Play-Based Learning: The Heart of My Cubby House’s Philosophy At My Cubby House Early Learning, we believe that play is not just a way to pass time but a crucial element of early childhood development. Play-based learning stands at the heart of our educational philosophy, providing a natural and fun pathway for children to explore, understand, and engage with the world around them. What is Play-Based Learning? Play-based learning is an educational approach that uses play as the primary method for teaching and learning. It allows children to direct their own learning experiences, following their natural curiosities and interests within a structured environment provided by educators. This method supports the development of a wide range of skills from critical thinking and problem-solving to social and emotional skills. The learning environment serves as an influential third teacher, facilitating play as a critical component of the educational process. The Benefits of Play-Based Learning Play-based learning offers numerous advantages for young children. Cognitive growth is significantly enhanced as children engage in activities that challenge their thinking and problem-solving skills. Moreover, play fosters social skills, allowing children to interact with peers, learn to share, and collaborate effectively. Additionally, it boosts creativity, encouraging kids to explore, imagine, and express themselves freely. How We Implement Play-Based Learning At My Cubby House Early Learning Centre, we integrate play-based learning into our daily routines through a variety of engaging activities. Our skilled educators create an environment where children can explore and discover at their own pace. From interactive storytelling sessions to hands-on art projects, every activity is designed to stimulate learning through play. Structured Play vs. Free Play Both structured play and free play are vital components of our approach. Structured play involves planned activities guided by our educators, focusing on specific learning outcomes. In contrast, free play allows children to choose their activities, fostering independence and creativity. Balancing these two types ensures a well-rounded development experience. Outdoor Play Outdoor play is an essential element of our curriculum. Our expansive outdoor areas are equipped with safe, stimulating play structures that encourage physical activity and exploration. This not only promotes physical health but also enhances sensory development as children interact with nature. Role of Educators in Play-Based Learning Our educators play a crucial role in facilitating play-based learning. They are trained to observe children’s interests and guide their play in ways that extend learning. By asking open-ended questions and providing appropriate resources, our educators help children make connections and deepen their understanding of various concepts. Tailoring Learning to Individual Needs Recognising that each child is unique, our educators tailor activities to meet individual needs and learning styles. This personalised approach ensures that every child can thrive in our supportive environment. Creating a Supportive Environment A key aspect of our philosophy at My Cubby House is creating a supportive and nurturing environment. We provide safe spaces where children feel valued and confident to explore. Our classrooms are designed to be inviting and equipped with a variety of educational toys and materials that stimulate curiosity and learning. Parental Involvement We believe that parental involvement is crucial to a child’s learning journey. We regularly communicate with parents to keep them informed about their child’s progress and encourage them to participate in our programs. This collaboration ensures a cohesive approach to the child’s development. Join Us at My Cubby House Experience the benefits of play-based learning at My Cubby House Early Learning Centre. Our dedicated team is committed to providing an enriching environment where your child can learn, grow, and thrive through play. Contact us today at (07) 5527 1679 or visit our philosophy page to learn more about us and see how we can help your child succeed! Related links: https://mycubbyhouseearlylearning.com.au/blog/outdoor-play-and-messy-play-the-benefits-for-children/ Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Creating Daily Routines for Happier Toddlers Creating a daily routine for your toddler can lead to a happier, more stable environment for both you and your child. By establishing predictable patterns, you can help your toddler feel secure and confident. Here are some essential parenting tips for crafting effective daily routines. Consistency is Key Consistency forms the foundation of an effective routine. Toddlers thrive on predictability, which eases their anxiety and helps them feel more secure. A consistent daily schedule with regular meal times, playtimes, and bedtimes provides a framework that guides them through the day. This predictability helps toddlers to understand what to expect next, reducing tantrums and stress. Varied Daily Activities It’s important to balance various types of activities throughout your toddler’s day. Include quiet times such as reading stories or drawing, active play like running or playing in the park, and social interaction with family members or other children. This variety keeps your toddler engaged and stimulated while providing opportunities for learning and development. Learning Through Routine Daily routines are an excellent opportunity for learning. Simple activities like setting the table or sorting laundry can teach toddlers about responsibility and basic skills. Incorporate learning moments naturally into everyday tasks to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the world. Quality Time While routines are essential, they should also include designated times for parents to focus solely on their child. This could be a dedicated playtime without distractions or a bedtime story. Quality time strengthens the bond between you and your child and