Many services I work with seek support for children who are exhibiting behaviours that educators find challenging, and at times unsafe for themselves, other children, and adults around them. Often, teams are understandably hoping for strategies that will be immediately effective — approaches that will quickly change behaviour and help children develop self-regulation skills in a short space of time. However, the reality is far more complex. When educators are repeatedly responding to...

There’s a noticeable shift that happens in a team when curiosity becomes the default. Conversations shift to seeking understanding, possibilities and opportunities. Curiosity isn’t just a communication and connection style – it’s a positive culture-builder. It signals that I’m open and I’m listening . In early learning settings (and in any workplace), this is a foundational element of positive organisational culture. Brené Brown describes curiosity as something we choose when we’re willing to...

A few months ago, I wrote about the importance of cultivating compassionate learning communities. At the time, my focus was on how...