School readiness is sometimes misunderstood as being able to read, write and do basic maths before starting school. But this isn’t the case! School readiness includes the development of the whole child’s skills that develop over time from a child’s birth through school admission age. School readiness comprises the areas of social-emotional, communication skills, basic health, fine motor skills cognitive, language, literacy, and physical development. Kids cannot feel comfortable at school if they haven’t developed the skills to manage things like getting along with other kids, following instructions, and communicating their needs. Remember, every child develops at their own pace and has his own strengths, interests, nature and attitude to learning so don’t worry if your child doesn’t establish all of the ‘school readiness’ skills and behaviours defined above. Domains of school readiness An additional feature of how the idea of school readiness has broadened relates to the developmental domains considered related to a child’s school readiness. These are now understood to involve all aspects of early childhood development. The domains include: Physical health and well-being Social information and competence Emotional maturity Language and intellectual development General knowledge and communication skills Our aim at My Cubby House Early Learning is to motivate children and promote a teaching method that fits each child rather than trying to fit the child into the program. We aim at building children’s confidence-level and encourage a love of learning. To ensure that children have the best head start and have learned all the skills essential for BIG SCHOOL. Starting primary school is an important time in the lives of kids and their families. It’s about the little steps, the small accomplishments that boost kids to strive, learn and challenge themselves. A teaching program that is flexible and accommodates all children and learning styles. ‘School readiness’ in children includes many different skills and behaviours and how we can help our little one get ready for starting school. Social skills Social skills mean getting along with other kids, to demonstrate basic manners, assert themselves, and support them to be able to play independently as well as with other kids. The specific social skills for your child to learn before starting school to share and take turns. It is important for your child to learn to eat with other people. Little kids learn best through play! This gives your little one the chance to develop their social skills. Emotional and social maturity Being able to manage their emotions, cope with minimal adult contact in large groups, focus on tasks, follow directions and instructions from teachers, cope with the stress of the new school environment, and understand the rules. Developing self-control, building problem-solving skills, forming relationships with others and recognising feelings in yourself and others. When children are better able to form and maintain friendships when they develop strong social-emotional skills, and better able to focus attention on learning. Language skills Language skills mean that the child can talk and listen to adults and other children, speak clearly, communicate needs, understand stories, and begin to identify some letters and sounds. Read with your child as often as possible. If a child has some reading skills already, that’s great! And if he is having some difficulty or has delayed reading skills, they will be taught how to read at school. Read books, stories and sight words with your little one, talk to them about the story, point out new words, and ask questions as this will help with their comprehension, vocabulary and language skills. Cognitive Skills Cognitive skills mean to have simple number concept, basic thinking skills, being able to wait and take turns. Help your child develop a basic awareness of numbers by helping out around the home. They could set the table, count plates or glasses, match socks from the washing line or measure the ingredients for some baking. Basic health, fine motor skills, the grasping skills like gripping a pencil and turning pages in a book, physical coordination (being able to run, jump, climb, and play ball). Plan outdoor play: jumping, swinging, running and playing on climbing apparatus. Let your child practice drawing with a range of different materials, such as pencils and colours to help develop their fine motor skills and remember to admire their efforts! School Readiness Checklist There are many different versions of the school readiness checklist to indicate if your child is ready for the classroom. There are many ways we can assess our kids are as ready as they can be for school, and the sooner you start training them, the better. Your child doesn’t need to master these areas but you should be working towards developing the skills and abilities on our school readiness checklist. You will be preparing your child and see if her or she: Manages routines, like going to the toilet, brushing teeth, and dress self Chooses what activities to learn and play, Takes turns and shares with others, Expresses feelings and why they feel a certain way, Solves problems, like finishing a puzzle, Shares their learning ideas and discoveries with others, Can tend to their own needs, Recognises their own belongings, Has developed positive peer relationship, Can accept guidance or direction from an adult. If you would like further information on how we approach school readiness for your child, please call us 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.
