Learning through play. Home Day Care in Ballarat, Victoria | Childcare service

Learning through play. Home Day Care

Locality: Ballarat, Victoria

Phone: +61 417 150 831

Address: Doveton Street South 3355 Ballarat, VIC, Australia

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24.01.2022 Storage! It’s so important for me too keep all the different toys and resources I have organised and accessible! I love my Jack and Jill Boxes pictured here with my Kmart shelves. I also love my clear storage tubs from Officeworks for the toys that go into storage. The boxes give our play space a sense of style and compliment the tones in the room perfectly.

24.01.2022 Are your children struggling to play without fighting? I have posted about this before but I feel with self isolation and cooler weather I could hopefully help reduce household stress in a small way!! In my experience simply rephrasing some of our speech can dramatically improve a child’s behaviour. My all time favourite is asking children to take turns as opposed to sharing. It really works and even very young children are able to process the fact that turn taking means ...they will get to play with whatever toy is being sought out. Saying something like it’s Iyla’s turn now but she will give (the item) to you when she is finished with it respects both parties, the child with the toy understands they can use it as long as needed and the child seeking the toy knows they can and will get to play with it. Sharing usually requires a child to give up a toy being used and another child having instant gratification, no wonder ‘sharing’ is hard!! When coming across a more strong willed child who will want a really long play with the sought after toy or a child who is unlikely to let the waiting child have their turn, I like to set a time limit on the turn. Another great way to encourage the child to pass the toy on to another is to say something like Iyla is really good at taking turns, I am sure she will give you the item as soon as she is finished with it. I have seen children who were fiercely protective of an item hand it to a friend almost immediately by simply reminding them about turn taking! It cuts out a lot of drama and upset feelings. For children below two years of age I recommend having multiple popular toys or similar toys to assist in this issue although it’s never too early to refer to turn taking over sharing! Good luck! Happy Tuesday X

24.01.2022 Exciting news!! LTPHDC will be offering casual bookings for your convenience! Need child care for an unexpected appointment? Want to go for lunch with your friends child free? Need a morning to catch up on the housework/paperwork/sleep? Enquire now

24.01.2022 And we are back! Meeting some new families and transitioning old and new friends!! Lots of fun was had in the LTPHDC kitchen with cups of tea galore on offer!! The duplo was expolred, blocks were built up and knocked down, barbies made an appearance and the dinosaurs came out for a play as well! Our new space feels good and it’s going to be fantastic to get back into things next week

23.01.2022 Easter has snuck up on me this year so we only have a few weeks to play with this beautiful Easter space - to build some excitement for the day X #easter#autumn #learningthroughplay

23.01.2022 When new families visit for the first time and I’m not sure of their interests it’s time to go with some pop culture and who is hotter than Bluey right now?!

23.01.2022 With more babies in care I’m reminded of the importance of having a literacy rich environment. I like to place books like this around younger babies when they are still lying on a mat to play, it’s something of interest to draw their eye and familiarise them with books. I read to all children from week old babies too much older children. Reading to children not only entertains them it introduces phonemic awareness, extends vocabulary and teaches children the concepts of read...ing, words make a story, pictures elaborate on the story. A book has a front and back cover and is held a certain way in order to be read. When toddlers explore books, set up as they are in this picture, they mimic what they know about reading and are learning to look at the pictures for clues as to what the story might be about, this is an important skill in emergent reading. Reading together allows us to explore concepts of interest to us via the discussion a story may generate. This can be during the story where we try and guess what might happen or how a character is feeling, or it can be a discussion of the plot and theme once the story is read. Reading together is a really lovely experience for us to share with our babies and children and we love our books and story time here in Learning Through Play Home Day Care X

23.01.2022 It’s a power band, crown making kind of day here! #feelingpowerful #posh

22.01.2022 Today we are having a quiet day where Iyla is playing by herself and watching tv while I read a book. It’s totally ok to let your children have unscheduled times at home and the TV is not a demon! Children’s TV shows can be highly educational and our favourites are Play School and Bluey. Days like today allow parents to re energise and allow children to develop their imaginations and playing skills. The can just BE which is so important it’s part of the National Early Childho...od Curriculum: Belonging Becoming and Being. I’m still on hand to dress dolls, help with hand washing and organise meals but in between I’m recharging and Iyla is busy playing and watching an episode of TV here and there, dancing of course! She dances non stop atm! X

