Focus on Practice Series: Collaboration with Children

Facilitated by Rarni Rothwell

School age care settings are ideally set up to enable extensive collaboration with children, not only because they are full of competent communicators, but also because of the play-based environment they operate from. Children can engage in hours of uninterrupted play, based around their strengths, needs and interests – sharing important contextual knowledge with educators that they can factor into their cycle of planning. Play is a valuable process, not only for enjoyment and leisure, but also for learning. Through play, children develop a sense of identity and understanding about their world. They use play to explore and understand cultures, communities, and relationships. So much is gained through play, not just as children, but also as adults. This webinar is part of our focus on practice series – allowing educators to reflect on important aspects of their pedagogical practice, as articulated in MTOP. It will support educators to consider why collaboration and play is so important and how they can embed it into their daily work habits. Educators will have an opportunity to increase their understanding of: • Guiding Principles of National Quality Framework (NQF) • Ethical Principles • Models of Participation • Theories that impact belonging • The difference between play and Free Play • The role of leisure in OSHC • Their role in the Program