While there is no strict definition of what makes a child a fussy eater, it’s something educators and parents should know how to tackle – and in rare cases it might be a sign of an underlying condition, Dr Jennifer Cohen a paediatric clinical dietitian at UNSW Medicine has said. Dr Cohen has been working in childhood nutrition for more than 15 years, specialising in paediatric oncology nutrition – children’s diets during cancer treatment. As the mother of a six -year-old and eight-year-old, Dr Cohen also acknowledges that fussy eating can be part of regular childhood development. “It’s actually normal for a child to go through a fussy eating stage; up to 50 per cent of kids between one to two years old will be fussy eaters at some stage. We call that behavioural fussy eating and the theory behind why it happens is at that age is that their growth has slowed down,” Dr Cohen said. “A child’s body is focusing on more mental development – talking, walking, becoming physically active. The theory is kids don’t need as much food – they’re not as hungry because they’re not growing as much” she explained. A related theory is that while so much brain development is happening, the sensory system “almost shuts down” and because eating is such a sensory experience – involving taste, touch, smell, sound – “if your brain is occupied with other tasks rather than the senses, food just doesn’t taste as good or is not as enjoyable as it used to be” Dr Cohen noted. For educators, this means that when they are working with the one to two-year-old age group, they are also working with the “perfect storm” of factors leading to behavioural fussy eating. “To add to the changes going on in their body, we also have a toddler’s assertiveness to consider: it’s like trying to get your child dressed and to put their shoes on – the more you want them to do it, the less likely they’re going to comply,” she said. On the basis of these factors, Dr Cohen said, it’s not unusual for a child who used to eat everything – textured and solid foods – to suddenly become a fussy eater at one to two years of age. What’s considered fussy? Although there’s no formal definition of fussy eating, a generally accepted understanding is that if a child is eating a low variety of foods (fewer than 20 different foods) or if they are removing entire food groups such as vegetables and meat, they are considered to be a fussy eater. In addition, there is a difference between children who were fussy eaters from the moment they started on solid foods, including those who tended to remove foods but never went back to eating them, and children who changed their eating habits in line with the conditions outlined above. “A child starts eating solid foods from four to six months old and they might take pureed food, but some can never take more than puree. Potentially, that’s because they haven’t learnt how to chew and swallow. If a child hasn’t learnt that, they will be unable to take more solid foods,” she said. “There are multiple reasons why a child has not learnt how to chew and swallow; for example, some kids are highly sensitive to smells or touch and because food is such a sensory experience, eating certain foods might be unpleasant to them.” While there are many reasons for fussy eating, for children who are fussy from day one, there are more likely to be other factors at play, she added. Health implications of fussy eating Dr Cohen said about 10 per cent of children never grew out of fussy eating and remained picky eaters into adulthood. “It’s an unfortunate number, but fussy eating can persist and it can become a problem if it turns into food aversion and that leads to food phobia. If someone has food phobia they are scared of food and to reverse that is very difficult. Sensory issues are also a challenge to rectify,” she said. It is rare for fussy eating to hinder a child’s growth or develop into a condition as serious as scurvy, for example, which is a disease caused by nutritional deficiency of vitamin C from not eating fruit or vegetables. “Generally, fussy eaters will still consume enough calories – they’re just not getting it from a good variety of food. So, the more common scenario in fussy eaters is to see things like nutrient deficiencies; for example, iron or zinc deficiencies can be a big problem or, if a child is not eating meat or dairy, they could become deficient in vitamin B12,” Dr Cohen said. Paediatricians or dieticians usually detected such nutrient deficiencies before they developed into a bigger problem, she continued, however, and they advised at-risk children to take multivitamin supplements. Tips to prevent fussy eating While fussy eating is part of normal childhood development, there are some suggestions to try to ensure it does not become a habit. Pureed food is optional: Introduce textured and finger foods to children when they start eating solids – for example, bite-size pieces of soft fruit and vegetables. Or, skip pureed food altogether – omitting or quickly moving on from it will help a child’s development. Never mask flavours: Introduce children to a good variety of flavours and don’t combine flavours. For example, avoid making a savoury, spicy or aromatic food more appealing by adding sweetness because then a child will prefer sweet flavours. Avoid negativity: Never force children to eat food they reject because negative reinforcement and “just take one more bite” messaging about food could potentially lead to food aversion. The same tip applies to describing food as “healthy/unhealthy” or “good/bad” and using food as a reward – for example, saying: “if you eat your vegetables you can have dessert” – because this demonises one food while it puts another food on a pedestal. Placing too much
