Bright, inquisitive, and full of wonder – Teaching in early childhood

For early childhood education graduate Kelly Simpson, every day is an opportunity to capture her students’ interest and teach them something new.

“They’re curious about how the big wide world works. And coming to kindergarten gives them a chance to connect to a world that’s bigger than their home and family,” she said.

Kelly is an early childhood teacher and director of a kindergarten centre in the rural Queensland town of Laidley. Set in a converted wooden church with colourful stained-glass windows in the heart of the town, she knows every child and every family who come through the doors.

After raising her family and a busy career in vocational and early childhood education, Kelly enrolled in Southern Cross University’s Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood) followed by a Bachelor of Education with Honours year to update her qualifications and build her knowledge and understanding of early childhood teaching.

“Southern Cross provided the programs that were accredited and were early childhood-focused. So not looking at dual areas of education, but specifically in the areas that I wanted to learn about,” Kelly said.  

“I was an online student, which fit in well with my full-time work schedule. I built great relationships with the academics and got to know them quite well. Everyone was really approachable and easy to contact if you had questions or needed support,” she said.  

She said the best thing she’s learned from working with young children is the ability to wonder.

“What children teach you is the wonder of everything. It doesn’t matter whether it’s big or small, or you see it every day, or if it’s the first time you have ever seen it. They want to learn more, to understand and to always ask the why? question.

Learn more about studying early childhood education at Southern Cross University here.

Media contact: Content & Media team content@scu.edu.au