music and wellbeing Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Early Learning Childhood Education

26/07/201826/07/2018

5 things to celebrate about trees as National Tree Day approaches

Each year we encourage childcare centres and families to get involved in National Tree Day. Schools Tree Day is coming up on 27 July, followed by National Tree Day on 29 July – but any day is good to celebrate trees!

Trees do so much more than line our streets, but can often go unappreciated or even unnoticed. Yet there is so much to celebrate about the humble tree!

These are just five things to open up a discussion about trees with children in your care and to show them (and remind yourself!) just how important trees are to the world.

Tree facts to share with children

1. Trees clean our air

It’s no secret that there are many pollutants in the air that are harmful to our environment and health. We are lucky that trees work hard to reduce airborne pollution, with the leaves of trees catching the particles and filtering the air for us. Trees also create oxygen for us, turning sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. This is how trees produce their own food too!

This is a fun explanation of the process:

2. Trees provide fruit and nuts

Children’s favourite fruits and nuts are produced by trees and plants. Encourage children to identify which plants various foods come from.

3. Trees mark the seasons

Currently, there will be many trees around with no leaves as it is winter. Talk about how trees show us the changing of the seasons, with leaves turning orange, red and yellow in autumn. Also discuss that some trees are evergreen, meaning they will keep their leaves and stay green all year.

4. Trees provide shelter

Whether we are looking for protection from the rain or the sun, trees are very reliable for shelter. When we are looking to have a picnic or relax at the park, we are often drawn toward finding a special tree that will provide us with shelter and even let us lean on its trunk!

5. Trees are home to wildlife

Of course, trees don’t just provide shelter for people… For many animals, trees are home. Talk about what animals use trees as homes, such as possums, koalas and birds to name a few.

If you can find the time to get planting for National Tree Day, take the opportunity! Watching children as they learn to plant and care for seedlings, helping them to grow, is a special activity. To help your centre celebrate National Tree Day and the wonder of nature, gardening and outdoor learning, they have compiled a huge number of engaging resources for early learning. Take a look here.

There are many ways to get involved in National Tree Day – find an event here or register your own.

Image Designed by Freepik

17/07/201818/07/2018

United we shape the future (for the better!)

The early childhood education is so crucial. For children, for families, for society — our work with children every day changes lives, shapes the future and supports families in their personal endeavours. We believe that our work in early childhood has the power to change our own lives and we should all support one another in reaching personal goals. United in our shared passion and common goals, we can achieve greatness!

It is this belief and passion that we pour into the ‘7 Stones’ events. (And if you haven’t attended yet, the opportunity is heading your way Sydney, Brisbane and Perth!)

Together we tackle our shared challenges, like occupancy, competition, effective programs, staff turnover… And together we share wins, uniting as a sector to inspire and support one another.

The power of collaboration should not be underestimated. This collaboration through our shared dedication to early childhood education is meaningful and empowering.

If you share our passion and commitment to shaping the future and doing your bit in creating the best early childhood education industry in the world, we need you to stand with us!

We want to connect with you, learn from you and share our wins and success of our Music & Wellbeing programs. We’re even going to delve deep into the reasons why we received an Excellent Rating under the NQS in the upcoming workshops.

Join us at the next ‘7 Stones’ event:

Sydney: Thursday 26 July

Brisbane: Thursday 9 August

Perth: Date TBC

Together we can do anything! Let’s make our industry the best it can be.

28/06/201829/06/2018

Special offer for your new financial year resolutions

For centre owners and in fact any business owner, the end of financial year is a time for assessing financial and business goals.

The new Child Care Subsidy has meant further challenges for a number of centres too, with some potentially losing families as a result of their change in subsidy.

With the busy admin of getting tax time sorted and switching to the Child Care Subsidy system nearly over, it’s time to focus on your new financial year resolutions!

We think every business should take the opportunity to create new financial year resolutions – it’s a perfect halfway point in the year to consider how your child care centre can be even better.

To help you take your centre to the next level, we’ve got a special offer for your new financial year resolutions!

