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Episode 4 - Language, Literacy and Learning - Spotify

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Episode 4 - Language, Literacy and Learning - Spotify

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This episode covers practical ways to weave vital road safety messages into play-based learning using Kids and Traffic's free resources. It highlights how educators can use DIY storybook templates to co-create personalised books featuring photos of their own children, families, and local traffic environments. Tips are also shared on using their 'Guidelines for Using Passenger Safety Photos' to ensure visual accuracy while sparking organic, collaborative safety conversations with families.

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

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Road Safety in Early Education #4: Language, literacy & learning

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast · Episode

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Episode 4 - Language, Literacy and Learning - Spotify

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Episode 4 - Language, Literacy and Learning - Spotify

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This episode covers practical ways to weave vital road safety messages into play-based learning using Kids and Traffic's free resources. It highlights how educators can use DIY storybook templates to co-create personalised books featuring photos of their own children, families, and local traffic environments. Tips are also shared on using their 'Guidelines for Using Passenger Safety Photos' to ensure visual accuracy while sparking organic, collaborative safety conversations with families.

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

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Road Safety in Early Education #4: Language, literacy & learning

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast · Episode

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A selection of posters to download and print.

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Episode 3 - A Framework for Programming and Planning - Spotify 

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Episode 3 - A Framework for Programming and Planning - Spotify 

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We explore how to move beyond 'Road Safety Week' and embed life-saving messages into your daily curriculum throughout the year.

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

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Road Safety in Early Education #3: A Framework for Programming and Planning

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

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Episode 3 - A Framework for Programming and Planning - Apple Podcasts

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Episode 3 - A Framework for Programming and Planning - Apple Podcasts

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We explore how to move beyond 'Road Safety Week' and embed life-saving messages into your daily curriculum throughout the year.

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Road Safety in Early Education... - Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast - Apple Podcasts

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In this episode of our Road Safety in Early Education mini-series, we explore how to move beyond ‘Road Safety Week’ and embed life-saving messages into your daily curriculum throuhgout the year. Using high-quality, play-based pedagogy aligned with the EYLF V2.0, we discuss how to use transitions, dramatic play, and children’s spontaneous interests to make road safety a natural part of early learning.

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Episode 2 - A Whole of Service Approach - Spotify

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Episode 2 - A Whole of Service Approach - Spotify

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We dive into the three core pillars of effective road safety education - partnerships, policies, and programming.

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast

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Road Safety in Early Education #2: A Whole-of-Service Approach

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Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast · Episode

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How to keep kids safe-Community language translations

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Translating Kids and Traffic Driveway Safety Video.

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Translating Kids and Traffic Driveway Safety Video.

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Home | Child Car Seats - Make the safest choice

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Resources to help NSW early childhood education and care services to implement best practice in the safe transportation of children.

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When COVID-19 shut down Green Empowerment projects across Latin America, our staff and local partners were initially devastated. The renewable energy and clean water projects we were looking forward to supporting were put on an indefinite hold at a time when communities most needed those resources. However, we quickly pivoted by brainstorming and then executing...

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When COVID-19 shut down Green Empowerment projects across Latin America, our staff and local partners were initially devastated. The renewable energy and clean water projects we were looking forward to supporting were put on an indefinite hold at a time when communities most needed those resources.

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Have you ever looked at a bunch of pine cones and thought about how they would make the perfect bodies for a family of hedgehogs? Or seen the potential in a bunch of sticks, rocks and leaves to become the world's fastest rocket ship? Probably not. But your children surely have.

The beauty of children is that they see possibilities in everything. Objects are never just one thing. There is a joy in how they can take a seemingly disparate collection of found objects and create something incredible, all with just the power of their imagination.

As early childhood educators, we know the power loose parts play in unleashing creativity and encouraging problem-solving. We know that the learning environment is enriched when children can explore open-ended materials.

We've broken it down for you to help you understand what it is, why it matters and how to welcome loose parts play into your routine.

What is Loose Parts Play?

The loose parts play theory is based on the idea that when children are presented with a collection of small objects (i.e. loose parts), they have more opportunities for creativity and engagement as they rearrange, redesign and tinker with the parts, creating patterns and new objects as they go. Architect Simon Nicholson developed the theory in the early 1970s.

