There isn’t an educator, researcher or child development expert in the world who doesn’t agree that reading enhances a child’s cognitive and intellectual development. Exposing children to books and reading from their earliest days feeds their natural curiosity, enhances their cognitive development and can ignite a lifelong passion for learning.
Books spark the imagination and they hold endless possibilities for enjoyment, laughter, stimulation and cognitive development. It doesn’t matter whether the book just has pictures on the page, whether it’s a fairytale, a challenging concept, a reality story or a fantasy one, a funny situation, a new book or a familiar favourite - the printed word has the power to stoke creativity, evoke emotion, foster critical thinking and build a child’s cognitive abilities.
Early literacy starts when young children - and babies too - are exposed to books and where reading is an integral part of daily life. A plastic book in amongst baby’s bath toys. Paging through a picture book with a toddler. A bedtime story routine. A low table with an alluring array of books on offer. Visits to the local library. Parents reading books so that children mirror the adult behaviour and learn by example. All of these activities have a huge impact on early literacy and fostering a love of reading - and learning.
When you consider that birth to age three are the most important years of a child's development and that 90% of a child's brain develops by the time they're five, it’s very clear that the early years are critical. Reading books and being read to stimulates a child’s brain development and we know that early literacy is vital preparation for their success at school and their overall development.
There are also lifelong benefits to nurturing healthy reading habits.
When people are exposed to a culture of reading in the home and at school, they’re more likely to grow into more fulfilled, engaged, interested and interesting contributors to society. They’re also more likely to develop a lifelong love of learning.
There are many things that parents can do to encourage and support young readers and to shape healthy reading habits.
At home, you can:
By making your reading time dynamic and interactive, you’ll be stimulating your child’s cognitive processes and helping them extend their vocabulary and comprehension skills. Above all, reading should be fun and enjoyable so that your child looks forward to the next activity involving books.
As your child gets older, you should also encourage opportunities for independent reading. This will help them develop their critical thinking skills as they learn to interpret and decode text, question things they have read, acknowledge their emotional responses to the story and reflect on the content. These are all key skills for a child’s successful progression through school and beyond.
Technology can be a valuable and powerful tool in cultivating a love of reading. The key issue is finding a balance and establishing a relationship with digital devices that is healthy and sustainable.
Technology is empowering and can facilitate learning, but it needs to be used mindfully and responsibly. A good rule of thumb is to start with traditional book formats with your baby and toddler and introduce technology (audiobooks, interactive stories on an iPad etc) slowly and carefully and always under supervision.
Reading aloud has a major influence on a child’s intellectual and emotional development.
When you read to a child, you stimulate their imaginations and give them opportunities to develop their language skills, expand their vocabulary and improve their listening skills. They get to hear different tones of voice and different emotions being expressed which benefits their own communication skills.
For more information on this, you may be interested in reading this article on supporting your child’s language development.
Reading also gives children the opportunity to broaden their comprehension and critical thinking skills. It also opens up new worlds of discovery, enabling them to learn about a variety of topics, different cultures and diverse experiences, which in turn can help children develop valuable social skills like respect, empathy, kindness and tolerance.
A child’s reading skills are inextricably linked to their future success at school and beyond. By making reading part of everyday life at home, at childcare and in early education settings, we can nurture an avid enthusiasm for reading and set them on a path to lifelong learning.
Here at Evoke Early Learning, we follow the highly regarded Reggio Emilia approach to childhood education. This approach has proven to be very successful in setting children up for long-term success - and it’s why you’ll find that books and reading are an integral feature in all of our physical spaces and in our daily curriculum. Come and chat to our friendly Evoke team about giving your little one the very best start in life or book a tour through the website. We’d love to meet you!
How do you feel about sending your baby to daycare? Are you wracked with guilt? Anxious at the thought of separating from your little one? Distressed because you feel like you’ll be losing control? Overwhelmed by the enormity of this next chapter?
Baby’s first day at daycare can elicit strong emotions from parents which can be challenging to manage. But you should know that everything that you’re feeling ahead of your little’s one’s first day - and everything you will feel on the actual day - is completely normal. And you aren’t alone.
