Posted on behalf of Kristin Berfelz. Please respond to Kristin at [email protected]

Are you a parent/caregiver or service provider involved in the care of children up to 6 years old?

The Best Start Resource Centre is seeking individuals to review 2 online training modules related to physical activity for children 0-6.  

The modules should take approximately an hour to complete followed by a 20 minute survey.  Individuals who complete the field test will receive a $25 gift card.  The field test will take place November 8-18, 2016.  

Best Start is seeking input from English and French reviewers who are:

• Parents
• Guardians
• Kindergarten Teachers
• Early Childhood Educators
• Childcare Providers
• Recreation Leaders
• Volunteers

If you are interested in being involved, please email Kristin at [email protected], including the sector that you represent.  Please note that spaces are limited as we require representation from all sectors. We will connect with you to let you know either way if you will be included in the testing. 

We encourage you to share this link with parents/caregivers, service providers and colleagues you may work with.

In this Issue:

• "I'm more than 'just' an ECE" Decent work from the perspective of Ontario's early childhood workforce (Featured article available to the public)
• Call for Articles
• SHAPING OUR FUTURE: Provincial Conference 2016 
• The Child Care "Fee for All": Excerpts from Erika Shaker’s Keynote Address
• How does nature and outdoor learning happen in early childhood?
• My place within the circle: Member Profile
• and more......

  Full issue available in our professional portal for AECEO members

We would like to thank the following advertisers for helping to support this issue of the eceLINK:

In this Issue:

• "I'm more than 'just' an ECE" Decent work from the perspective of Ontario's early childhood workforce (Featured article available to the public)
• SHAPING OUR FUTURE: Provincial Conference 2016 
• The Child Care "Fee for All": Excerpts from Erika Shaker’s Keynote Address
• How does nature and outdoor learning happen in early childhood?
• My place within the circle: Member Profile
• and more......

We would like to thank the following advertisers for helping to support this issue of the eceLINK:

Shannon Andrews

This 6 part series by Shannon Andrews explores the Kindergarten Program 2016 and is an excellent tool and resource for early childhood educators working in Full Day Kindergarten.  

Happy World Decent Work Day! Professional pay and decent work is the focus of the AECEO's work right now. Please join us, your voice is our voice and together we are stronger. 

On October 1st 2016 thousands gathered from across Ontario at Queen's Park for the Decent Work Rally. Participants representing various sectors and industries were calling for labour rights, fairness for migrant and temporary workers, a $15 minimum wage and decent work that includes access to paid sick days and benefits for all workers in Ontario. 

ECEs and child care workers joined the AECEO at the Decent Work Rally to call for Professional Pay & Decent Work in Ontario's early learning sector. This event was an excellent opportunity for ECEs to raise their voice within the broader movement for decent work and to make connections with allies and supporters outside of our sector. it was also an opportunity for us to learn about the labour challenges and realities that impact the families that we work with every day. 

Sheila Wayman - The Irish Times

It’s hard to think of a profession now where it’s perfectly acceptable to suggest it’s not a suitable job for a woman. After all, there’s equality legislation and trigger-happy feminists to discourage that sort of gender prejudice.

Yet, when it comes to a flipside of that – men in childcare – it’s questionable if normal rules apply. An estimated 25,000 people work in the early childhood care and education sector in Ireland and only about one per cent is male.

Read full story on The Irish Times

Susan Prentice/Martha Friendly/Linda White - Policy Options, July 2016

Justin Trudeau’s government has made big promises to Canadian families. In the federal budget of 2016, it declared that “high-quality, affordable child care is more than a convenience—it’s a necessity.” The government will be taking action, as the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs develop agreements with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities to fulfill election commitments on child care.

It was back in 2005 that a Liberal government was last in a position to act on child care. Ken Dryden, Paul Martin’s Minister of Social Development, promised $5 billion over five years and finalized bilateral agreements with all provinces/territories. The Martin government came to the intergovernmental table with a child care policy based on four principles – quality, universality, accessibility, and developmental services (“QUAD”), but there were few implementation mechanisms in place when the new Conservative government cancelled the agreements in 2006.

Since 2006, early childhood education and care (ECEC) has evolved to some degree; for example, by September 2016, 8 of the 13 provinces/territories will offer full-day kindergarten for all five-year-olds. As well, 2001 changes to parental leave enable some parents to take year-long partly remunerated maternity/parental leave.

Read More on PolicyOptions.org

In this Issue:

• How Does Learning Happen? Inspirational pedagogy in everyday practice depends on a well-supported ECE workforce. (Featured article available to the public)
• Professional Pay and Decent Work for All – Update on the Decent Work Project
• AECEO Election Results
• Portraits of Child Care – Using Art and Documentation as a Form of Adocacy
• Child Care and Early Years Act Phase 2 Regulations – Summary Chart
• And more…

We would like to thank the following advertisers for helping to support this issue of the eceLINK

Full Issue available now in our professional portal for members only

In this Issue:

• How Does Learning Happen? Inspirational pedagogy in everyday practice depends on a well-supported ECE workforce. (Featured article available to the public)
• Professional Pay and Decent Work for All – Update on the Decent Work Project
• AECEO 2016 Election Results
• Portraits of Child Care – Using Art and Documentation as a Form of Adocacy
• Child Care and Early Years Act Phase 2 Regulations – Summary Chart
• And more…

We would like to thank the following advertisers for helping to support this issue of the eceLINK

by Aaron Loewenberg

Last year, the National Academy of Medicine and National Research Council released the seminal Transforming the Workforce report that emphasizes the competencies and qualifications birth to third grade educators need to possess in order to support high-quality learning for young children. The report makes 13 recommendations aimed at bringing about greater educator quality and continuity from birth through early elementary school.