Loose parts play is likely how your children naturally play. They collect bits and bobs from around them and bring them together to create something new. When we talk about loose parts play in an educational or more structured setting, it's about giving children more of these opportunities to explore and develop their innate creativity.

The Benefits of Loose Parts Play

As adults, when we're caught up in our busy days, it's easy to think of loose parts play as busy work or something to keep the kids occupied. But it's so much more than that. In truth, loose parts play is a crucial piece of the puzzle in the developmental skills your child needs as they learn and grow.

You might be surprised to learn what some of those benefits are and how beneficial playing with random materials can be for young children. Some of the benefits include:

Developing a sense of independence as children have the freedom to explore different materials autonomously.

Encouraging language development as children communicate their ideas and knowledge with their peers, educators, parents and carers.

Building creative thinking, problem-solving, curiosity and abstract thinking skills as children explore the materials and discover new ways of playing with them.

Enhancing fine motor skills as children pick up, hold and manipulate materials in multiple ways.

Facilitating collaboration, sharing and belonging as children interact with others around them engaged in the play.

Increasing physical play and activity along with gross motor skills as children move and transfer their creations and use them in further imaginative play.

How Playing with Loose Parts Benefits Children's Learning

In many ways, playing with loose parts gives your children the building blocks they need for so many other skills, both cognitive and physical.

Holding a pencil to start writing or picking up a pair of scissors to cut doesn't just happen. First children start by picking up small objects - beads, a stick or other materials. They gradually move onto bigger objects or even learn how to manipulate tweezers to pick up small pieces of paper.

Through playing with loose parts they are learning the early concepts of engineering and physics - about weight, density and how things work.

They take their ideas and turn them into physical phenomena, engaging in early forms of storytelling as they place different objects together.

Best of all, this type of play is led by the child. You create the learning environment and then they take over. Children love to be independent. They are natural learners and playing with loose parts taps into this to help them learn in an open-ended way.

How Loose Parts Play Benefits Teachers... and Teaching

As early childhood teachers, we love nothing more than seeing children develop and discover new interests and ideas. It's our job to nurture a child's passions and talents in a safe and respectful learning environment.

Loose parts play allows us to create environments and provide resources and then let the kids take over. In this way, we can give each of the children in our care exactly what they need. Some kids have an idea and run with it. Other children need some support to help bring their idea to life. Loose parts play helps us to uncover those differences and tailor the experience to each child.

This type of play also helps us to uncover areas for development such as particular fine motor skills.

Loose Parts Focused Strategies and Approaches

Loose parts play is as complex as you make it. Start with the basics and go from there. You don't need to have the biggest collection of materials to make it work. Here's what you need to consider.

Organising for Loose Parts Play

Loose parts organisation is about keeping it simple. You can store your loose parts in buckets or small containers that can also double as loose parts.

You can choose to separate the loose parts resources into categories or simply keep them all together in one box. It's whatever works with your life and the same in your home.

Loose Parts Materials

One of the best things about this type of play is that it's relatively inexpensive. You don't need to buy expensive toys - you can find many of the loose parts materials around your house or out in nature. The possibilities are endless!

While not an exhaustive list, here are some ideas to spark your thinking:

natural materials such as pine cones, sticks, rocks and leaves

craft items such as pipe cleaners, beads, buttons, sequins, cotton reels, paddle pop sticks and feathers

household items such as egg cartons, bottle caps, milk carton lids, paper towel and toilet paper tubes

wooden items such as wood scraps or wooden blocks

All these things can be easily collected from around the home. You can even ask local businesses if they have scraps of wood or other items that they are happy to donate. As you come across new objects you can add to your stash.

Loose Parts and Open-Ended Learning

Open-ended learning and loose parts play are connected concepts that both offer similar outcomes - allowing kids to discover their world and have fun with the process.

With open-ended learning, children are encouraged to learn without set parameters or rules. There is no right or wrong answer or way of doing things. Loose parts play is much the same. Two kids can be presented with the same collection of loose parts and create two completely different things. Neither is right or wrong. Both are free to make the learning experiences their own.

Loose Parts within the Curriculum

The theory of loose parts play is one thing, but how does it work in practice in the learning environment? Within our curriculum, we use loose parts in a range of different key learning areas to enhance the learning and make it fun!

Maths

Within maths, we might encourage children to collect and count loose parts or to arrange them in patterns. Sorting objects into colours, sizes or shapes or even matching like items are all early maths skills.