At Evoke Early Learning, our highly experienced, warm and caring team will be with you (and your precious baby) every step of the way. You can have total peace-of-mind that your little one is in safe hands and they’ll work together with you make the transition as smooth as possible.
There’s no ‘right’ way to manage the transition. The important thing is to do what’s right for your baby and your family.
That said, there are some very effective tools which can help parents and caregivers prepare for the change and get through the first day feeling calmer and more at ease. There are also ways you can help your baby adapt to this new routine. So, if your family is facing this new chapter soon, you’ll be interested in these tips on what to do in preparation of baby’s first day at daycare.
Orientation. Visit the centre a couple of times before your child actually starts in order to familiarise them (and you!) with the new environment. If your child is enrolled in either our Albert Park or Clayton childcare centre, this ‘pre-visit’ will provide their assigned educator with all the necessary information to facilitate and support their transition, plus it’s an opportunity for the team to help you develop strategies to help your little one settle in. Read more about our orientation opportunities here.
Create a home routine which resembles the routine at childcare, including meal times, nap times etc. This will help you feel at ease that your baby will adapt well to the childcare setting.
Be aware of your emotions and be positive. It’s not only helpful for your baby to hear and see you excited and optimistic about this new chapter, it’s helpful for you too. It’s not always easy, but choosing to have a positive mindset and making the effort to be upbeat and embrace the change will make the transition easier for you. The flipside of that is that babies mirror adult behaviour, so if your child senses any anxiety or distress, it can negatively impact their behaviour too.
Don’t prolong your departure on the first day. This will be distressing for you and for your little one.
Plan a ‘me-time’ activity on baby’s first day. We understand that you’ll want to be close to your phone, but it’s a good idea to celebrate this milestone day by doing something for yourself. It could be a coffee with a friend, going for a walk, taking in a movie - whatever you choose to do, make it a lovely distraction and an acknowledgement of the great job you’re doing as a parent!
If you’re feeling a bit anxious or uncertain about this next step, we warmly invite you to book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning centres or have a chat to our friendly team. We often suggest that parents take photos of their child while they’re visiting our centre or borrow a book from our library in order to continue the conversations at home and deepen the connection ahead of the first day. Our Evoke Early Learning centres are family affairs and our aim is to create warm, welcoming and loving spaces where everyone in the family feels at home. We understand how you feel and we want to help you enjoy this exciting and rewarding new chapter as much as we know your little one will.
Excitement. Trepidation. Uncertainty. Doubt. Nervousness. Anxiety. Stress. Fear. And that’s just how some parents feel ahead of their three-year old starting day care. Imagine all the emotions your little one is feeling!
Of course, not everyone is daunted by the idea of starting day care or kindy, but we do know from experience that preparing your child for this new experience can make the world of difference to how well they separate from you and settle in to their new environment.
This article provides some tried and tested tips for parents and caregivers on how to prepare three-year olds for their first day at kindergarten.
Even if your own emotions are running riot, it’s really, really important to put on a brave face. Your child will be looking to you for cues and reassurance, so maintaining a positive, relaxed, enthusiastic and excited attitude is paramount.
Here are some great suggestions to help prepare your child for starting kindergarten - and they’ll help give parents peace-of-mind too!
Stay relaxed. Your little one will be mirroring your behaviour, so as the saying goes - keep calm and carry on!
Look for teachable moments about day care and kindergarten and bring the topic up frequently in conversation. For example, point out a childcare centre when you’re in the car with your child and remark on how happy and busy the children look. When you’re doing a fun activity with your child, remind them that kindergarten is a place where they can do all their favourite things.
Ease those first day jitters while getting your child excited about the fun, new adventures ahead by reading books together about starting school. Ask your local library for ideas, otherwise you’re welcome to ask our friendly team at Evoke Early Learning for suggestions. Some of our favourite titles are ‘Starting School’ by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker, ‘Benjamin Comes Back’ by Amy Brandt & Janice Lee Porter and ‘My First Day at School’ by Meredith Costain.
