Here are eleven parenting resources recommended by SOEL’s Pedagogy and Training Team, a crucial part of our SOEL Family. Altogether, the P&T team comprises six women who work together to train and support our educators. As a result, through our P&T team’s hard work, the highest quality of childcare can be found across all SOEL centres. Take a look at the parenting resources our P&T team have consolidated for you. These parenting resources range from the scientific development of the child to Buddhism for mothers and everything between. Overall a great list of parenting resources that address the varied experience of parenthood.
Pedagogy and Training Manager
Marie Martin
As the Pedagogy and Training Manager, I oversee the curriculum and programmes of the rooms in each SOEL centre. Additionally, I coordinate the training of our educators. Together with the P&T team, I research and develop curriculum, learning experiences, and opportunities to play.
My aim is to create engaging, meaningful, relevant professional learning opportunities for educators and Managers. This occurs from Induction and throughout their careers at SOEL. Furthermore, I have a background in education and facilitation, so I make sure our workshops are always lively, interactive and informative!
“As a life-long learner, Schools of Early Learning is an ideal workplace for me.”
– Dr Marie Martin
Marie’s Parenting Resources Recommendations
Centre on the Developing Child
Centre on the Developing Child aims to drive science-based innovation that achieves breakthrough outcomes for children facing adversity. The Centre on the Developing Child’s diverse activities aligns around building a research and development platform. Similarly, this platform would be for science-based innovation and transforming the policy and practice landscape that supports and even demands change.
Raising Children Network
Raising Children Network provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together. It is funded by the Australian Government, reviewed by experts and non-commercial and designed for busy families. The articles, videos and interactive resources are tailored to different ages and stages. Consequently, they can take families from nurturing a newborn to raising a confident, resilient teen – and helping parents to look after themselves.
Education & Care Manager
Louise de Boer
My name is Louise de Boer, I have been with SOEL for eight years as a Manager across several centres. More recently, as a part of the Pedagogical and Training Team.
I believe that all children can be creative thinkers and problem-solvers when we plan environments rich with possibilities and when the children’s ideas are respected and valued. I work closely with Managers to ensure educational leadership is embedded in how SOEL Centres plan and operate. Additionally, I support educators across all age groups. I help them to value the opportunities and to share the delight in the discoveries children make.
Louise’s Parenting Resources Recommendations
Anything Maggie Dent
Maggie Dent is an Australian educator and author. Furthermore, she has written a number of great parenting books and is the host of the ABC podcast Parental As Anything.
He’ll be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men by Celia Lashlie
He’ll be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men by Celia Lashlie is an insightful straight-talking book about raising boys.
Pedagogical Co-Ordinator
Liz Chavez
I work closely with the Studios and rooms to facilitate inquiry lead learning. Similarly, supporting educators gives “legs” to children’s ideas and expands on children’s encounters. Additionally, encouraging research, exploring the potentiality of all materials and environments and fostering expressive and poetic languages. All of these are an integral part of our learning programmes, and I help educators achieve this.
Social justice is an essential lens in my life. Accordingly, I see the role of education as one that leads us towards a more equitable society. Therefore it’s our responsibility and one of the Early childhood education systems to anchor our values on social justice and ecological approaches.
Liz’s Parenting Resources Recommendations
Nurture Vs Nurture with Dr Wendy Mogel
Nurture vs Nurture is a series of episodes from the Armchair Expert podcast featuring Dr Mogel, a practising clinical psychologist. As a result, in this Armchair Expert podcast’s she inundates you with parenting wisdom, advice and confidence. The episodes consist of therapy sessions with parents as our problems are more universal than we expect.
We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle
We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle is a no-nonsense podcast that tackles hard topics so we can all live a little lighter.
“We are all doing hard things every single day. Things like loving and losing, caring for children and parents… struggling in our jobs, our marriages, and our divorces; setting boundaries; and fighting for equality, purpose, freedom, joy and peace.”
– Glennon Doyle
Pedagogical Co-Ordinator
Pia Coates
Children, and all of us, have a right to live in a kind and compassionate world. A world where we hear each other’s voices, see each other’s perspectives. Children are unique humans as they so often demonstrate these practices without anyone guiding them. This speaks to the goodness in us all.
I believe early childhood educators, families and society have a significant role to play. First, we need to believe in children’s competence, capabilities, and voices. Likewise, the children’s varied perspectives, ideas, and creative thoughts, requiring serious and thoughtful consideration. Second, we need to provide the right tools. These tools consist of environment, human connection and relationship, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and so on. Furthermore, this will foster the holistic development of the child and the adult. Consequently, this will create a world where we all belong.
