The Inspired EC Blog

Family day care is an amazing alternative for educators and a great way to make a difference in the lives of children and families, while also balancing your own life and your own family!

What if instead of always commanding or demanding, or feeling like we have to remind educators, and then hearing "I thought someone else was responsible for that" or "I didn't know I needed to do that", we work with our teams to create an agreement that will work for our room and ensure that when the room leader is not there, the wheels don't fall off?! 

The simple solution might be "don't let casuals or students change nappies", but there's more to it than that isn't there?

The truth is that we don't need an abundance of expensive resources - sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones that spark the most curiosity, joy and play. 

Slowing down might feel challenging, but when we do, there is magic to be found

How do you do know what type of care environment will be right for your child? What are you supposed to look for? Is it about the centre that has the highest quality rating, or a service that feeds into a local school?

When we think about the resources that we use with children, it's important to consider the "why". Why do we choose some materials or resources over others? What benefits do they have from a play or sensory perspective? 

Have you ever wanted to become a Zebra? 

Yesterday, I met someone who did. While visiting our Timbernook Newcastle program, I spotted a small child carefully and methodically drawing lines on their arms and legs with a texta. 

Jumping, Crashing, Rolling, Pushing. Many children actively seek out this type of play because their bodies need it from a sensory input perspective. In addition to the sensory input though, there is an element of thrill seeking and risk taking in this type of play, which makes it enticing for many children.