Chat often about what they can expect (the more they know about their new routine the better) and reassure them that it’s perfectly normal to feel worried or uncertain. Remind them that they are special, loved and unique and that they’ll be loved and cared for at their new school.
If your child is feeling insecure, ask them to choose something special from home that they can take with them to childcare. A transitional object like a soft toy, favourite book, security blanket or family photo is a really good way of helping to ease any separation anxiety and provide reassurance.
Discuss a plan with the child care centre as to how they will handle any settling in or separation issues. Empower your child to handle their own situation by suggesting coping strategies if they’re feeling nervous or worried such as talking to their teacher, retreating to a quiet space where they can acknowledge their feelings and regain control, reading a book, finding a friend etc.
You can also create a sense of ‘connectedness’ between you and your child by each keeping a small object (like a pebble) with you when they go off to school. If they’re missing you, they can feel the item in their pocket and know that you are feeling that same special object and thinking about them.
Help your child feel a sense of control by allowing them to choose some items of clothing to wear (you can even set them out the evening before to create a sense of excitement).
Give yourself plenty of time on the first day. If you are going into the office afterwards, it’s a good idea to alert your employer that you may be late. A rushed departure can exacerbate any feelings of anxiety or stress, so you want plenty of time to settle your youngster in.
Try and engage your child in an activity of their choice.
Always say goodbye when it’s time to go. While it may be tempting to sneak off when they’re distracted for fear of causing distress, it’s never a good idea. This can lead to feelings of mistrust and uncertainty. Reassure your child as to when you will next see them, say goodbye and then leave. As hard as it may be to make the break, a prolonged departure can add to the stress, so once you’ve said your first goodbye, you need to leave quickly, calmly, confidently and always with a smile!
One of the most effective ways of handling separation stresses is to have a consistent drop-off routine. When your child knows what to expect, they feel more secure and more confident in their own abilities.
Transitions can be challenging for children and starting kindergarten is a significant change in any child’s life. Talking through what’s going to happen with your three-year old and preparing them for this next stage is an effective way of easing the transition and allaying separation anxiety.
If your child is enrolled to start at one of our Evoke Early Learning Centres, no doubt you will already know of our comprehensive kindergarten orientation programme which includes strategies for parents and children to ease the transition into the new environment. You’re also welcome to contact our friendly team at Evoke Clayton or Evoke Albert Park if you’d just like a chat about how to prepare your child for their first day at day care or kindergarten.
Getting children to bed at night isn’t just important for preserving the sanity of the parents. It’s vital for the healthy development of young brains too.
Researchers in the UK found a correlation between consistent bedtimes during early childhood and cognitive performance and suggested that going to bed at different times each night during those formative years may have a knock-on effect throughout life.
The researchers examined data from over 11 000 seven-year-olds to investigate whether bedtimes in early childhood were related to brain power. The authors’ findings, which were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, yielded some surprising results including the fact that regular bedtimes in early childhood impacted their maths, reading and spatial awareness skills and that the effect of irregular bedtimes appeared to be cumulative.
Before we delve further into the findings, let’s look at sleep in young children and why it’s important.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, toddlers (aged 1-2) need between 11 and 14 hours of sleep each night, preschoolers (aged 3-5) should get 10 to 13 hours and older kids (aged 6-13) should aim to get nine to 11 hours each night.
Sufficient sleep is vital for a child’s healthy growth and development. It helps build a strong immune system, it’s crucial for learning, language development, memory and concentration, it impacts mood and alertness and it helps children heal and recover both physically and mentally. Sleep is also important for moderating behaviour.
The sample was drawn from the UK Millenium Cohort Study (MCS) which is a nationally representative longitudinal study of children born between 2000 and 2002. Researchers collected data on the children’s bedtime routines (including the time they went to bed and the consistency of their bedtimes) when the children were aged three, five and seven years.
The researchers were looking to see whether any periods during early childhood were more critical than others and whether their bedtime routines (or lack thereof) had any impact on their intellectual performance.
Some of the findings were remarkable.
