Developmental milestones and the EYLF/NQS guide – This document provides a framework for understanding the milestones your child may be meeting by certain ages and helps identify where a child may need extra assistance.
Red Flags – If you have concerns about your child’s development or are unsure what to look for, this Red Flags Early Identification Guide from the Child and Youth Community Health Service can be a useful tool to help identify developmental concerns early, so families can receive support from the right professionals at the right time.
Parenting
Head Knowledge versus Heart Knowledge – Why we need both in parenting – Head knowledge and heart knowledge work together and guide each other. Parenting is not just about knowing (head knowledge), it is also about feeling (heart knowledge).
Rethinking Challenging Kids-Where There’s a Skill There’s a Way Challenging behavior is a common concern and frustration for parents, teachers, and other helpers. In this talk, Dr. Stuart Ablon of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School challenges the conventional wisdom about what causes challenging behavior and what we should do to help. Dr. Ablon will suggest a revolutionary way of thinking about challenging behavior and a corresponding process by which kids of all kinds can be taught skills of flexibility, frustration tolerance and problem solving.
Language development
Hanen Centre resources – This article highlights the important role of parents in supporting their child’s language skills and links to further resources with strategies you can use at home.
Does screen time affect your child’s language development? This article, also from the Hanen Centre provides the evidence on the impact of screen time on language development so you can make informed decisions on when and how your children use electronic devices. It also provides ways to make the most of the time your child is spending on screens if and when they do use them.
Physical development
Games for coordination and confidence (earlychildhood.qld.gov.au) – This article provides some really simple ideas for building your child’s gross motor skills through outdoor play.
Social and emotional development
Age 1-5 (beyondblue.org.au) – Beyond Blue provides a helpful section for parents with resources broken down by age. It provides guidance on typical social and emotional development, understanding your child’s temperament and when and how to seek support.
Social and emotional learning – The Spoke – Early Childhood Australia’s Blog – This articles provides some helpful tips for how families can support children’s social and emotional development at home and in collaboration with early childhood partners.
Breathe, think, do with Sesame Street – If your child is struggling with big feelings when they are frustrated, this Sesame Street video shows you a simple problem solving process you can teach your child to use when they are facing a challenging situation. The app shown in the video is available in app stores for your mobile or tablet and can be used alongside your child.
Fear-Less Triple P – This is a free, government supported online parenting course that is evidence based and shown to improve anxiety in children. The Triple P, positive parenting course is available at the same link.
Motivation Supports Mental Health and Wellbeing in Children – Parents and carers play an important role in supporting the development of motivation in young children. Recognising children’s efforts rather than their achievements supports the development of children’s self-motivation.
Thinking and executive functioning skills
How Children and Adults Can Build Core Capabilities for Life – Learn how you can support the development and use of core capabilities — known as executive function and self-regulation skills — from early childhood into adolescence and adulthood.
How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development: A short video talking about how simple practices such as ‘serve and return’ interactions and stress impact brain development in the early years. It also explains why healthy brain development is so critical for later executive functioning and adaptability. Published by Alberta Family Wellness Institute, Harvard Center on the Developing Child and the FrameWorks Institute.
Self-Regulation Skills: Why They Are Fundamental We depend on executive functions and emotion management every day—did you know these skills can be taught? Research shows that students with better self-regulation skills have higher academic achievement, are more likely to get along with others, and are better able to build and maintain strong relationships.
School readiness skills
Is your child ready for big school? | Learning Potential – Parents sometimes think that school readiness means being able to read, write and do basic maths before starting school. But this isn’t the case! School readiness is about the development of the whole child – their social and emotional skills, physical skills, communication skills and cognitive skills. This article provides useful guidance on how you can help your child prepare for school through everyday activities.
Messy fun in the kitchen (earlychildhood.qld.gov.au) – Spending quality time together and helping your child learn doesn’t have to be an ‘extra’ thing you do. This article gives you ideas on how you can improve your child’s language and listening skills, fine motor and coordination skills, early mathematics, emotional and social skills through cooking together. All skills that will prepare your child for the classroom environment.