This webinar aims to understand the situation of early childhood educators and childcare professionals in the Asia-Pacific Region, the impact of COVID-19 on the ECCE Workforce and discuss interventions to support them during and beyond the pandemic.

The key questions that will be answered in the webinar are:

1. What is the role of the ECD/ECE workforce in fostering access to quality of early childhood education and childcare services?

2. What is the impact of COVID-19 on early childhood educators (pre-school teachers, childcare professionals and daycare workers) in government-supported and privately-run pre-schools and childcare centres in the region?

3. What interventions are necessary for the ECE workforce as pre-schools and ECD centres prepare to re-open and transition to blended learning approaches, including use of online platforms, among others?

4. What can we learn from institutions supporting the ECD workforce to address the impacts of COVID-19 on early childhood educators?

The speakers and topics are found below:

Ms Maki Hayashikawa, UNESCO Bangkok, "ECCE Workforce matters"

Dr. Chiam Heng Keng, Founding President of the ECCE Council Malaysia and Professional Early Childhood Educators (MAPECE), 

"Impact of COVID-19 and the Interventions for ECE Workforce"

Ms Samantha Page, Early Childhood Australia

"Supporting educators, teachers and service leaders through the pandemic – information sharing and online professional development"

Ms Tan Lee Jee, PAP Community Foundation, Singapore

"COVID-19: Adapting to change"

This webinar was moderated by Ms Jessica Hampton, Education Advisor at ChildFund Australia and ARNEC Steering Committee Member, (Core Team Representative).

Click here for the presentation slides deck.

Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube.

This webinar focuses on the role of play in early learning and the holistic development of young children as well as in building resilience of young children and their families as they cope with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The key questions that will be answered in the webinar are:

1. What is the role of play in early learning and the holistic development of young children and how can families and caregivers optimise play-based interactions for young children at home?

2. How can play be transformed from a passive activity into an engaging, purposeful interaction between young children and their families and caregivers?

3. At a time of a global health emergency and when government capacities and resources are most stretched, how can parents and caregivers build on play to help build the resilience of young children and families?

The speakers and topics are found below:

Dr Jill Popp, The LEGO Foundation

"The importance of play for young children and their families and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic"

Ms. Caroline Essame, CreateCATT, Singapore

"PLAY MATTERS: the key role of developmental play in ECD for social, emotional, and physiological wellbeing"

Ms Samyukta Subramanian, Pratham Education Foundation, India

"Engaging with young children and their families during COVID19-The role of play"

Ms Marlene Floresca, ChildFund Philippines

"Fostering parent-child engagement through play-based family routines during home quarantine"

Dr Phuong Thi Mai Nguyen, Save the Children Vietnam 

"Increasing bonds between children and caregivers through play-based activities"

Ms Meenakshi Dogra, ARNEC’s National Representative for India, will moderate this webinar.

CLICK HERE for the presentation slide deck

CLICK HERE for the webinar recording.

This webinar focuses on safety and security of young children during and beyond the pandemic.

The key questions that will be answered in the webinar are:

1. What are the major safety risks and threats faced by young children during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic?

2. How does the pandemic affect vulnerable populations, such as displaced families, refugees and migrants differently?

3. What can we learn from organisations which have put in place child protection mechanisms and services to support young children in vulnerable situations?

The speakers and topics are found below:

Ms Rachel Harvey, UNICEF EAPRO

"Protecting children in times of COVID-19: risks, challenges and opportunities for adaptation"

Ms. Erum Mariam and Ms. Suhany Zaimah,

BRAC Institute of Educational Development (IED), BRAC University, Bangladesh

"Pashe Achhi: Standing beside children, caregivers and frontliners in refugee communities during COVID-19"

Mr Talat Mahmud, Programme Director, Play to Learn, Sesame Workshop, Bangladesh

"Sesame Workshop and BRAC Content Co-Creation for COVID-19 Response: Key Messages and Distribution Channels in Cox’s Bazar"

Ms Anita L’Enfant, eSafety Commissioner, Australia

"Keeping children safe online during COVID-19"

Ms Peta-Gaye Bookall, UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office

"Impact of COVID19 movement restrictions on child protection in the Pacific Region"

Mr Tata Sudrajat, Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cili (partner of Save the Children Indonesia)

"Child Protection responses during COVID-19: Learning from Indonesia"

Ms Jessica Hampton, Education Advisor at ChildFund Australia and ARNEC Steering Committee Member moderated this webinar.

CLICK here for the presentation slides deck

CLICK here for the webinar recording on YouTube.

Related resources:

• COVID-19: an online safety kit for parents and carers by eSafety Commisioner 
• Parenting tips and activities (in multiple languages)
• Sesame Street #CaringforEachother  
• Different ways to wash your hands 
• Quick Tips on COVID-19 and Migrant, Refugee and Internally Displaced Children (Children on the Move)

More webinars by ARNEC:

Webinar #1_Practical ECD Strategies for the most vulnerable young children and their families.  

Webinar #2_Caring for the caregivers 

Webinar #3_How young children cope with anxiety, fear, and stress  

Webinar #4_Distance learning approaches for young children