Irregular bedtimes were most common when the child was three years of age, but this settled by the age of seven when over half the sample went to bed regularly between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
When they were seven years old, the children were tested on reading, maths and spatial awareness. Irregular bedtimes at the age of three years were found to have negatively impacted the scores of both boys and girls, but findings were not definitive as to whether irregular bedtimes at aged five were associated with lower cognitive scores.
The negative impact of irregular bedtimes appeared to be cumulative and the suggestion was made that three years of age could be a sensitive period for a child’s cognitive development.
Researchers also discovered that a child’s economic circumstances impacted the consistency of their bedtimes. Children who went to bed after 9pm at night or who had inconsistent bedtimes came from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Irregular bedtimes can result in reduced or disrupted sleep during key times in a child’s development and this can have lasting long-term health impacts. Sleep deprivation is a serious matter, and can affect the development of the brain. You might also like to read Six Ways To Help Your Baby Settle Into A Solid Sleep Routine At Childcare
As the authors of the study said: “Early child development has profound influences on health and wellbeing across the life course. Therefore reduced or disrupted sleep, especially if it occurs at key times in development, could have important impacts on health throughout life.” While the proverb: ‘Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise’ originated centuries ago, the meaning behind the words is as relevant as ever. Young children need sufficient consistent, quality rest in order to thrive and be successful and families who establish a consistent bedtime routine for their young children with regular bedtimes will be setting them up for life.
To find out more about the healthy development of young brains then book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park. Our friendly and professional team has all the information you need to make a well-considered decision and we look forward to meeting you.
Starting early when it comes to teaching a child about sharing and why it is important will set them up for life.
Sharing is an important skill for many aspects of life including making and retaining friends, having strong relationships, coping with disappointment, negotiating outcomes and being successful at work.
Sharing is also a learnt skill, but as every parent well knows, sharing doesn’t always come naturally or easily to young children. It can often be a source of conflict and distress. But rest assured, there are plenty of ways that you can introduce the concept to your little one and enable them to become confident and comfortable sharers.
Here’s what you can do.
The concepts of sharing and taking turns should be introduced from the very start. Even using gestures (alternating spoonfuls of food or passing a soft toy to and fro) are opportunities for babies to learn.
As your child gets older, they’ll get better about understanding the concepts, managing their emotions and realising that sharing doesn’t mean losing out on the fun. On the contrary. The more you model good sharing behaviour, kind and generous deeds and empathy and the more opportunities your child gets to practise sharing and taking turns, the more they’ll learn this vital skill and how it impacts positively on their lives.
Choosing a quality childcare or early learning centre which places high emphasis on enabling young children to develop vital skills such as sharing and empathy can make a substantial difference as to how they transition to ‘big’ school and progress through life.
Here at Evoke Early Learning, we embrace each child as powerful, capable and full of curiosity about their world. We value each child as a unique individual and at our safe, secure and welcoming Albert Park or Clayton Childcare Centres, our mission is to provide them with the foundation for the future skills and abilities they need to succeed.
We welcome you to book a tour of one of our centres and hope to see you soon.
The early years are critical for a child’s language development, especially when you consider that by the time the child is five years old, almost 90% of their brain development has already taken place!
Toddler usually say their first words between the ages of 12 - 18 months, but the foundations for communication and language development start from the day they are born.
In their formative years, babies and toddlers absorb, learn and grow by watching and listening to what adults say and do which means parents and other primary caregivers play a crucial role in helping them develop their communication and language skills.
This article sets out some practical and fun ways that you can introduce early language skills to your baby and support their healthy language development.
A child’s language development happens all day - and everyday activities are the perfect platform for them to interact with you, listen, mirror what you are saying and doing, absorb, learn and grow. Keeping things fun and playful will get the best results, and remember, even if you feel a bit silly doing some of these things, humour is a great teacher! You can also Use Positive Language To Boost A Child’s Self-Esteem
Here are some simple ideas for introducing and reinforcing early language skills to your little one.
It is essential to choose a childcare provider where language development is actively nurtured and encouraged. It is also important that the educators there have the experience to recognise when a child may be struggling because early intervention can make a huge difference.
