Bonkers Beat, Author at Early Learning Childhood Education

08/09/201510/09/2015

What’s Cooking for the Holidays?

Children love to be involved and entertained during the school holidays and cooking is a great way to do this. It is not often we blog about food but we feel very strongly that children should be involved in preparing meals and eating them as a family where possible. Of course, healthy meals are important, however as a treat a piece of cake or some jelly is also fun to make. Children as young as two can help by stirring, mixing, rolling and pouring. Older children can help by choosing ingredients, chopping and plating up.

Kidspot has a great list of how children learn by cooking and helping out in the kitchen:-

http://www.kidspot.com.au/schoolzone/Learning-games-How-cooking-helps-kids-learn+4696+316+article.htm

Responsibility
Children love the opportunity to feel grown-up, and cooking “just like mum and dad” makes them feel really special. Give them the opportunity to do as much as possible by themselves – if they’re closely supervised and activities are age-appropriate you’ll be surprised at how responsible children can be.

Science and chemistry
Why do cakes rise? How do egg whites turn from this clear, sticky stuff into glossy white peaks? When you think about it – baking’s a pretty cool science lesson. But the best thing is, you don’t actually have to teach – the activity does it for you. Actually, the best thing is that when you learn about why certain ingredients act the way they do (so you can teach your child) you end up being a better baker yourself.

Measurement and volume
Understanding measurement and volume is made simple when baking. A clear measuring jug makes things easy to see. Try using a variety of implements when measuring: cups, jugs, spoons, scales – just so children can help understand. Making a ‘pound cake’ can also be a great help – showing children how different amounts of substances (butter, sugar, flour) can look different, but still weigh the same.

Spelling
Sounding out the words in recipes, or reading ingredients from packets in the pantry can help children with their spelling and reading. It also helps when they need to recognise words and connect the word “flour” in a recipe with the word “flour” on a pack. Labelling your jars in the pantry can be handy – and can also be a learning tool for your child.

Nutrition
It’s surprising how a fussy kid will try a new food when it’s something he’s cooked himself. Give your child the option of two different veggies to include with dinner, find a recipe and let him help cut and cook up the vegetable – and hopefully try it all afterwards! Cooking helps children understand why we eat the foods we do – what foods go well together, and what we need to include for a balanced meal.

Cultural studies
Children can learn more about the world through cooking. Choose a dish each month from a different culture – and then spend a little time learning about that country and why they eat the way they do. Why is it that so many hot countries enjoy spicy, chilli-rich meals? What meats are popular in certain nations and how does the way they eat differ from ours? Start out with options such as Mexican, Indian and Italian (see our recipe section for menu ideas) and move onto other nations as your child’s tastebuds become more adventurous. You could be surprised at what you child likes.

Increases self-esteem
There’s nothing like a sense of achievement to improve self-esteem. Cooking is a great way too boost children’s confidence as the results are quick – and there for the whole family to enjoy. Remember to step back and let them do things themselves – after showing them the safest way to do everything of course!

Find fun recipes to help kids cook

Homemade pizzas – http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/25653/homemade+pizzas

Tacos – http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/tasty-tacos-679

Pasta dishes – http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/collection/pasta-recipes

Cakes – http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/collection/easy-cakes

Biscuits/ gingerbread men – http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/9761/gingerbread+men

Scones – http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/24492/scones

Jelly – http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/collection/jelly-recipes

Vegetables and dip – http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/collection/dip-recipes

03/09/201515/09/2015

The Merits of Meditation

This week our article was published in the Mornington Peninsula Kids Magazine. Meditation is a topic, which we feel is very important. If children start meditating early, their brains and intellectual capacity tend to develop rapidly. They also stand to benefit emotionally, psychologically and physically.

Meditation is an excellent way to unwind after an eventful day. Life can at times be stressful, triggered by various factors such as work, family and life in general.

To see us on page 84, follow the link: http://issuu.com/peninsulakids/docs/spring_2015
or click below for the full article:

27/08/201515/09/2015

Celebrating the Fathers and Special Men in Our Lives

Today’s young fathers spend more time with their children each day – talking, playing and teaching them – than fathers of just one generation ago. This is fantastic news; with our lives busier than ever, our children still need strong, present role models in their lives.