No one would deny that 2020 has been a very tough year. While the instances of COVID-19 have thankfully decreased in Queensland, the mental, emotional and financial toll it has taken on many in our community will continue to be felt for some time. With World Mental Health day happening on the 10th of October, we thought that we would share some useful resources for those in our community seeking mental health support for either yourself, your child or a loved one during this time. Of course, if you need immediate support, please do reach out to us. We are always here to lend an ear and can point you in the right direction to get the support you may require. Black Dog Institute Black Dog Institute is a medical research institute in Australia that investigates mental health across the lifespan, with the aim of creating a mentally healthier world for everyone. They do this through ‘translational’ research. Integrating their research studies, education programs, digital tools and apps, clinical services, and public resources to discover new solutions, foster connections and create real-world change. Below are a few links that we felt might be useful: Working from home: A checklist to support your mental health Coronavirus – Reassuring your child about the unknown The Blackdog Institute Online Free Mental Health Assessment Tool MCH staff are participating in the One Foot Forward fundraising initiative created by Black Dog Institute. If you would like to support our team and help to raise money for this worthy cause, please click here. eMHprac – E Mental Health in Practice eMHPrac has compiled a directory of Australian, evidence-based, free (or low-cost), publicly funded digital mental health programs and resources, ranging from apps, to crisis helplines, to self-guided online programs. Browse their online support directory Managing your mental health online during COVID-19 Beyond Blue – Healthy Families Healthy Families is all about giving you the information, knowledge and confidence to support the young people in your life – whether you’re a parent, guardian, grandparent, a favourite uncle or an awesome auntie. We’re also here to help you take care of your own mental health and wellbeing, especially if you’re a new parent or about to become one. Mental Health – what to look for in children 1 – 5 Dad Stress Test World Health Organisation Below are links to a number of resources provided by the World Health Organisation to help you manage your mental health during the pandemic. Looking after our mental health Free e-Book for children about COVID – My Hero is You Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
This year as part of Child Protection Week, My Cubby House is participating in online safety lessons for our pre-prep children to raise protective behaviours & awareness. This important information has been developed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation – ‘Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson’ – and will be linked to our school readiness program. For information about these lessons, including information about what you can do at home and the conversations you can have with your children, download this Parent / Carer Guide. If you have any questions at all, please call the 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.
With Book Week starting on the 24th of August, we thought we would share a great article from https://raisingchildren.net.au/ about the importance of reading books to your children. Why reading books is important for kids Sharing stories, talking and singing every day helps your child’s development in lots of ways. Reading and sharing stories can: help your child get to know sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills learn to value books and stories spark your child’s imagination and stimulate curiosity help your child’s brain, social skills and communication skills develop help your child learn the difference between ‘real’ and ‘make-believe’ help your child understand change and new or frightening events, and also the strong emotions that can go along with them. Sharing stories with your child doesn’t mean you have to read. Just by looking at books with your child, you can be a great storyteller and a good model for using language and books. Your child will learn by watching you hold a book the right way and seeing how you move through the book by gently turning the pages. Reading stories with children has benefits for grown-ups too. The special time you spend reading together promotes bonding and helps to build your relationship. Storytelling and songs Reading isn’t the only way to help with your child’s language and literacy development. Telling stories, singing songs and saying rhymes together are also great activities for early literacy skills – and your child will probably have a lot of fun at the same time. Sometimes your child might enjoy these activities more than reading. You might like to make up your own stories or share family stories. Your child will learn words and develop language skills from the songs, stories and conversations you share together. Reading to your child in other languages You can read, sing and tell stories with your child in whatever language you feel most comfortable speaking. Using a language you’re comfortable with helps you to communicate more easily and helps to make reading, singing and storytelling more fun for you both. Your child will still learn that words are made up of different letters, syllables and sounds, and that words usually link to the pictures on the page. Don’t worry if English isn’t your child’s first language. Being bilingual actually helps your child learn English when she starts playgroup, kindergarten or school. Dual-language books are a great resource, and many children’s books are published in two languages. If you speak a language other than English at home, reading dual-language books with your