Before they have the words, they have the way you make them feel.
A practical relational approach for early learning teams, built around how children birth to five actually communicate and aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0.
Created by Jess Robertson, Child and Family Connection Strategist, with more than 25 years alongside children, families, schools and early learning services across Australia and New Zealand.
You already know what the room feels like.
- Drop off tears that unsettle the whole room before 8am.
- Biting, hitting and meltdowns that leave educators reacting rather than reading.
- New, casual and agency staff who don't yet know each child.
- Families who need reassurance you rarely have time to give.
- Documentation that captures the activity but not the relationship.
- Educators running on empty, and leaving.
None of this means your team isn't capable. It means they need a shared way of reading children that holds up on the hardest days.
Built to sit inside the EYLF, not on top of it.
Every child known by name, need and cue, whoever is on shift.
Principle: secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
Educators who read behaviour as communication and respond in the moment.
Practice: responsiveness to children
Smoother transitions, from the first day at the centre to the first day of school.
Practice: continuity and transitions
Supports Outcome 1 (a strong sense of identity), Outcome 3 (a strong sense of wellbeing) and National Quality Standard Quality Area 5: Relationships with children.
One method. Every part of the day.
Settle a child in under a minute and turn drop off into a good start.
Read tiredness, overwhelm and hunger before they become behaviour.
Give families a short, true story of their child's day that builds trust.
āConnection barely ever happens in the big, dramatic moments. It happens in the small, ordinary ones we choose to show up for.ā
What changes for your service
- One shared language every educator can use from day one, casuals included.
- Calmer rooms and fewer escalations.
- Families who feel their child is truly known.
- Clear evidence of relationship practice for Assessment and Rating.
- Educators who feel capable, and stay.
Who's behind this
Jess Robertson is a Child and Family Connection Strategist with more than 25 years working alongside children, families, schools and early learning services across Australia and New Zealand. She is the creator of The Connection Advantageā¢ Method and has been featured on the Today Show and at TEDx.
Let's talk about your service.
Tell us about your service and where the pressure shows up most. We read every message.