We take Fathers Day to acknowledge the important role that fathers, grandfathers, uncles and special male influences play in the lives of their children; as role models, care givers, providers, protectors, supporters, friends, and the myriad other roles that men play in the lives of women and children.

Fathers are often overlooked and not as celebrated as mothers however, recent research shows just how important it is for children to spend quality one on one time with fathers or other males.

For boys Ian Grant, parenting expert and author of Growing Great Boys, believes the role of a father in his son’s life is crucial and that dads can never be too involved with their sons. “Boys whose dads are involved with them from a young age do better in lots of ways — academically, emotionally and socially,” says Grant. “Well-fathered boys show the positive effects years later with an improved capacity for empathy and the health of their social relationships. You have to do whatever it takes to be there for your kids.”

Fathers have been given a tremendous ability to influence the lives of their daughters. Girls need to wrestle, rough house and spend quality one on one time with their fathers, or male figures to build confidence both physically and mentally. This boosts their self-esteem, self-image and how they see themselves in the world. University of Oxford researchers noted that girls who had more involved fathers were less likely to face mental health problems later in life. Genuine praise and admiration from a father can help his daughter grow up to be an independent, confident woman. There is no denying the fact that a healthy relationship between a daughter and a father can produce amazing results in his daughter’s life.

How to celebrate Fathers Day? Well, everybody loves a hand made craft item or a card. There are lots of simple, fun and inexpensive ideas on the Internet. Special photos, some lovely words and a funny gift always make Dads smile. Another way to celebrate is to spend the day together as a family. Simple pleasures like walking on the beach, a day trip to the snow, park or forest, a coffee at a favourite café and of course breakfast in bed. Because, let’s face it Dads are wonderful and special and deserve a day of celebration.

We believe that poetry is a great way to celebrate… So enjoy a poem written by Galina – ‘My Daddy’:

https://musicearlychildhoodpresenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/My-Daddy-by-Galina.pdf

Craft ideas for Fathers Day – https://www.pinterest.com/diamondkandace/crafts-for-father-s-day/

Martha Stewart Craft ideas- http://www.marthastewart.com/274629/fathers-day-crafts-for-kids/@center/307033/spring-holidays

Ways to spend the day as a family – http://miamiinstyletv.com/top-10-fun-ways-to-spend-fathers-day-as-a-family/

Article on the importance of children spending quality time with Fathers – http://www.ahaparenting.com/blog/Fathers-Day

The importance of father/ daughter relationships – http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/821928/the-importance-of-the-father-daughter-relationship

The importance of father/ son relationships – http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/importance-father-son-relationships-23229.html

20/08/201520/08/2015

Why Yoga for Children is Important

There is a lot of information on social media of late about the importance of yoga and wellbeing for children. For many people it is often seen as ‘alternative’ or ‘new age’. However, there is real proof that yoga can improve academic performances, de stress children and encourage healthy food choices and eating. Yoga has so many health benefits, mental, physical and emotional, so it is no wonder more schools and kindergartens are making it a priority in their classrooms. At Bonkers Beat Kindergarten we have recently finished building the second yoga deck in our garden for toddlers. All children enjoy this daily activity as much as the educators love teaching it.

Here are some reasons why we love yoga:

Yoga teaches us about our bodies.

When we practice the physical postures or exercises (called asanas), we learn how to move more freely and with greater ease and awareness. These postures help our bodies become strong and flexible.

Yoga teaches us how to breathe better.

When we breathe deeply and fully (called pranayama) and become more aware, we can bring peacefulness or energy to our bodies.

Yoga teaches us how to use our energy more effectively.

When we practice yoga, we learn how to use the life force energy in our bodies (called prana) to feel more relaxed, focused, or motivated.

Yoga teaches us how to quiet the mind.

When we practice yoga, we learn how to be still. This helps us to listen with attention and make good decisions.

Yoga teaches us about balance.

When we practice yoga, we learn to be more aware about the need for balance in our lives. This could mean equal stretching on the left and right sides of our bodies or making sure we balance our very busy time with equal quiet time and relaxation.

Yoga teaches us to be the “boss” of our bodies.