child might also help you become more familiar with English. Another option is to read a book aloud in English or listen to an audio book in English and then talk about the story with your child in whatever language feels most comfortable. When to read, sing and tell stories with your child Bedtime, bath time, potty time, on the train, on the bus, in the car, in the park, in the pram, in the cot, when you’re in the GP’s waiting room … any time is a good time for a story! You can make books part of your daily routine – take them with you to share and enjoy everywhere. Knowing when to stop can be just as important as finding the time to share a story in the first place. Pay attention to your child’s reaction to the story, and stop if he isn’t enjoying it this time. You can always try a book, song or story at another time. If you don’t have a book or can’t make up a story on the spot, don’t worry. There are many other ways you and your child can share letters, words and pictures. For example, you can look at: packages at home or in the supermarket, especially food packaging clothing – what does it say on the t-shirt? What colour is it? letters and notes – what do they say? Who sent them? signs or posters in shops, or on buses and trains – point out signs that have the same letters as your child’s name menus – it can be fun for older children to look at menus and work out what they want to eat. Tips for sharing books with babies and young children Make a routine and try to share at least one book every day. A reading chair where you’re both comfortable can become part of your reading routine. Turn off the TV or radio, and find a quiet place to read so your child can hear your voice. Hold your child close or on your knee while you read, so she can see your face and the book. Try out funny noises and sounds – play and have fun! Involve your child by encouraging talk about the pictures, and by repeating familiar words and phrases. Let your toddler choose the books when he’s old enough to start asking – and be prepared to read his favourite books over and over again! If you have older children, they can share books with your younger children, or you can all read together. Taking turns, asking questions and listening to the answers are all important skills that will help your child when she starts learning to read. What sort of books to read with your child There are so many books to choose from that it can be hard to know where to start. As a broad rule, young children often enjoy books, songs and stories that have good rhyme, rhythm and repetition. In fact, one of the ways that children learn is through repetition and rhyme. Choose books that are the right length for your child and that match your child’s changing interests. For a guide to what might suit your child, you might like to look at the following articles: Reading with babies from birth Reading with babies from 12 months Reading with toddlers Reading with preschoolers. You can also vary the books and printed materials you read. Picture
Dear Families, As you may have seen in the media, the arrangements under this Relief Package are now scheduled to conclude at midnight 12 July 2020. We are therefore getting ready for the return of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Over the past few months, we have experienced numerous changes in terms of child attendance. We may have changed the timing of care sessions for your child or perhaps your child has not attended our service since the health crisis began to unfold. To help us move beyond the current arrangements, we are asking all families to get in touch with us to discuss your ongoing attendance needs (ie. number of days, hours, etc). We will then be able to confirm bookings and enrolments and calculate an estimation of the gap fees payable each fortnight – this will include the latest CPI increase to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). In some cases, you may need to confirm this new enrolment through your MyGov account. Below is a statement to families from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, which we urge you to act upon, in order to ensure that you continue to receive the CCS beyond 13 July. If you received Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for 2018-2019 you are required to confirm your income with Centrelink. This includes CCS paid directly to you and CCS paid on your behalf to your childcare provider. Most parents have already confirmed their income, but if you haven’t, do it now. If you don’t confirm your income by 30 June 2020, your CCS will stop on 13 July 2020. To confirm your income with Centrelink, you and your partner need to either: lodge your tax returns with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) complete an ‘Advise non-lodgement of tax return’ in your Centrelink online account through myGov or your Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. If you’ve already confirmed your family income for 2018-2019, there’s nothing else you need to do. From 13 July onwards, our service will reintroduce fees. As per our Payment of Fees Policy, fees are payable in advance of your child’s attendance. Invoices will therefore be sent out from 29/7/2020. To ensure a smooth transition back to CCS, please do not hesitate to speak with management personally to discuss any of the above. We appreciate that the employment and income of some families has changed, and we encourage you to speak with our team to ensure that you are receiving all of the subsidies to which you are entitled, taking into considerations options such as the ‘relaxed’ Activity Test, as well as the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) for Temporary Financial Hardship. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support during the past few difficult months. We are excited to return to the ‘new normal’ and look forward to focussing our attention on educating and caring for your children. Kind regards, Catherine Morato Centre Manager Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