reinforces their sense of security and love. Incorporating Flexibility While consistency is crucial, it’s equally important to allow some flexibility within your toddler’s routine. Unexpected events or mood shifts can happen, and being too rigid can lead to frustration for both you and your child. Allowing room for spontaneous activities or rest, depending on your child’s needs on a particular day, can keep the routine more enjoyable and manageable. Positive Reinforcement Use positive reinforcement to encourage your toddler to follow the daily routine. Praise, stickers, or an extra story at bedtime can work wonders in motivating them to participate willingly in routine activities. Celebrate small successes to boost their confidence and reinforce good behaviour. Importance of Sleep Adequate sleep is essential for your toddler’s health and mood. Ensure that the routine includes a consistent bedtime with a calming pre-sleep ritual like reading a book or taking a warm bath. A well-rested toddler is happier, more cooperative, and ready to engage in activities throughout the day. Role of Meal Times Regular mealtimes are not just important for nutrition; they also provide structure to your toddler’s day. Eating together as a family whenever possible encourages social interaction and helps toddlers learn table manners. Keep mealtimes calm and enjoyable, free from distractions like television. Explore Early Learning at My Cubby House We understand the importance of structured yet flexible routines in promoting the well-being of toddlers. Our programs are designed to support this philosophy, providing children with a balanced mix of activities that foster growth and happiness. Discover more about how our tailored approaches can benefit your child by visiting our program page here. Embrace Routine for Toddler Happiness Creating and maintaining a daily routine is essential for your toddler’s emotional and physical well-being. By following these tips, you can help ensure your toddler has a fulfilling day balanced with learning, play, and rest. Interested in learning more about nurturing your toddler’s development? Contact us for expert advice and support. Embrace routine for a happier, healthier child! Related links: https://mycubbyhouseearlylearning.com.au/blog/fun-and-educational-indoor-activities/ Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Managing Screen Time: Encouraging Active Play In today’s digital age, managing children’s screen time is a growing concern for many parents. At My Cubby House Early Learning, we believe in the importance of balancing screen time with active play to promote healthy development in children. This article provides practical tips and ideas to encourage active play while effectively managing screen time. Benefits of Active Play Active play is crucial for children’s physical, social, and cognitive development. It helps build strong muscles and bones, enhances coordination and balance, and improves social skills through interaction with peers. Furthermore, active play stimulates creativity and problem-solving abilities. Why Active Play Matters: Reading is a magical gateway to new worlds for young minds. At My Cubby House, we: Social Skills: Encourages teamwork and communication. Cognitive Growth: Enhances creativity and critical thinking. For more insights on fostering active play, explore our learning environments page here. Balancing Screen Time Managing screen time is essential to ensure children do not miss out on the benefits of active play. Here are some tips to help balance screen time effectively: Set Clear Limits: Establish daily screen time limits based on age-appropriate guidelines. Create a Schedule: Include specific times for screen use and active play. Lead by Example: Model healthy screen habits as children often mimic adult behaviour. Pro Tip: Incorporate tech-free zones in your home, such as the dining area and bedrooms, to encourage family interaction and active play. Active Play Ideas for Different Age Groups For Toddlers (1-3 years) Sensory Play: Use sand, water, or textured toys. Simple Puzzles: Enhance problem-solving skills. Music and Dance: Develop motor skills through movement. For Preschoolers (3-5 years) Obstacle Courses: Improve coordination and balance. Storytelling with Props: Foster imagination and language skills. Outdoor Play: Encourage exploration and physical activity. For School-Age Children (5-8 years) Team Sports: Teach cooperation and teamwork. Creative Arts and Crafts: Boost creativity and fine motor skills. Nature Walks: Explore and learn about the environment. For more activity ideas, check out our extra-curricular programs page here. My Cubby House Early Learning Services At My Cubby House Early Learning, we prioritise play-based learning and offer a variety of extra-curricular activities that support active play. Our state-of-the-art facilities are designed to provide a safe and stimulating environment for children to grow and learn. Our Key Services Include: Individualised Learning: Tailored educational programs for each child. Qualified Educators: Experienced and dedicated staff. Comprehensive Curriculum: Includes literacy, numeracy, science, arts, and social-emotional development. Learn more about our curriculum elements and how we create a rich and engaging learning environment. Balancing screen time with active play is essential for the overall well-being of children. By incorporating the tips and activities mentioned above, you can help your child enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. We are committed to providing quality child care that promotes active play and holistic development. