Emerging Trends in Early Childhood Education

Want to know what's shaping the future of childcare? Early childhood education is a rapidly evolving industry, growing both in size and substance. 

From more skilled early childhood workers to better use of tech, here are some emerging trends in early childhood education to keep an eye on.

Emerging trends in childcare

The evolution of early childhood education is being driven by research, technology and a deeper understanding of child development. Here are the key trends reshaping how we approach early learning:

1. Learning through technology

2. Learning through play

3. Learning outdoors

4. Holistic child development

5. Better qualified educators

1. Learning through technology

Childcare centres have been using iPads and similar devices for some time now to make learning fun through games and activities. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, even very young children know their way around online tools like Zoom.

Incorporating technology in the childcare environment can promote higher engagement among children. In our increasingly digital world, it’s also important for kids to have strong digital literacy skills.

In the next few years, we can expect to see creative apps and interactive experiences become a larger part of the childcare experience.

2. Learning through play

The idea of learning through play is becoming more widespread in the childcare industry. According to the NSW Department of Education, play helps children develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a lifelong passion for learning.:. Some examples of learning through play include:

• Movement play, such as engaging with nature, people or objects like toys and instruments.

• Enjoyable play, which lets the child play with Play-Doh, Lego or whatever else they like.

• Independent play, which involves letting a child play on their own under supervision.

• Cooperative play, which gets the child playing with others to complete a puzzle or build a sandcastle.

• Process-oriented play, which refers to the creation of new skills such as counting, listening or spelling.

3. Learning outdoors

Nature is also becoming a huge aspect of the early childhood education experience, although implementation differs from centre to centre. Some centres might focus on walks around the neighbourhood, while others might create a dedicated outdoor space for activities and play.

The great outdoors offers a huge range of learning opportunities and room for activities, including:

• Basic gardening

• Collecting shells, rocks or leaves

• Looking for little critters like snails, caterpillars or ladybugs

• Spotting birds in the trees

Aside from these hands-on outdoor learning activities, playing outdoors has also become more important for health reasons. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1 in 4 children are now overweight. Promoting a healthy and active lifestyle from a young age is a growing priority in the early childhood education sector, with outdoor play being a big component of this.

4. Holistic child development

Today's early childhood educators know that helping children grow means looking after more than just their learning. More and more centres are making sure they support children's emotions, friendships and physical health alongside their education. Here's what this looks like in practice:

• Teaching children to manage their emotions through kid-friendly mental health coaching

• Helping kids make friends and work together through group games and shared projects

• Getting them moving with fun exercise activities

• Building confidence by letting children try new things at their own pace

This whole-child approach gives children all the skills they need to grow up happy and healthy while keeping the fun and excitement of childhood at the heart of everything.

5. Better qualified educators

Early childhood education is a large and robust industry, employing more than 170,000 Australians, according to Job Skills Australia. 

This research shows that 27.2% of childcare workers hold a Diploma or Advanced Diploma, 22.2% hold a Certificate III or IV, while only 12.2% are working in the industry with only a high school certificate (you must be working towards at least a Certificate III qualification to secure employment in childcare).

There is a greater demand for strong early childhood qualifications, and the more educated you are, the higher your wages are likely to be.

Staying ahead of early childhood education trends

These trends show how early childhood education continues to evolve, combining new technologies with time-tested approaches like play-based and outdoor learning. With growing demand for qualified educators who understand both traditional and modern teaching methods, there's never been a better time to enter this dynamic field.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards becoming a childcare worker, you might want to consider our CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.