Insights Into Early Childhood Education

The school year is starting soon. So now is the perfect opportunity to start planning and preparing for a new year of healthy school lunches. Without a doubt, it’s very beneficial for kids to become involved in the planning process. It is a perfect opportunity to get them excited about nutrition, meal planning and learn how to pack a healthy school lunch box. Furthermore, they are more likely to accept any food changes if they feel that they are part of the whole decision-making process. Set A Healthy Eating Example We all know that children are always watching and learning from everything we do and say. So it is also really important to lead by example when it comes to our diet. When children learn good habits early on they will carry these habits right through to adulthood. Some Things To Consider When Packing Your Childs Lunchbox When considering how to pack a healthy school lunch box. Begin by making a list of some healthy food options together with your child. And just like you meal plan for your dinners, consider creating a lunch plan. You can easily rotate the food choices to avoid boredom or uneaten lunches. Avoid sneaking in new foods in the hope that your child will be tempted to try them. If they are not going to eat it at home then they are not going to eat it at school. What You Can Include In A Healthy Lunch box Fresh fruit Apples Bananas Pears Oranges Grapes Crunchy Vegetables Celery Cucumbers Carrot Tomatoes Capsicum Sugar snap peas or snow peas Protein Lean Chicken Canned tuna Canned salmon Eggs Baked beans Hummus Dairy Milk Yoghurt Cheese Grains Wholemeal sliced bread Wholemeal crackers Bread roll Flatbread Pita bread Tortillas Drinks Tap water, it’s simple and it’s the best option Examples Of A Healthy School Lunch Could Include Sandwich It’s best to choose wholemeal bread and you could add fillings like Cheese, and salad Egg and mayonnaise with some shredded lettuce Sliced cooked chicken breast with pesto and salad Tuna or salmon and salad Chicken and avocado Cheese and tomato Roast beef, cheese, and salad Omelette with slices of tomato and shredded lettuce or rocket These are just a few ideas, you could also add things like leftover meatloaf or meatballs. Instead of using sliced bread why not rotate and include bread rolls and wraps. This will keep lunches more interesting and varied. If you know your child likes condiments then you could include them in moderation and add them to sandwiches or wraps. Some Condiment Ideas Could Include Mustard Pesto Hummus Mayonnaise Chutney Tapenade Bento Boxes Bento boxes are a great way to keep your child’s lunches both healthy and interesting. So you could add things like A small variety of fruit and vegetables Salad such as potato, garden or Greek Salad Crackers or pita bread Dips such as hummus, guacamole, or salsa Dried fruits such as apricots or apples Well cooked chicken, ham, roast beef, or hard-boiled eggs Leftovers Sometimes children prefer things like leftovers instead of sandwiches. For example Leftover spaghetti bolognese Rice dishes like fried rice plain noodles Children will enjoy leftover lunches either hot or cold. Just make sure that you pack these food items safely and correctly. Examples Of Healthy Morning tea, Recess Or Snack Air-popped popcorn Sliced fresh fruit Stewed fruit Carrot and celery sticks with hummus Cheese and wholegrain crackers Rice cakes Dried fruit Fruit bread Corn on the cob Foods To Eat In Moderation Or Avoid Highly processed meats such as salami, ham, devon, pastrami, and mortadella. These cold meats are also high in fat and salt content. For this reason, they should only be included in moderation. Many preschools and schools also have a “No Nut Policy” to ensure the safety of the children who are allergic. Therefore it is important to avoid sending anything with nuts. Avoid giving your child chocolate spreads, honey, or jam as these contain very high amounts of sugar and are therefore very bad for their teeth. Important Things To Remember When Packing A Healthy School Lunch Box Indeed, remember not to overwhelm your child with too many choices. Therefore keep it simple and easy for them so they will want to eat their lunch. Cut up their sandwiches in manageable pieces either in half or quarters Cut or slice the fruit you pack. It is much easier and less overwhelming for children to eat an apple or pear if it is sliced. Just make sure to squeeze some lemon juice to avoid these fruits turning brown and looking unappetising. Avoid soggy sandwiches. A great way to do this is by being mindful of how you prepare them. Firstly, don’t add too many condiments or spreads. Secondly, layer the fillings in the sandwich correctly. Make sure the salad items are always in between the meat and the cheese. If the salad is touching the bread, by the time it’s lunch break the sandwich will be nothing short of a soggy mess. Importantly, if you send grapes please be sure to slice them lengthwise, there have been cases of children choking on grapes. The same applies to cherry tomatoes too! Make sure to pack lunch boxes with an ice brick. This will ensure that your child’s lunch is safe to eat later in the day. The same applies to leftovers. If you plan to send cold leftovers then make sure to include an ice brick. If you want your child to have a hot lunch then make sure to heat the food to a safe correct temperature before it goes into the thermos. These are some ideas and suggestions for how to pack a healthy school lunch box. Another thing you might like to consider is minimising the use of single-use plastic and wraps. This way your child’s lunchbox will not only be healthy but sustainable too! Related Articles How To Pack A Sustainable Lunch Box How To Prepare Your Child For Preschool  