Of all the report’s recommendations, the one that has garnered the most attention is the second, which calls for the development of pathways and timelines for transitioning to a minimum bachelor’s degree requirement with specialized knowledge of ECE for all lead teachers of children from infancy to third grade. The recommendation is based on research suggesting that these qualifications are associated with higher-quality teaching and strong learning environments. But significant challenges exist in realizing this recommendation.

read more on http://www.edcentral.org/

Daycare costs may be skyrocketing, but workers are not cashing in.  

BY SARAH SAHAGIAN - TORONTOIST.COM

It’s no secret that childcare costs have—and continue to—skyrocket in Toronto. These days, the median cost of childcare for an infant is now more than $1,700 per month, and that number seems to be growing steadily. In fact, Ontarians pay the most for childcare in the country.

But what of the people who provide the services? How much of that money gets passed onto them?

Read more on Torontoist.com

cc image courtesy of Canadian Pacific on Flickr

Government is increasing salaries to early childhood educators employed at early years centres by two per cent, as of July 2016.

“Prince Edward Island’s early learning and childcare system is among the best in Canada and early childhood educators are important partners in helping Island children fulfill their potential as they prepare for public education,” said Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Doug Currie. “We are providing a two per cent increase in wages for over 300 early years centre educators, starting this July. This wage increase will see $300,000 re-invested into front-line educators.”

News Release

In this Issue:

• AECEO Response to Proposed Phase 2 Regulations: Age Groupings, Ratios & Group Size
• Child and Family programs in Ontario: Where do RECES fit in?
• (featured article available to the public)
• Professional Pay and Decent Work for All
• Professional Pay for Professional Work
• AECEO News/Draft revised Mission Statement
• Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education (RECE) International Conference
• Shared framework for building an early childhood education and care system for all
• AECEO Member Survey/AGM Notice
• AECEO Board nominations slate

We would like to thank the following advertisers for helping to support this issue of the eceLINK

In this Issue:

• AECEO Response to Proposed Phase 2 Regulations: Age Groupings, Ratios & Group Size
• Child and Family programs in Ontario: Where do RECES fit in?(featured article available to the public)
• Professional Pay and Decent Work for All
• Professional Pay for Professional Work
• AECEO News/Draft revised Mission Statement
• Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education (RECE) International Conference
• Shared framework for building an early childhood education and care system for all
• AECEO Member Survey/AGM Notice
• AECEO Board nominations slate

We would like to thank the following advertisers for helping to support this issue of the eceLINK

Early Childhood Investigations

This webinar will provide early learning leaders the opportunity to:

• Investigate the spectrum of commonly used terms in anti-bias and culturally responsive approaches in early childhood education

• Identify fundamental gaps in implementing an anti-bias approach and develop classroom and program-level visions for improving current practices as an early childhood leader

• Examine effective strategies and tools that early childhood leaders can adopt in order to execute a substantial anti-bias approach

Other webinars and resources available on their website

"Transforming Ontario's Early Years Child and Family Programs"

Ontario is moving forward on its commitment to integrate and transform its child and family programs.

Four existing programs, funded by the Ontario government, will be integrated. Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres (OEYCFCs) will give families and children access to high-quality early years programs, as well as some programs that meet needs within their community.

Public plan for the creation of Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres

The Board of Directors is very pleased to welcome Lyndsay Macdonald as the new Coordinator of the AECEO

Lyndsay is an RECE who has worked within the Ontario child care sector, both directly in programs and in policy research and advocacy. Lyndsay holds both a BA in Early Childhood Education and an MA in Early Childhood Studies from Ryerson University School of Early Childhood Studies. Lyndsay advocates passionately for child care policies that support all Canadian families and that put children at the centre of system building. At the heart of Lyndsay's advocacy work are the dedicated early childhood educators who provide high quality programs for children and families every single day. Lyndsay strongly believes that early childhood educators have the knowledge, the skills and the capacity to initiate positive change in the sector and she is committed to finding space for ECEs to mobilize and engage in policy discussions that impact our sector. 

In these very exciting times of change in the Early Learning and Care field, Lyndsay’s extensive knowledge of the current landscape for our early learning professionals and her passion for influencing change that matters to ECEs and to children and families will be key assets in supporting and furthering our mission.

We very much look forward to working with Lyndsay on all of the exciting initiatives and activities we have planned for 2016 and beyond!

Growing ECE Access and Quality: Opportunities and Challenges

Across Canada and around the Globe policymakers are looking to expand children’s access to early childhood education. Join Michel Boivin, Canada Research Chair on Child Social Development and professor of psychology at the School of Psychology of Université Laval, Rowena Phair of the OECD’s Education and Skills Directorate and Tove Mogstad Slinde of the OECD Network on Early Childhood Education and Care as they discuss how states are expanding ECE access while maintaining program quality; balancing the needs of 0-3 year olds with programs for 4-6 year olds; and addressing children’s right to ECE with parents need for child care.

more information

The Canadian Press Posted: Feb 04, 2016

The federal families minister is heading west to meet his provincial and territorial counterparts to talk about the path forward on a national child-care system.

The meeting comes more than 10 years after former Liberal minister Ken Dryden and nine provinces agreed to create a national daycare program, only to watch the Conservatives end those agreements when they took office in 2006.

Read more...