Early Learning Centre

Exciting news at the Early Learning Centre this week – Mrs Bensch is a Grandmother. Charlotte (Lottie) Elizabeth was born last Friday. We are all very excited for Mrs Bensch and her family at this very special time.

In other news, I have tended my resignation and will finish up at the end of this year. I have had an affiliation with the College since I first started in the Out of School Hours Care program in 2007 and have been Director and Early Childhood Teacher for the last 9 years. I have loved every minute of my work with our early learners, and it is now time for a new direction and a new challenge.

Piccolo (ELC3)

We are noticing many new little friendships developing further as we enter the second half of the year and our three-year-old’s are all beginning to move closer to their four year old developmental milestones. We are focussing on providing small group games and play opportunities to facilitate and encourage these emerging and developing friendship skills.

Piccino (ELC4)

This week we commenced our project on The Gentle Genius of Trees. We went on an exploratory walk around the Myrniong grounds looking at all the different trees we could see and then we compared the different textures and colours of the tree trunks, their bark and their leaves. Next week we will be learning about how trees communicate to each other.

Sometimes our days can wear us out.

Self Care Skills

Development of everyday self-care skills, like dressing and going to the toilet, is an important part of child development. Children who are encouraged to have a go at everyday self-care tasks, and given the time and support to develop independence with these important ‘jobs’, they show more initiative and confidence in their play and learning.

Independence in self-care skills also helps your child when settling into new environments such as early learning environments or primary school.

What you can do

Make routine everyday tasks a fun time.
Reassure your child that mistakes are OK and praise their attempts at self-care.
Break down tasks down into manageable stages – ‘You put your shoe on your foot, and I will tie the laces for you’.
Allow them to complete the last step of an activity, once this is mastered add the second last step and so on.
Allow plenty of time for each task and opportunity for repetition as your child becomes independent in self-care.
Talk about what you’re doing as you do it – “Now we will wash your face”
Set up for success – make tasks as easy for them as possible, modify the activity if necessary eg. Cut up food into bite size pieces so that its easier for them to use a fork
Have a predictable daily routine, use a chart if necessary

For further information follow this link:

https://cahs.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/HSPs/CAHS/Documents/Community-

Health/ChildDevelopment/Play-and-Learning-12-self-care.pdf

Have a great week.

Frances O'Brien

Director Early Learning Centre