Starting preschool is an exciting new adventure for both you and your child and it marks the next step in your child’s development. Here are a few tips and strategies for how to prepare your child for preschool so that it will be a seamless transition as well as a positive experience for both of you. How To Prepare Your Child For Preschool 1. Talk About Preschool A great way to begin is by getting your child used to the idea of going to preschool. You can do this by having positive conversations and talking about all the fun activities they will be doing. If you can why not walk or take a drive past the preschool about two or three weeks before your child is due to start. That way they will be able to get a clear picture of what the preschool building actually looks like. It’s easier to talk to your child about preschool when they have at least some idea of what it looks like. Of course, if your child is not interested in talking about preschool then it’s best not to push the subject. Try and keep any conversations about preschool short and casual. The last thing you want to do is make your child anxious by making it into a big deal. 2. Prepare Your Child By Visiting Preschool Preschools usually offer orientation days or visits. These are a great way to prepare your child for preschool. Children can spend some time meeting the educators and experiencing some of the activities. Unfortunately due to COVID, this might not be currently possible. Some preschools do however send home orientation packs. Inside these packs, you will find things like photos of the preschool and the educators. You may also receive information about the preschool routine and maybe some songs your children will be learning. So even if you are unable to visit the preschool you can still use these resources to familiarise your child with what preschool is all about. 3. Read Books About Preschool There are many books all about starting preschool and you can spend time reading them with your child. This is a wonderful opportunity to answer any questions that may come up. Books will show them positive experiences about going to preschool and give them some idea of what their day may look like. Here is a list of some books about starting preschool Maisie Goes To Preschool by Lucy Cousins Spot Goes To School by Eric Hill I’m Ready For Preschool by Jedda Robaard The Night Before Preschool by Natasha King and Amy Wummer The Berenstain Bears Go To School by Stan and Jan Bernstain 4. Practice Some Self Help Skills to Prepare Your Child For Preschool When children have good self-help skills it increases their confidence, reduces any stress or anxiety, and very importantly it boosts their self-esteem. So it is essential to give your child plenty of opportunities to practice their self-help skills so they may be able to manage the following things Putting on their shoes and socks Unzipping their backpack Manage their own toileting Be able to open their lunchboxes, drink bottles and unwrap their sandwiches Of course, the educators are always more than happy to assist your child with all of those things. But practicing self-help skills is important to promote children’s independence. 5. Purchase Preschool Essentials With Your Child Another useful thing to do to prepare your child for preschool is to take them with you when you buy things like backpacks, lunch boxes, and drink bottles. Many lunch boxes are way too difficult for small fingers and this also applies to drink bottles as well. So consider taking the time to make sure you buy the right lunchbox and drink bottle so that your child can open them easily. Their preschool day will be so much happier if they are able to open and close their own things! 6. Label Everything There are so many labelling options from fancy-designed labels to good old permanent markers. Whichever one you choose is fine as long as you remember to write your child’s name on everything they will be bringing to preschool. Things like backpacks, hats, lunch boxes, drink bottles, spare clothes, and sheets and blankets. It’s also a good idea to show your child where their name is. It will make them familiar with their name as well as avoid confusion in case there is another child at preschool who owns the same or similar item. 7. Have A Good Bedtime Schedule Another important way to prepare your child for preschool is by making sure they are well-rested. Those first few weeks of preschool can be so exhausting for them so it is essential that they have a good bedtime routine so they get sufficient sleep. You really want to avoid a tired cranky child who will find it a struggle to get through the day. How To Prepare Your Child For The First Day Of Preschool Try and make sure you and your child wake up early enough so that the morning isn’t a stressful rush. Prepare your child some breakfast and encourage them to eat. Sometimes nerves may get in the way of appetite but try and make sure they have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy breakfast. Pack a simple lunch your child is familiar with and keep the choice of food to a minimum. Young children will become very easily stressed if they are faced with too many choices. Pack your child’s backpack together so they know exactly what they are taking to preschool and they know where their things are inside their backpack. Saying Good-Bye Stay For A Short Period Of Time On the first day, you may want to stay for a little while. Try and make sure it is no longer than 10 to 15 minutes. Perhaps you could do one activity with your child and then say goodbye. Ask the educators to support your child if you see that

