Based at the University of Wollongong, Early Start, made up of the Early Start Discovery Space and Research Institute, is an Australian first for studying best practice in children’s development and play based learning, Bedrock Journalist Alex Leggett writes.
Although it has been open for just under a year, Early Start’s CEO Michelle Kellaway said the Discovery Space has already drawn attention from overseas with more than 90,000 visitors since May 2015.
“It’s had a great start and has been a wonderful way to engage the local community in the broader Early Start initiative focused on helping children flourish and reach their potential,” Ms Kellaway said.
“Although many parents understand that their child’s earliest years shape later development and learning, they are often unsure about what they should be doing to promote healthy emotional, social and intellectual development.
“As a destination dedicated to playful learning, this is where the Discovery Space acts as a partner for families, early childhood centres and schools by enhancing the value that children gain through play based experiences.”
Ms Kellaway said it is the first of its kind in the world to be opened on a university campus and next to a research facility that studies the behaviours and cognitive development in babies to 12 year olds.
The fundamental philosophy behind the Discovery Space is that children do not need to be taught how to play but they need an environment where they feel safe and free to express themselves.
“This type of play is really what helps children succeed at later stages in school. It is as natural as smiling, crawling or giving someone a hug,” she said.
“It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.”
She said the concept that is quite common in the US, although none are partnered with university or college campuses.
“We initially looked at which models worked best in other countries before creating one at the university,” Ms Kellaway said.
“There are about 400 children’s museums in the world; however, the Discovery Space is the only dedicated children’s museum in Australia.”
She said that playful experiences such as those at the Discovery Space help children be creative, curious and collaborative.
These include crawling through a giant tube called the Tummy Tour that shows how the human digestive system works to learning about building and team work at the centre’s ‘Construction Site’.
“At the moment our focus is on the Discovery Space, ensuring it is both dynamic and evolving,” she said.
“However, we are also piloting a Virtual Visitation Program with Early Start’s partner early childhood education and care centres in 41 regional, rural and remote regions of NSW and the ACT.
She said the program is in its pilot phase and they are looking forward to seeing the benefits of play more broadly experienced.
“It entails providing virtual access to reach children in remote and rural areas with virtual excursions of the Discovery Space, so they can experience our Cave Tour or Shipyard online, even if they are geographically dispersed,” she said.
“Our technological infrastructure allows our researchers to connect directly with any one of the engagement centres and to facilitate teaching and research opportunities between them.
“In this way, academics can understand first-hand the challenges of growing up in disadvantage and for innovation to be pioneered where it is needed most.”
Leading innovative research next to the Discovery Space is the Research Institute, where a team of around 135 world leading researchers and research students are studying the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of children.
Professor of Child Development and academic director of Early Start, Marc de Rosnay, specialises in social and emotional development in the early years.
He said both the Discovery Space and Research Institute reflect the needs of the early childhood sector.
“Part of the centre’s role is to help fill the large gap between research and practice,” he said.
“Research shows that the effect of high quality early education, particularly when coupled with support services and family inclusion, can dramatically turn around the cycle of under-achievement educationally, socially and emotionally.