The Parenthood’s Post

Big win for families, children and the NT's workforce with a huge commitment to early education and care by abolishing the activity test. The Activity Test disproportionately prevents children from low-income families and First Nations children from accessing early learning. A 2023 report from Impact Economics and Policy, commissioned by Thrive by Five, found more than 126,000 children would gain access to early learning if the “Activity Test” was abolished. This could lead to almost 40,000 parents being able to return to work or increase their hours, if they want to. https://lnkd.in/gSQc666s

💫 Great to see the government set out clear Milestones for Mission-Led Government in its Plan for Change – including a commitment to support #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment as part of its mission to Break Down Barriers to Opportunity mission. The goal is for 75% of 5-year-olds in England to be ready to learn when they start school—up from today’s 66%. A bold ambition, supported by expanded funded nursery hours launching in September 2025. This is by no means an easy feat. Current policy targets “working families,” but only 1 in 5 households earning under £20k qualify. This is significant—children from low-income backgrounds are 11 months behind their peers by age five. Achieving this milestone means ensuring many more families receive the support they need. Businesses have a key role to play too: ✅ Flexible working to help parents balance family and work ✅ Paid family leave for bonding in the crucial early years ✅ Parental support programs to reduce stress and facilitate returns to work When businesses support families, they build a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce—while showing leadership on a critical social issue. 👀 Watch this space for more on how businesses can help drive change in early childhood development! 📖 Learn more about the government milestone here: https://lnkd.in/eMBXMb8m

Did you know that 𝟵𝟬% of Australian children (ages 0-5), spend some time in early childhood education settings each week? Early childhood settings are a great place to promote physical activity and movement but Australian children (ages 0-5) spend about 𝟱𝟬% of their time sitting in these environments. 𝟱𝟬% - that is a lot of time!! Yes, some children are active all day, but most children are not. Image description: Young boy lying down in a brightly coloured fabric tunnel on soft mat surface inside an early childhood centre. Text overlay: "Australian children (ages 0-5) spend about 50% of their time sitting in early childhood settings." (Statistics source: Tonge, K., Jones, R. A., & Okely, A. D. (2020). Environmental influences on children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 17(4), 423-428) #earlychildhoodeducation #earlylearning #preschool #kindergarten #childcare #physicaldevelopment #phyiscalmovement #ece #earlyyears #daycare #ECEAustralia

Regional, rural and remote parents are on the brink of burnout due to the lack of early childhood education in their communities. A new poll by The Parenthood finds that 86 per cent of families from regional, rural and remote communities struggling to access early learning services face financial stress. Governments can fix this. Early childhood education cannot be left to the private sector alone. Private providers aren’t setting up shop in many country towns because there’s no guarantee of a profit. But early childhood education and care is an essential service that children, families and communities need. Access to early childhood education and care should not depend on your postcode, or how much you earn. Governments must step up to take the pressure off of regional, rural and remote parents and make sure their families are no longer disadvantaged. Find out more in our new report: https://lnkd.in/gARfxQTy

CHILD CARE, HEALTH, & WEALTH To treat child care as health care is to recognize the short- and long-term effects on the well-being of families both in health and wealth. The existing child care market is failing families by not providing the early child care education that is needed and wanted. We need to acknowledge both the supply and demand for child care, tax credits, and child care subsidies which provide opportunities that benefit children, their parents, and society. Indeed, investing in children is investing in the future. #childcarematters

💡 Insightful article that underscores the importance of investing in early childhood. The research found that children from low-income families who grew up near a Sure Start centre performed significantly better in their GCSEs compared to their peers who lived further away. This is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of early support and investment in children's futures. It's clear that providing a supportive environment for children in their early years can yield life-changing results. Let's continue to advocate for and invest in early childhood initiatives. #EarlyChildhood #Education #InvestInOurFuture https://lnkd.in/edbuSCi2

Not having equitable access to Early Education and Care isn't just a child or family issue. It affects community viability. Especially in rural, regional and remote areas. Services can't function without staff, communities can't function without services and rural and regional towns can't survive without communities. In the lead up to the inevitable federal election, we see more rural groups join the National Farmers' Federation calling for the federal opposition to match the labor government's commitment to early education. This is because these groups know that investment in the early years is an investment in community viability and wellbeing. This is an important moment for us here in the NT too as many of our communities lack access to early childhood education and care. https://lnkd.in/gyYmWG8Q

This is a promising idea, and as more school districts end up with unused elementary schools due to declining enrollments, offering them as a hub for child care providers should be at or near the top of the list for utilizing the space. (There are, of course, costs involved with adapting facilities to be appropriate for little ones -- that's a place where local businesses could really step up with covering one-time capital expenses!)

The Australian Government's Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee published its report for the 2024-25 Budget. Wonderful to see an entire chapter devoted to the early years, where it notes: "Brain development, along with the love, care, services and support children receive in the first three to five years of life hugely influence their later development and life chances. The most profound influence on our earliest years is our family environment and the pressures that shape our family households. Raising children – particularly during early childhood and when children have extra needs – significantly affects household finances, parental career progression, and the emotional stability of families." Some welcome recommendations including addressing childcare deserts, ECEC workforce pay and conditions and importantly, developing a coherent and universal early years system - which means looking at all of the supports for children and young families, not just early childhood education and care. This was one of the key points Playgroup Australia made when we met with Productivity Commissioners for the PC Inquiry into ECEC earlier this year. https://lnkd.in/gFTY9687 #earlyyears #earlychildhood #ECEC

🌟 Is your neurodiverse child ready to soar into the world of education? 🚀 At High Sky Child Development Center, we understand the unique needs of every child. Here are 4 signs that indicate your little one is ready to thrive in our nurturing environment: 1️⃣ Increased Independence: If your child is showing more confidence in completing tasks independently, it may be a sign they're ready for the structured learning environment we offer. 2️⃣ Improved Social Skills: Notice your child engaging more with peers and showing interest in collaborative activities? Our inclusive setting fosters social growth and acceptance. 3️⃣ Curiosity and Eagerness to Learn: A thirst for knowledge is a great indicator of readiness. If your child is asking questions and showing enthusiasm for learning, they'll fit right in at High Sky. 4️⃣ Positive Behavioral Changes: Whether it's better focus, improved communication, or increased patience, positive behavioral shifts demonstrate readiness for structured schooling. 🏫 With our personalized approach and supportive staff, we're here to help your neurodiverse child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Enroll them today and watch them reach for the sky! #HighSkyCDC #NeurodiversityInEducation #HighskyCDC #ChildDevelopment #OccupationalTherapy #BehavioralTherapy #SchoolReadiness #ChildCare #TherapyServices #EarlyIntervention #SpecialNeeds #ParentingSupport #HolisticDevelopment #ChildWellness #ChildHealth #TherapyPrograms #SupportForChildren #EmpowerChildren #PotentialElevation #ChildTherapy #LearningJourney #ChildhoodSupport #HealthAndWellness #ChildhoodJourney #TherapeuticSupport #SpecialNeedsParenting