The Benefits Of Water Play In Early Childhood– Children love playing with water. Whether it’s in the bathtub at home, at the beach, pool, or in an early childhood setting. Kids just love water play! It is a fun, soothing sensory activity that will provide them with lots of entertainment. In addition to this, the good news is that water play also has many learning and development benefits too. What is Water Play? The simple definition of water play is just playing with water using a variety of tools such as buckets, funnels, waterwheels, and pumps to name a few. In early childhood settings, you can usually find large troughs especially used for water play. They are usually big enough so that many children can stand around scooping, splashing, and pouring. The Benefits Of Water Play In Early Childhood Just like sand, water is another natural resource that is great for purposeful play.  Furthermore, just like sandpit play, water play also has many important educational benefits. Some of these are Develop Motor Skills Develop Social Skills Language Development Builds creativity and Imagination Promotes Cognitive Development Develop Motor Skills Water play involves lots of scooping, pouring, squeezing, and filling. These actions are very beneficial for the development of hand and eye coordination as well as for refining fine motor skills. Children will give their large muscles a great workout when they play with water in pools, at the beach or when running through a sprinkler. Develop Social Skills When children play with water around a water trough they will usually be chatting to their friends, taking turns, or negotiating with their peers. Water play is a great opportunity for kids to interact with each other and work together. During water play, you will often observe kids helping each other to achieve a common goal. For example, lifting a heavy bucket of water and pouring it over a water wheel is hard work. There is a lot of coordination and strength needed for this simple activity. Children soon learn that activities such as this are better achieved when one does the pouring and the other holds the water wheel in place. Great teamwork practice! Language Development Water play encourages kids to use definitive words that are used for complex concepts. For example, sinking and floating. The tools used in water play such as funnels and sieves are also probably words that children wouldn’t normally come across at an early age. Children love to chat with their friends, parents, or carers while they are playing. So you could look for opportunities to ask your child intentional questions that will prompt them to think, verbalise what they are doing and predict what may happen next during their play. Water play is just so much more than a fun activity. It also provides so many valuable opportunities to enrich and extend children’s thinking and vocabulary. Learn About Maths and Science Water play is perfect for introducing children to many science and maths concepts. Children can learn about things like capacity, volume and motion. They can also be introduced to terms such as full/empty, more/less, shallow/deep. Water play can also encourage the development of scientific enquiry because it fosters children’s curiosity. It will stimulate their thinking prompting them to ask questions such as “What will happen if ?” Stimulates Creativity and Imagination Water play is a perfect activity that will build a child’s creativity depending on what toys or tools they have to play with. Water play doesn’t need to be limited to buckets, cups, and waterwheels. There are so many other fun things that you can use. As parents and carers, you really are only limited by your imagination in what you provide for your kids. Equipment, Tools, and Ideas For Water Play Water play is such a wonderful open-ended activity with so many amazing learning benefits that kids will enjoy. Here are some ideas and suggestions for things you could provide for your children the next time they enjoy some fun and refreshing water play! Children love to care for dolls and babies during pretend play. Why not add some of these along with some tubs, washcloths, and soap. You could also give them some towels too so they can dry their babies. Think of all the fun imaginary play your kids will have with this favourite activity. Go ahead and add things like small plastic fish or frogs to the water trough or tub you may have at home. Then give your children some safe tongs for them to “fish” with. This is a perfect activity for strengthening their fine motor skills. If you add trucks and cars along with a good splash of mild detergent you will have an instant carwash! Dinosaurs and other plastic animals are also great for washing. If you give children sponges too then this will add further opportunities for them to work the muscles in their hands. Bubbles are always such a firm favourite. If you add a good amount of detergent and glycerine you will get the best bubbles ever. What’s better than normal bubbles? Well, I would definitely say giant bubbles! If you add some hoops then this is exactly what you will get along with guaranteed hours of fun, squeals, and excitement. Adding food colouring to the water is another great idea. Then if you provide different sizes of cups and containers along with other measuring equipment you will have busy scientists at work. The benefits of water play in early childhood are so extensive. It is such a simple and fun activity that children enjoy at preschool and early learning centres. But it doesn’t only need to happen there. Water play is something that could just as easily be done at home in a safe and supervised environment.      

