Five Cent

There are many daycare centres in and around Helensvale, and it can get confusing as to which to choose. Parents who both work often cannot find someone to take care of their children during the day. However, whether or not you find someone to take care of your child during the day, they can benefit greatly from attending a daycare centre. Therefore it is beneficial for you to find out what you should look for when it comes to choosing the right daycare for your child.

Caregivers

One of the top considerations are the caregivers at a daycare centre; It is essential to know how many are assigned to each daycare group. Check to see that the daycare centre you visit meets with the National Quality Standards, which state that there must be one educator assigned to four children from 0-to 36 months and to eleven children, one educator 36 months and more. It is also essential to take a look at how the caregivers work with the children and how the children react to the caregivers. Be sure to see that each child is given proper attention and that there is at least one caregiver that your child will respond to each day because small children feel more comforted if they see the same familiar face every day.

Food and nutrition

From a very early age, children should start to have healthy eating. Daycare centres must provide the right nutrition for all the children. Find out what the nutrition policy is in each daycare centre you visit. Make sure the meals prepared are nutritional and healthy for the children to eat with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

A safe and nurturing environment

When visiting daycare centres, take the time to look around and see that your child will be in a safe and nurturing environment during the hours they attend the daycare centre. Make sure that the groups of children are not too large and are always watched over by a caregiver. Children should be provided with both indoor and outdoor areas for play. They should feel uninhibited and be able to enjoy the environment they find themselves in every day. Once they feel good where they are, it will be important to them to always return every day to find nothing has changed.

National quality standards

National Quality Standard in Australia is the guide that daycare centres depend upon. They cover seven quality areas that are all important for the well-being and safety of all the children attending the daycare centres.

Communication

The caregivers must keep parents updated on their child’s progress. The daycare centre of your choice must have an app that can put you in touch with the centre at any time. Parents and caregivers must have open communication between them.

The flexibility of daycare centre hours

Daycare centres should be flexible to accommodate the hours they are open. Sometimes, things change for parents, and they cannot get to pick up their children at the same time. If any changes occur, the daycare centre must be able to accommodate the parents as well as if they have to change the times of day their child will attend.

So take your time to look at all the daycare centres in Helensvale and choose some to visit. Once you have narrowed your search down to at least two daycare centres, take your child for a visit. See at which centre they feel the most comfortable and seem to enjoy the environment. We recommend that you check and visit Play and Learn. Then you can enrol your child without worry, and your child will benefit from being with other children every day.

Many parents in Langwarrin often wonder if letting their children attend kindergarten is so important.

Yet, parents commonly agree that children become more curious about almost anything as they develop and grow. This natural curiosity needs a learning outlet as soon as possible.

It is to this end that makes kindergarten, Langwarrin crucial to support the early childhood development of children. The importance of kindergarten during the formative years of a child cannot be overstated.

The structured and safe environment provided by a quality kindergarten stimulates the brain development and growth of children in fun and exciting ways.

Here’s why kindergarten is so important:

Important for a child’s growth and development

The play-based education programs and structured environment offered by quality kindergarten are vital for a child’s growth and development. Early numeracy and literacy are reinforced by professionally trained educators and teachers.

Children exposed to early learning helps to foster in them a lifetime love for learning. This firm early learning foundation helps in their educational journey and beyond.

The fun and exciting play activities provided by a quality kindergarten program help children learn as they play.

Numbers are not the only things learned in kindergarten

Children attending kindergarten get the chance to form lasting friendships with peers of the same age. Forming friendships at an early age plays a crucial role in the emotional and social development of children.

Being able to interact with peers and adults in kindergarten teaches important behavioural values such as cooperation, confidence, respect, overall wellbeing, and empathy. The natural egocentric behaviour of children and the positive guidance provided by kindergarten develops lifelong emotional and social skills.

Play-acting and play time are some of the stimulating activities that teach children to numeracy and literacy, cooperativeness, and communication. Exploration and learning passions are ignited in children with the support of a safe and caring environment.

Positive transition to formal schooling

Many studies found that the transition to formal schooling is smoother when children attend kindergarten. Children are also ready emotionally, socially, and intellectually to face the rigours of primary schooling with kindergarten access.

Many primary schools today make kindergarten schooling one of their admission requirements. It is because children with no prior kindergarten exposure have a harder time catching up with social, emotional, and literacy teachings in the primary grade.

Enhance children’s development

The design of quality kindergarten programs helps to enhance children’s development, including:

• Teach children to become effective communicators. The early language immersion of children in kindergarten teaches them new vocabulary words they won’t otherwise learn in the home.
• A strong sense of identity is taught and learned by children during their kindergarten years. The opportunities to explore their relationships and feelings during kindergarten allow children to become more independent.
• Teaches children to become involved and confident learners. The kindergarten program that encourages children to explore and investigate helps to enhance confidence and self-worth.
• Encourages children to connect with their community. Learning more about the heritage, environment, and cultures of other people helps children to connect and contribute to the community and the world.
• A strong sense of wellbeing in children is fostered during kindergarten. The various learning opportunities provided in kindergarten teach children to become resilient and well-adjusted.

The importance of early learning cannot be overstated. Contact Alto Early Learning Montessori Kindergarten to know more.