Science

Loose parts experiments can be loads of fun. Which items float or sink in water? What happens if you try to put a large block on top of a smaller one? What shadows do different loose parts cast? What are different loose parts made of and what properties do different materials have?

Language and Literacy

As children start to describe the loose parts in front of them or what they have created with those parts, it helps to build their language skills. Combined with the power of early storytelling experiences, literacy skills can also be enhanced.

Art, Movement and Music

Children can use loose parts within artworks or as tools to create that art. A leaf can be dipped in paint and pressed onto a page or a feather can be used as a paintbrush. Children love to make music and can create their own musical instruments to move and dance with. They can also learn from using things such as scarves or ribbons to observe how they move when they dance.

Loose Parts Learning Outcomes

We use loose parts play to help in meeting all five of the learning outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework.

Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity.

We encourage children to express their individuality and express themselves within loose parts play. They are free to take risks within a safe and nurturing environment.

Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.

Using items found in nature we connected children to their natural world and also foster community amongst the peer group as they discover and learn together.

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of well-being.

By being allowed to express themselves and work collaboratively or autonomously in a safe environment we are caring for the children's wellbeing.

Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.

As these experiences cater to the individual preferences of each child, they can engage in learning in a way that suits their personality and interests. This gives them the confidence to ask questions and take risks, both skills they need to be confident and involved learners.

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators.

Explaining their creations, asking questions about items and learning about sharing or give and take helps to embed and develop important communication skills.

Loose Parts Ideas and Resources

When it comes to loose parts play there is a world of possibilities. You can set up endless invitations to play or simply hand over the loose parts and let them go wild.

We encourage families to speak with your educator if you have any questions about loose parts play and how we use it in the Gowrie NSW centres. Your educator can also give you ideas for your child to make the most of loose parts play at home.

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Loose Parts Play unleashes creativity and encourages problem-solving. It is how children play naturally. Learn the benefits of Loose Parts Play | Gowrie NSW

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Discount code for Kids and Traffic Shop

25% off

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Calling all Early Childhood Educators - join us for a Professional Learning Seminar or hands-on workshop during the week 4 - 8 September 2017.

More details here: Re-Play! Schedule

Who are we?

Reverse Garbage is a creative reuse centre making a difference in the world by reducing waste and creating change in the way we look at resources!

Reverse Garbage was established in 1975 by a group of teachers and community workers who were determined to help the environment by diverting industrial discards from landfill and by reusing materials in their classrooms.

Reverse Garbage is committed to diverting resources from landfill - each year we accept approximately 35,000 cubic metres or 100 football fields of items which may otherwise end up in the bin.

40 years on Reverse Garbage is now an internationally recognised, award-winning environmental co-operative committed to promoting sustainability through the reuse of resources available at its Marrickville warehouse, as well as providing support to other community, creative and educational organisations. This support is often in the form of donated materials, service-in-kind or small financial sponsorship.

Our Reverse Garbage Warehouse is open to the public 7 days a week (click here for our location and operating hours) to purchase a variety of reusable materials and resources at considerably discounted prices. We also offer a range of tours and educational workshops for educators and for students tailored to different ages, abilities and needs.

For more than 40 years Reverse Garbage has been operated and managed by dedicated staff and volunteers. If you are interested in contributing your time or joining our staff team, we are interested in hearing from you! Please have a look at

We look forward to welcoming you at our Reverse Garbage Marrickville site!

For any enquiries please contact us on 02 9569 3132 or email us at info@reversegarbage.org.au

View latest items available at: Reverse Garbage Facebook and Reverse Garbage Instagram

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Re-Play! Professional Learning for Early Childhood Educators Calling all Early Childhood Educators - join us for a Professional Learning Seminar or hands-on workshop during the week 4 - 8 September 2017. More details here: Re-Play! Schedule Who are we? Reverse Garbage is a creative reuse centre making a difference in the world by reducing waste...

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Kids and Traffic Driveway Safety Display

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Kids and Traffic Driveway Safety Display

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Kids and Traffic Driveway Safety Display

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Did you know that you can easily make your very own book from a single piece of paper?

