by brightdays@admin2023 | Apr 11, 2022 | Bright Days
As adults, we can’t help but feel that we’ve somehow lost touch with mother nature.
When last did you switch on the news or open YouTube without some reminder of climate change, drought, flood, fire, pollution, pandemic, and more?
How many of your friends and loved ones battle anxiety, depression, and mental health-related issues? Maybe even you?
Of course, these things are all connected.
As new parents, this is the last thing we want to hear, especially when we’ve just brought a bright-eyed baby into the world. The good news is that you can start to shape and protect your little ones for entry into this strange new world by introducing them to nature early on, as a part of their daily play routine.
1. D for Dirt
The past 50 years have seen a 50% decline in the amount of time that children spend soaking in the sunlight and getting down and dirty in the great outdoors. Yet, rugged play in a natural setting especially in a quality kindergarten program is not only a surefire way to stimulate and entertain little ones, but it also has very real and far-reaching health benefits.
In early childhood education, exposure to quality green environments that are rich in healthy dirt, insects, animals, plants (and yes…bacteria) is key to building strong immune systems and little bodies that are less prone to intolerances, allergies, and even phobias that create limitations and anxiety later on. Think of it as a daily dose of Vitamin-Dirt!
What’s more, old-fashioned vitamin D from sunshine is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle: strengthening growing bones and helping children ward off the nastier bugs and viruses that come their way. Real sunshine is so important that, in the age of global pandemics, pediatricians recommend vitamin D supplements for babies and small children who don’t spend enough time outdoors.
Invest in a fully-funded Victorian government kindergarten program at an early learning centre where play and investigation are encouraged and your child will gain vitamin D from sunshine. At Bright Days Early Education children are encouraged to learn about nature and be actively involved in our very own Bright Days Early Education community garden.
2. Risk is Relevant
Researchers tell us that, without unstructured playtime outdoors, we’re lowering creativity, ingenuity, and social confidence in children. The average parent or caregiver puts so much focus on technology, educational indoor play, over-scheduling, and over-protective ‘child-management’, that we actually risk doing lasting damage to our young ones.
Relax, we’re not saying you should leave your babies to fend for themselves in the wilderness. What we are saying is that for children aged 1 to 6, exploring the magic of nature and playing outdoors is exhilarating, engaging, and educational. It teaches our children how to assess and handle risks, something that simply can’t be learned any other way.
And, while rough and tumble, the nature-based play has clear benefits for physical stimulation, activity, flexibility, and expression, it also teaches your child to tackle real-world situations on their own. It teaches them to meet the challenges and the ‘great unknowns’ of life with a brave face and even a smile!
What should you do? Start safeguarding your child against anxiety, stress, ADHD, and more, by balancing structured indoor activities with sessions of freestyle outdoor adventure.
Feel free to supervise, however, stay at a distance and don’t interfere!
3. Embracing Diversity
The great outdoors (whether that be your backyard, a local park, or a local sanctuary) offers unpredictable, natural changes, challenges, and wonders.
For example:
- Why is it harder to run up the slope, but easier to roll down?
- What’s that noise? Ah, insects in the leaves!
- I wonder where the butterflies come from, and where they live?
- There are so many great and small creatures in the world, not just humans, dogs, and cats!
Exploring outdoors shows little ones their place in the world: it teaches self-awareness, social skills, and self-esteem. Enjoying nature with other children, in a range of weather conditions, with trees, rolling pathways, boulders, streams, fields, birds, and beasties, teach them to embrace life’s many diversities and tiny details, as well as its real and looming challenges (like the hill!).
4. Nature’s Champions
As a new mother or parent, this is your way of ensuring that, as your child grows to adulthood, they do so with a sense of respect and responsibility toward the natural landscape that nourishes them and those they love.
Besides your responsibility to protect, nurture and develop your child, outdoor excursions are a great way to give back to nature. That’s because, when you allow your child to value time spent playing outside, you’re inspiring tomorrow’s protectors and nurturers of nature and the environment.
We’re raising the movers and shakers of the future, so let’s get proactive and equip them with the tools and tricks they’re going to need to be healthy, happy adults…adults who remember (and preserve) the magic of nature!
Found this useful? Feel free to share with others and if you have any other suggestions or tips, please comment below.
by brightdays@admin2023 | Mar 16, 2022 | Bright Days
Bonding is the attachment developed between parents and their babies. Studies reveal that this connection sets the stage for how the child enters healthy relationships and expresses emotions throughout life.
