Glen Education Aspendale North 

Balancing Technology with Children’s Rights at Glen Aspendale North Kindergarten 

By Glen Education Aspendale North Kindergarten

At Glen Aspendale North Kindergarten, technology is a valuable tool that supports children’s learning, creativity, and self-expression. Cameras and iPads allow children to document their learning, create digital stories, and reflect on their experiences. While these tools enrich the curriculum, we are committed to balancing their use with children’s rights — particularly their right to consent to the use of their image and the security of their information. 

Respecting Children’s Right to Consent 

Empowering children to have a voice is a key part of our philosophy and reflects the Child Safe Standards, which require services to ensure that children understand their rights and are supported to express them. At Glen Aspendale North Kindergarten, we model this daily. Before taking a photo or video, we ask children for permission, which teaches them that they have control over their image and helps build their sense of autonomy. For example, an educator might say, “Would you like me to take a photo of your painting to share with your family?” If a child declines, that choice is always respected. 

This practice extends to peer interactions. When children take photos of other children, educators remind them to always ask for consent first, reinforcing that everyone has the right to decide how their image is used. Over time, children develop an understanding of how their images might be shared and gain confidence in saying yes or no. 

This commitment is outlined in our Glen Education Organisational Risk Assessment, which states that ‘children must be asked for permission before any photos are taken and that they are supported to understand how their images will be used and published’. 

Prioritising Safety and Security 

Keeping children safe is our first priority. In line with our Organisational Risk Assessment, all visitors to the kindergarten are required to hold a Working With Children Checkand must notify the kindergarten and management of their visit, either verbally or in writing. 

At the service, no personal mobile devices — including smart watches — are used in the kindergarten room. Only secure, service-owned iPads are available for educators and children to use under supervision. These devices are carefully managed to ensure that photos and videos are stored securely and used responsibly. 

For sharing updates with families, we use Kinderloop, a secure platform with password-protected access. Only educators and the families of children featured can view the content, ensuring that information and images are kept private and not shared widely. 

Intentional and Balanced Use of Technology 

At our service, technology is always used intentionally to enhance, not replace, the play-based learning that is central to our program. Children may use an iPad to document their block construction or to photograph seasonal changes in the garden, but their day is predominantly spent engaging in collaborative, hands-on experiences. 

We regularly reflect on how technology is used to ensure it remains a supportive tool.  

A Shared Commitment 

Balancing the benefits of technology with the rights of children is a shared responsibility between educators, families, and the community. Guided by the Child Safe Standards and our Organisational Risk Assessment, we ensure that our practices keep children safe, respect their voices, and empower them to be active participants in decisions that affect them. In doing so we provide an environment where children can explore technology with confidence, and where their privacy and rights are protected.