Yoga teaches us to listen to our bodies by modifying or changing poses that are too hard or cause pain. (We will talk about how to modify poses in a later section.)

Yoga teaches us about taking care of ourselves.

Yoga is a great way to move our bodies and feel healthy. And teaching children how to take care of themselves is one way to show love. As with all forms of exercise, a good yoga practice can mean a good night’s sleep!

The beauty of yoga is that children can practice alone, with a friend or with a group.

For more information about the benefits of yoga, click here:

Yoga Journal and the Daily Burn

To follow our Facebook page for yoga, meditation and wellbeing updates.

Information supplied by :- http://www.pbs.org/parents/food-and-fitness/sport-and-fitness/why-yoga-and-kids-go-together/

13/08/201513/08/2015

The Gift of Reading – Celebrating Children’s Book Week

“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.” —Kate DiCamillo

This year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) will celebrate its 70^th Anniversary from Saturday 22 August – Friday 28 August 2015.

Researchers have proven what parents and educators have intuitively known all along – the more often you read to your children from an early age, the greater the positive effect on their reading and thinking skills. The study shows that there is an important role for parents/ educators in the development and educational performance of children. This early-life intervention seems to be beneficial for the rest of their lives. (More information about the research can be found here: Reading to Young Children: A Head-Start in Life

We all want our children to grow up with a strong grasp of literacy and numeracy, to have vivid imaginations and to enjoy curling up and getting lost in a book.

A recent article by Lori O’Keefe, published in the American Academy of Pediatrics, 5 Benefits of Reading To and With Your Kids, explains how reading together makes a difference.

Build Relationships: Sharing the experience of reading a book together allows parent and child to create deeper bonds between them. Snuggling up with a book is a great way to spend time together and creates a unique, shared experience even as kids get older and ‘grow out of’ cuddling.
New Experiences: When kids read, they get to experience new situations before they encounter them in real life. If a child is scared about attending kindergarten, reading about it beforehand can ease the transition. It’s also a great way for kids to experience diversity and branch out from the environment and culture they were raised in. Reading about and relating to the experiences of other people is extremely helpful in the development of empathy.
Improved Communication: Reading together allows kids to be exposed to an increased vocabulary, speech patterns and enunciation. This superior command of language also affords children better communication skills.
Improved Concentration: Sure, kids don’t typically like to sit still and listen, but by reading to them, parents can help their children learn to focus and discipline. Story time rewards kids for stronger self-discipline, longer attention spans, and better memory retention. No one wants to miss “the good part” because they were squirming!
A Lifetime’s Love of Books: It’s never too early to start showing kids the joy to be found in a book.

Children’s Book Week is a great time to discuss books and encourage children to read more. Another way to celebrate is to dress-up as characters and act out favourite books verses in character. This allows children to really be involved and engage in dramatic dress-up play.

To incorporate craft and reading together here is a great list of costumes and craft activities children of all ages can be a part of : Kidspot, Pinterest and The Book Chook.

To read more about the importance of reading to young children click here: https://www.earlymoments.com/promoting-literacy-and-a-love-of-reading/why-reading-to-children-is-important/

To see the list of winners and shortlisted books click here: http://cbca.org.au/awards.htm

Make sure you check your local paper for Children’s Book Week activities near you.

29/07/201530/07/2015

Pre-School is the Most Important Year in Your Child’s Education

As the world becomes more and more technologically advanced, it becomes obvious that within the next five to ten years, our world will change dramatically as well as our economy. The children who are growing now will be creators of our future and will need to develop a range of skills, which allow them to succeed in life on different levels. The modern economy will require people who have strong identities, multiple intelligences and well-developed verbal and written communication skills. As a result of this progress – the modern world will require new educational systems and dramatic changes within curriculum and assessment.

Pre-school is often undervalued and misunderstood. International research indicates that pre-school is the most important year and the quality of the program is reflected by educational programs and the qualifications of the teacher.

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, the average school starting age in Australian children is 5.2, based on a study from 2012. This is lower than the majority of other developed countries. One country, which starts school at 7, is Finland. They have a fantastic school system, one that is deemed to be the best in the world. They believe in high quality educational programs and less testing and exams. Dr Sahlberg, a Finnish educator and author, said “The first six years of education are not about academic success.” “We don’t measure children at all. It’s about being ready to learn and finding your passion.”