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can support your child’s growth and learning journey. Related links: https://mycubbyhouseearlylearning.com.au/blog/the-importance-of-play/ Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Is your child really ready for the transition to school? The time has come for your child to move on from daycare or preschool and start school. It is a lot of change, but the transition can be made easier with some preparation. This blog post will give you tips to help prepare your child for this big step in their life. Transitioning to school is all about change. Your child may see school as an unknown place with new rules, people and activities. It may also be the end of regular days filled with playtime, art projects and songs by the teacher. Instead they will be expected to sit in class quietly for most of the day while they complete work on their own. Teachers expect them to listen and follow directions without interrupting or complaining. Your child may feel anxious about all of these changes and it is up to you as the parent/guardian to make this transition easier and smoother. How can you prepare your child for the transition? Preparation will help reduce anxiety and make the change more comfortable for both you and your child. These tips should be implemented a week or two before school starts: Talk about what will happen at school Prepare the things they will need together Model good behaviour Prepare your child for separation Give your child a tour of the new school Talk with your child about what will happen at school. Let them know when they will make the transition; also talk about where they will go (classroom), who they will see (teacher, principal), and give some examples of what they will be doing (listening, playing). Prepare the things they will need together at home before the first day of school. Items might include, back packs, folders with pockets, pencil boxes, snacks for school lunches, etc. If possible, have your child help pick out these items with you. This will be an important part of making your child feel like they are a part of the transition to school. Encourage your child to follow directions from an adult they know (teacher, principal); role play at home by asking your child what you would like them to do if they start to run in the hallway or touch something that is off limits. This will decrease the chances of them misbehaving in the new environment. Prepare your child for when you need to leave them at school. Talk about why they are going to school and who will be taking care of them (teacher). Let them know that you will arrive and pick them up later on; reassure them that it won’t be long and they will see you again soon. Ask them how they feel about school and if there are any activities or subjects they would like to try (art, music). Help your child become familiar with the environment by visiting school during their first few days of class. Make it a game; watch for certain animals or colours on clothing. Point out different rooms (office, tuckshop) and ask them what they think is happening there. This will help them visualise the school, and give them a good idea of where they need to go. There are many more ways to prepare your child for the big transition from daycare or preschool to full time school; these tips should get you going in the right direction. Remember that change is hard, but having a supportive family will make it easier. If you would like any further tips on preparing your child for the transition to school, please get in touch with our team. Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
The following article discusses how loose parts can be used for teaching science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) in an innovative way. Since the beginning of time, children love to play with any objects that they can get their hands on – loose parts. This time of play is known as “free exploration”. During free exploration, children can discover properties and ways to use objects that they have never thought of before. They are also able to develop an understanding of basic scientific concepts, such as how items work and why they are the way they are. With loose parts, teachers have a wide variety of tools to use in their teaching of STEAM. Although loose parts can be used in all different types of learning, they are especially helpful when teaching the arts and sciences. During science lessons, teachers can use loose parts to investigate the properties of certain objects. For example, teachers could use different sized beads and string for children to explore how items can be sorted by their mass or length. During technology lessons, teachers can use loose parts to make children build and construct objects without the need for a printed instruction sheet. For example, teachers could make children build their own mud village using only natural resources like stones, leaves, sticks and bark to support the homes. During engineering lessons, teachers can use loose parts to make children think creatively about how they are going to design an object or model of something that does not exist yet. For example, teachers could give children a few large natural materials, such as sticks and leaves, and have them figure out the best way to support a hammock that is strung between two trees. During art lessons, teachers can use loose parts to make children express themselves through art without the need of any types of tools. For example, children could build different sculptures from soaps and clay without the need of a knife or stick to carve out shapes. In order to fully explore their creativity, teachers can allow children to decorate or paint their objects in whichever way they see fit. Lastly, during mathematics lessons, teachers can use loose parts to make children explore different concepts through discovery. For example, children could experiment with the difference between odd and even numbers by using objects that are only available in even quantities such as marbles and sticks, or odd quantities such as beads and rocks. Overall, there is not a specific way that loose parts can be used to teach STEAM. There are many different possibilities and ways that teachers can use loose parts in their classroom based on children’s interests and the overall theme of a unit. However, although there is not a set way for how loose parts should be used, it is important to remember that children learn