Family Learning Centre 

Play… Learn… Connect 

Hello and a big welcome to all our Family Learning Centre playgroupers and Early Learning Centre parents, children and families.

We are back in full swing this term, and have had such a lot of fun as we welcome our weekly Playgroupers and Community Hubs partners and families and children back to our Family Learning Centre spaces, including our Long Day Care and 3 and 4 year old Kindergarten

Please pop in and say Hi to Mandy and Helen at the Family Learning Centre, and find out “What’s new for 2022”

Celebrating Education Week 22-28 May

Our Early Learning Centre educators and early years partners and playgroup facilitators at the Family Centre have been busy celebrating Education Week with a collection of amazing erly play and activity ideas to share with parents to incorporate home that assist your child’s developing skills and learning stages in these first 2000 days of their lives!

As parents and caregivers, you are recognised as your child’s first educator. You can make ‘learning’ part of everyday play and everywhere fun!

Winter is time to rug up and get outdoors with busy toddlers and youngsters. I have noticed how children at playgroup and the Early Learning Centre love to collect autumn leaves, twigs, and flowers petals, anytime we are outside. We have had quite a collection recently!

CRAFTY Ideas

So the question is for many parents, what can we do with all of these “treasures”? Easy indoor activities for active youngsters can include collecting different fallen leaves to paint and making playdough sculptures with. Or … Why not bring out the 3 Ps - paint, paper and paste - and make a pasting ‘nature collage’. Check out pinterest or other websites for ideas https://happyhooligans.ca/fabulous-fall-collage/

Nature collage activities can help your child’s development!

Collage activity for kids: 2-6 years | Raising Children Network

Nature Collage can help children to

• learn language, colours, shapes,
• learn skills such as glueing, sticking, taping, stapling, cutting, tearing.
• experiment with different resources, as they share materials and tools.
• be creative and learn about design, patternmaking, dimension and composition.
• gain concentration skills.

How to do a ‘nature collage’

Work at a table, and keep the collage items such as leaves, sticks and flowers in plastic tubs or on a tray. This can help you keep any mess under control.

• Follow your child’s lead. They might want to make a picture with the collage – for example, sticking down leaves and paper to make a forest. Or your child might just want to stick down the items in a pretty pattern. Let your child choose, and give them plenty of praise.
• Younger children might manage to stick on only a few items to make their collage. Your child might need help with glue sticks.
• Most of all , enjoy all your child’s efforts and stages.

Why not keep a busy box of recycled objects and materials for collage and other crafty activities, including ‘safe’ scissors, playdough and crayons

Regards,

Helen O’Connor and Mandy Minhas

Northern Bay Family Learning Centre