Make the next financial year your best year ever!

Parting with a lump sum of money is never fun. We don’t like to do it and we’re guessing you don’t either! So, don’t! We’re offering you the opportunity to start the new financial year right by implementing multi-award-winning music and wellbeing programs in your centre with a simple, affordable monthly fee.

Special Offer: New Financial Year Resolution

This offer enables you to avoid paying an upfront fee and only pay an affordable monthly fee to secure the Bonkers Beat Music and Wellbeing programs in your centre from 1 August 2018 through to December 2019! That’s 18 months of the highest quality, ongoing professional development, training and support for your entire team!

No upfront fees
Easy monthly payments
Award-winning programs
High-quality training and support for your whole team for 18 months!

NOTE: This offer is only available to centres who join the program before 1 August! Submit your interest now.

Embed the most innovative, world-class music program in your centre to boost your occupancy, enhance curriculum, motivate educators, improve NQS rating, engage parents and stand out in this crazy busy marketplace.

The increasing number of child care centres across the country means that standing out from the rest is more important than ever. Bonkers Beat Music and Wellbeing Programs ensure you do just that! Increasing occupancy is just one of the many outcomes of our educational programs.

Families and communities now understand the incredible benefits of music, movement, yoga and meditation, and our programs enable you to expertly embed these powerful benefits into your centre immediately!

Remember; if you want to incorporate a world-class award-winning program in your centre for an affordable monthly fee and enjoy amazing benefits for your centre, your staff and families and children for 18 months, you have to register before 1 August 2018!

Head to http://www.earlychildhoodeducationalprograms.com.au/ to read more about what is included and the benefits and make the next financial year your best year ever!

Or email us at info@bonkersbeat.com

14/06/201814/06/2018

Common challenges in childcare centres solved

When you’re running a childcare centre, it can feel like the same issues keep coming up. You wonder what on earth you’re doing wrong and start to doubt yourself and your contribution to the early childhood education industry. What we have found after a decade of working with centres is that other centres are facing those same challenges.

Some of the biggest challenges that centres are facing:

1. Low enrolments

Low enrolments are a very upsetting problem many centres deal with — after all, high enrolments allow you to run your centre more successfully, pay educators what they deserve and maintain a high standard of early childhood education. Never fear, because with the right approach, increasing enrolments can be achieved!

2. Too many new centres opening nearby

A lot of competition contributes to point 1 and can make you want to throw in the towel. But don’t! We can tackle this…

3. Lacklustre outcomes for children

Seeing children blossom and flourish in your care is incredibly rewarding, but to get the best outcomes you need an approach to early childhood education that is proven to get results.

4. Unmotivated staff and high turnaround

If your educators are far from enthusiastic and you find yourself hiring new educators more often than you would like, this can impact your centre on every level.

All the while you are trying to create a successful business, provide an optimal start for young children and work on getting the best NQS rating possible.

In a way, it’s comforting to know that other centre owners and directors are facing these same challenges… but it’s time to take action!

A free half-day workshop is the beginning of a fresh approach for you and your centre! Head along to tackle those four big challenges plus plenty more and walk away with practical tools and knowledge that can change everything for you, your centre, your educators and the families.

Do not miss out this rare opportunity to discover more about Bonkers Beat programs and see the centre rated Excellent by ACECQA in action.

30/05/201831/05/2018

You are a part of Bonkers Beat Music Kinder success story

Getting the Bonkers Beat Music Kinder and our award-winning programs to where they are today has not been an easy feat. Over the last nine years, long days (and nights!) of hard work and immeasurable passion have been behind the creation of something truly special that has impacted the early childhood education industry in Australia and beyond.

That’s why, when we found out we were one of only 55 early childhood services across the country to be honoured with an Excellent Rating from ACECQA, we had to celebrate!

Last week we invited families from our centre and local community along with highly regarded guests from within the early childhood sector, to attend Bonkers Beat Music Kinder to join us in marking this achievement.