Watch the quick video below or follow the instructions!
Video: How to Make Your Own Book
Instructions
1. Grab your sheet of paper and fold it long ways in half

2. Open it back up and then fold it in half the other way

3. Fold each side down into the middle, it will then folded in three panels

4. Using scissors, cut down the middle of the middle panel (there will be a crease from when you folded it the first time)

5. Grab one section each and then fold it around onto itself

6. And now you have your very own book!
Activity Ideas: there are so many things you can do with these - decorate with paint, stickers, glue on beads or make your very own family album.

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A fun and simple activity to do with your kids at home or playgroup where they can make their very own book with just one single piece of paper!

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Kidsafe - Driveway Safety - Through My Eyes - Emma and Peter

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Kidsafe - Driveway Safety - Through My Eyes - Emma and Peter

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They're counting on you: Driveway Safety 30 sec

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They're counting on you: Driveway Safety 30 sec

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They're counting on you -- Driveway safety (30 sec)

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They're counting on you: Driveway Safety 60 sec

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They're counting on you: Driveway Safety 60 sec

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Driveway Safety - They're Counting on You 60 sec

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View e-Book View e-Book View e-Book View e-Book View e-Book View e-Book

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Tram Rail Safety - Andy's off to Kindy! View e-Book Let's go Driving in the Bus ! View e-Book

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Holding hands ... Rhyme and picture book Download template Safe arrivals and departures poster Download template Storytelling dice Download sample Here we go walking holding hands - book Download template Five happy children travelling in the bus Download template

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Key Road Safety Messages These Key Road Safety Messages are designed for adults to use with young children as they travel together as passengers, pedestrians and when playing. Pedestrian safety Always hold a grown-up's hand. When a grown-up's hand is not available, hold a pram, bag or clothes....

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Kids and Traffic Key Road Safety Messages for adults to share with young children Download Kids and Traffic Key Road Safety Messages for all the adults in a child's life Download Key Road Safety Messages to share and discuss with children and to use as the basis for road safety...

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This Safe Transport Toolkit has been developed by Kids and Traffic with funding from the NSW Department of Education, to help approved providers, nominated supervisors and educators understand their legal requirements when transporting children.

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Episode 2 - Whole of Service Approach - Apple Podcasts 

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Episode 2 - Whole of Service Approach - Apple Podcasts 

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We dive into the three core pillars of effective road safety education - partnerships, policies, and programming.

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Road Safety in Early Education... - Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast - Apple Podcasts

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In this next episode of our Road Safety in Early Education mini-series, host Linda Harrison is joined by experts Amanda and Bec to shift the conversation from “one-off incursions” to a deliberate, ongoing commitment. We dive into the three core pillars of effective road safety education - partnerships, policies, and programming. Discover why road safety shouldn’t be a stand-alone topic, but rather a living part of your service’s daily routines. Our guests explain how to move beyond basic messages and create a robust framework that embeds road safety into the very fabric of your early childhood environment.

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In this special blog post, ABC Reading Eggs author Sara Leman shares the wonderful benefits of creating homemade books with children to build essential literacy skills and create some incredible lifelong memories.
There's been a frenzy of paper folding and stapling going on in my house recently. Homemade books are appearing fast and furiously as my eight‑year‑old daughter embarks upon creating yet more 'novels'.

Hannah has been making her own books since she was about five. It coincided with starting school, and the realisation that those random marks she used to make on paper could actually be turned into words. She quickly worked out that if you string enough of these words together across several pages, you end up with your very own book. Her first creation was Ruby the Magic Bear. It was greeted with such rapturous acclaim from the grown‑ups that as a result, Hannah has been writing books with great enthusiasm ever since.

Encouraging your child to make their own books has many benefits, both educationally and emotionally. Create homemade storybooks with ABC Reading Eggs Story Factory. Free trial.

5 benefits of creating storybooks for kids

1. Making storybooks improves kids' self-esteem

Children absolutely love it when you sit together and read their stories. As well as building a bond between parent and child, sharing stories validates the child as an author and makes them feel proud of their achievements.

2. Children build resilience through storybook creation

Writing stories allows children to find a voice to express thoughts, feelings, fears and experiences. It builds confidence and provides an emotional outlet for many children.

3. Increase children's concentration span with a fun task

When a child is engaged in a task they enjoy, it leads to higher levels of motivation and an increased concentration span. As a parent, you can feel good about the fact your child is also developing their thinking and creative skills while they create their masterpiece.

