Billy Button News

Independence 

The dear Billy Buttons are slowly but surely settling into our days together and are becoming more familiar with the environment, their peers and the rhythm of the day. In Steiner Early Childhood Education, we believe that the rhythm, repetition and ritual of our mornings help to ground and anchor the children. Over-time, they are able to anticipate what is coming next and develop a strong sense of safety and security in the preschool environment. It’s been interesting to notice how as their sense of safety grows, so too has their desire for independence!

As children take their first steps away from family, they also begin to really develop their sense of autonomy, agency and their ability to help themselves. Self-help skills are essential building blocks for life that enable children to take care of themselves and their surroundings. At Billy Button we aim to give children unhurried time to practice these skills – taking their shoes off by themselves, caring for their own belongs, pouring their own water from little jugs on the table, cutting the fruit for morning tea and putting their own cushions away after story time, watering the garden and helping during pack-away time amongst other things. These seemingly small and simple tasks offer children great opportunities for learning and development including fine/gross motor skills, the ability to plan and sequence tasks and the willingness to try new things.  As they slowly begin to become more independent their self-esteem and confidence begin to grow. It’s such a joy to see the look on a child’s face when they are proudly chosen to be the special helper to hand out morning tea or snuff the candle after story!

At Billy Button we also strive to create a loving, supportive environment that allows children to work through frustration, build tolerance and to persevere through challenges. These skills are fundamental for life-long learning as they navigate the everyday and the school environment in years to come.

A simple way parents can foster confidence and show children the faith they have in their children’s capabilities is to have their child carry and hang their own bag on the hook, take out and put their fruit in the bowl and their lunch in the basket. Through these little tasks children can gain so very much! 

Our Autumn Festival will be held on Thursday April 2nd at 8:30am and will go for approximately 1.5 hours. Children will go home with their families after this, ready to enjoy a lovely break for the Easter school holidays! Please remember to bring a plate of healthy food to share for our feast and a little piece of nature to weave into our Autumn Mandala. 

We would also be very grateful if each family could choose a plant, either a flowering shrub, an herb or veggie seedling, or any lovely bit of greenery to donate on festival day to bring the garden back to life again. 

Warmly, 

Jemima and Farishta