Effective leadership influences the process quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs and therefore the academic, health and socio-emotional outcomes for children. Yet, the cultivation of leadership is impacted by the complex nature of ECEC environments and the persistent challenges therein. Complex workforce issues, inadequate preparation for positional leadership roles and few opportunities for professional development for emerging leaders challenge the growth of effective leadership and the development of sustainable leadership for the ECEC profession. This commentary gives an insight into the challenges of leadership within ECEC and leader supply and suggests leadership emergence and enactment is potentially cultivated by broadening theoretical and pragmatic propositions. Complexity leadership theory within complex adaptive systems is presented as a framework for leadership cultivation within ECEC and opportunities for leadership development are highlighted.

有效的领导力会影响幼儿教育和保育 (ECEC) 计划的过程质量，从而影响儿童的学业、健康和社会情感成果。然而，领导力的培养受到 ECEC 环境的复杂性和其中持续挑战的影响。复杂的劳动力问题、职位领导角色准备不足以及新兴领导者的专业发展机会很少，这些都对 ECEC 专业有效领导力的发展和可持续领导力的发展构成了挑战。这篇评论深入了解了 ECEC 和领导供应中的领导力挑战，并表明通过扩大理论和实用命题可能会培养领导力的出现和制定。