Image: Busy Bees at Heritage Parc
The early years are full of so much potential. Your child is curious and excited about the world around them, and every new experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. As a parent, you want your child to learn all that they can. You want to know that their day is filled with rich and meaningful experiences that scaffold their developing minds and set the foundation for lifelong learning.
Supporting your child’s development should be a collaborative partnership between you, your child and their Educator. Once your child has settled into care, there are some key ways you can continue to support their learning journey through building trusting and positive relationships with their Educators and the community at the Service.
Image: Busy Bees at Quinns Beach
3 Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Early Learning Journey
1. Share information with your child’s Educator
You know your child better than anyone else. Your knowledge and understanding of your child is a valuable asset for Educators and will support them in planning educational experiences that meet their needs. Your child’s Educator will most likely want to know about their interests, personality and aspirations so that they can be included in their day. Keeping your child’s Educator in the loop will help them plan experiences that engage and excite them.
As much as you can help your child’s Educator by sharing information with them, they are also there to support you. If you are having any particular challenges or concerns at home, talk to your child’s Educator about how you can tackle them together. Your child’s Educator can offer advice on different ways to address the challenge at home, while also supporting this with learning experiences in the Service.
2. Become part of the community
Your child’s Service isn’t just a place where they can play and learn, it’s a community of families and early learning professionals. Taking an interest in the Service’s activities and getting involved is an important way that parents and caregivers can support their child’s positive experience at care. It may be as simple as donating to the Service food drive, attending an open day, chaperoning an excursion or even coming to talk to the children about your profession for Busy Bees Careers Day. Get to know your child’s friends and other Families at the Service by organising play dates or other activities with them outside of care.
3. Support Your Child’s Independence
An essential part of early childhood development is allowing children to be active participants in their learning. When children are given choices and the freedom to make decisions, they develop important learning skills such as problem solving, risk taking and cause and effect.
In today’s busy world, it can be quicker and easier to do things for your child. However, children learn important self-help skills by doing things for themselves. Independence and self-help skills are vital for your child’s transition to school. If your child is enrolled in a Kindergarten program, these skills will form a critical part of the curriculum.
Supporting your child’s independence at home can be as simple as letting them help with daily tasks such as dressing themselves, cleaning their teeth, and making sure their bag is packed for the day.
Need ideas for supporting your child’s learning at home?
Ask your child’s Educator about UP at Home. Our home learning program has so many fun and educational activities that are easy to do with your child at home.