Pia’s Parenting Resources Recommendations
Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali
Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali offers caring and practical ways to be present to both yourself and your child.
The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
The Five Love Languages of Children was a book I read when my oldest (now eighteen) was young. It changed the way I considered expressions of love between human beings, particularly between parent and child.
Training and Support Officer
Fiona Carmody
Kaya all, my name is Fiona Carmody, and I have been with SOEL for seven years. My role is Training and Support Officer covering all six of the SOEL centres. Collaboration with Managers and the Pedagogy and Training team is key to my work.
I work to support both new and experienced Educators to develop routines that support the SOEL philosophy. In turn, this provides learning opportunities to build partnerships and relationships with the children and families.
“I enjoy the comradery and working in a multi-cultural environment.”
– Fiona Carmody
Fiona’s Parenting Resources Recommendations
ABC Kids Listen App
ABC Kids Listen App provides children and their families a way to access the music and stories they love from ABC. The ABC Kids Listen programs are inspired by the Early Years Learning Framework of Australia, which encourages children to learn through play.
The high-quality audio programmes give children aged from 0-5 a space where they can get their bodies and brains active and working! It has areas to explore, learn and play as well as wind down, rest and sleep.
Trainer and Assessor
Susan Perzamanos
I have been a Trainer and Accessor for EYE Training for the last 10 years. I facilitate learning, support staff who are studying, and coach and mentor staff in their everyday practice.
My role includes collecting evidence of competence concerning the qualifications EYE Training deliver. Similarly, supporting the induction process of all new staff. In addition, I also consult with the Quality Improvement Team, regularly reviewing and editing policies and procedures.
Susan’s Parenting Resource Recommendation
Early Childhood Australia
Early Childhood Australia has developed a variety of resources for parents. ECA continues to add additional content regularly to their website.
Parenting Resources Summary
- Raising Children Network | Website Resource Marie
- Centre on the Developing Child | Website Resource Marie
- He’ll be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men by Celia Lashlie | Book Recommendation Louise
- Anything Maggie Dent | Book & Podcast Recommendation Louise
- We can do hard things with Glennon Doyle | Podcast Recommendation Liz
- Nurture Vs Nurture with Dr Wedy Mogel | Podcast Recommendation Liz
- Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali | Book Recommendation Pia
- The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell | Book Recommendation Pia
- Top Children’s Books | Book Recommendation Fiona
- ABC Kids Listen App | Podcast Recommendation Fiona
- Early Childhood Australia Website | Website Reource & Book Recommendation Susan
Special Mentions
Healing Through the Dark Emotions by Miriam Greenspan | Book Recommendation Pia
On a personal note, I am currently listening to “Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear and Despair” by Miriam Greenspan. I am captivated by this topic and book. In our current age of the global pandemic, grief, fear, and despair have become widespread and overwhelming. I believe unacknowledged grief is everywhere, significantly impacting our sense of self and our connections with others. Consequently, this book offers a hopeful view about the redemptive power in our worst feelings. Ultimately, the redemptive power to heal and transform our lives and strengthen our connections to one another and the world.
“We learn the alchemy by which grief turns to gratitude, fear delivers us to joy, and despair becomes a doorway to a more resilient faith in life.”
– Miriam Greenspan
Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC) | Website Resource Marie
Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC) specialises in early childhood research, which has relevant and meaningful outcomes for practice and policy. CREC has a strong reputation for undertaking reviews, reports, evaluations and consultancy work with many UK local authorities, NGOs and countries.
Emotional Agility by Susan David | Book Recommendation Liz
Emotional agility is a process that enables people to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. The process isn’t about ignoring difficult emotions and thoughts. It’s about holding those emotions and thoughts loosely, facing them courageously and compassionately, and then moving past them to ignite change in your life.
Koori Curriculum | Website Resource Fiona
The Koori Curriculum is an Aboriginal Early Childhood consultancy that supports early childhood educators to grow their cultural confidence and capacity. They work with educators across all different service types. Furthermore, they assist educators in embedding Aboriginal perspectives in their curriculum and forming meaningful relationships with their local Aboriginal community.
Renee Jain Go Zen | Website Resource Pia
Renee Jain has a website called Go Zen which is for educators, families and children. Go Zen’s aim is to provide children with essential life skills to manage anxiety and live with deeper engagement and purpose. Additionally, families can subscribe to her email list and receive valuable information regularly.