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Empowering Our Team Through Volunteering: A Heartfelt Experience at Our Childcare Centres

Aug 6, 2024

At our Perth-based childcare centres, we believe in fostering a nurturing environment not only for the children but also for our dedicated staff. One of the ways we do this is through our robust volunteering program, which allows our team to engage with their favourite charities and make a difference in the community. The experiences shared by our staff highlight the enriching impact of this program.

Connie, one of our passionate educators, shared her excitement about volunteering at a local school and with Care Bags. “I loved the opportunity to volunteer at the school and with Care Bags,” she said. “It gave me an insight into what happens behind the scenes and the great work that gets done.” Connie’s experience underscores the value of understanding and supporting community initiatives from the ground up.

For Paramjit, the experience was both novel and fulfilling. “It was a good experience for me to serve food to other people in the community. I have never had this opportunity before, and it was great to do.” Volunteering gave Paramjit a chance to connect with the community in a meaningful way, fostering a sense of empathy and service.

Amy’s time with animals was a dream come true. “I loved having the animal cuddles and it gave me the opportunity to know what is involved in being a Veterinarian.” Amy’s volunteering stint not only satisfied her love for animals but also provided a glimpse into a profession she admires, enriching her personal and professional aspirations.

Hadeel, who has a passion for teaching, found joy in sharing her skills. “I felt so good to volunteer and help teach, being able to do what I love the most.” Her experience reaffirms our commitment to supporting our staff’s passions and professional growth.

These heartfelt stories are just a glimpse of the positive impact our volunteering program has on our team. By providing opportunities for our staff to engage with the community and pursue their passions, we create a supportive and fulfilling work environment. This, in turn, attracts passionate and dedicated individuals who share our commitment to nurturing the next generation.

If you’re looking for a workplace that values your passions and supports your growth, our childcare centres in Perth could be the perfect fit for you. Join us in making a difference, both in the lives of children and in the broader community. Together, we can achieve great things!

Life Skills 0-5 years at Acacia Hill

Life Skills 0-5 years at Acacia Hill

Jul 6, 2021

Our approach at Acacia Hill with your children is to assist them to develop skills for life, skills that we as adults can take for granted.  As skills are developed, the children use them, store them, and constantly refer to them when faced with new challenges. 

By focusing on life skill education in children 0-5 years we are assisting them in developing

  • Interpersonal relationships
  • Emotion
  • Problem solving
  • Decision making
  • Creative thinking
  • Critical thinking
  • Self-awareness and management
  • Communication skills
  • Empathy
  • Resilience
  • Independence

Children must be socially and emotionally ready to take on academic knowledge, so it is imperative in these early years we work hard alongside families in developing life skills.

At Acacia Hill we have a defined list of life skills we help your child develop at every stage of their journey with us. 

For further reading, please click this article out of Europe

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/23/let-children-play-the-educational-message-from-across-europe?fbclid=IwAR3J_VJmmD1XliBP3cnrGeCZuXhkOPZItXvLQmAazfuAzZzI3NGdt7u6iuE

‘What is Reggio?’

‘What is Reggio?’

Jun 16, 2021

‘What is Reggio?’……… our brief interpretation

‘Reggio’, ‘Reggio education’, ‘Reggio Emilia Approach’ are all terms commonly used in early childhood education especially over the last 5-10 years to describe a way of educating children. When talking to people, it definitely comes across as a ‘flavour of the month’ kind of approach that involves the use of natural resources.  This is probably because the educational philosophy has been spreading across the world like wildfires in recent times.

So, where did it come from and what is it about?

The approach or educational philosophy comes from a city in northern Italy called Reggio Emilia.  It began shortly after WW2 finished with a group of mothers in a village of Reggio Emilia wanting their children to grow with an intolerance of injustice and inequality after just living through a war.  The woman sold items abandoned from the Germans when they retreated Italy, to set up a ‘school’ for their children.  On hearing this a man by the name of Loris Malaguzzi (a well-educated Psychologist) set out to the village on bike to see what it was all about.  He was so taken aback with what these mothers were trying to achieve, he decided to stay and help them.

Malaguzzi was inspired by many educational philosophers before him such as Dewy, Erikson, Piaget, Vygotsky and Biber and with all this knowledge took parts from each educational philosopher and created what now is known as the Reggio Emilia Approach.

