when you think of Christmas, or what is synonymous with Christmas for you? You would probably think of Santa Claus, gift giving, Christmas music, Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity plays, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, holly, letters to Santa, festivities, food, wrapping
‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing’ – Albert Einstein I came across this quote recently. The concept of curiosity intrigues me. I think we have a mixed, ambivalent attitude to the idea of curiosity, especially when it comes to young children. We value the outcomes of
As a Training Officer with AsIAm and as a parent to four children, three of whom are autistic, National Pyjama Day has long held a very special place in my and my children’s hearts. It is a special day where memories are made that will last a lifetime, a day full of fun, excitement, and
National Pyjama Day is a day that is always thought of and met with great enthusiasm and excitement. Not only by the children, but by staff and often parents/guardians as well. Pyjama Day also presents a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the chosen charity partner among staff, children, families, and the wider community. The
It can be challenging as an ECEC educator to provide interesting experiences for very young children outdoors every day. This is especially so when there are many rules and regulations about what is allowed or not allowed and what is possible with available outdoor space. We are 11 educators from three ECEC services in South
I was introduced to mindfulness seven years ago at a point in my life when I was experiencing stress and anxiety. I was a busy Early Years educator and a mom of two young children while studying in the evening for my undergrad degree and feeling extremely overwhelmed. At that time, unknown to my peers
Over the past seven weeks through our Scéalta blog posts we have heard about the importance of respecting each child’s linguistic and cultural identity. The importance of reflecting on practice, how shared language and heritage helps build trust and develop relationships, so important when working with young children, especially if they represent non-majority backgrounds. The
There are now over 200 languages aside from English and Irish that are spoken in homes in Ireland, highlighting the multilingualism in Early Years services and primary school classrooms (DES, 2019). Maintaining a Heritage Language Over the past two years, I have been conducting research for my PhD, which looks at heritage languages in the
Naíonra Choill Mhic Thomáisín is a community-based pre-school which was set up by a group of parents in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford in 1982 and operates through the medium of Irish. As our Naíonra is not in a Gaeltacht area, all the children speak English at home as their first language and speak it to each
It happens all too often, when parents believe that the name they have given their child is not acceptable in Irish society and so the child is given an alias. I asked mum, “Why has your daughter been called Xin Yue (pronounced “zin you”)?” and Mum who is called Yu (pronounced oo) told me that
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 Company Registration No: 506235
Charity No CHY: 19987
Registered Charity No: 20078904
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 Company Registration No: 506235
Charity No CHY: 19987
Registered Charity No: 20078904
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 Company Registration No: 506235
Charity No CHY: 19987
Registered Charity No: 20078904