Art is not only a hobby, but an essential part of a child’s early education. Kids like to paint, draw and scribble! Half the time they don’t give any thought to what they are actually drawing, does this matter? No, because they are just having fun, being creative and learning new skills! So, let them finger-paint, scribble with pencils and crayons, sprinkle the glitter and smear paint all over the paper. They enjoy it! While it may just look like kids are just making a mess left for you to clean up, they are actually learning. They are developing new skills, while… Counting the pieces of torn up paper, learning and discovering new colours, joining new materials together and boosting their confidence by feeling good about what they have created! Three ways art helps a child learn: Mental development: creative activities let children learn new things in their own fun way. Children can learn shapes, colours, textures, basic numeracy and measurements through art. Another great way for teaching children is to ask them questions about what they have created, so they can also develop their language skills. Ask them about the shapes and colours they have used. Physical development: art can increase a child’s fine motor skills as they can learn how to cut and tear paper, hold a paintbrush and also how to correctly hold pencils. Children can learn many important developmental skills through art. Creative development: art increases a child’s capacity to think and allows them to draw and create anything they want. They get to experiment with new materials, colours and objects. Art allows them to make their own decisions! Art is crucial for all these developmental areas, plus it allows them to express themselves freely. Creativity forms new connections and develops the right side of the brain, which is important for a child as they grow. Art builds and promotes: Creativity Neural connections Writing Fine motor skills Problem-solving Self-exploration Overall, art is a fun activity that allows children to collaborate together learning social skills and other important skills! At My Cubby House Early Learning Centre, children have fun filled days creating art, taking part in physical activities, socialising with other children and learning new things. Our friendly educators work together to create rich learning opportunities that we offer to toddlers from six weeks old through to pre-prep at six years of age. For more information on our childcare centre or for enquiries, please contact us on 07 5527 1679 or please click here. Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
The Child Care Subsidy (CSS) is the sole means-tested subsidy available to assist families with the cost of child care. As of July 2018, the CCS is the only means-tested subsidy to help families cover the cost of child care. It replaced both the Child Care Benefit (CCB) and the Child Care Rebate (CCR). Because of this change, low-income families in particular will be better off as a result, with the subsidy rate increased and the annual cap or limit on Government support also abolished. But how much are you eligible for, and what else do you need to know? Who can use the subsidy? The CCS means that the Government will pay part of your child care fees directly to your child care provider, reducing how much you have to pay. But to get this payment assistance, you need to meet a few criteria. According to the Department of Human Services, you may be eligible to receive the payment if: You care for your child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care You are liable for any fees you pay to approved child care service You or your partner are living in Australia, AND are either an Australian citizen, have a permanent visa, have a Special Category Visa, a certain temporary visa type You child must also meet criteria, including: Under the age of 13 Or if they have a disability, between the ages of 14-18 Some families can get additional payments if you’re either a grandparent, transitioning to work, or currently undergoing temporary financial hardship. Video embed <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/tUGMgTNcLiw” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe> Or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUGMgTNcLiw How much can you get? The amount of subsidy you are eligible to receive will depend on your circumstances, as the CCS is means tested. Overall, it depends on three main factors: your combined family income, the hourly rate cap, the hours of “activity” you and your partner do. Family income The lower your income, the greater share of your child care costs are covered. The table below outlines a rough estimate. Combined Family Income Subsidy received as a % of fee charged (up to hourly rate cap) $0 to $66,958 85% Above $66,958 to below $171,958 Decreasing to 50%* $171,958 to below $251,248 50% $251,248 to below $341,248 Decreasing to 20%* $341,248 to below $351,248 20% $351,248 or more 0% In addition, if your family earns $188,163 or less, there will not be a cap on your subsidy, which means there will not be a point where your subsidy runs out each financial year. Hourly rate cap Because different types of child care charge different fees, the Government has placed a rate cap – the amount of the child care fee the subsidy applies to – on different types of child care. Therefore, depending on the type of child care you use, you may be eligible for different amounts. The table below outlines these caps. Type of child care Maximum number of hours of subsidy per fortnight Centre Based Day Care – long day care and occasional care $11.77 Family