Welcome to Inspired EC

With an attitude of growth, fun and connection, Inspired EC has evolved into an organisation that works closely with educators and services around Australia and internationally, providing training, resources, consultancy services and much more.

The Inspired EC Blog

  • 4 Steps to Embracing Risky Play

    by Nicole Halton
    Embracing risky play can be challenging for many of us. We might logically understand the importance of children having opportunities to engage in risky play, and yet we might still be apprehensive - concerned about safety, worried about incidents.
    Posted in nature, outdoors, pedagogy, play, reflection, risk, risky play

  • 10 Essentials for Toddler Environments - Outdoor Edition

    by Nicole Halton
    Here it is - the next post in our series of essentials for the environment. This time we are talking about toddlers and outdoor environments.
    Posted in environments, loose parts, mud, outdoors, schema, toddlers

  • How can we involve children in our QIP Process?

    by Nicole Halton
    Our QIPs should be living, breathing, meaningful documents. This means that they aren't always pretty - but they are a collection of voices and insights and ideas and reflections that document our goals and direction and achievements and growth. Of course children should be a part of that!
    Posted in connection, documentation, pedagogy, play, professionalism, reflection, reflective practice

  • Does wearing a uniform equate to being a professional?

    by Nicole Halton
      When I was a new educator, over twenty years ago, I was given my first uniform shirt. It was pale blue and button-up, with a logo on one side of...
    Posted in professionalism, reflection

  • How to respond to an "irate" parent.

    by Nicole Halton
    There was fire in her eyes and I swear smoke was coming out of her ears. She threw the child's wet clothes on my desk and demanded to know why they had been playing in the mud before pickup. Was I caught off guard? Yep. Did I have that sick, uneasy feeling in my stomach? Yep
    Posted in connection, parenting, pedagogy, professionalism, relationships

  • It's raining, it's pouring... but we're going outside anyway!

    by Nicole Halton

    "I hate rainy days when we get stuck inside and the children go wild." 

    I have lost count of the number of times over my two decades in early childhood, that I have heard some version of this sentiment. For the first couple of years, I said it myself - many times. 

    Posted in joy, mud, nature, outdoors, pedagogy, play, reflective practice, weather

  • 10 Essential Elements for Toddler Environments - Indoor Edition

    by Nicole Halton
    Okay, it's been a little while since we started this series of blog posts... but we are back! And this time, it's indoor environments for toddlers. 
    Posted in environments, pedagogy, toddlers

  • How to Work in the Same Service as Your Child

    by Nicole Halton
    Supporting families should be one of our key aims in early childhood, and that includes the families that exist within our staff. It won't always be easy or smooth, but with clear policies, boundaries and expectations, we can typically ensure that educator parents, children and the educators that care for them, are settled and supported. 
    Posted in connection, parenting, professionalism, reflection, relationships, wellbeing

  • You don't have "a biter"

    by Nicole Halton
    You know those challenges that come up again and again and again? Biting would almost be at the top of that list right? We often read posts online or hear educators say things like "I'm in the toddler room and we have a biter, how can we get them to stop - we've tried everything."
    Posted in behaviour, connection, development, professionalism, reflective practice, relationships

  • Sleep and Rest: Juggling Family Requests and Children's Needs

    by Nicole Halton
    It's sounds like it should be pretty straightforward right? If a child is tired, they sleep. But what happens when a family says "please don't let me child sleep or they are up until midnight"? How do we, as educators, juggle the needs of the child and the requests of the family? 

  • They Wrecked It!

    by Nicole Halton
    When we change our thinking, when we look at things from a different perspective, it helps us to not feel so offended when children use a play space or leave a play space in a way that is different to what we have expected. 

  • 4 Ways to stay true to your philosophy during the festive season

    by Nicole Halton
    What bothers me though is that in our attempts to fully embrace the festive spirit, some services and educators appear to lose sight of their philosophies and subsequently, children’s rights
    Posted in community, joy, pedagogy, play, reflection, reflective practice, wellbeing