It’s not uncommon for fathers to feel left out due to mothers’ frequent nursing sessions with their babies. For this reason, here are some effective ways dads can establish a bond with their babies.
1. Singing to Baby
Many paediatricians recommend singing to your baby in utero and continuing with that familiar song once the baby is born. This action effectively calms the child and soothes their emotions.
Fathers can pick a special song or two and sing it frequently during pregnancy and continue with the routine once the baby is born. This assists the bonding process and solidifies the connection between father and child.
2. Cuddling
The benefits of holding your baby close to your chest are vast, as studies reveal it helps in temperature regulation, stress reduction, blood sugar stabilization, oxytocin release (the love hormone), a sense of security, and more.
Fathers should consider spending as much time as possible with their newborns. By cuddling the baby on the left side of your chest the baby will hear your heartbeat delivering a soothing calming experience.
3. Consistent Interaction
In the book “Your Amazing Newborn,” Dr. John Klaus and Phyllis Klaus stated that fathers should prioritize spending time with their newborns in the first three months after birth. It’s recommended, during this period, to maintain eye contact whenever the baby catches your eye, repeat their babble like a conversation, and even make funny noises.
Other activities you can do to consistently interact with your child include games like peekaboo, pat-a-cake, and this little piggy. These factors combine to intimately connect the father to the child and help establish the necessary developmental. bond.
4. Babywearing
Babywearing is an excellent opportunity for fathers to connect and bond with their babies. This factor is due to babies’ love to be worn, and when done correctly, it solidifies the connection between father and child.
Besides, wearing a baby makes it easier to accomplish daily tasks and chores around the house or even at work, depending on the father’s type of job. Nevertheless, it’s an effective way to bond with your child
5. Get involved in Feeding and Nappy Changes
Another effective way to connect with your child is during feeding sessions. Should a mother be breastfeeding a father can take the baby for burping. Additionally, should your baby be bottle-fed a father can take over the role and nourish the baby themselves.
The same applies to nappy changes; a father should take over some of the sessions and interact with their baby as they put on the fresh nappy. Fathers can spice up the process by making funny faces, singing to them, or anything of the sort to get a positive reaction from the baby.
Conclusion
Fathers are equally essential to the baby’s mental development and should create a substantial connection with the baby right from birth. We hope the tips in this blog give you some ideas to begin your journey in bonding with your child.
Found this useful? Feel free to share with others and if you have any other suggestions or tips, please comment below.
by brightdays@admin2023 | Mar 7, 2022 | Bright Days
Finding the right childcare centre will stir up a whole range of guilty emotions. Unfortunately, as mothers, we really don’t want to leave our most precious person in the hands of strangers.
However, there are many positives for both yourself and your child as a great early childcare centre becomes the home away from home.
Picking the right childcare service will nurture and enhance the development and growth of your child through play and socialization with others.
A mother knows her child the best, so before you begin your search for the right childcare centre, ask yourself what you are wanting from a centre.
Is it someone to look after your child for a couple of hours or a centre that provides early education for your child? Once you understand what type of care best suits your needs, then it’s time to find the perfect daycare centre for you and your child.
Here we have the top 7 questions you should ask a childcare centre:
1. What is Your Approach to Discipline?
It is the most critical question to ask a daycare centre basically because you can tell a lot about a provider’s general philosophy by how they choose to discipline the children in their care. Ask specific questions like does the staff use a raised voice to reprimand children? Does their approach differ depending on the age? Are time-outs used, and if so, what does that look like? Are there punishments or consequences for bad behaviour? Every parent handles discipline differently though it’s important to know the general attitude of the daycare centre.
2. How Many Children Does A Caregiver Attend?
It is another must-ask question so you can rest assured that your provider has the resources required. A low ratio is good, as the caregiver can fully attend to each child’s physical and emotional needs of your child.
3. How Do You Group Children By Age?
The grouping of children by age is important as children of each age require different care. For example, the needs of a 5-month-old are very different compared to those of a 3-year-old. You have to make sure your child is treated among their age category.
4. What Is A Day’s Routine?
Knowing what your child does during the day is important. Is the daycare centre highly structured or does it operate on an all-day free play model with meal breaks. It doesn’t matter if your preference lies somewhere in between, it’s just great to get a sense of what exactly your child will doing each day.