22.01.2022 I borrowed this from a beautiful new Mum and proprietor of the amazing You Little Beauty - Ballarat. I really couldn’t think of a better way to say Happy Mother’s Day to every Mum out there.... have a great day today, you really do deserve too, being a Mum is hard, trying to become a Mum is hard, sharing Motherhood can be hard, losing your Mum...the hardest! We are all doing our best so enjoy your day and remember you are doing an amazing job Xx

21.01.2022 When working with children and families it is so important for educators to ensure individual needs are met. The value of really knowing a child, understanding and supporting families in their uniqueness, will set children on the path to success X

21.01.2022 Seriously though I actually can’t drink hot coffee anymore!

21.01.2022 This is very important to remember! Being a parent is hard and despite the joys it’s good to remind ourselves that we are doing our very best by our tiny humans. And that just by being yourself and caring you are more than enough for them X

21.01.2022 I love visiting my sister Rye, catching up with her is always lovely! The beach there is shallow, little sea creatures inhabit the shoreline and it just entices adventures. I love visiting my favourite little cafe The Freaky Teaky and never visit without stopping at The Flock of Seagulls my absolutely all time favourite store. My shopping never fails to ensure I procure some beautiful pieces and this visit was the best as I finally found the perfect magic story telling hat!! And a visit to the Magic Store rounded out my purchase with some colourful rocks and mermaids galore! Magic and fairies in time for a week where the magic of Christmas is explored x

21.01.2022 Our new play space wouldn’t be the same without the Isla dress up frame! Aptly named I know some little people who will spend hours in this space! What would you choose? Superhero? Princess or Turtle?

20.01.2022 After a lovely relaxing break we’re back and excited to get into another fun filled year of learning through play! Some of the play spaces on offer are:

20.01.2022 The language we use with babies and children is so important in how they begin to understand their world and themselves. This little guide highlights the way I speak to the children as they play and learn together here. How could we fix this? What could you do to help? Let’s think about what we could do? Are some questions I like to ask when children present me with problems or issue in their play. Using higher order thinking gives children the skills needed to persist, pro...blem solve and seek assistance when faced with issues in their future. When we give children the power to problem solve and believe in themselves we build up their life skills and self esteem. We assisted them to the best versions of themselves that they can be including being the best learners that they can be!! X

19.01.2022 Once again setting up a play space that supports the interest of a child ensures ease of settling in on day one. To assist in first day separation anxiety I ‘read’ a child to make sure their needs are met. This means I look for body language alongside verbal cues, cuddles are happily offered if sought and I spend a lot of time playing alongside the child. Singing gently and impromptu games that inspire fun and laughter ensue. Day one we are getting to know one another and build trust and as a child progresses in care they know they can rely on me to care for them as they need and that their interests will be facilitated, they learn that we have a lot of fun as we learn and play

19.01.2022 Board Games!! They really are boredom busters and most can be modified for any age group around 2 years and above. They are targeted learning items that require concentration and adult assistance. I find them wonderful for building stronger relationships with children with a shared sense of wonder and joy as we learn together. Some of our favourites are:... Memory Games: we have a Toy Story themed one and Shopping themed one Snap: another memory game Snail Race: for colour recognition Junior Scrabble: for letter recognition and site word development Triominos: for number recognition and pattern making Traffic Jam/Rush Hour: for pattern making and colour recognition Sometimes we follow the ‘rules’ and sometimes we wing it and free range but we always have fun!

18.01.2022 Summer is almost over but with an assortment of Aussie animals to play with we are reminded that we are a sunburnt country!

18.01.2022 Winter and snow on Monday equals snow play at day care! So much fun to be had at such a little play experience!!

18.01.2022 This is important to remember in any social situation we face, during my work hours it’s all about promoting confident, self assured little people

18.01.2022 The current early years curriculum is perfect in steering educators in the right direction too succeed. Aptly named Belonging Becoming and Being educators are required to ensure children in their care feel that they belong.It is only when a child feels that they are respected, valued and safe in the care environment that learning can begin. When a child feels a sense of ownership within a service, they can relax into themselves and just be. From here they can investigate, inquire, experiment, play and grow, becoming more knowledgeable and skilled. It all begins with belonging and when an educator ensures all children and families feel this they are taking a big step towards providing best practice, job satisfaction and success.

17.01.2022 Learning through play involves extending upon interests and this amazing magnetic skeletal and muscular system activity is perfect too build on the doctor’s and nurses experience currently being explored here! It also extends upon the natural interest children have about their own bodies, so for us it’s a win/win

16.01.2022 Lots of farmers surround our little city and it’s important for our children to know where milk, wheat etc actually comes from so farm play is essential! And as always a lot of fun!!

14.01.2022 This!! I firmly believe that playing leads a child to wondering, which leads a child to the seeking of knowledge.