What to do if you are worried about your child’s language development Trust your instincts. Children do learn at different paces and in different ways, but if you have concerns about how your child is progressing, have a chat to your child’s teacher, your childcare nurse or your GP. If necessary, you can then get a referral to a specialist such as a speech and language therapist.
To find out more about language development then book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park. Our friendly and professional team has all the information you need to make a well-considered decision and we look forward to meeting you.
The established view among experts is that quality childcare and early education leads to better outcomes in life.
The reason for this is that all the experiences a child has during the critical formative years have a strong - and lasting - effect on their academic and social success and on both their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Simply put, high quality early childhood education gives a child the best start in life. A careful choice of childcare provider is an investment in your child’s future and will improve the likelihood of later success.
Childcare isn’t babysitting. The staff aren’t merely child minders. Childcare isn’t just a convenient drop-off spot where toddlers can socialise and let off steam while parents go to work or continue with their busy lives.
Childcare should be where a child’s holistic wellbeing is comprehensively looked in order to prepare them for life going forward.
A quality childcare centre will help children develop skills needed for engagement and success as they transition to school. It should provide ample opportunities for positive interactions with adults as well as other children and should be a warm, welcoming and inclusive space where diversity and difference are respected.
Children in childcare need to be safe, healthy and happy and they need to experience a wide range of activities which go beyond mere academic goals.
Parents and caregivers have to have every confidence that their child is being well looked after by loving and professional staff and that their child’s best interests are being served.
Here’s why quality childcare is essential:
At childcare, children have the opportunity to participate in a myriad activities and experiences which helps them develop a wide range of skills. By learning through play, they learn essential numeracy and literacy skills, as well as communication skills and cognitive skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Using music in the learning environment is another way to boost early childhood development.
By participating in physical activities, children hone their fine and gross motor skills plus they learn about things like taking risks, resilience and overcoming fear. If a child is particularly shy or introspective, an experienced educator will gently reassure them and encourage participation and positive social interactions so that their fears can be allayed.
A good childcare environment will also provide opportunities for quiet or rest time and help those more energetic children learn how to wind down.
All of these vital skills are necessary for preparation and readiness for ‘big school’.
Every child is curious about the world around them and a quality childcare environment will support enquiry and experimentation as the child discovers new things. Even an activity as simple as picking up fallen autumn leaves and crushing them can open up opportunities for children to be creative, learn and express themselves.
A quality childcare service provider will employ experienced educators who will know exactly how to encourage each child to pursue lines of enquiry which appeal to their individual interests and which ignite their capacity - and willingness - to learn.
For a child to grow up to have good emotional intelligence, to have empathy for others, to have strong social skills, to be engaged and responsive and to have respect for others regardless of diversity or difference, they need to start off in a high-quality childcare environment.
If toddlers and young children are treated with respect and empathy and if they’re actively encouraged to treat others the same way, they’re likely to exhibit these same qualities as they grow older.
High quality childcare programmes help children:
A child in an early learning environment which is nurturing and stimulating and where creativity and learning are actively promoted will have a strong start to life - and will be more likely to thrive when they make the move to school and onto adulthood.
To find out more about quality childcare and early education then book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park. Our friendly and professional team has all the information you need to make a well-considered decision and we look forward to meeting you.
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
The catchy lyrics from one of Swedish mega group, Abba’s most popular songs could well be a metaphor for the important role that music plays in the healthy development of young children.
Music in all its forms can motivate young children to use their bodies and their minds, to think critically and get their imaginations working and researchers and educators have long recognised that having music as part of the curriculum in childcare and early learning environments brings significant benefits. These benefits include emotional regulation and better self-esteem as well as the development of cognitive and physical skills.
Let’s look at how incorporating music into play and activities in early education can positively influence a child's development.
Following are five key areas where music can support the healthy development of young children:
Playing a musical instrument requires a degree of dexterity. Whether they’re banging on a pot with a spoon, tinkling on a keyboard, plucking at the strings of a guitar, striking a triangle or clapping cymbals, making music offers up many different opportunities for young children to hone their fine motor skills and improve their co-ordination.
Young children can also improve their gross motor skills when movement and music are combined. Jumping, dancing, clapping and marching to the rhythm or beat of music are just some of the ways that music helps develop their large motor skills.