These are very broad pointers from my understandings of the approach.

  • The Image of the child is the foremost important aspect of the approach.
  • Children must have some control over the direction of their learning.
  • Children must be able to learn through experiences in a language that best suits their learning style.
  • Children have relationships with other children, materials and the environment, that they can explore with the support of educators and families.
  • Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves
  • Respect, responsibility and community are all explored in a safe and supportive Environment 

At Acacia Hill we have delved deeply into this approach and have taken aspects that suit our Australian context and weaved them into our curriculum. 

If you would like further information on the Reggio Emilia Approach, please speak to one of our coordinators who would be happy to share some of their understandings.

Getting Sick in Childcare

Getting Sick in Childcare

Jun 1, 2021

Is there truth to this assumption and what can we all do about it.

Why does it ‘always feel like’ when your child starts childcare they always seem to ‘get’ sick.

There seems to be a real stigma around this thought and for those of us who work in childcare it can sometimes be quite demoralising as we work hard not only educating your children but providing them a clean and safe environment.

So what truth is in this?

Yes, I do agree some children tend to get sicker than others and this can be a thing when children first start in care, but is it the cleanliness of the centre that causes this?  In some places this could definitely be a cause however with our strict hygiene and safety policies and procedures we are governed to follow, I don’t believe this is the reason.

So, what is it, I hear you ask that causes the sicknesses?

With any age group, babies, toddlers, school children and adults when they are grouped together in a space where they are breathing in and out the same air, and when they are sharing the same toys/ stationary / computers / facilities, germs are bound to spread. This is just fact.

We have all experienced I’m sure when the common cold goes around the office, generally the majority of the people in the office will catch the cold.  This is because we are sharing the same circulated air and equipment.  The same happens in childcare and schools, however as adults we understand not to share pens, or equipment with someone who becomes unwell, young children do not always remember this rule as much as we try to enforce it in the centre.

The other thing to remember, prior to your child starting in a childcare centre, they probably spent the majority of their time at home with you where they weren’t surround by another 10, 20 or even 30 other children and adults in the same room at the same time.  The more people they are around, the higher the chance of becoming sick.

Now this sounds all doom and glume I’m sure to you at home wondering why you have put your child in care.

Well, the good news is you are helping your child build their immunity to all these common illnesses.  At some stage in their life, they will be consistently surrounded by others at school, team sports, concerts, work etc and by placing your child in childcare now, this is step 1 to helping them build their immunity.

What else do we do in the centre to prevent the spread of illnesses:

  • We ensure every day the children have lots of outside play in the fresh air to limit the spread of germs in the air
  • When the temperature is between 16 and 30 degrees we have the children sleeping outside under cover and in the fresh air. (Sunscreen is applied prior to sleeping)
  • While the children are sleeping, they sleep head to toe to prevent them from breathing on one another
  • We have a ‘mouthed’ bucket in every room. Every time we see a toy mouthed by a child, we place it into the bucket to be cleaned and disinfected.
  • We have a cleaner in the centre every day who does a thorough clean of the rooms, bathrooms and equipment.
  • We rotate the equipment in the rooms on a weekly They are cleaned, disinfected and dried out in the sunshine when possible, to kill all germs
  • We have strict policies and procedures on contagious illnesses which allow us to send children home when we think they are contagious.

What can you do to help your child stay well in childcare?

  • Ensure your child eats a variety of healthy foods – include vegetables, fruit, breads, cereals, dairy and protein. Care for kids recommends the following immune boosting foods
    • Almonds (age appropriate); berries; low/no sugar yoghurt; salmon; eggs; broccoli; spinach; sweet potato; seeds and oats.
  • Ensure your child is getting adequate, quality sleep
  • Ensure your child gets enough exercise
  • Ensure your child is up to date with their immunisation
  • Encourage good health and hygiene practices
(June 2020: www.careforkids.com.au/child-care-articles/article/584/immunity-boosters-for-kids-in-care)

Getting Sick in Childcare

Playdough Recipe

Playdough Recipe

Feb 2, 2021

AT HOME PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

  • 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)

  • Food colouring (optional)

Download Receipe

METHOD

  1. Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil in a large mixing bowl
  2. Add food colouring TO the boiling water then into the dry ingredients
  3. Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough
  4. 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