Families and early childhood professionals came together for the celebration

What a lovely evening we had! Presentations and beautiful words were a delight to hear from a number of our wonderful guests. You can see the images from the night here on Facebook.

We kicked off the celebrations with some delightful singing from the Bonkers Beat Music Kinder children. The enthusiasm was undeniable! The children are the reason behind everything that Bonkers Beat stands for and so it was important to have them front and centre in our receipt of the Excellent Rating.

Rhonda Livingstone, ACECQA’s National Education Leader, was in attendance to officially present the award. She spoke highly of Bonkers Beat Music Kinder and our programs, particularly how they are having a far-reaching impact on children’s education all over the country. We were so touched by your recognition and kind words Rhonda, thank you!

Alina Dan, from Alina Dan Consultancy and Holistic Approach, has been a valued colleague to Galina and to the Bonkers Beat family over many years. Thank you, Alina, for taking the time to fly down to celebrate with us too! Alina made a speech applauding Galina’s commitment, the contributions of the parents of all Bonkers Beat children and their commitment to laying the best possible foundations for their children’s bright futures.

One of our current parents was brave enough to present to the crowd as well. Josie Katakouzinos talked about her experience as a parent with a child at Bonkers Beat Music Kinder and how the music and wellbeing-based programs have had an obvious and powerful impact on her son throughout his early childhood development. Josie noted the benefits of being able to carry through the educational and behavioural strategies her son receives through the programs at kinder while at home too. Thank you, Josie! And thank you to all Bonkers Beat parents and children, past and present. Your continuous support is amazing and invaluable.

Here are a few images for your from Bonkers Beat Excellent Rating celebration.

24/05/201824/05/2018

Recognise, Reflect and Heal: National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day takes place this Saturday 26 May and this week we would like to take the time to acknowledge this day. Since 1998 Sorry Day has been an annual event for Australians to recognise and reflect on the mistreatment of the Aboriginal people.

Reconciliation and healing are vital to a bright future for all Australians and we must strive for it as united people. One very important part of this process is by educating one and all on the history of Australia, good, bad and in between.

For many of us recognising, reflecting and healing as part of National Sorry Day involves the acknowledgement of the trauma that took place during the white settlement in Australia. Reflecting on the experience of the Aboriginal people and considering how we can contribute towards the healing.

Let’s also look at how we can introduce children in early childhood education to the meaning behind National Sorry Day.

Recognising and reflecting on Aboriginal culture

For very young children the most straightforward way of recognising the Aboriginal people and their experience is by recognising them and their culture. We believe that children should be able to identify an Aboriginal flag as a first step in the right direction and to identify it as a core representation of Australia.

Achieving this is simple and fun. Draw the flag, paint the flag or even simply colour in printouts of the flag. Here’s one.

Talk about how Aboriginal people were here long before anyone else and take note of which people occupied the land where your centre or home is. For example, Aspendale in Victoria was occupied by the Bunarong people from the Kulin Nation. Perhaps you can take a walk around the block and identify some Aboriginal street names.

Aboriginal culture also has a distinct style of art, music and performance that children love. Share this with children by playing music, showing them a digeridoo, or doing their own dot paintings for example.

The journey of healing

Once we have shown children how to identify and enjoy Aboriginal culture, we are well on our way to enabling them to appreciate the meaning behind National Sorry Day as they get older and the importance of inclusion, acknowledgement, commemoration and the journey of healing.

Take the time to reflect this National Sorry Day or even take part in local community events and activities and let’s be a part of the healing journey together.

Image source: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/national-sorry-day-2016

17/05/201817/05/2018

Understanding and Enhancing Emotional Intelligence in Children

Emotional intelligence is an invaluable life skill and one that we can help children develop from a young age. We can do this at childcare centres and at home, ensuring children have the skills to understand their emotions and express them effectively. First, we need to have a solid understanding of what emotional intelligence is.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is a complex concept involving several different capabilities. It can be broken down into the 5 following categories:

Self-awareness: The ability to recognise your own emotions and their effects.
Self-regulation: The ability to control your emotions.
Motivation: The ability to motivate yourself to reach goals.
Empathy: The ability to recognise how other people are feeling.
Social Skills: The ability to communicate and interact with others, also known as having people skills.

