Supporting Divergent Play & Socialisation using a Neuro-affirming Approach
– by Gee Van der Watt & Leanne Crawford
Neurominded
Play is a cornerstone of early childhood learning, but not all children engage in play in the same way. For educators, understanding the various developmental stages and types of play is essential for supporting each child’s unique learning journey. This presentation will delve into the nuances of divergent play, with a focus on children who may be neurodivergent, have experienced trauma, or exhibit signs of developmental delay. We will explore how these conditions can influence a child’s ability to engage in play and interact with peers in ECEC settings. You will gain insights into recognising different play styles and social preferences and learn practical strategies to extend play skills and support meaningful social interactions. With a deeper understanding of divergent social and play development, you will leave feeling more confident in creating neuro-inclusive environments where every child can enjoy authentic play-based learning.
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Gee is the founding owner and Consultant at Neurominded. She’s a neurodivergent teacher with an honour’s degree in Educational Psychology, and 15 years’ experience in supporting young autistic children in early learning settings. Since 2017, Gee has been delivering professional development to schools and ECEC teams across WA. She supported a range of early learning, school age care, and family day care services to improve their capacity and capability to include children with developmental differences.
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Leanne has over 15 years of experience in the disability and early childhood sector, specialising in supporting neurodivergent children and fostering community inclusion. She is currently completing her Master’s in Autism and Neurodivergent Studies. Leanne is also the Chair of an independent school and enjoys supporting a progressive educational setting. Her passion, expertise, and strategic vision drive her commitment to creating inclusive environments where all children thrive.
How to Get Children to Listen!
– by Sylvia Arotin
Guide & Grow / My Montessori
Ever hear yourself saying “No, stop, don’t do that, be nice, Share!” Frustrated with not knowing what to say? Or maybe you are struggling to deal with some more challenging behaviour after trying so many different approaches with no positive outcomes? In this fun filled session you will understand more about where children’s behaviour stems from and learn how to tackle those stressful moments with ease and confidence. You will have the opportunity to learn practical conscious communication skills to apply to your classroom leaving you feeling equipped to communicate in a positive and effective way. This in turn will help to build children’s skill set so that they have the ability to self-regulate, communicate effectively and learn about healthy boundaries. Children will be able to reach their full potential becoming capable, emotionally intelligent and confident members of our community.
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Recently named ‘Women Changing the World in Education’ by the Duchess of York, London, Sylvia is an award winning international early childhood speaker and educator as well as the director and owner of My Montessori (0-6 yrs) school in Sydney, Australia. She is also the founder of the well-established global Guide & Grow brand, one of the largest Montessori at home online global support platforms with over 415,000+ members. Sylvia’s commitment to excellence in early childhood education has been recognized with several industry and business awards and she is passionate about concious communication and guiding children’s behaviour. She holds an International Montessori 0-3yrs training, 3-6 AMI Assistants training, a Bachelor in Communications and a Masters in Teaching specializing in early childhood (0-5 yrs) Academic Excellence from Macquarie University.
Inclusive Practice through Sensory Play
Why It Matters in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Settings
– by Vanessa Burton and Jarrah Aleman-Abellana
Early Childhood Australia NT
One in six children is estimated to experience sensory processing difficulties (Miller et al., 2017). These challenges can impact how children perceive and respond to the world around them, influencing their ability to learn, engage, and thrive in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. Given that 98% of children in Australia attend ECEC services at some point in their early years—often spending more than 15 hours a week in these environments (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2022)—understanding and supporting sensory needs is both essential and urgent.
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Vanessa Burton – NDIS Early Childhood Practitioner/ Occupational Therapist
Vanessa Burton was born and raised in France, but after meeting her husband in Europe, she made the life-changing decision to move to Australia. Initially planning to stay in Darwin for just two years, she’s now proudly called the Northern Territory home for over 13 years. With more than 20 years of experience in customer service, Vanessa has held roles in local government, particularly within Housing and Major Projects at Infrastructure NT.
Vanessa has a Diploma of Counselling, Bachelor of Health Science, Master of Occupational Therapy from Charles Darwin University. Vanessa has always been passionate about working with children. She has a special interest in neuro affirming practice using a strength base model and sensory processing to support neurodiverse children and their families. Vanessa currently works at Early Childhood Australia as NDIS Early Childhood Practitioner, and she is also a registered Occupational Therapist -
Jarrah Aleman-Abellana moved from Meanjin (Brisbane) to West Arnhem Land to pursue a long-held professional goal of working in a remote Aboriginal community. From 2021 to 2023, they had the great privilege of working, learning, and playing in various communities across West Arnhem Land.