differently from one another. Therefore, it is also important to remember that children will learn in different ways when using loose parts depending on their learning styles. To find out more, follow the links below: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/npsa-familyday-care-loose-parts.pdf https://www.learningzonechildcare.com/what-is-steam/ Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Babies and young children learn and develop through everyday hands-on experiences. Reading books and stories to your child, singing songs, and sharing rhymes can help their development in many ways. For example, reading boosts language and literacy skills, promotes creativity, and allows children to express their thoughts and emotions verbally. Acquisition of language is one of the early childhood’s most significant achievements that determines academic, personal, and professional success later in life. The Benefits of Reading Talking and reading to babies and young children promotes brain development and boosts the child’s cognitive skills. Communication between adults and children promotes social and emotional development. Reading rhymes and stories aloud to babies is one of the best ways to stimulate your child’s brain development. Reading books and stories to young children also can: Help your child expand their vocabulary Help your child learn sounds and words Increase their exposure to language and boost early literacy skills Improve their listening skills Spark your child’s imagination and creativity Spur their curiosity Provide an opportunity to bond with your child Instill a love for reading and learning Enhance memory, problem-solving, and other cognitive skills Improve your child’s communication and social skills Teach them impulse control and patience Improve your child’s attention span and ability to focus Help them distinguish between reality and make-believe Nurtures your child’s social and emotional development Teach your child about the world Promote diversity and acceptance, teaching your child about your own and other cultures Reading and Language Development Language and literacy are the backbones of a child’s future learning, and books are the best way to promote language, literacy, and speech development in babies and young children. Reading stories helps young kids learn the alphabet at a young age. It teaches them letters and enables them to learn sounds, words, and language. It develops the child’s ability to use language to express their feelings and build a strong foundation for the later abstract thinking processes. Reading to Your Child Studies show that books with many colourful images, contrast, and illustrations are the most stimulating for the baby’s brain. Here are a few tips for reading to babies and young children. Start reading to your baby from the earliest days. Make reading a part of your daily routine and share a variety of picture books, nursery rhymes, alphabet books, and any other age-appropriate books that you or your child find interesting. While reading aloud, show pictures in the book to your child, point to various objects and make sure to name them. Ask your toddler to recognise the letters of the words and the sounds each letter makes. Allow the toddler to choose the book to read Encourage preschoolers to trace and write the letters and to identify uppercase and lowercase letters. Share stories that display a variety of characters and social situations to help your child understand the emotional expression and develop empathy Key Takeaways Babies and young children enjoy books and stores. Take advantage of this natural interest to instill the love for learning. Reading and storytelling promotes brain development in infants and young children. Reading sparks creativity and imagination, promotes language and literacy development, and encourages emotional expression. Singing songs and rhymes also nurtures early literacy skills. Reading books together helps bond with your child, promoting secure attachment. Below are a number of useful resources for more information on this topic: https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/play-learning/literacy-reading-stories/reading-storytelling https://www.nytimes.com/guides/books/how-to-raise-a-reader https://www.education.vic.gov.au/documents/about/research/readtoyoungchild.pdf Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Protective Behaviours Protective Behaviours are an empowerment process that raises self‐esteem and self‐confidence and enhances assertiveness in the context of feeling safe (Rose, J 2004). It also refers to developing consciousness of the situations in which the child’s personal space and safety may be compromised, so that he or she can respond according to particular circumstances. Protective behaviours education is important for empowering young children. It focuses on teaching self-safety, self-esteem, decision making, communication, emotional management and necessary skills to identify unsafe situations. In this blog we explore ways in which can we teach young children Protective Behaviours: How to Teach Protective Behaviours Teaching protective behaviours to children is often viewed as difficult because all too often we can shy away from uncomfortable conversations. Start From Conversation It is better to start with a natural conversation and discuss what safety ‘feels like’ in situations that the child will identify with — safety when crossing the road, wearing a helmet while riding, wearing a seat belt etc. Ask Simple Questions Ask simple questions to evaluate the comprehension level of your child and to enhance their curiosity for further learning. The questions should be age-appropriate: How do you feel when you are safe? When do you feel most safe? What makes you feel safe? What makes you feel unsafe? Build Connections Connect this discussion with feelings and emotions and our physiological reactions. How do their bodies feel when they feel unsafe or afraid or something feels ‘just not right’? Discuss physical reactions such as a fast heartbeat, sick