1. I Get To Work With Kids! Out of my whole list of six favourite things about working in early childhood education. This would have to be number one. I get to be around kids all day long and I have always loved working with kids! Even way back in the dark ages when I was in primary school. In year six we were given the opportunity to sign up to volunteer within the school. I immediately signed up to help out in the kindergarten room during my lunch break once a week. My main job was to help clean up after the kindy’s finished their lunch in the classroom and then do any craft prep the teacher asked me to do. Perfect!! I had the best time doing this and looked forward to it every week. When I was in high school I also taught Sunday school for a while. I had to come up with interesting visuals to keep the little kids engaged in the bible stories. Back then we had very limited resources and well ahem, you know it was that long ago, the internet didn’t exist. 2. Kids Are Fun Kids are just so great to be around, they are honest, full of enthusiasm, and they can be so funny. But I’m not going to lie, the beginning of every preschool year is always so tough. The new kids have to learn the routine and getting them through the day during those early weeks of Term One leaves all the teachers feeling so exhausted. Some kids will bounce in full of confidence ready to get right into any and every activity. Other little ones have a super hard time separating from their mums and take a loooong time to settle. But once all the children get the hang of what preschool is all about and they build warm trusting relationships with us then everything gets a lot easier. 3. I Get To Be Creative A lot of what I do involves helping the classroom teacher set up the room. We both chat about what we have noticed the kids have been interested in. What has worked and what hasn’t during the previous week, then the teacher will write up the programme. I then come along and do most of the classroom setup. This is probably one of my favourite things about working in early childhood education, I get to be a decorator too. I try my hardest to set up the play space to be really fun and inviting for the children. Dramatic play setups are my absolute favourite. We have things like construction zones, A Bakery, pizza restaurants, Doctors, florist shops, etc. I love the challenge of making the dramatic play areas look as authentic as possible. 4. Working In Early Childhood Education Keeps You Active Indeed it does! There is so much physical activity involved when working in any early childhood setting. We are always lifting, packing away, cleaning, digging in the sandpit, and getting down on the floor to play with the children. And we are ALWAYS moving equipment and furniture around! We often joke that if we were ever out of a job at preschool we could for sure work as furniture removalists!! Working with children also means you eventually learn amazing ninja-like skills. I know how to jump back five feet matrix style to avoid a projectile vomit. I have developed an amazing supernatural ability to sense when a big sneeze is headed straight for my face giving me enough time to duck down low at lightning speed. Not long ago I sacrificed my shins to avoid a child hitting their head on the floor because they swung back on their chair (ouch, that one really hurt). Yes working with children keeps you active. 5. You Can Wear Casual Clothes When You Work In Preschool This is a favourite and it’s also not a favourite. It’s a positive thing that you don’t have to worry much about what you wear to work. I mean, we have to look neat, tidy, and professional but I’m always wearing pretty much the same thing on repeat because I know that I WILL get dirty throughout the day. This is all fine but for someone like me who LOVES clothes, it can be a bit not so great. What ends up happening is that I have a wardrobe full of clothes I love but only wear occasionally. Every year I say I will just wear everything and not care, but I don’t ugh!! (maybe next year). 6. I Have Formed Long-Lasting Friendships I have worked at the same preschool for so many years. Therefore,  I would have to say it’s almost like my second home. I have made good solid bestie friendships and I am lucky to work with such a great group of dedicated educators. I have also made friendships with some of the families that have lasted well beyond the preschool years. During the last couple of years some of my little friends, their mums, and I get together at a park or cafe for a catch-up, it’s such a joy being able to still be a part of their lives. Every year I look forward to a Christmas card from one of my former students, she is now 18 and still remembers me. How special is that? I’m also due to catch up with another former preschooler who is now 22, I ran into her at a doctor’s appointment where she is now working as a receptionist. We still recognized each other even after all those years had passed. We both got so excited and teary at the same time. Yes, I love working as an early childhood educator. Although today I have only listed six favourite things about working in early childhood education. I am sure that there are probably six million more. Linking up with Andrea and Erika for today’s Friday Favourites post.    

How To Teach Your Child To Be Grateful– Teaching your child gratitude is not easy because children are by nature quite egocentric. However, impressing the importance of gratitude will benefit your child tremendously in later life. Children who are grateful will grow up to be generally happier, healthier, and more resilient. They will also be able to build strong relationships with others. Understanding and practicing how to be grateful is a process that will take all of us a lifetime. So it’s truly important to start gently leading our kids even from a very young age towards understanding what it means to be grateful. Benefits Of Being Grateful Health Benefits Being Grateful decreases stress because you are focussing more on the positives. Grateful children and adults don’t concern themselves with being envious or jealous. They are generally more optimistic as they won’t waste time comparing themselves to others. Ability to Show Empathy Grateful children are more able to show kindness and be more generous towards their peers. They are better equipped to be able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. How To Teach Your Child To Be Grateful Be An Example We all know kids see everything we do and say. So it’s really important to remember that if we want our children to grow up to be grateful then we need to lead by example. Say a genuine “Thank you” to those you come across when you are out and about doing errands with your child. Don’t forget to also thank your children when they do something for you as well. Children need to feel appreciated just like adults do. If your child does something like pack away their toys or sets the table for dinner give them a heartfelt thanks. Doing this models gratitude to them and it also reinforces positive behaviour. Teach Them To Say “Thank You” In Different Ways Some kids find it difficult to say thank you verbally because they may either be shy or feel awkward. So it’s a good idea to teach them that there are other ways to say thank you. Let your child know that they could smile, wave, give a thumbs up, or even a high five. These are fun ways kids can express gratitude to others. Talk To Your Kids Kids love to spend time talking to their parents or caregivers. They appreciate those moments of undivided attention. Take these opportunities to talk to them about how important it is to be thankful for what they have. Gently explain that this is not always the case for everybody and this will encourage your child to be more compassionate towards others. Make Gratitude A Daily Habit Saying grace at mealtimes is a wonderful way to practice gratitude for the blessing of a meal. Bedtime is another perfect opportunity for saying thank you. You could ask your child to think of some things that happened during their day that they are thankful for. This can be added to their bedtime prayers. Help Out In The Community Gratitude and giving work in partnership. Children will understand what gratitude looks like if they’re raised in a home that helps out in the community. You can find places to spend time volunteering with your older child. There are also many opportunities when you can work together with your family to donate to charity. For example, consider collecting toys or non-perishable food items for less fortunate families during Christmas time. Practicing charity as a family is not only great for family bonding it’s also perfect for teaching children that life is not always about what you receive. It’s also about what you give to help others. It’s Never Too Early To Teach Your Child To Be Grateful Teaching young children an abstract concept like gratitude can be a bit tricky however it’s probably one of the most important things that you can instill in them. Practicing gratitude equips children to be kinder and more thoughtful towards others. So it’s never too early to start planting the seeds of a grateful heart in your child.                

Reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do together. There is probably nothing sweeter than cuddling up together to enjoy a story. Reading to your child will also encourage their development in many important ways. Bonding Between Parent And Child One of the best ways to help your child’s development is to spend time reading to them consistently.  Sharing a book with your child is a powerful way to demonstrate your feelings of love and attention and a fantastic opportunity to spend quality time with them.  A regular reading routine has wonderful benefits for a child’s growth and development. Creativity When children are engaged in a story and listening about people, places and things that are being described. What is actually occurring is that they are forming pictures in their own minds based on what they are hearing. They are visualising the events of the story that they are listening to. When children listen to stories regularly they will be much more capable of using their imaginations to invent their own stories and incorporate this into their play. Listening Skills Reading to children is an excellent way to give them opportunities to improve their listening and comprehension skills. As well as one on one reading with your child, you could also introduce audiobooks as part of your child’s reading routine. Consider using audiobooks in the car or listening to them together. Expanded Vocabulary And Language Skills If you read to your child consistently this will help them to expand their vocabulary. Reading helps children to be able to form sentences when they learn to write. It also helps them gain an understanding of how to use words skillfully when speaking as well as writing. Reading to children gives them the opportunity to absorb solid language skills. They assimilate proper grammar, word pronunciation, and usage. Reading to your child will also help them to become fluent readers because you are exposing them to correct articulation and pronunciation. Cognitive And Language Development Reading to your child promotes their all-round cognitive development and equips them with skills necessary for their lives. These skills include the ability to be able to process new information faster, learn and understand important tasks and expand their ability to retain knowledge about fundamental topics Attention Span Children need to be still and listen when they are being read to. They can’t focus if they are not doing these two things. If children are consistently read to then they will be able to develop the necessary skills that will extend their concentration. Furthermore, children who have longer attention spans are more likely to accomplish better results in school. Socal and Emotional Development Reading to your child is a powerful way of reducing stress as it can help young minds escape. Reading as part of a bedtime routine helps children to relax and unwind. Settling them for a better night’s rest and sleep. Reading to children will also encourage them to empathize. Books can introduce children to different situations that require them to think about feelings outside of their own experiences. Reading Teaches Children About The World Around Them By reading your child an array of books they will learn about other cultures around the world as well as their own. Suggestions For Reading To Your Child Encourage your child to choose the books that they would like to read with you. Children often like to listen to the same old favourites over and over again. Try and be as consistent as you can with a regular reading routine. Bedtime is usually an ideal time as it is usually when you are both able to unwind and snuggle up together after a busy day. Make the story as interesting as you can by using different tones in your voice and adding lots of expressions. Make it a fun, positive, and memorable experience for your child. Encourage your child to participate by referring to the pictures and asking them questions relating to the story. As you read to them you could also give them the opportunity to finish off the sentences in the story especially if it is a fun rhyming book. Take Your Child To The Local Library Going to the library with your child is a fun outing with so many important benefits. Children will have the opportunity to learn to love books and reading if you take them to the library regularly. It also means that they can access a variety of different books on a regular basis for free. Libraries also host storytimes for young children. These sessions sometimes offer craft activities as part of the program. All these fun and positive experiences at the library will foster your children’s love for books.  Favourite Books For Young Children Here is a link to some favourite children’s books that you might enjoy sharing with your child. Reading To Children-A list of Favourite Children’s Books

There are so many amazing benefits of cooking with children. It is a fun activity and in addition, it is also a wonderful learning opportunity. At preschool, we try and have as many cooking experiences as possible and the children absolutely love it. We usually find that there is never enough space for everybody around the cooking table. The children are always so excited and eager to be involved in cooking activities so we always need to make sure that everyone who wants to gets to have a turn. Benefits Of Cooking With Children Great Opportunity For Spending Time Together You don’t need to set up a big complicated cooking experience for your kids. Indeed, just try and cook with them as part of your everyday routine. So invite them into the kitchen as often as you can when they are young because believe me you’ll be begging them to come into the kitchen and help when they hit the teenage years. Kids love to watch grown-ups during meal prep time. I know it was one of my favorite things to do when I was little. While they are in the kitchen with you it’s a perfect time to chat with them about their day. Furthermore, it’s a great opportunity to discuss important things like nutrition and healthy eating. Show them what you are mixing, cutting, or cooking. Explain to them what is happening inside those delicious-smelling pots and pans. You can assign your kids simple tasks that they will be able to do safely like peeling or mixing. Anything that will make them feel like they are helping. I know of a mum who would give her child the task of picking out the seeds from the capsicum. What a perfect fine motor activity!! Any time you are able to spend with your child in the kitchen is time well spent. Cooking Benefits Children’s Literacy Skills  Cooking experiences are wonderful for showing young kids pre-reading concepts. You could most definitely say that cooking and literacy go together. Writing Begin by writing out a shopping list together. As you write your shopping list you can name the items you are jotting down. By doing this your kids will be able to see the purpose of writing. Older children who are independent and enthusiastic writers will be more than happy to write or copy their own list. Once you hit the supermarket you could ask your children to mark off the things on the list as they go into the shopping trolley. Reading There are plenty of simple and fun recipes designed for children in the kitchen.  