Language development and learning music both use the same part of the brain. When a young child is learning or singing a song, playing an instrument or even just listening to music, the synapses in the brain that are responsible for auditory processing, comprehension and communication get a workout.
A child also expands their vocabulary when learning new songs and talking about different instruments, plus they learn to retain that information as they repeat melodies and tunes.
As mentioned in the point above, music can help with memory retention and focus. It supports the development of a child’s ability to concentrate when they focus on learning new words, repeating a tune etc.
Young children are naturally curious and they are continually exploring their surroundings to make sense of the world and their place in it. Self-esteem is a child’s sense of worth and it is important to help young people feel good about themselves so that they can try new things, face challenges and develop well.
Music opens up a world of opportunity for young children to feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement which can be extremely powerful in strengthening their self-belief and self-confidence. A young child working hard to learn a new song, learning to clap in unison or play an instrument will feel excited, proud and fulfilled when they see their efforts paying off.
Music is great for self-expression which is an important aspect of supporting young children to find their own identity.
Even if toddlers are simply clapping along to a tune or learning simple words of a nursery rhyme, music is an excellent way for them to learn about working collaboratively to achieve a common goal. In addition to the concept of teamwork, music can also help children to develop listening skills, patience, resilience and empathy as they work together to create harmony.
As young children - and even babies - experience music and start to explore it through their play, they make crucial discoveries about themselves, their world and how they fit into it. Music plays a key role in their cognitive, physical, social and emotional development and helps foster their creativity and their appreciation of music. Music can be a powerful force for good in the lives of young children which is why you’ll find it is such a prominent daily feature in quality early learning schools and childcare centres. You can find out more in our Guide To Why Quality Childcare Essential For A Child’s Healthy Development
To find out more about the important role that music plays in the healthy development of young children, book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park. Our friendly and professional team has all the information you need to make a well-considered decision and we look forward to meeting you.
Food, glorious food… Something that’s essential for life and has the capacity to bring great joy. One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the understanding of the symbiotic relationship of nutrition and good health.
It’s never too early to begin building good eating habits for children. Getting the correct balance of nutrients is crucial for growth and development. It will also help reduce the chances of poor health as they grow and in later life, such as:
There’s also plenty of evidence showing that poor nutrition has a direct effect on mental health, playing a part in low self-esteem, learning difficulties and eating disorders.
Of course, teaching children about nutrition should be a positive experience, so how do we go about doing this?
The first step is to include a wide variety of key nutrients into their everyday diet. This sounds simple in theory, but as many parents will know, to their chagrin, that sometimes it can be a challenge to pursue a child to eat up the ‘good stuff’. They’d much prefer the instant hit of a Mac Ds or something sugary if given the change.
So, what’s the answer?
While there’s no magic bullet, the key is to use a combination of food variety, leading by example and educating your little ones from an early age.
A child’s diet is not so different from an adults. Including a combination of all main food groups is crucial. This means:
You should also include plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruit, as well as ensuring good hydration. Plenty of water is good, as opposed to other, flavoured drinks.
Of course, children have additional nutritional requirements to adults because they’re in the growth period of life. Bone formation and health requires an abundance of calcium, something easily provided with plenty of milk, cheese and yogurt – around 3 servings per day is an adequate amount for good bone health.
Dental health is also vital, with food playing as great a role as hygiene routines. The same dairy foods mentioned above also provide essential proteins that help prevent tooth decay and gum problems. Daily physical activity also supports nutritional habits. Being outside, running, jumping and getting out of breath helps maintain a healthy weight, encourages muscle growth and plays a huge role in stress management and well being.
The above is something that most adults are aware of. However, the challenge is putting this into practice in daily life. Thankfully, there are plenty of tips that can help overcome even the fussiest of eaters – and, as mentioned above, the earlier you begin the healthy eating journey with your child, the better.
