Five Tips to Make the Childcare Transition Easier on Mums and Dads
8th Nov, 2018
2019-01-07
Again and again, the latest word from early childhood educators and researchers is that play is paramount. It isn’t just for fun or to keep our kiddies busy so we can get things done around the house – play is actually building children’s brains, setting up lifelong lessons in learning and is the building block upon which formal education will develop.
Knowing this, the team at Learning Tree Childcare Centre has built our daycare program around providing plenty of time for all-important play.
Brain Development
We now know that play is not just fun, it’s necessary for brain development. The brain will double in size in baby’s first year; by three, they will have experienced the fastest rate of brain development in their lives.
Along with physical growth, pathways in the brain are created and reinforced based on what kids are seeing, doing and experiencing.
Learning How to Learn
One of the biggest benefits of early exposure to play is that it teaches children how to learn from a very young age. Some of the important skills they learn include:
Follow Their Lead
Watching children for a few minutes at daycare we quickly see that they know what they’re doing when it comes to play. Children are born curious and creatives; they can turn wrapping paper or an empty box into a toy or game.
Our advice from our early childhood teachers is to follow your kids’ lead. Observe them and you’ll soon be amazed at how they see the world in an effortlessly playful way. Encourage this and don’t take over – letting them lead in an unstructured setting will give them plenty of time to play, discover and ultimately learn.
At Learning Tree Childcare Centre, our teachers always make sure the youngsters have plenty of time to play. We know how important play and discovery is, and after all, we have the rest of our lives to stick to structure and routines!
8th Nov, 2018
15th Oct, 2017