Day Care $10.90 Outside School Hours Care $10.29 In Home Care (per family) $25.48 (per family) As a long day care service, the hourly rate cap for My Cubby House Early Learning is $11.77. Level of recognised activity Depending in the amount of activity – i.e. paid work, unpaid work in a family business, unpaid work experience or unpaid internships, approved course of education, professional development, or volunteering – you will be eligible for a different subsidy amount. The more hours of activity you undertake, the more hours of childcare your subsidy applies to. The table below highlights the various levels of subsidy entitlement. Hours of activity per fortnight Maximum number of hours of subsidy per fortnight Less than 8 per fortnight 0 hours if you earn above $68,163 or 24 hours if you earn below $68,163 8-16 per fortnight 36 hours 16-48 per fortnight 72 hours 48+ per fortnight 100 hours How can I claim my payment? To claim your payment, the simplest way is to do it online using your myGov account. Otherwise you can claim via phone by calling the families line on 136 150. To make your claim as smooth as possible, make sure to have some supporting documentation at the ready. The most common types of documentation include: Financial – e.g. tax file number, bank statements, savings and superannuation Education – e.g. enrolment details, academic transcripts Work – e.g. income tax returns, PAYG certificates, payslips Living – e.g. housing arrangements, rent certificate, rates notices Relationships – citizenship or visa details Child care – e.g. birth certificates of child, medical reports, medical certificates How to calculate my subsidy? Clearly, there are a number of factors that will affect how much of the CCS you’re entitled to. If you have any questions related to the CCS eligibility requirements you can visit the Department of Human Services website here. Similarly, to get an estimate of the CCS subsidy you’re most likely to receive, you can the Goodstart early learning subsidy estimator. If you have any further questions about the Child Care Subsidy and how it applies to your family, don’t hesitate to contact us at My Cubby House Early Learning Centre. 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From an early age, there are a few child developmental milestones and stages, each with important signs to check your child is on track. When it comes to your baby growing up, there are a few major development milestones and stages that every parent looks forward to, from taking their first steps to smiling and waving “bye-bye” for the first time. But these are just some of the more obvious milestones. From birth to around 5 years old, there are many important signs to look out for in the way they play, learn, speak and move that indicate your child is developing on the right track. In this blog, we highlight a few of the key development stages and the milestones to look out for. The stages outlined here are part of the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards. It’s important to keep in mind that a child’s learning path is ongoing, and each individual will progress towards outcomes in different ways and that learning doesn’t always happen in a straight line. Birth to 4 Months The first 4 months can be some of the most exciting, if not sleep-depriving, moments of raising your child. During this stage, you’ll get past the newborn phase and start to get a better sense of your baby’s personality. They’ll begin to gain better control over their bodies, for example being able to support their head upright, and will develop a strong sucking reflex. Key milestones: Baby turns their head to the side when the cheek is touched Responds to some gentle touching and cuddling or light rocking Begins to roll side to side Smiles and laughs Shows excitement at being fed Some of the warning signs at this stage include: Arching of the back Does not start to make sounds Not responding to familiar faces or sounds 4 to 8 Months By the time your baby reaches 4 months old, they’ll be starting to understand both themselves and you better. They’ll know when you call their name, and recognise your voice. Over this period, they should begin to become more curious about the surroundings and look to start communicating with others. Key milestones: Attempts to sit on their own Starts crawling movements using hands and feet, aka the “commando crawl” Recognises familiar people Swipes at nearby hanging objects Enjoys games Some of the warning signs at this stage include: Struggling to learn sounds Not learning to roll or play on the floor Struggles to move objects between hands 8 to 12 months At this point, your baby becomes a curious rover. They are not only able to crawl, but have started to develop problem-solving skills that make them a nightmare to keep an eye on. With their new abilities, their interest in the world around them only grows. They begin to point and make sounds and begin to learn how they affect people around them. Key milestones: Can raise themselves to sitting position Sits upright with little or no support Picks up and throws objects Crawling quickly Shows interest in picture books Some of the warning signs at this stage include: Unresponsive to carers Struggling to sit, crawl or pull themselves up to stand Not learning to eat solids 1-2 years By now, your child is a verified toddler. They do things their own way, and they’re showing clear signs of learning, playing and exploring. They’re able to concentrate more, and as a result, are better at listening and playing with others for longer. Each day they’ll take on new challenges and will seem increasingly independent. Key milestones: Your child is walking, climbing and beginning to run Can drink from a cup Cooperates when playing Seeks comfort when upset or afraid Recognises self in the mirror