These actions will create the building blocks of a healthy eating without your child even realising it. As they grow and begin to take more of an interest in what they eat, you can begin to explain in simple terms what different foodstuffs do to the body. Make it a game – you already do activities, such as ‘what noise does a cow make?’ So do the same with foods. ‘What does drinking milk do?’ (Answer, builds my bones) for example. In fact, preparing food with your children is one of many "Helpful Ways To Support Your Child’s Natural Curiosity"
Another crucial aspect of great childhood nutrition is to ensure that any childcare facility you use also champions the same. Ask about their menus and how they’re designed. Do they cater for all nutritional choices for all cultures? What do they know about allergies/intolerances and how are these guaranteed? Is food and nutrition included in the curriculum in an appropriate age-related manner?
With so many of us regularly relying on childcare, it’s vital to know that your chosen provider is carrying on the great work you do at home.
Child nutrition is a complex subject but it needn’t be difficult to implement. A combination of planning, leading by example and a relaxed attitude towards food fads which every child experiences is key. Couple this with a good sense of humour on the odd occasion that your child flatly refuses to eat anything you put in front of them and remember that all important rule of parenthood: There are no hard and fast rules. If all else fails, you simply try again tomorrow…
At Evoke we are all passionate about teaching children about nutrition and if you want to know more then you’re welcome to book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park. Our friendly and professional team has all the information you need to make a well-considered decision and we look forward to meeting you.
The idea of mindfulness and being present in the moment isn’t new, but it tends to be seen more as an adult concept rather than one which has benefits for young children.
The fact is - teaching children about mindfulness can lead to many good things including better self-esteem, a greater ability to manage their emotions, more effective handling of stress, uncertainty and anxiety and improved skills in a range of areas. It can also lead to greater happiness.
Mindfulness can also build a young child’s resilience, help with conflict resolution and encourage positive behaviours - and as any parent, caregiver or early educator will attest - all of those outcomes are hugely beneficial to young children as they explore, discover and navigate the sometimes challenging world around them.
So the answer to the question of whether there’s a place for mindfulness in early learning environments is a resounding ‘yes’. And that’s why you’ll find there’s an increasing focus on mindfulness in many early education centres as the concept evolves from being ‘new age’ to being a mainstream priority.
Mindfulness is certainly a firm fixture at our Evoke Early Learning Centres and is a powerful tool in achieving our vision of building happy, fulfilled, resilient, curious, kind and self-aware children.
Mindfulness for children looks similar to mindfulness for adults. It’s about being fully present and focused on where we are and what we're doing.
One of the keys to successfully teaching children about mindfulness is to give them a clear and simple explanation about what the concept means.
Children respond to practical examples that they can relate to.
Parents can ask children to talk about each of their senses and to describe what they are touching, seeing, tasting, hearing, smelling or feeling at that particular moment. For example, they may ask the child to describe how the fabric of their clothes feels against their skin or how their feet feel in their shoes. They may ask them to describe the sound of their environment, birds tweeting, leaves rustling, cars driving past, the sound of their breath.
Here are three ways that you can help a child practise being mindful.
There is a myriad of ways to introduce mindfulness to children - and it can be fun too!
However, instilling mindful habits in children takes patience, practice and positivity. It’s also not just a tool to use when times get tough. Mindfulness can be a strong and empowering response when a child is exploring new sensations and experiences, so it is really worth persevering when it comes to teaching mindfulness to little ones.
It’s also important to reassure children that there’s no right or wrong when it comes to mindfulness. It’s all about making a conscious effort to notice what’s happening around them or what’s happening with their bodies or their emotions at a particular point in time. You might find that teaching mindfulness at an early age will "Help Your Child Build Self-Confidence Before Starting Early School"
Children learn by example, so when parents and educators display a gentle, accepting attitude to the present moment, children are likely to mirror that behaviour.
As mentioned earlier, we encourage and embrace mindfulness at our Evoke Early Learning Centres in Clayton or Albert Park for both educators and children. Being present in the moment is an important aspect of and it is an integral part of in our play-based environment to build our little learners’ confidence, creativity and curiosity.
If you’re interested in finding out more about how mindfulness fits into our daily curriculum or if you’re exploring early education opportunities for your child, we warmly invite you to contact us for a friendly chat or to book a tour.