At Bonkers Beat, we are devoted to the wellbeing of children and as such we keep up with the very latest and highest quality research from Australia and around the world.

Therefore, we have developed a policy and encourage parents to enrol their children into our funded 4-year old kinder program, particularly boys, who have turned 4 years old prior to January of the year they will attend. We note this policy is especially important for young boys because of the time difference in the development of boys and girls brains, ‘and since the brain affects cognitive development, attention and emotional regulation, this impacts a boy’s overall “school readiness,” including activity, attention span, and academic development’ (via Earlychildhood News).

The argument that some children are moved into school because they are bored at pre-school is one that may unfortunately be valid at times, depending on the pre-school children are attending. By ensuring that children are stimulated by their pre-school experience, there will be no need for young children to enter schooling before they are emotionally and socially ready and ultimately this will only lead to higher academic performance and educational success for all involved.

Another factor to consider is consistency. An enormous amount of learning takes place when children are involved in daily routines and experiences arranged by educators over a period of time. These daily events are so important because they provide opportunities for repetitive learning in a natural, enjoyable, fun yet structured way. We believe that consistent approach at kinder and at home helps children to build life skills, positive attitude and passion for learning. Its important for parents to understand that children’s confidence and leadership skills developed before school will help them to succeed anywhere.

Interesting research indicates that young children’s learning and development depend on the educational qualifications of their teachers. That is why at Bonkers Beat we feel that professional and personal development are crucial. We are proud of having highly qualified, experienced and passionate team. Leaning is the foundation of life. Therefore we are committed to continuous learning and provide many opportunities for our educators for in-house training and ongoing professional development.

School is an exciting time and there is no need to rush it. We all want our children to be capable, happy and one way to ensure this is to really think about their education before school which lays a profound foundation for their future.

Some helpful links about school starting:-

What’s the right age to start school?

School starting age: The evidence

6 Life Skills Kids Need for the Future

The Challenge of Boys in Our Early Childhood Programs

Experts warn starting school too young harms learning, wellbeing

23/07/201524/07/2015

The Importance of Road Safety Education

With traffic on our roads becoming increasingly busy it is important for all of us to teach children from a young age to be aware of the traffic rules and regulations. Years ago children could ride down the street without a care in the world but times have changed and with more cars, scooters, bikes, motorbikes, buses and trams on the road than ever it is imperative we all stay safe.

There are many fun and simple ways to teach children both at home and in the classroom. In your local area there may be a little traffic school where they can ride their own bikes or scooters and learn the rules of the road. Or you could ask a volunteer policeman/ woman or road safety group to come and talk to the children in a class environment. In Victoria alone there are many groups who support Road Safety and it is coordinated by the Victoria Road Safety Education Reference Group.

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)

Department of Justice

Department of Transport

Public Transport Victoria

Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV)

Transport Accident Commission (TAC)

VicRoads (Chair)

Victoria Police

According to the Road Safety education website ‘There is evidence that children start learning about the road system from a very early age and that this can lead to safer behaviors in later life.’

Road safety education plays an important role in shaping the attitudes and behaviors of children and young people – ensuring they become responsible drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.

As the old saying goes; you are never too young to learn.

To see who supports Road safety in your local area or state click here: – http://www.australianroadsafetyfoundation.com

For more information and some useful links:-

http://www.kidsandtraffic.mq.edu.au

http://www.constablekenny.org.au/parents/road-safety/

Road Safety craft ideas. Fun to incorporate at home or at kindergarten:-

https://www.pinterest.com/klmartino/cars-and-road-safety-ideas/

16/07/201516/07/2015

Celebrating Landscapes of Imagination

Last week Melbourne welcomed more than 1100 early childhood educators and professionals from all over the country. During the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) event we had the distinct pleasure of receiving presentations from some of the most influential experts in Italy. This conference was a true celebration; an exchange of knowledge, passion, and a powerful message for childhood education participants. For some participants, some services are already being implemented. The conference was a real introduction as well as an eye-opener into the capabilities of children. The understanding that a child is a capable individual with a strong voice is inspired.