Comprehends simple questions or commands Some of the warning signs at this stage include: Is not communicating through word or actions Is not responding to others Not seeking attention 2 to 3 years By now, your child’s memory is fast developing, and they’re able to talk about people who aren’t present. They can begin doing more things outside the home and playing more independently. Moreover, their imagination is skyrocketing, with playtime becoming more and more about acting out scenarios and imitating what they perceive around them. Key milestones: Can start to draw shapes and lines Begins to play with other children more Simple make-believe play Show remorse or guilt for poor behaviour Uses symbolic play, e.g. use a block as a car Talks by using 2 or 3 words together Copies other people’s words and actions Some of the warning signs at this stage include: Is not interested in playing Finds it hard to use small objects Is not using many words Is not interested in others 3 to 5 years Finally, your child has reached pre-schooler age. At this stage, they are incredibly fascinated by the world around them. They are able to communicate better every day, speaking in longer formed sentence and asking questions left right and centre. They are hyper-focused on understanding more about the world around them. They look forward to playing with other kids and learning rules as they develop their social skills. Key milestones: Is able to dress/undress without much help Hold pens/pencils between thumb and first two fingers Can feed themselves Enjoys playing with others Understands when others are hurt Answers simple questions Speaks in sentences using numerous different words Enjoys jokes and stories Some of the warning signs at this stage include: Has speech fluency problems or stammering Not playing with others Unable to join a conversation At My Cubby House Early Learning Centre, we make sure to keep an eye on your child’s development milestones, so you can rest assured your child is reaching their full potential. If you are concerned about your child’s development, don’t hesitate to contact us, or make an appointment with your local family doctor to carry out a full development check. Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and
Immunisation can protect your child from a range of diseases Here at My Cubby House, the team encourages the immunisation of your child to protect them from the spread of a range of diseases. However, if you don’t want to immunise your child, we won’t hold that against you or refuse your child’s enrollment. If an outbreak does occur in the centre, your child will be excluded from entering the centre just to be safe. Why is it important? When you immunise your child, the vaccine prompts the immune system to fight off a range of diseases while also preventing it from developing. Here are some more important reasons: It’s safe – One of the main worries for many parents is that the vaccines aren’t safe. Although it can cause a bit of pain and discomfort during the injection, it is one of the safest ways to protect your child from harmful diseases. Before vaccines become available, they go through several strict trials before being registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. They are also manufactured to a set of strict safety guidelines. Can save families money – By getting your child vaccinated at the correct time, they will remain healthy and you will be saving money on getting medical attention as well as buying medication. What can it protect? By having your child immunised, it can protect your child from several diseases including: Chicken Pox Hepatitis A and B Measles Tetanus Meningococcal Whooping Cough When’s the correct time? Created by the Queensland Government, the National Immunisation Program Schedule lists every type of vaccine and when your child should have it. In Queensland, all vaccines for children are provided free of charge. To make it easier to keep track of when your child’s next vaccination is, the Queensland Government has also come up with an excellent tool – VacciDate App. This app allows you to keep track of when all your child’s vaccinations are due and be able to have a digital record of every vaccine your child has had. Immunisation and Your Child at My Cubby House If you would like more details about immunising your child, contact us. Alternatively, you can visit the Queensland Government website for all the important information about immunisation. Why is it important to immunise my child? It is important to immunise your child because the vaccine prompts the immune system to fight off a number of different diseases. Another important reason is it’s tested. Before made available every vaccine goes through a series of strict trials and are manufactured by a set of strict guidelines. What can the vaccines protect my child against? By having your child immunised, the vaccines are protecting your child against a range of diseases including: Chicken Pox Tetanus Whooping Cough Hepatitis A and B When is the correct time to immunise my child? Thanks to the Queensland Government, they have created a few handy tools that can help with immunising your child. These tools are: National Immunisation Program Schedule – This lists every type of vaccine that is available and when your child should have it. VacciDate App – This app has been designed to allow you to keep track of all your child’s vaccines as well as being able to schedule out all the future vaccinations. Don’t forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Buffer, Digg, Tumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, WhatsApp, Line and Naver.
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35 Nind Street Southport QLD 4215
07 5527 1679
info@mycubbyhouseearlylearning.com.au
Monday - Friday : 6:30 am to 6:30 pm