Sometimes known as EQ, it is often argued that emotional intelligence is more important than IQ when it comes to achieving success in all facets of life, be it education, career or relationships. In fact, in any situation in life, we can all benefit from being aware of how we are feeling, why we are feeling that way and how this affects us and those around us.

Why emotional intelligence is so important

Learning how to deal with emotions is an essential skill that enables young people to communicate effectively and foster more productive and meaningful relationships. It also means that they will be well equipped to deal with stressors in life, which can assist in overcoming life’s challenges.

Emotional intelligence teaches childcare aged children how to discern their own and others emotions and can even help them to recognise the difference between right and wrong. For example, if Sarah pushes Tom on the ground and Tom begins to cry, Sarah will recognise that her actions have made Tom feel sad. With guidance from her parents and educators, Sarah will learn that it is wrong to push.

How to enhance children’s emotional intelligence

Helping children to develop their emotional intelligence in early childhood can start with simple activities, such as identifying different emotions on faces like anger, happiness and sadness. Once children understand what these emotions are, they will begin to align how they feel with the names of the emotions that they have learnt. For example, when a child falls over, they may realise that the emotion they are feeling is sadness or even embarrassment. Similarly, when a child gets to play in the sandpit or have their favourite snack, they may realise that they are feeling happy.

Using music and wellbeing to nurture children’s emotional development

It is never too early to start nurturing a child’s emotional development. That’s why the Bonkers Beat programs have a strong focus on feelings and self-expression.

We use music and movement to help children develop their understanding of the world around them and to express themselves. Yoga and meditation are other powerful tools we believe in to enable children to connect with themselves and come to better understand how their brains and bodies work.

Guiding children through developing emotional intelligence should be an essential part of early childhood education and there is no doubt that it will help to shape a brighter future for children.

If you have been thinking of introducing the award-winning Bonkers Beat programs into your centre, there is no time like the present. Get in touch about what Bonkers Beat Music and Wellbeing programs can do for your centre, your staff and the children in your care by emailing info@bonkers.com.

Find out more about Bonkers Beat programs, follow this link: earlychildhoodeducationalprograms.com.au

10/05/201810/05/2018

Last Minute Mother’s Day Fun

Mother’s Day is here this Sunday 13 May, and that means it’s time to celebrate the mums in our lives. In childcare centres many of us have a morning or afternoon tea with mums attending centres to take part in some art and craft — this is always a fun way to celebrate, but what else can we do to make Mother’s Day extra special?

Last minute Mother’s Day ideas

Teach children a poem: While you won’t be at children’s homes with them on Mother’s Day, it doesn’t take long at all for children (especially the older children) to learn a little poem to recite for mum. Enjoy this special gift from Bonkers Beat the Monkey – our poem ‘My Mum’: Access here.

If you haven’t yet had a Mother’s Day event at your centre, a group performance of this is always lovely for mums!

Breakfast in bed: It doesn’t have to be complex to be a thoughtful and much-appreciated gesture for Mother’s Day. A grown-up will have to lend a hand but for the most part, children can manage these:

Fruit kebabs

Fancy breakfast toast

Granola parfait

Create something special from the garden: Nip to the garden and pick some flowers for mum. A hand-picked posy will be sure to put a smile on mum’s face!

Make a crown for the Queen of the family: If a quick craft is what you’re after, this printable crown is perfect for Mother’s Day. Simply print, colour in and decorate and join together!

A questionnaire about mum: Mums love to hear what their children have learned or gain insights into how they see the world. This questionnaire for kids is all about mum and is a guarantee to give mum a laugh or even make her tear up! Print here.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums, grandmothers, aunties, step-mums and other wonderful female role models in children’s lives!