5. Do You Provide Any Educational Curriculum?
Early education involves play-based learning it’s the sum total of all the interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events that happen in the early learning program environment from when a child arrives until they depart.
6. Are Meals and Snacks Provided?
Some daycare centres provide meals, while others do not. If you don’t have to pack lunch for your child remember that’s an extra 15 minutes of sleep! If food is offered, ask about what they serve so you can make arrangements if any of the food is off-limits for your child.
7. Are Children Required To Be Up-To-Date on Immunisations?
Remember sickness spreads like wildfire wherever there’s a group of kids, and babies who are not old enough to have received all their vaccinations are particularly vulnerable. Therefore you should absolutely ask about the daycare centre’s vaccination policy and what steps they take to enforce it.
Do your research by checking out a number of daycare centres before making your final decision. Go online and read the reviews, book a centre tour and speak with the director so that you can compare. Some may even let you have a trial or orientation to ensure you are completely satisfied.
Found this useful? Feel free to share with others and if you have any other suggestions or tips, please comment below.
by brightdays@admin2023 | Sep 29, 2021 | Bright Days
Developmentally, a child will be ready to toilet train from between the ages of 18 months and three years… they’ll probably exhibit signs of readiness, which helps eliminate the guesswork.
What is the right age or best time to start toilet training?
A child needs to be between the ages of 18 months and three years before they have the necessary development to recognise the urge to go to the toilet.
But the best time to start toilet training is when your child shows signs that they are ready:
- When your child is able to tell you that they’re pooing or weeing while they’re doing it or can tell you straight after.
- If they can tell you before it happens, they are definitely ready for toilet
- Leaves the room or finds a quiet place to wee or poo in their nappy.
- They start taking their nappy off.
- Tries to sit on the toilet.
- Stays dry for at least 2 hours at a time, or after naps.
How do I encourage my child to use the potty or toilet?
- Give rewards to your child such as a sticker chart, a treat, or an activity they enjoy.
- Try to make toileting part of your child’s regular daily routine. For example, encourage your child to use the potty or toilet in the morning, and before or after snacks and meals.
- Encourage your child to go to the toilet when they show signs like wriggling around, passing wind, going quiet or moving away from you.
- Sing potty training songs.
- Give your child a doll to potty train.
- Read potty training books.
- Let your child wear underwear over their nappy for a while.
- Use pull-ups so that they can go to the toilet frequently throughout the day.
- Make it fun!
Should toilet training be started at Kindergarten or should it start at home first?
It’s good to start toilet training at home as a child generally feels more comfortable with their parents. However, they will often notice their peers using the toilet at Kindergarten and may follow their behaviour.
What if they have accidents?
- Praise every little success and remain calm about accidents.
- Assure them it is okay to have accidents. Be casual about accidents; take an “Oh well, it doesn’t matter” attitude.
What kind of books can we read to help children?
Books that have clear, big, and bright pictures with simple instructions and lots of positive reinforcement and encouragement.
How long does it take a child to toilet train?
Every child’s development is different, so each will take their own time. If you have any concerns about toilet training, seek more information from your doctor or paediatrician.
by brightdays@admin2023 | Sep 29, 2021 | Bright Days
Think of a two year old having a tantrum as a runaway train: we don’t stand back and wait for them to crash; we step in to help them pull the handbrake.
At around two years old, children start developing new emotions. And they’re some of the big ones: anger, frustration, guilt, embarrassment – really heavy-duty feelings. They’re not notoriously known as the Terrible Twos for nothing.
As adults, we can have a tough enough time with these emotions ourselves, so imagine trying to process them as a two year old without enough vocabulary, life experience (let’s call it wisdom) and factual knowledge to make sense of them.
Believe it or not, the journey to self-regulation starts at that tender age of two. Self- regulation is the way in which we begin to understand and manage our feelings; it’s what helps us learn how to behave and get along with other people. And two year olds need a lot of help at this critical stage of their development.
We don’t send a child away because their emotions are too big, too disruptive, or too inconvenient… we support them through their meltdown.
Think of a child having a tantrum as a runaway train: we don’t stand back and wait for them to crash; we step in to help them pull the handbrake.
