Playing or experimenting, researching, exploring

Where learning starts
We already have the ingredients and legislation to redesign the system so it meets the needs of learners

So what’s stopping us? How barriers are external and how many do we impose on ourselves?

Childhood suffering is responsible for a quarter of all mental illnesses in Australia. We could stop them. We need brave, determined adults to do that. Emotional attunement is the essential shift. mary glasgow 💜📚 🐶🚲🇪🇺 🏊‍♀️⛷ Pauline Scott 🍊💜 Fiona Larkin Claudia M. Gold

Following this post I've had further enquiries asking me where parents go if they are concerned about children's rights not being upheld by their local authority. Where do children/parents go for support/advice (when they've already complained to the LA)?

upstart.scot/will-systems-f…

It was a pleasure to join colleagues from Midlothian and ScotGov Childcare to meet with Ken Muir and visitors from Norway to discuss ELC in Scotland and to hear about Kindergarten in Norway. Thank you to Fulton MacGregor MSP and Kaukab Stewart MSP for your warm welcome. Education Scotland ES Team ELC

Put this excellent thread alongside the research cited by Peter Gray in my tweet earlier today & there really is NO reason for 'not getting it'. #TimeforChange to relationship-centred play-based kindergarten 3-7
Kate Johnston Give Them Time Juliet Robertson Fulton MacGregor MSP Kaukab Stewart MSP

Tigers Early Years Academy Tigers Group graham music Darcia Narvaez, PhD, Moral Development George Monbiot The Guardian 6. 'The purpose of this article was to stop & think about the critical question that Zeedyk asks: 'what is it that we still don't get?'. It would appear there is a persuasive argument here.'

Tigers Early Years Academy Tigers Group graham music Darcia Narvaez, PhD, Moral Development George Monbiot The Guardian 5. 'We contend that the lack of awareness of the implications of relationships may have wider consequences for children, families and society than is currently recognised.'
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

Tigers Early Years Academy Tigers Group graham music Darcia Narvaez, PhD, Moral Development 4. 'Many EY practitioners find themselves in [impossible] positions regarding relationships. They work within restrictive policy constraints...often diluted in favour of neoliberal priorities for children.'
Yep. George Monbiot led a The Guardian ssn on neoliberalism only last night.

Tigers Early Years Academy Tigers Group 3. 'The dilemma Zeedyk alluded to emerges clearly when human development is closely scrutinised....Relatnshps are key to a child's learning, developmnt & resilience - inside & outside EY provision.'
Delighted to see the theorists cited: graham music, Darcia Narvaez, PhD, Moral Development, Trevarthen

2. 'In t opening speech for Tigers Early Years Academy 2017, Zeedyk asks 'what is that we still don't get?' Her point is that EY educators are often still not gettng the importnce of relatnshps, at policy or practice level.'
Yep. I still think this. Well done Tigers Group for opening up debate.

Superb round-up of research by Peter Gray of evidence for the long-term effects of too-early academic teaching (all of it - and more - ref'd in the Evidence section of upstart.scot)
petergray.substack.com/p/40-long-term…
Kate Johnston Suzanne Zeedyk Give Them Time Fulton MacGregor MSP

I think every politician & every early years officer & every teacher should read this article. Blair Minchin Kate Silverton Sally Hogg mary glasgow 💜📚 🐶🚲🇪🇺 🏊‍♀️⛷ Lucy Whyte Gerry🧠🌱 Upstart Scotland Kate Johnston 𝕄𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖 𝕁𝕒𝕟𝕖 💕 Ruth Boreham Karyn McCluskey Jimmy Paul

A fantastic review for Independent Thinking on #NatureBasesLearning by 🌿Dr Alexia Barrable🌿 from Upstart Scotland ⭐️

Read in full 👇
upstart.scot/keep-it-real/

🌱 This book will help you improve learning and well-being by teaching with nature in mind. Find out more: crownhouse.co.uk/independent-th…

Really grateful to Upstart Scotland for always providing a space for parent/carer voices. In recent weeks we've been surrounded by stories of parents struggling, battling, fighting for the rights/needs of their children. Writing about it helps to process it
upstart.scot/blog/

UNCRC is now in Scots law. But will it work if LAs fail to support - or even listen to - parents advocating for their children? An Upstart blog from a seasoned campaigner at Give Them Time
Kate Johnson Together 🧡 @creative_voices Fulton MacGregor MSP COSLA

upstart.scot/will-systems-f…

One of the great things about play-based learning is not only does it benefit that child, they pass it down the generations. Here’s the bedroom-in-progress my son (play-based learning to 6& a half) designed& is building for his daughter…

Point very well made by Naomi Fisher in this 2min read! Let's stop blaming children for problems made by adults.
@katejohnston3 Suzanne Zeedyk @creative_voices Together 🧡 Children in Scotland
naomicfisher.substack.com/p/pointing-out…

Great to see Harvard finally talking about early childhood education. From what Peter Gray found out recently, the US is in an even worse state than the UK.
Time for rights-focused, relationship-centred, play-based kindergarten (3-7)!
Kate Johnston
thesector.com.au/2024/05/06/har…

Fantastic Outdoor Learning event for early educators in Edinburgh & Lothians this Thursday - book via link early-education.org.uk/news/events/

Doctors & nurses in 1950s ran hospitals in a way they believed was good for children. They were wrong about that, despite good intentions. They caused harm through parent visitation policies. Some people living today were damaged for life because grown-ups weren't curious enough.