You can find these quite easily in cookbooks or online. So go ahead and ask your kids to look for a recipe that they would like to follow. By following a recipe when you cook with your child they will be able to appreciate that literacy is essential and helpful for normal everyday life. In addition, reading a recipe together will help them to see and understand the concept of following instructions in a sequence. Increase Vocabulary Cooking with children is also a fantastic way to expose them to interesting words. Think of all those unusual names for ingredients and equipment found in the kitchen. If you ask your kids to describe what they are doing as they help you cook this will also increase their vocabulary. You can discuss the process of what it is you are both doing in the kitchen as you are cooking. For example, you could talk to your child about what they are peeling, cutting, or mixing. Cooking Benefits Children’s Fine Motor Skills Preparing food with your child in the kitchen encourages their fine motor development. Children grasp, use tools and participate in tasks that require them to use bilateral coordination when they are busy helping you with cooking. To get your child to work their fine motor muscles you can Give them a potato peeler to peel a carrot. Use a rolling pin to roll out dough Give them children’s scissors to cut ingredients like herbs. Use a safe knife to chop soft ingredients Cooking Helps With Basic Maths Concepts Counting One of the benefits of cooking with children is the opportunity to look at early maths concepts. Children can count the number of ingredients that are in the recipe. They can also count out how many of each ingredient they need. For example, ask them to count how many strawberries they need to add to a fruit salad. Children can also count aloud how many cups or teaspoons they are adding as they go. Weighing and Measuring Cooking is a great chance to increase the use of language around weight and measurement. You can discuss things like Quantities What is heavy and what is light, The size of the ingredients being used How much of something is needed. Time Cooking is also a great way to introduce young children to the concept of time. You need to use timers when baking. Recipes will also ask for ingredients to be mixed for a certain amount of time. All of these instructions help children to understand what a period of time actually is. Cooking With Children Promotes Healthy Eating When you involve young children in the kitchen this will promote a positive lifelong habit. Cooking with your child teaches them about how to live a healthy lifestyle and learn about nutrition and healthy food choices. Children can sometimes be fussy eaters and may be reluctant to try new foods. Cooking with children encourages them to be adventurous enough to taste new foods that they might otherwise reject if it was just served to them on a plate. Bring The Kids Into The Kitchen With so many benefits of cooking with children, why not go ahead and start now! You could begin by trying this Jam Drops recipe or this simple playdough recipe is really great too. We make this with the kids at preschool very often. It’s easy and the

Social skills for children are so incredibly important. They need these so they can grow up to be well-developed individuals who are able to communicate appropriately and form friendships and relationships. Kids can learn social skills from their parents at home or from schools, preschools, and therapists. At the preschool where I work, each and every year the educators run a really great research-based social skills programme called PALS. PALS was developed in Australia by clinical psychologists and early childhood educators for use in early childhood centres. It is a fun programme that teaches kids important social skills by using stories, songs, and puppets. So What Are Social Skills? Social skills are also known as interpersonal skills and they refer to the skills we use each and every day to communicate and interact with others. These skills are used to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. They involve things like facial expression, eye contact, speech, gesture as well as body language. Benefits Of Good Social Skills Children can communicate effectively When Children have good social skills they are able to enjoy good positive relationships with their peers. Children are able to make friends easily and can also sustain friendships. Children who have the skills to form friendships are also generally happier at school and this leads them to be able to learn better in the classroom. Good social skills are skills that children will carry on into adulthood Cooperate with others They are able to share and take turns with others Children are able to adapt to various situations Ask for help when they need to Important Social Skills For Children Good Manners Kids need to know that it is important that we are respectful to others. They need to learn how to ask for things appropriately by using the words “Please” and “Thank You”. When requesting something from someone they should also be able to make eye contact and use the other person’s name. Using Words To Ask For What They Want It’s essential that children know how to ask for what they want. We should encourage children to verbalize their requests instead of using tantrums, whingeing, and grunting as a means of communicating. Of course, toddlers who are learning will often resort to these methods as a way of expressing their needs and wants. It’s up to us to patiently teach them the appropriate skills they need to be able to communicate effectively. Sharing As children get older they need to be able to share in order to play and form positive relationships with other children. Sharing is vital for getting along with others and children need to learn and understand this so they can make and keep friends. It’s no fun playing with a friend who won’t share their space or toys. Winning And Losing Children need to learn that they can’t win all the time. Throwing tantrums and getting angry will make it