4. Help your child's writing skills development

Writing a book requires a lot of skill, including holding the pencil correctly, forming the letters, spacing the words, and writing in lines from left to right.

5. Improve the development of your child's reading skills

In writing their own books, children draw upon the usual book conventions such as having a front cover, text and illustration placement, numbering pages, writing chapter headings and even having a 'blurb' on the back of the book. When older children read their stories aloud it encourages them to proofread their work and edit where necessary.

Homemade storybook ideas and tips
Sara Leman is a mum, ex‑teacher and author of the ABC Reading Eggs 'My First' series. Sara also writes the lesson content for the ABC Reading Eggs and ABC Mathseeds programs.
For more creative writing tips and ideas, check out our other articles:

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There are many benefits of making homemade storybooks with your kids. Here are some easy tips and ideas to keep your little ones entertained for hours!

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Transport for NSW Road Safety Education Program

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Transport for NSW Road Safety Education Program

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The Road Safety Education Program is the NSW Government's leading model of support for educating children and young people about road safety. Our Road Safety Education Program provides curriculum focused classroom resources and professional development to teachers and childhood educators throughout NSW. We partner with the NSW early childhood and school education sectors to ensure that developmentally appropriate road safety education is included as part of teachers' programs.

NSW is the only state in Australia with a comprehensive road safety partnership with the education sectors that includes a dedicated team of road safety education specialists to support teachers in the teaching of road safety as part of the NSW curriculum.

Our program partners are the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, Catholic Schools NSW, Department of Education, and Kids and Traffic, Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program. Our partnership enables classroom teachers to access professional support and teaching resources that allows them to deliver road safety education to 3000-plus primary and secondary schools.

Road safety in early childhood

Our Kids and Traffic, Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program is funded by Transport for NSW and delivered in partnership with Macquarie University. The program provides access to professional development workshops, road safety education resources, advice and strategies to more than 4000 early childhood services across NSW. Kids and Traffic provides service to:

families and carers of young children, including grandparents

educators in early childhood services and transition-to-school programs

early childhood education students in universities and TAFE colleges

state and local government, including road safety officers

early intervention and family support services

early childhood and road safety organisations.

Road safety education in schools

We fund the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, Catholic Schools NSW and the Department of Education to provide professional development to teachers in the quality teaching of road safety as part of the curriculum and wellbeing programs. Road safety is taught in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE).

Our road safety education specialists employed in government, Catholic and independent school sectors are qualified teachers and experts in their field. They provide professional learning and advice to principals, teachers and schools about teaching road safety.

The road safety education specialists are experts in curriculum and road safety education. They provide professional learning to teachers to equip them with the knowledge and skills to teach quality road safety education. They show teachers how to use our resources in the classroom to create effective teaching and learning programs.

Primary schools

Our Safety Town website is a suite of digital and non-digital teaching and learning activities to support the teaching of road safety from Kindergarten to Year 6 in NSW primary schools.

The website includes interactive activities, comprehensive teaching notes, links to relevant transport information, and updated information for families.

Safety Town helps families to reinforce road safety messages and concepts that are taught at school.

Secondary schools

Our On the move website provides comprehensive lesson plans and resources for secondary Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) teachers to support the teaching of road safety as part of the syllabus.

Contact your road safety school education specialists

Each education sector has road safety education specialists employed to help schools with road safety in the classroom:

For more information

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Our Road Safety Education Program provides educational resources and professional development to teachers and childhood educators in NSW.

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Episode 1 - Key Road safety Messages - Spotify 

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Episode 1 - Key Road safety Messages - Spotify 

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We explore why educators are a trusted source for families and how to effectively weave road safety messages into the daily fabric of your early years setting.

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Episode 1 - Key Road Safety Messages - Apple Podcasts

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Episode 1 - Key Road Safety Messages - Apple Podcasts

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We explore why educators are a trusted source for families and how to effectively weave road safety messages into the daily fabric of your early years setting.

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Road Safety In Early Education... - Learn Play Thrive Early Education Podcast - Apple Podcasts

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Welcome to a special edition of the Learn Play Thrive podcast as we launch an exciting 10-part mini-series Road Safety in Early Education. Recorded in partnership with Kids and Traffic, the Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program at Macquarie University, this series is designed to empower educators with evidence-based strategies for keeping our littlest learners safe.