If you take one thing from this blog, it should be this: time outs are OUT for two year olds! At that age, children are too young to appreciate that a time out is a consequence.
What Master or Miss Two needs is a time in.
“Easy!” said no parent ever. So, how do we manage a time in to support a child in meltdown?
First off, remaining calm (or even pretending to be calm) is key. Even if we’re overwhelmed, we must remain the adult in the situation and understand that meeting a child’s tantrum with a grown up’s anger or distress is like putting a match to fireworks.
We place ourselves at the child’s physical level (whether they’re on the floor or up a tree!) We try putting a hand on their shoulder. We let them know we’re there with them and understand they are feeling really bad right now.
The most important thing at this point is the child becomes aware we are there; they are not left to manage this big feeling by themselves.
A hug or putting the child on your lap is very important. Hugs generate the hormone oxytocin which stimulates the “calming down” part of the nervous system. Hugs are the language that a two year old will best understand.
Often, a change of stimuli is helpful. A quiet room, a comfy bean bag, a cuddly toy, their blanket, or heading outside can provide a welcome sensory distraction for the child.
After the child has calmed down, help them talk about their feelings: “Did you feel angry when your truck broke? That must have felt bad.”
This is the opportunity for the child to better understand their emotions and gives them some words to express themselves. And, when we acknowledge how they feel, we model empathy and build trust.
Helping a two year old regulate their very big feelings can be a real test of our nerve, but will set them up for great self-esteem, mental and physical wellbeing, and successful relationships throughout their life!
by brightdays@admin2023 | Sep 29, 2021 | Bright Days
Between the ages of around three to five, a child’s sleep patterns begin to change as their brains undergo a very significant shift in the organisation and timing of their slumber. As time goes on, they will stop napping, which is a big change of gears. But needing daytime naps less and less as they grow older does not always mean that they’ll arrive at bedtime willing or able to sleep.
Amazing things happen to our bodies when we’re asleep which are crucial to our survival! The body works to repair muscles, organs and cells, while chemicals that strengthen the immune system circulate throughout the blood. Cortisol, the hormone tied to stress, decreases as we sleep and, for children, the level of growth hormone will increase. During sleep the neural pathways that allow us to create and maintain memory will communicate with one another to store information. Poor sleep means that these crucial processes are not occurring as they are meant to, which can have significant consequences for any adult, let alone a small child.
At this critical developmental stage in their lives, kindergarten aged children will need about 10-13 hours of sleep nightly. Anything less than this can not only affect their mood and behaviour (parents will already know this from dealing with a cranky, teary child!) but can have a major impact on their learning ability… most significantly on their memory.
Poor sleep creates a domino effect that needs to be disrupted early
At four years old, kindergarten programs focus on school readiness. Number and letter patterns are learned, children acquire more vocabulary, their motor skills are challenged, as are their alertness and attention and ability to retain information.
Their working memory is really starting to fire up as they build upon knowledge they’ve acquired. Continued bad sleep will inevitably impact a child’s memory and their ability to retain and apply their knowledge… which can, in turn, affect their self-esteem. Poor sleep creates a domino effect that needs to be disrupted early.
Top Tips for Sleep Health
- If you haven’t already, start putting a consistent bedtime routine in place straight away!
- Stick to bed times even on weekends and school holidays
- Bedtime should have pleasant associations: hugs, a snuggly blanket, cosy pyjamas, a cuddly toy, dim lighting, projector or night lights, stories, soft music
- Your child should spend at least the last hour of the day away from screens and bright lights… a night light or lamp can set a calming atmosphere for quiet activities
- Children sleep best in a cool (not cold) room where they can snuggle up
- Make sure your child has eaten no less than two hours before bedtime and avoid sugary snacks in the later part of the day
- Warm milk before bed can help (but not after teeth brushing)
- Ensure your child is receiving enough sunlight especially first thing in the day, exercise and nutritious food (but avoid overly physical activities at least two hours before bed)
- Some children can feel scared or anxious at bedtime. Give them some power over their routine, such as choosing a story, choosing their pyjamas, choosing a toy.
- A reward chart for a child who resists bedtime can be a real motivator: a tick or a star for every night as they settle into their routine can be rewarded after five consecutive nights (but keep recognizing the routine until it becomes second nature.)
If, after committing to a healthy sleep routine and you find no improvement in your child’s sleep, we recommend having a word with your doctor.