13.01.2022 You know life is good when tambourines and elephants are an almost permanent fixture of daily life!!

12.01.2022 Movement to music is a must for us at LTPHDC and as well as having fun and building stronger relationships with children other benefits include: - Gross Motor development - Phonemic awareness/new sound development - Spatial awareness ... - Rhythm and rhyme development - Self esteem building - Brain Gym: working both sides of the brain in tandem - Expanded world view While in iso a great activity for all ages is one I call Dance Party (the name sounds familiar so might be an actual thing somewhere) basically it’s free dancing in groups to music you choose for the children. Each group (child) has different music and younger children have shorter bursts of a song v’s a whole song. The best dance group wins and everyone has fun! For babies to 5 years old we just launch straight into the dancing and 5 years and above get to go off and practice their dance moves together first, no music until the dance party begins though! I have found that children love this activity and I enjoy seeing them invest in their creative side and dance moves!

11.01.2022 This is one of the reasons why play is so important!

11.01.2022 Starting our day outside means a picnic breakfast X

09.01.2022 Interests bought in to care by the children are powerful because with great interest great enthusiasm follows and enthusiasm is contagious!! One child’s interest in bugs has lead to all the children looking for bugs and engaging in this interest as well! It’s all about insects and bugs here at LTPHDC

07.01.2022 These little plastic eggs are great mulit purpose Easter craft and play resources. I’m not a fan of too much plastic but I do have a few of these in with our play dough tools. You can use them to stamp paint as pictured, or for some play dough fun. I have used them to colour match adding little coloured Pom Poms. We have made wrapping paper using the prints from our painting and I like to draw some eggs or bunnies/chicks for the children to print on, once dry you can add to ...the picture with other crafty items or leave as is. Iyla went through a stage of loving Kinder surprises and as I like too minimise the plastic in our house we hid Freddo Frogs inside these as a substitute! I love a multi use resource! Enjoy some Easter inspired crafting X

06.01.2022 When starting care it’s important to have play spaces that invite you to play, this is done by catering to individual interests. And usually those interest are shared! Who wouldn’t want to play in this magical space!!

06.01.2022 Just a reminder with the silly season almost upon us and after being in lockdown for so long, I offer casual bookings. Get a break or do some Christmas shopping while the kids are busy having fun here! Message me for more information x

04.01.2022 Happy Easter folks

04.01.2022 Care Bears proof that everything old is new again!!

04.01.2022 This is something that is at the core of our framework here and is valued above all else!! Play!

04.01.2022 Today’s iso inspired play idea is one I borrowed from my sister Melanie. She has three boy in their early teens to keep occupied and came up with a family Olympic Games idea. Her family are going to compete in 10 events including Round Robin Jenga, blind food tasting, dance, poem writing etc. You can tweak this for any age group and some other ideas are colouring in, trampoline tricks, chalk drawing, bubble blowing, cake decorating.... anything you can think of would work.... Such a great idea and you can learn about different countries and cultures too! Medals and trophies can be made and it really is an idea that can be extended and modified to your own needs. If a full 10 events are too much you can even adjust this idea to a daily activity/contest. And if you wanted to you could extend this by including cousins on FaceTime or Zoom and complete as a family! I’m looking forward to hearing how your Olympic Games go

03.01.2022 Working with polymer clay to make carrot noses for our snowman craft activity! These pieces could be difficult to work with as they are all small, I will be interested to see how they turn out

03.01.2022 How lovely will these natural clay impressions be? I’m really looking forward to working on these with the children as a way to generate conversations about the changing colours of the leaves on our trees. This will hopefully flow into a discussion about Autumn. Craft is a great segway into intentional teaching as well as being ideal to extend upon interests the children display while here! Nature craft links to the time we spend outdoors and with our sessions beginning outside currently this experience is one that we can start outdoors and bring inside with us! How lovely is it to learn through nature, using natural resources is wonderful, tactile, fresh and inspiring!

02.01.2022 Today I’m sharing photos of my craft cupboard to help inspire some creativity while you are all staying safe at home. Some of the items that I can’t live without are: 1: Coloured patty pans, you might have these in your pantry already and they have multiple uses. I like including them in our pastings and play dough activities. Sometimes they are played with individually and some of the most invested play experiences I have witnessed involved patty pans...Continue reading

02.01.2022 Summer is the time to explore our ocean life! Even when it feels like Winter

01.01.2022 Our new play space wouldn’t be complete without the Isla dress up frame! I know some little people who are going to play for hours in this area!! Princesses/superheroes or turtles?