In Early Childhood Studies, students explore the experiences, development, needs, rights and education of children. They explore a wide range of approaches to the care and education of children. They develop knowledge and understanding of children through analysing key concepts, theories and learning frameworks.

Students consider the importance and interrelationships of children’s health, behaviour, and well-being, and the significance of play in children’s lives. They investigate the impact of a range of contexts on conceptualisations of childhood, and that affect the experiences of childhood. Students examine the impact of a range of possible interventions on the well-being, education and parenting of children. They critically analyse the regulatory frameworks and regulations that govern the lives and care of children.

Early Childhood Studies prepares students for relating to and managing children. This will support further study in education and childcare at CIT/TAFE or university. They will be able to access work opportunities in the growing industries of childcare and education as teachers and childcare workers. It will also support students in developing skills as parents and possibly help them to undertake one of the greatest challenges they will face in life, raising their own children. The knowledge, skills and understandings students gain in this course will empower them to support the well-being of children, and thereby, all society.

The Early Childhood Studies course is written under The HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES FRAMEWORK 2019: BSSS HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Framework

Achievement Standards for HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES courses can be found within the Framework.

Humanities and Social Sciences is the study of how people process and document the human experience and their place in it. It empowers students to better understand humankind, society and culture and communicate ideas for the future.

Play and Learning

Students examine how children play and learn. They investigate perspectives on play, including contemporary research, cross-cultural, and historical, to understand its role in childhood. They examine the role of play in child development and a child’s right to play.

Child Health and Wellbeing

Students examine the factors that affect the health and wellbeing of children at different stages of childhood. They understand that childhood is a unique and intense period for growth and development and apply that understanding to consider the emotional and physical wellbeing of children.

Childhood

Students examine the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains of child development and they examine the family, community and educational settings and the relationships that impact child development. Students investigate research on neurological development in children.

Perspectives on Children

Students examine a range of cultural, historical, political, and philosophical perspectives on childhood. They analyse the applications and consequences of those perspectives on children’s experiences and how they have changed over time and place.

Independent Study

An Independent Study unit has an important place in senior secondary courses. It is a valuable pedagogical approach that empowers students to make decisions about their own learning. An Independent Study unit can be proposed by an individual student for their own independent study and negotiated with their teacher. The program of learning for an Independent Study unit must meet the unit goals and content descriptions as they appear in the course. Students must have studied at least THREE standard 1.0 units from this course. A student can only study a maximum of one Independent study unit in each course. An Independent Study unit requires the principal’s written approval. Independent study units are only available to individual students in Year 12. Principal approval is also required for a student in Year 12 to enrol concurrently in an Independent unit and the third 1.0 unit in a course of study.

Early Childhood Studies A/T/M (670 KB)

Early Childhood Studies A/T/M  (304 KB)