feeling in the stomach etc. Building these connections help children to identify people or situations that make them feel unsafe. Enhance Vocabulary to Convey Feelings Children should be able to understand their feelings first and then have words to convey them. To enhance this, it is important to create opportunities for children to speak openly about their feelings. Not only will this help them to let you know when they have had experiences where they have felt unsafe, it will also improve their communication skills and even self esteem. Teach How to Ask For Help It is important that your child feels safe in asking for help. To facilitate this, identify a number of ‘Safe Adults’ – adults with whom the child feels safe and can easily talk to. It is then important to encourage the child to talk to these ‘Safe Adults’, without hesitation, about any situation where they feel or have felt unsafe. How MCH promotes Protective Behaviours My Cubby House Early Learning promotes the importance of teaching children protective behaviours through group discussions, Storytime, and Social stories. We discuss with the children about 5 ‘Safety Hands’, where they can name 5 people they can trust and turn to for help when they feel unsafe. We talk about the butterfly feelings that they feel in their tummies that signals to them that they are feeling unsafe in a situation. Raising awareness of signs of feeling unsafe helps children understand and make safe choices and ask for help. Water, fire, Road, Insect and snake safety lessons are also incorporated and implemented as part of the My Cubby House Protective Behaviours programs. We also offer Braveheart-Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show that teaches children protective behaviour strategies and about personal safety in a fun, interactive and engaging way. https://bravehearts.org.au/ Exploring and teaching Protective Behaviours should not be treated as a ‘one off’ conversation. These conversations should be part of the ongoing education of your child so that they understand what feeling and being safe means and how they can seek help if needed. Keeping Kids Safe Resources The Daniel Morcombe Foundation provide a number of great video resources to help you to facilitate this important child safety education: https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/ Sources: Freda Briggs – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freda_BriggsGelenter, C., Riley, B., & Prescott, N. (2017). Teaching Protective Behaviours to Young Children: First Steps to Safety Programme. Routledge.Rose, J. (2004). Protective Behaviours: safety, confidence, and self‐esteem. Journal of Public Mental Health. Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Sept 1st is MCH Educators Day! It is a day when we recognise and thank our amazing educators for their tireless dedication to the care and education of the children in our care! Thank you for all that you do! Here is a little video to show our appreciation! Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
We found this great resource from Red Nose Australia about the best bedding to ensure your baby is safe while sleeping. Overheating is one of the major risk factors for SIDS and SUDI, but how do you know how much or what sort of bedding to use to keep baby both warm and safer while sleeping? This information can help. Key points on how much bedding should be placed on baby in a sleeping environment Dress baby and use layers as you would dress or use layers yourself: to be comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold. Research has shown that baby’s risk of dying suddenly and unexpectedly is increased if baby is sleeping on the tummy and that risk is even further increased if baby is sleeping on the tummy under heavy bedding or if baby’s head becomes covered by bedding in any position. Babies manage heat loss very efficiently when placed on the back to sleep with the head uncovered. Sleep baby on the back and keep baby’s head uncovered during sleep to reduce baby’s risk of sudden unexpected death. Make up baby’s bed so baby sleeps at the bottom of the cot and the blankets can only reach as far as baby’s chest, ensuring baby cannot move down during sleep and get his/her head covered by bedding. Consider using a safe baby sleeping bag (one with fitted neck, armholes or sleeves and no hood). Dress baby for sleep and add/remove lightweight blankets to ensure baby’s back or tummy feels comfortably warm to the touch. Remove hats, bonnets, beanies and hooded clothing from baby’s head as soon as baby is indoors. Overheating Since the introduction of public health programs promoting ‘back-to-sleep’ to reduce the risk of SUDI, there has been a significant reduction in the number of babies dying suddenly and unexpectedly.1 However, tragically, around 113 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year in Australia2 and it is important to keep following evidence-based recommendations on ways to avoid risk factors related to baby’s sleep environment.3-4 The association between overheating and SUDI has been known for several years particularly if baby’s head is covered.5-8 Current research confirms that if your baby becomes too hot, the risk of SUDI is increased.9 Overheating can be caused by room heating, high body temperature, excessive clothing or bedding and head covering.10 To reduce the risk of this, Red Nose recommends that you, as baby’s parent or carer, use your own judgement, taking into account factors such as where you live (climate, whether it is summer or winter), whether you have heating in the house, and whether baby has a cold or minor illness (which may cause their temperature to rise). A useful guide is to dress baby as you would dress yourself: to be comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold. If baby has a minor illness and has a temperature it is common for parents or carers to overdress baby for sleep11 but in fact, fewer bedclothes should be used or, at times, none at all. If parents or carers are worried that baby is ill they should