Early Childhood Research
Santa Claus: Magical or misleading?
Talking to the children in your early education service about Santa and how to answer tricky questions honestly.
Block play builds more than STEM
Scaffolding and extending children as they engage in block play in early education settings.
Post pandemic play
How children’s play has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal life.
Early childhood autism breakthrough
Telethon Kids Institute research into autism reveals promising results.
New website promotes play-based learning
Learn about BestStart’s 16 Areas of Play, an evidence-based resource that provides a range of play based learning suggestions.
Tackle toxic stress: Ensure safe, stable and nurturing relationships
The role of early learning settings in nurturing children who may be experiencing toxic stress.
External factors may help children develop internal control
New research claims that executive function in early childhood may be related to external factors as well as internal factors and ideas for educators seeking to use this information.
The impact of screens in early childhood – New research
Deakin University research on the impacts of screen use among children claims it contributes to sleep problems and emotional dysregulation.
Read, Write, Speak and Listen: Encouraging Literacy in Young Children
Research shows early educators and kaiako can boost literacy among young children through simple activities which can be incorporated into everyday routines.
Learnings from the 2020 ECE Census
This year's ECE Census offers valuable insights into the state of early education in New Zealand in light of of COVID-19.
More than 35 million hours of early learning lost to Coronavirus
Research shows that preschool-aged children lost more than 35 million hours of early learning due to shut downs imposed by COVID-19.
World Nursery Rhyme Week
In World Nursery Rhyme Week, learn how to get involved by sharing a rhyme a day with the children in your service and the benefits of simple repetitive songs for youngsters.
The power of puzzle play
The age and developmental stage at which children can complete a jigsaw puzzle using the box and visual clues rather than guesswork.
Is New Zealand failing its children?
Learn about a new report by UNICEF, which gives NZ an F after we scored 35 out of 41 OECD countries for child wellbeing outcomes.
Research: The Respectful Approach
New research on the Respectful Approach, which is based on Magda Gerber’s philosophy to early education and care and prioritises respectful interactions between infants and carers.
Research: How play environments impact child health
New research demonstrates the effects of built environments on activity and obesity levels among preschool aged children and how nature play boosts activity levels.
Are children hardwired for revenge?
Children are hardwired for revenge and need to be taught how to repay kindness and generosity according to research from the University of California. This article considers the implications of this research for educators and offers strategies for teaching kindness to preschoolers.
Outdoor winter activity makes a lot of sense
Five good reasons to continue outdoor play during winter, how children benefit and what elements are necessary to ensure they have a comfortable experience, despite the conditions.
Having fun and being fun – Serious business for kids
How being seen as fun in children's social circles and how it can contribute to a child’s social success and standing among their peers.
Making sense of child temperament
How early education teachers can support children to better manage their emotional responses, by understanding the unique temperament of each child in an early learning setting.
Serve veggies with fun, frequency and a side of patience
Five strategies for early childhood services to boost vegetable consumption among children in care.
Supporting children to sleep well
How to support children in your service to get better sleep and what to tell parents.
Early literacy skills are a pathway to reading
Repetitive rhymes, silly songs and shared books are not only fun for young children, they also help to develop the early literacy skills necessary for learning to read.
Have screens killed imaginary friends?
A new survey of early childhood staff in the UK has shown that fewer children have imaginary friends than they did five years ago, with screen time being cited as the major factor in making children less imaginative.
Books are still better for children than devices
Even in the age of digital technology books will always be better for children.
The Role of Epigenetics in Children's Development
The eternal nature versus nurture debate. Is a person's behaviour the result of their genes or their environment?