03/05/201803/05/2018

Sing and Play for Father Child Engagement

While every family is different, quite often it is the mother of the family who has the most engagement in children’s early childhood education. This is for a variety of reasons and sometimes cannot be helped, but where possible it is really important to encourage fathers to grab hold of opportunities to participate in this crucial period of children’s development.

Research has demonstrated that high levels of positive father involvement result in higher levels of self-esteem in children and a range of studies have found favourable social, emotional, behavioural and educational outcomes. This is in addition to nurturing a beautiful father-child relationship that can flourish for a lifetime.

To help create more opportunities for fathers and children to engage and spend time together while enhancing children’s development, we invite dads to join us at Bonkers Beat ‘Sing & Play’ Group!

Offering educational and enjoyable experiences centres around music, wellbeing, Montessori and art, ‘Sing & Play’ Group takes place on Saturdays from 9.30am-10.30am and is suitable for children from 15 months to 3 years old. And your first session is FREE!

Get ready to:

build your child’s confidence and social skills through music
enhance creativity through art
improve wellbeing with stretching and breathing exercises
stimulate brain development with Montessori experiences
Have meaningful, quality FUN with your child!

It’s worth noting that increased father and child involvement benefits dads too. Fathers who spend quality time with their children feel more satisfied with their lives and experience more empathy, increased relationship happiness and overall improved sense of wellbeing.

Of course, mums are welcome too, as well as uncles, aunties and grandparents — the more loving and engaged adults in a child’s life, the better!

Try your first session free of charge then continue each Saturday throughout Term 2 at $12 per session. Around the same price as coffee and cake at the local café but with way more benefits for your child!

To register for our 1st session free, email info@bonkersbeat.com or call 9587 8786.

Can’t wait to see you!

Sources:
https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/op22.pdf
https://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/families/about-families/dads/fathers-connecting-children

19/04/201820/04/2018

6 surprising benefits of music for children’s development

We all know music is enjoyable to listen to and create, but there’s more to music than just having fun. The benefits of music for children’s development are impressive and even a little surprising.

While there are countless benefits to exposing children to music on a daily basis, let’s look at just six of the surprising and important benefits of music for the development and wellbeing of young children.

1. Build children’s confidence

Learning to sing all the words of a song or learning to play an instrument – either way, the act of learning music is a sure fire way to help children to gain confidence in their ability to take on new skills.

2. Enhance children’s communication

As the saying goes ‘Where words fail, music speaks’. As we all know, children can often have trouble with finding the words to express themselves but by being in touch with music and song children are able to explore feelings on a deeper level that they may not otherwise understand.

Music often tells a story in a way that we can all understand. To reference another adage, music is a universal language and so it makes sense that children of all ages can bond through music and the shared joy it brings.

3. Improve concentration

To sing a song, we must first learn the words, then keep practising to get it right. Listening to music to know when to start singing, or even playing along on a drum and trying to keep the beat can be challenging. Music helps children to learn to focus which can help them in many other areas of their development.

4. Work on motor skills and coordination

Where there’s music, there’s movement and while learning an instrument is fantastic for hand-eye coordination, there’s a lot to be said for the combination of singing and movement to go with the song. Many songs tell stories not only through lyrics but through actions too.

5. Enhance memory

Ever had a song stuck in your head? Most of us have. Music has a habit of helping us remember concepts and facts. You can add a highly effective learning technique to any subject matter by incorporating it into a song. In fact, many of our Bonkers Beat songs do just that!

6. Tap into creativity

It’s an obvious and yet important element of listening to and creating music, but encouraging creativity allows children to embrace self-expression and experiment with their own unique approach to singing and playing music.

There are plenty of reasons to incorporate music into every day for children — at Bonkers Beat we make it simple for centres to do just that with our tried and tested songs that children love.

If you want to know more about the Bonkers Beat Music Program that is successfully incorporated into curriculums in childcare settings Australia-wide, get in touch with us today by emailing info@bonkersbeat.com.

To learn or read more about Bonkers Beat Programs, click here.