difficult for other children to want to play with them. As hard as it might be to watch our kids get upset by a loss. We are doing them no long-term favours if all they ever experience is winning. Communicate Effectively Children need to be able to know how to have reciprocal conversations with others. They should know how to ask questions, take turns when speaking and listen to ideas and suggestions from their peers. They also need to know how to form boundaries by learning appropriate ways to say “No”. What Can Parents Do Parents can help their children by teaching them important social skills. As we all know children are always watching and learning by our example. So it’s really important that we are good role models for them. Children need to play with other children in a variety of settings so they can learn good social skills. Parents can facilitate this by organising and encouraging these valuable play opportunities. The good news is that parents can also try a variety of fun activities at home that will give children the opportunity to develop and improve their socials skills. Games When you play board games with your kids make sure to give them opportunities to experience both winning as well as losing. By doing this they will be better prepared for times when they experience losing while playing with their peers outside of their home environment. Turn-taking games such as Uno and Snap are also great for teaching kids to understand who’s turn it is by saying “My turn” “Your turn”. Role Play Practice different scenarios with your kids at home. For example, you could pretend to be a child at preschool who wants to play with a toy another child is playing with. Make up a list of different things you could politely say to ask for a turn. Using puppets is also a great idea and one that we use at preschool. We role-play endless possible scenarios that kids may come across in different social settings. And we teach them how to respond in a socially acceptable way. Visuals You can make up a chart that shows clear step-by-step pictures of appropriate ways of interacting with others. These visuals could include simple pictures of making eye contact, smiling, and saying hello. You can then use these visuals to discuss with your child how to interact in a socially appropriate way. We use visuals for everything at preschool and it’s such an effective tool when it comes to teaching social skills because kids respond so well to them. Singing There are traditional songs like “If you’re happy and you know it claps your hands” that teach emotions. You can also sift through YouTube to find songs that teach social skills. Some of these are catchy and easy for children to remember. In Conclusion Don’t forget that children need time and patience from nurturing parents, carers, and educators to learn and develop good social skills. Even as adults we are constantly finding ways to improve our social skills based on our own

Here are some fun and simple gross motor activities for your child that you can easily do at home with them. These activities can help equip your child with good gross motor skills which are important for them to be able to perform everyday tasks. What Are Gross Motor Skills? Gross motor skills are those which require movements of the whole body (arms, legs, and torso) to perform activities such as jumping, climbing and sitting. All of these activities are necessary for everyday life at school, work, or home. If gross motor skills are poor these tasks will be much more difficult to perform. Simple Gross Motor Activities For Your Child Different Types Of Animal Walking Using animals to practice gross motor skills is a fun and easy activity that can easily be done at home. Bear Walk- This is when the child walks using their hands and feet making sure their bottoms are up high just like a bear does when he walks. Penguin Walk- Ask kids to keep their arms straight down by their sides and waddle using their heels like a penguin. Crab walk- Children use their hands and feet to scuttle sideways. Make sure their hips are high off the ground so their core muscles get a good workout. Slide like A Snake– Children can lie on their stomachs with their arms to their sides. They then inch forward to ‘slide’ along the floor like a snake. Kangaroo Jump-  Kids keep their knees together with their hands perched up like a kangaroo. Encourage them to get down as low as they can and then spring forward. Set up An Obstacle Course At Home You can use the lounge room for this fun and beneficial activity. Use furniture rugs and pillows and get the kids to climb under over and around obstacles. Trampolines Trampolines will help your child to improve their balance. Mini trampolines at home are just as effective if there is not enough space for a regular-sized one in the backyard. Playing In The Park Find a park that has good, safe, and challenging equipment. Swinging on the swings can help children to improve and develop their balance. It will also help them with their coordination because they need to work on moving their legs back and forth at the same time as shifting their weight to be able to swing back and forth. Some parks also have equipment that encourages children to climb and use their trunk muscles. Wobble bridges and ladders where they have to swing like monkeys to get across the play equipment are not only fun but very effective for strengthening and developing gross motor skills. Ball Games Ball games such as kicking throwing and catching are excellent for coordination and gross motor skills. Tug Of War You can play this with your child by getting them to hold one end of the rope and you the other. The aim is then to try and pull each other over. Another great upper body and leg workout. Hopscotch This game is full of lots of jumping, hopping, and balancing. A fun and simple game with excellent benefits. Target Practice Set up a target for children to aim at and throw bean bags. Balance Beam Use masking tape to make a line on the floor and challenge your child to walk along the tape. Dancing Dancing is not only great fun it also gets children to practice balance and coordination as well as motor planning skills. They can dance freely or you can challenge them with following song movements like”Head, shoulders, knees, and toes”. See how fast they can go! Pulling and Pushing Wheelbarrows, Trucks, and pretend baby strollers are great for gross motor skills. You can even hold your child’s legs so they walk using their hands and they can be the wheelbarrow. Playing with Bubbles Children love chasing and popping bubbles. Trying to track down a bubble is not always easy and that’s great because it means children have to