Early Learning Centre News

 As you know, we are working with The Resilience Project Early Years Wellbeing Program to support children to develop positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness.

 As part of the program, we are engaging in a community project Mindful Colouring as a strategy to practise mindfulness.

 At our entrance, we have set up a mindfulness colouring station.

 We invite our families and wider community to visit the ELC and spend some time engaging in mindfulness colouring. Alternatively, you are welcome to take some colouring pages to practise mindful colouring at home. 

 What to do when visiting: 

Choose a Cosy Koala mindfulness colouring page, or a page in one of our colouring books.

 Sit quietly and choose your colouring pencils/textas/crayons.

 Think about what you are doing in the moment instead of thinking about yesterday or tomorrow or what is happening next:

 -Think about the feel of the pencils/textas.

-Think about the noise they make on the paper.

-Think about the detail of the picture.

-Think about how hard or soft you are pressing.

-Think about the colour you are using.

-Think about the way you are colouring. What direction are you going in?

 Support children by asking them to focus on one of the above. Focussing on these things helps us to be in the present moment.

 Why Mindfulness?

 Working on mindfulness gives you opportunities to develop your ability to pay attention to the present moment and your thoughts. Research shows that practising mindfulness can reduce depression, reduce anxiety, improve decision making and your ability to focus. Mindfulness can also improve your physical health by reducing blood pressure. Even just 5 minutes a day can have huge benefits.

The Early Years Team

Occasional Care

We have good news! Our Occasional Care service will be back up and running in Term 4. Occasional Care is available for children aged 2-4 years on Friday mornings, from 8.30am till 12.30pm. The service will be integrated with our preschool session, and will be co-ordinated by our SSO, Mr Roy McKenzie.

As numbers are restricted, families wishing to utilise this service, will need to register their interest by phoning the front office on 85702053. This includes both previously enrolled children and new children. New enrolments also need to fill in an enrolment form and provide birth and immunisation certificates. Roy will then be in contact with confirmation of your booking and further information.

Mrs Trish Horstmann