New resources are available that will help health professionals and educators cope with common childhood problems such as sleep, language development, resilience, oral health, and movement and exercise.
The First Eight resources, which have been developed by the Centre for Community Child Health at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, provide reliable resources to professionals working with children and families during the crucial first eight years of life.
The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Assistant Minister for Education will launch The First Eight project at 10.30am on Thursday, 6th of February 2014 at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Thanks to the support of Gandel Foundation, the Centre for Community Child Health can provide reliable resources to professionals working with children and families during the crucial first eight years of life.
The First Eight resources help early childhood educators respond in partnership with families to children’s health, learning and development needs, for positive impacts across their lifespan and for generations to come.
As children start their new year, the free resources that The First Eight project makes available are timely, targeted and based on the best available evidence.
One of the features of The First Eight is Grow & Thrive – a quarterly e-newsletter for those working with children in the early years – that covers key issues such as sleep, resilience and nutrition.
Professor Frank Oberklaid, director of the Centre for Community Child Health, says that understanding how to address these needs is incredibly positive for children, families and communities.
“Early childhood is a critical time for children’s learning and development. Grow & Thrive is different to so many other resources because it recognises and reflects an early years continuum as children move from preschool to school, and provides evidence-based, targeted information for professionals and for parents,” says Professor Oberklaid.
CEO of The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Professor Christine Kilpatrick, Director of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Professor Kathryn North, Professor Oberklaid, and Director of Gandel Foundation Laurence Joseph will speak at the launch.
The First Eight is an evidence-based professional development project that supports early childhood professionals in their daily work with families in Australia. It is delivered by the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and The Royal Children’s Hospital, and proudly supported by Gandel Foundation.
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