Family Learning Centre 

Play… Learn… Connect 

Hello and a very warm welcome to all our Family Learning Centre, to our Early Learning Centre parents, children and families, our kindy kids and playgroupers. So much has been happening as we kick off in term 3, enjoying these last weeks of winter and preparing the gardens for spring! 

There is a playgroup at the Family Centre each day of the week. It has been a joy to participate and watch these young groups grow. The playgroup families are fundamental to nurturing in the Family Centre, a feeling of friendship and community.

For more information see flier What’s On @the Family Centre for Term 3 

• Monday          9:30- 11am  Connect up, (Marlise, Bethany) 
• Tuesday         1-3pm            Circle of Security (Amanda) BCYF
• Wednesday   9:30-11am   Kookaburras Supported Playgroup, (Donna, CoGG)                                    1:30 -3pm    Bubs to Bubs (Pregancy - 1 yr) (Amanda, BCYF)
• Thursday        9:30-11         Bubs to Tots (1-2Yrs) (Amanda, BCYF)
• Friday               9:30-11         Play 2 Learn Together Multicultural Playgroup,         

With COVID restrictions fully lifted, we are really happy to see all the new “Playgrouper families”, including - all back in full swing at the Family Centre site during Term 3. Drop in and say hello to the team at the Family Centre. 

Dental Health Services Victoria launches translated videos to help young families care for children’s teeth

Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) has launched a series of translated videos that provide practical toothbrushing tips and advice for parents with young children aged 0-6 years. 

The videos are translated into 15 community languages and are a helpful resource for professionals and organisations to use when promoting oral health with diverse families. 

Click on the links below to access these videos and their translations on YouTube:

• Toothbrushing with your baby (0 – 18 months old)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcAjB30TLQlHGGymRPtk8HYiUTgAQPIwO

• Toothbrushing with your toddler or pre-schooler (18 months – 6 years)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcAjB30TLQlFKzvTshJEVHQnSI2Ghapo8

NBC Early Learning Centre News

Planning for 2023 we are especially excited to be planning for our free 3 and 4 year old funded kindergarten programs- If your child is eligible please contact Mandy, Viv or Helen  or drop in and make an appointment to visit with our wonderful educators. 

Enjoyable for all of our parents, educators and children alike, we are proud to provide such stimulating music programs such as Hey Dee Ho to build confidence and develop social, language and physical skills while laying the foundations for a lifetime of future learning.

Each Wednesday and Thursday morning at the Early Learning Centre we offer early year’s music and dance for our littlees with Hey Dee Ho led by Jo, who brings plenty of energy, joy and laughter as she leads all the age groups from babies to 5 year olds at the Early Learning Centre through a range of musically engaging activities, dance and songs with puppet play and props specifically designed to nurture a young child’s sense of fun and imagination. 

Kindergarten 3 and 4 year old programs

Our kinder children, under the guidance of teacher Vivian Kilpatrick have had lots of fun in the kitchen cooking up a storm with vegetables fresh from the veggies patch and are loving all the cooking activities.

Community Hubs News

Community Hub weekly activities include great programs such as the Toy Library, Cooking Classes at Geelong Trade Training Centre, Sew ‘n Chat, and English Conversation Classes and the weekly ‘One Box” food box are available to registered families each week. All led and supported by Moona, our Community Hubs Leader, these activities support new migrant and Refugee families with young children to 

News from our Community Hubs multicultural program leader, Moona Fardad includes Monday ‘Chat and Sew’ and of course English classes for new migrant women. 

Our Toy Library has been a delight to children and parents alike! Toys are specially suited for children under 5, who love to come to choose and borrow from a range of toys for up to 2 weeks.

Toy library is available each weekday to Playgroup and ELC families - to register please see Moona our Community Hubs Leader. We aim to support families and encourage quality time spent playing with children. Each week parents and guardians can borrow quality educational toys, puzzles and games for young children, designed to support your child’s skill development and promote imagination.

Favorite Activities for Home 

Playdough - the Best and Easiet Ever Recipe! 

https://theimaginationtree.com/best-ever-no-cook-play-dough-recipe/

The benefits of using play dough for young children are wonderful and the play possibilities are endless!

By making it yourself you know exactly what has gone into it and can also customise it in so many ways, such as adding colour, sparkles and even natural flavours or essential oils. It has a proven therapeutic quality and has saved my parenting on more occasions than I can number! It is, quite simply, the best play material out there.

I hope you will love making this easiest ever, no-cook play dough recipe with your child!

BEST EVER NO-COOK / 4 minute PLAY DOUGH RECIPE

You will need a big mixing bowl and wooden spoon, as well as:

• 2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil  (baby oil and coconut oil work too)
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 1 to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
• gel food colouring (optional)
• few drops glycerine (my secret ingredient for stretch and shine!)

Method:

• Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil in a large mixing bowl
• Add food colouring TO the boiling water then into the dry ingredients
• Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough
• Add the glycerine (optional)
• Allow it to cool down then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone. * This is the most important part of the process, so keep at it until it’s the perfect consistency!*
• If it remains a little sticky then add a touch more flour until just right

Voila!

Thank you all for your support this term. Such a busy little Hub of activity, we are always excited to share our news and ways we Play… Learn… Connect!

Yours sincerely,

Helen O’Connor, NBC Family Centre, Coordinator        

and 

Mandy Minhas, NBC Early Learning Centre, Director