Yeah Baby! is a specialist conference concerned with the education and care of our infants from birth to three years of age. This one-day conference runs from 9am-3pm on a Saturday and includes trade fair, and great seminar and workshops style presentations. The format for the day ensures delegates will return to their early childhood settings affirmed and inspired with up-to-date research as well as practical advice, guidance and solutions all relevant to work and play with children under 3. New information is shared each year and each programme varies according to region.

Programme:

9-10.30am: Toni Christie - Love, learning and the environment

In this opening session Toni will introduce participants to a range of theory and practical applications for setting up environments that will spark joy and encourage exploration for our youngest learners.

We will discover contemporary early childhood environmental theory such as Brain SET design and the Honeycomb Hypothesis. Ideas and examples will be shared through images and discussion around provocations, invitations, biophilia, continuity, kaupapa, and other environmental essentials that we can influence as educators every day.

10.30-11am: morning tea

11am-11.45am: Su Garrett - How to simplify the complexities of working in a Birth to two-year-old team

In 2021 our birth to two-year-old team wanted to create an environment where practices were aligned to their values and each member felt they belonged. In this presentation I will outline how our team used Childspace resources to guide the creation of their team contract, share reflections on the process and how it is used to guide and support our practices. Specifically highlighting the effect this has made on educators’ practice in relation to children and families.

11.45-12.30: Lisa Davies and Stephanie Chiha- Advocating for infants and toddlers as active participants within the community

Lisa and Stephanie will share their journey in actively reframing the traditional image of infants and toddlers. Advocating for the youngest children as thinkers and theory makers, deeply connected to their classroom community. Practical strategies such as pedagogical shifts, viewing children through alternate lenses and harnessing the power of documentation to advocate for infants and toddlers will be shared.

12.30-1.15pm: Lunch and a chance to check out the trade fair

1.15-2.45pm: Robin Christie - Inspirational not Institutional: Contemporary Approaches to ECE Design

Our infant and toddler ECE spaces are a home-away-from-home for a large part of many children’s lives. How do we use the physical environment to create an atmosphere where both adults and children feel welcomed, safe, and willing to step out of their comfort zone to try something new? This presentation will explore simple, real-world, cost-effective ideas celebrating the feeling of ‘homeliness’ in our ECE spaces.

There will be a centre tour of the Abbotsleigh Junior School after the event for anyone who is interested.

General admission price: $240

Space mag subscriber's price: $220

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