talk to their baby’s doctor and have the baby assessed. Both hyperthermia (unusually high body temperature) and hypothermia (unusually low body temperature) are important to avoid during infancy.8 Baby’s face and head should always remain uncovered. Baby’s head (particularly the face) is the main route for heat loss.12 Overheating has been found to be related to SUDI and the risk of overheating is increased if baby is sleeping on the tummy.5 This is especially dangerous if baby is under heavy bedding as, if baby should roll over onto the tummy, then the risk of overheating is even further increased. In fact, research has shown that babies sleeping on the tummy are at ten-fold the risk of SUDI while sleeping in a heated room.6 Increased temperature has been shown to alter infant physiology by increasing respiratory and heart rate and in some studies the frequency of central apnoeas. Increased temperature, whether due to head covering or by increasing room temperature depresses arousal responses and reduces autonomic control of heart rate.13-16 Both impaired respiratory control, arousal from sleep and autonomic cardiovascular control have been implicated in the final mechanism of SIDS.9,17 Bedding for babies who have a cold Research has shown that babies with symptoms of a common cold are often given more bedding than they need due to care giver concerns that babies showing signs of a cold need to be kept very warm.11 In fact, providing assistance to babies with a common cold to effectively regulate their temperature is very important. This can be best achieved by placing them on the back to sleep with the head uncovered and removing some bedding or clothing. If baby is overly warm to touch, or showing signs of heat stress (irritability, looking unwell, floppy, drier skin, refusing to drink or having fewer wet nappies than usual) then see your doctor or health professional immediately. Can we say exactly how many blankets to use when baby is placed to bed? The simple answer is – No. Red Nose recommend that rather than state how many bedclothes can be safely placed on a baby, parents can work out the amount of bedding to be used after considering these factors: The room temperature where baby is sleeping. How hot does the baby feel? A good way to check baby’s temperature is to feel baby’s back or tummy (don’t worry if baby’s hands and feet feel cool – this is normal). Whether the baby has a cold or infection or another special need. Consider how many layers that you as the baby’s carer are wearing comfortably. Sleeping baby in a safe baby sleeping bag: one designed especially for baby with fitted neck and armholes and no hood, has a number of features that help baby sleep safely. Research has shown that sleeping bag use will reduce the risk of bedclothes covering the baby’s face, will delay baby rolling onto the tummy during sleep until baby is past the age of peak risk of
At My Cubby House we believe that by creating and providing a sustainable environment where our children will learn to care and appreciate their world. We embed sustainable practices every day in all relevant learning areas. Sustainability education can be fun, engaging and empowering for children. It allows them to take responsibility for their actions and to contribute their vision for a sustainable future. In our centre some of the practices the educators and children follow: • Turning off all lights and air-conditioners when no one is in the rooms • Turning taps off • Using the half flush on the toilets • Recycle • Used recycled materials in play and learning • Reduce food wastage • Purchase locally • Grow our own vegetables • and much more!!! • Sustainability is more than gardening and turning off taps. All life on Earth depends on the environment. Sustainability is the idea that humans must interact with the environment in a way that ensures there will be enough resources left for future generations. In addition to our daily practices we provide fun monthly sustainability themes that the rooms incorporate into their teaching. We are currently having a look at pollution for the month of May. The children have enjoyed sensory play in the water seeing how our local waterways all are interconnected and if one gets polluted, so do the neighbouring waterways. Another pollutant is landfill which we begin learning what we can recycle instead. The children have thoroughly enjoyed this theme. Check out your rooms daily stories and the Sustainability monthly newsletter on Storypark and have a look at the cool pictures! For the month of June we go into the “Under the Sea” theme. Educators are excited and have some wonderful learning opportunities for the children. My Cubby House collaborates with some incredible community programs to provide a wider range of learning opportunities for our children. We have the wonderful Nikki from the Kids in the Garden program on Monday’s in the tractor yard. Nikki has a world of knowledge and also helped teach us how to use a worm farm to provide quality fertilizer for our gardens. On the 2nd of June we were delighted to bring the RecycleMan Show to the centre where we get to learn about the importance of recycling. We LOVE our families involvement and support! Thank you to all the families who support our big ideas. Our families have been helping us create the new boatyard garden beds and donating all of the Woolworths Discovery Garden seeds! The children had a blast growing them. We appreciate any recycled donations from families as we use many materials in our rooms for creative learning. Items like bread clips, bottle lids, jars, alfoil and cling wraps rolls all have open possibilities of fun! Please talk to your child’s teacher if you would like to donate. “No job is too big, and no job is too small. The care of our Earth is a job for all of us”. Kirsten Webber – MCH Sustainability Champion. If you have any questions about our approach to sustainability, or would like to be involved in some way, please contact our office on 07 5527 1679 Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.