For the first time in 53 years, the ABC show Play School has tackled the issue directly with a new episode about beginnings and endings.

Presenter Emma Palmer wrote the episode and said it was a sensitive topic that experts felt needed to be properly addressed.
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In this very special episode, Play School is celebrating new life, and also reflecting on the love we have for those who are no longer with us and have died. There are times to play, laugh, sing and have fun, and there are also times to be sad and treasure our memories of people and pets we miss.

Emma introduces us to a friend's newborn baby (and has some exciting news herself!) and Alex shares how he and his family remember his grandmother.
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Through stories and play, we explore ways to help children through what can be challenging times. It's time to talk about the beginnings and endings of life on Play School.

Notes for families and educators
The Notes for Families and Educators contain detailed information about themes explored in Beginnings and Endings (including information on how to support children in times of grief), details of all of the songs and books featured in the episode, and loads of additional resources to further explore the themes in the special.

The Play School team have identified key topics that are of concern to families living with pre-school children and collaborated with specialists within the early childhood sector to create one off Play School Specials. Beginnings and Endings has been crafted to help families explain the cycle of life and the concept of death in an age appropriate way.
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The Beginnings and Endings episode has been made in consultation with the National Centre for Childhood Grief, who worked with the Play School team throughout the development of the show. The centre recognised that there is currently very little available to help children experiencing grief and that introducing the subject in a gentle, safe environment, as this episode is doing, is a great way to help children start to understand life and death.

 When we lose loved ones, we often find comfort in old photos that capture their memory. To preserve and properly care for your photos, there are some specific steps to follow.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia lists the best way to care for and preserve old photographs.
Caring for Photographs 

Some simple tips

• It's safer to display photos in metal frames, as wooden frames can leak harmful vapours and provide a home for insects.
• Ensure your photo frames are out of direct sunlight. Frame copies and keep originals in archival boxes.
• Black and white photos will last longer than colour image prints.
• Don't pull apart scrapbooks and albums. They tell a story and often include the handwriting of the person who made them.

Every December we have a brief look at the well known people who lost their lives. In 2016 we lost some exceptional people. Here is a few Aussies:

Around the world there were deaths of people who made their name in sports, film and TV, music and space travel.