Aunt Annie's Childcare: play-based learning

Advice and observations from a qualified carer and educator to help parents and childcare professionals maintain a loving, respectful relationship with their children.

So who is Aunt Annie?

Aunt Annie: Aunt Annie is a teacher, composer, poet and writer who has taught music, personal development, craft, maths and English to adolescents and primary school students and has worked with children from birth to 5 years in long day care. She has accidentally become something of an internet guru for her younger friends with children (many of them her own ex-students), due to her extensive experience of handling 20 or 30 kids at a time for hours on end on a daily basis, managing ridiculous feats like single-handedly producing a musical with 60 teenagers or creating a re-enactment of a favourite storybook with 23 5-year-olds (all of whom had a wonderful time), and having a grown-up child who still chooses to talk to her as recreation rather than duty. Annie currently works in Early Childhood, and holds nationally accepted childcare, primary and secondary education qualifications. She is also a fount of knowledge on the subject of gifted children, having had one of her own and having taught gifted teenagers for over 20 years.

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Pages

Channeling my inner toddler: the concept of 'play as work'

Coping with toddlers joyfully

DON'T DO THAT! -how to drive a child crazy with your own fear

Bringing music into your children's world- EYLF friendly!

Play-based learning misinterpreted: how a free-for-all approach failed a gifted child

Play-based road safety activities and a song for preschoolers

Extending children's play, and the joy of red herrings

What we can learn from children