The Stand University of Wollongong
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Early Start Institute and the Discovery Space, a milestone the University of Wollongong (UOW) will celebrate with the Festival of Play on Monday, 4 August.
Manager of Early Start Operations Josef English is excited to welcome children and their adults for a day of engaging, research-informed programs and workshops.
“Our Festival of Play is a celebration of the right of the child to play and the importance of diverse play experiences in supporting children’s development,” Josef says.
The Discovery Space is the world’s first dedicated children’s museum on a university campus. It sits within the Early Start Institute, where researchers study everything from healthy pregnancies to language development, self-regulation and the role of digital technologies in childhood.
Professor Lisa Kervin, Early Start’s Director of Research, says every project is driven by the mission to create better futures for children. Today, Early Start is a community of more than 70 researchers and 50 doctoral students.
“The early years are a time of rapid brain development,” Lisa explains.
“All children need positive experiences and opportunities that influence their cognitive, emotional and social capacities. It’s through inclusive and playful experiences that children can flourish.”