After the conference many people walked away with the feeling of a new beginning. The educators are now able to look at the child using this approach. The approach centers on talking to the child as well as actively listening to the child.

This conference sends an important message about how much we should listen to the children as well as help us to understand the true magnitude of the child’s ability to comprehend. The conference showed us how much we don’t know about the full magic and power of the child.

Celebrating landscapes of imagination early childhood educators believe that the child will continue to develop and progress and this fact is inevitable. By taking a proactive approach in making ensuring that all educators understand that education is not a destination, rather it’s a process; they are better prepared to enhance the growth capabilities for the children.

As educators we need to constantly learn and grow and truly enhance our knowledge of early childhood education. Now is time where we look into our approaches for early childhood education and start to understand our “approach” and our “sensors” philosophy.

If you would like to investigate and learn more about different approaches to teaching, follow the links below:

Different Approaches to Teaching

It is important to study and investigate to see how powerful messages can be absorbed and reach deep into our child’s comprehension.

Early childhood educators are in for an exciting journey. We need to help children grow, and develop. Children already know so much more than we tend to believe. They know how to listen, ask questions, and have meaningful conversations. As early childhood educators the focus should be on encouraging creativity, developing children, and helping them to become the future leaders.

We would love to hear your feedback and invite you to share your thoughts with us. Your comments and feedback are always welcome.

09/07/201516/07/2015

The Important Role of Grandparents

There can never be too many special people dedicated to being a part of a child’s life, and in many families grandparents play an important role.

Just as we celebrate mums and dads, we believe that grandparents and other important adults in children’s lives should be invited to have some level of involvement in their education, even if it is just a few days in the year where they can pop in to see where the children spend some of their time. Best of all, we love to see the joy it brings children to share their learning environment with other people in their lives.

At Bonkers Beat we always find that a great time to celebrate Grandparents Day is somewhere between Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in September.

We also believe it beneficial to name the day ‘Grandparents and a Special Friend Day’, so as to ensure we are inclusive of all children and families. As we all are likely aware, families come in all different shapes and sizes, and family dynamics and relationships can vary greatly. This gives families the opportunity to celebrate grandparents if they wish or celebrating someone else special in children’s lives if it’s more appropriate for them.

We revisited our Grandparents Day brainstorming from last year to provide you with some fun ideas for your celebrations:

– Create an ‘I Love You because…’ card and children can offer a special reason
– Create a photo frame as a gift
– Create a collage together of things that remind them of their relationship
– Sing some special songs together
– Play instruments together in a music session
– All children act out a favourite book for the grandparents/special friends
– Yoga and wellbeing activities with grandparents/special friends
– Grandparents/special friends may enjoy sharing a snack with the children
– Children might like to give grandparents/special friends a tour of their room

Click here to find some great printables and other ideas for your Grandparents and a Special Friend Day.

As always, we would love you to share your tips and tricks for the perfect Grandparents and a Special Friend Day with us on Facebook.

01/07/201513/11/2015

Learn, Respect and Celebrate – NAIDOC Week 2015

In 2015 the National NAIDOC theme is We All Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate.

Taking place from July 5-12, 2015, NAIDOC Week, as always, presents educators across the country with the opportunity to discuss and celebrate Australia’s rich indigenous culture.

If you haven’t celebrated NAIDOC Week before, NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’, who would organise the events for this week of celebration, but has since become the name of the week itself. The week is dedicated to activities centred on supporting and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

The NAIDOC website suggests a few points on how you can go about celebrating this year’s theme:

Invite elders or others to talk about local sacred sites or Indigenous culture
Learn the Traditional names and stories for places, mountains, rivers etc around your region

To celebrate Indigenous culture in a more general sense you might like to:

Read a Dreamtime story
Create your own Aboriginal art
Listen to Indigenous music
Take children to visit local Indigenous sites of significance or interest if possible

Expanding our knowledge and understanding of our history and culture is such a special part of learning, and being Australian we have a rich Indigenous history that deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

Here we also have for you some ideas, that can be used for celebrating NAIDOC week at home, in a centre, for a school holiday program or an incursion.

NAIDOC Week is the perfect time to do this and you’ll find plenty more information and resources via their website: naidoc.org.au