As Holly’s toddler, Sophia, began to take an interest in the world and her surroundings, Holly felt that a couple of days a week in a local Strathfield childcare center would be beneficial to Sophia’s development. Dedicated activities for her age group, full time trained and experienced educators and children her own age to interact with would, she believed, contribute positively to Sophia’s growth.
1. Learning programmes
Strathfield childcare centre staff are qualified and experienced educators who use their knowledge to plan programmes specifically to enhance children’s learning journeys. Programmes include numeracy and literacy, music and movement, science and nature studies. Some centres also offer languages, yoga and other specialty activities. Getting Sophia familiar with school curriculum areas at her level, would be helpful for when she transitioned to big school in later years.
2. Socialisation
During Sophia’s visits with Holly to daycare centres before enrolment, she loved meeting and mixing with other little people her age. Socialisation is an important part of children’s development and helps them learn important skills such as taking turns, helping others and conversation.
3. Mum’s and Dad’s need time too
Once Holly was confident Sophia was happy, content and thriving in daycare, she could relax and take the time to complete all the tasks that were so difficult to achieve when she had a toddler in tow.
4. Outdoor play
Outdoor play is an integral part of the childcare programme – centres are well equipped with trikes and cars, balls, climbing frames and some have tree huts and cubbies. Toddlers love to explore new and exciting surroundings and a regular day in childcare centre provides them with a stimulating and safe environment where they can stretch their limits and learn just what they can and can’t do.
5. Discover nature
Childcare centres incorporate learning about nature in their programmes. Planting vegetables and watching them grow and then cooking with their own home grown food is a wonderful way for children to keep in touch with the real world. Simple science lessons teach children about how the world works and why it is worth preserving.
6. Excursions and Incursions
As part of the learning programme, Strathfield childcare centres incorporate visits from the outside and visits beyond the centre. This helps children learn about their wider community and experience arts events they may not get at home.
7. Multicultural Festivals and Indigenous culture
Most childcare centres will celebrate a variety of special days, exposing your child to a range of cultural festivals. Sophia was able to try different foods, learn about diverse cultures and develop an understanding of differences by attending these multicultural events. Indigenous cultural events also taught her about the traditions and history of her own country.
The opportunity to be part of a programme designed specifically for young children’s development was one Holly had not had when she was a child, and she was thrilled at Sophia’s progress after enrolling her in her chosen centre.
