Creative Play ELC Ideas and Possibilities

Your tool, very practical and relevant 👍👍👍 no fluff !!! Well done 💛

For early childhood teams who are noticing more dysregulation, rough play, low play skills or children needing extra support and want practical strategies educators can use tomorrow, you're going to love this tool - https://noticing-childrens-development.netlify.app/

It starts with educating families ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Edit - Please note it has been brought to my attention that Facebook has tagged this post automatically as 'Child Protection' and a link has been added on this post (Link next to our name). I currently cannot remove this link. Please be aware that this link may have some upsetting content in regards to child protection.

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At Insightful we challenge all services in 2026 to deeply reflect on their use of children’s identifiable images particularly in group documentation and on centre based social media accounts.

One of the most common arguments we hear is “But parents will be upset.”

Our response? It's okay to be upset.

We don't want to intentionally upset families, but it is okay for people to be upset sometimes when it comes to difficult decisions.

Child Protection is a place where it must come first before families desires or wants. Sit with them in this emotion. Listen to them and let them know "It is okay to be upset over this new decision. This is why we decided....." or "I can see you're upset. This is why we made this choice......" There are times in ECE where difficult decisions must be made and that will upset some people.

Our responsibility is first and foremost to children. Upholding children’s rights to digital safety is non-negotiable, even if it means a few difficult conversations. We must hold consistently high standards for child protection and in today’s world, that includes carefully safeguarding every child’s digital footprint.

At one of our services in Sydney that we support, we mapped out how far a daily story actually travels. With 20 preschoolers, and each child having on average four nominated people to receive documentation (parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles), that meant the documentation was being sent to around 80 adults every single day.

Now, I know some will say, “It’s just photos.” But can you confidently say you know the intentions of all 80 of those recipients? Or who they might forward the images to? In today’s world, we simply cannot make assumptions about anyone’s intentions.

So how do we document learning that will be widely shared, without using identifiable images? It’s simple

- Capture hands, feet, shadows and the process of play.

- Photograph the materials, the environment, the experience, the learning, not the faces.

- Or, better yet, step away from the camera altogether.

We need to shift the narrative that every learning moment must be accompanied by a photo. With the rise of online apps, families became used to constant digital updates and endless photo streams but convenience cannot outweigh ethics. Documentation should be meaningful, purposeful and respectful, not a daily photo album.

As we always say here at Insightful Learning and Education it starts with education.

Educate your families about why you are choosing to use non-identifiable images in group documentation and stopping the use of children's images on social media.

Share the research, the data, and the very real risks associated with children’s digital exposure. When families understand the “why,” they are far more likely to support the “how.”

Let 2026 be the year we lead with integrity, advocate for children’s rights, and redefine what respectful, ethical documentation truly looks like.

We also have a free PDF booklet available 'Reducing Children’s Digital Footprint' to assist in starting this conversation with your team and families. Download your free copy here!

[https://insightfuleducation.com.au/shop/shop/browse_new/10/0](https://insightfuleducation.com.au/shop/shop/browse_new/10/0)

The Documentation Language Upgrade Guide: Make Learning Visible in Minutes — Leading Education & Care Consultants Clear, professional documentation is not about using complex language — it is about making learning visible. Many educators unintentionally record what happened rather than articulating the learning, intention, and progression behind the experience. Small language shifts can immediately elevate pr...

Let’s celebrate the love, diversity, and connections that make every family unique. 🏡✨

Together, we belong.
Together, we grow.
Together, we celebrate.

Happy International Families Day 2026! 🌎👨‍👩‍👧‍👦💕




#เตรียมอนุบาล

fans

This practical kitchen handbook is a valuable free resource for service cooks. It is designed by the National Allergy Council to be used in conjunction with the All about Allergens online food allergen management training. These resources support safe and high-quality food preparation in children’s education and care services.

View the handbook:https://a.storyblok.com/f/287625687469747/x/972cc37454/aaa_cec_kitchen_handbook_web.pdf

National Allergy Council

ACECQA have released a new NQS poster with updated standards.https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-01/National%20Quality%20Standard%20Handout%20-%20January%202026.pdf