run, jump, dodge and make their way around shifting their balance. Riding Tricycles, Peddle Pushers and Bikes Perfect for working on core and leg muscles as well as improving coordination and strength. The Importance Of Gross Motor Skills Cognitive Development Participating in physical activities that encourage the development of gross motor skills can improve academic performance. Confidence and Self-Esteem Children with good physical ability will be more likely to engage in sporting activities. Sport helps children learn about participating in a game and the satisfaction of knowing the effort they have contributed. Good For Children’s Health Children practice their gross motor skills when they are involved in physical activities. This is beneficial for their flexibility, joints, bones, and muscles. As well as keeping children fit, maintaining a healthy weight and good posture. Ability to Assess Risk This is an important skill that children will carry on into adulthood. On A Final Note Activities such as these are simple and can be extremely beneficial for your child to develop good gross motor skills. Having good gross motor skills will help your child’s self-esteem, classroom learning, and overall health and well-being. Links https://childdevelopment.com.au/resources/child-development-charts/gross-motor-development-chart/ Other Beneficial Activities For Children’s Development https://playworkeatrepeat.com/benefits-of-sandpit-play/    

There are so many benefits of sandpit play for children. It is not only fun and engaging it is also incredibly beneficial for children’s development. If you ask most of the children at preschool what activity they like the best, they will usually name the sandpit as their very favourite. Children just love scooping, digging, building sandcastles, mixing sand with water, and cooking. Sandpit play is such a fun open-ended activity that also promotes wonderful developmental benefits. Some of these benefits are Sensory Development Gross Motor Development Fine Motor Development Develops Social Skills Develops Creativity and Imaginary play Language Development Social and Emotional Sensory Development Children can explore their sense of touch by playing with sand. Additionally, they can also learn about important things like temperature. Children will be able to feel the warm sand that has been under the sun compared to cooler sand that has been under shade. Mixing sand together with water means that children are exploring different textures. Firstly they can discover that wet sand is incredibly sticky whereas dry sand will run through their fingers and feels very grainy. Gross Motor Development Movements such as digging, lifting, scooping, pushing, and pouring will give children’s large muscles a great workout. Their little bodies are being strengthened by all these movements. Children will also come to develop an awareness of their own bodies when they are engaged in the sandpit. They will work out how they can use their bodies to achieve certain tasks such as lifting heavy buckets of sand and tipping it over to make sandcastles. Fine Motor Development Children will find controlling a pencil and writing so much easier when they have well-developed fine motor skills. Sandpit play gives children an excellent opportunity to strengthen the smaller muscles in their fingers. Every time they dig with their fingers or manipulate wet sand to form shapes, they are actually increasing the strength in the smaller muscles found in their hands. Even doing little things like adding details such as small stones, gum nuts, or twigs to their creations means they are using their fine muscles. Develop Social Skills Playing in the sandpit is a perfect opportunity for children to develop their social skills. At preschool, we have found that sandpit cooking is a great activity that keeps kids focussed and engaged for a long time. So we provide the children with pots, pans, cooking utensils, and a play stove. The children have such an amazing time mixing the sand and water together to make everything from soups to cakes! While they are busy doing this, children are learning important skills about playing cooperatively. They are exchanging ideas and suggestions as well as learning to share and take turns. Develops Creativity and Imaginary Play Children really enjoy mixing sand and water. This is such a simple activity that is so beneficial when it comes to helping them develop their imaginations and creative thinking. Children can create new structures, find new ways to transport the sand around the sandpit. They can also think of new and exciting ways to use the sloppy sand and water they have so joyfully made. In the sandpit, kids are able to create freely. There is zero pressure to make anything that has a specific result. There is no right or wrong when it comes to sandpit creations. So children will feel a real sense of accomplishment and success no matter what they make in the sandpit. Language Development Children are often chatting with each other when they are busy playing in the sandpit. They might be talking about what they are building or cooking as well as exchanging their ideas. Sandpit play is a great time for educators or parents to jump on opportunities to help children increase their vocabulary. You can ask them questions about what they are doing or building. This is such a fantastic way to open up two-way conversations with kids. Interactions such as these while playing in a relaxed atmosphere such as the sandpit are so important. The reason for this is because it gives kids the perfect opportunity to improve their speech and language development. Social and Emotional One of the reasons why I love sandpit play for children so much is because it can even get the shyest kid to talk. Sometimes children struggle the first few days or even weeks when they start preschool. They are missing their parents and they really don’t know anybody yet. The sandpit will often be a place where they can relax. Children can become so engaged in what they are doing that they start to enjoy themselves. This will often lead them to feel safe enough to open up and start talking to their peers and educators. Final Thoughts Playing in the sandpit provides children with so many wonderful learning opportunities. They will be able to learn many important physical skills as well as social skills. Sandpit play gives children a full-body sensory experience as well as a place to socialize and play with their friends. I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of the benefits of sandpit play for children. One Last Thing If you would like to read about the benefits of playdough in early childhood you can find this here.