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- EducationAnimal Facts for Under-5sThanks to Taronga Conservation Society Australia, here are 10 fun animal facts to share with your early learner.Thanks to Taronga Conservation Society Australia, here are 10 fun animal facts to share with your early learner. BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE JANUARY 7, 2025 Little kids looooove animals, and if you’re keen to feed your pre-schooler’s mind and kickstart their interest in wildlife conservation, then read on! Taronga Conservation Society Australia does lots of amazing work to support our furry, feathered and scaly friends, and to help with their fundraising and education efforts, this not-for-profit has just released two gorgeous board books for under-fives. Taronga: What Do Baby Animals Do? and Taronga: Crocodile Snap! have been expertly written for early learners, which means there are wild words, silly sounds, spot-able patterns and brilliant pictures on every page. And let’s not forget the facts! Both books are packed with fun animal facts, to foster a connection with the natural world; and to get your pre-schooler in the swing of things, here are 10 tidbits you can share with them before devouring the books and planning your visit to Taronga Zoo, or somewhere equally wild! Wow your child with these 10 amazing animal facts 1. Frogs drink water through their skin! They soak up water through their tummies and legs. 2. Platypuses are as old as the dinosaurs. A fossil shows they were around 122 million years ago, when triceratops, velociraptors and tyrannosaurus rexes were roaming the Earth! 3. Octopuses have nine brains, and each arm can move on its own. 4. Crocodiles can’t poke out their tongues. This is because their tongue is attached to the roof of their mouth. 5. Red Kangaroos can jump over an adult human! They can leap over two metres high and travel seven metres in one jump, which is longer than most playground swing sets. 6. A turtle’s shell is part of its body and has over 50 bones, including its spine and ribs. 7. Giraffes are the tallest land animals. Their necks are very long and are even longer than their legs! 8. Dingoes are a type of dog, but they rarely bark. Instead, they growl, howl or snort to talk to each other. 9. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. They can run up to 103 kilometres per hour, which is faster than a lot of cars! 10. Seals are related to bears. Their ancestors were bear-like animals that hunted in the water. You’ll find more fun facts in the Taronga board books, and it’s good to know that there are two more titles coming in March. Taronga: Animal Opposites at the Zoo and Taronga: We’re Going to the Zoo will build on your pre-schooler's animal IQ, and if your little one isn’t so little, they’ll find tons of animal facts in Taronga Big Book of Animals. There’s definitely a lot to learn, and whether your family supports Taronga Conservation Society Australia by buying a book, doing a donation, or visiting the zoo, it’s definitely wise to help conserve our wonderful, wonderful wildlife.Recommended
- Hints, Tips & StoriesWin Back-to-school Gear!Thanks to Kizmo, we have two awesome back-to-school prizes to give away, just in time for an action-packed new year.Thanks to Kizmo, we have two awesome back-to-school prizes to give away, just in time for an action-packed new year. BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE JANUARY 2, 2024 Whether your kiddo is starting school for the first time, or gearing up for another year of primary education, Kizmo is here to help! Kizmo makes a whole range of kid-friendly accessories, and they’ve put together two prize packs that are cool for school, and practical as well. If you’re one of our lucky winners, then your child will be starting Term One with: A Kizmo Canvas Backpack in Navy ($72 rrp) A 600ml Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle ($34 rrp), plus A Set of Oxford Round No-tie Shoelace ($9 rrp). And we can tell you that every item is awesome! The Oxford Round No-tie Shoelace makes it easy to put shoes on, and keep them on (without any tricky bows or bunny ears); and your child won’t struggle with the backpack either. The Kizmo canvas backpack is comfortable, durable, eco-friendly and super spacious. There’s room for a lunchbox, pencil case, sports uniform, hat, laptop, recorder and anything else a busy kid might need; and you can rest assured that this backpack won’t burst open or tip over, thanks to its quality zips and padded base. It’ll also easily hold the 600ml insulated water bottle, so your kiddo can drink ice cool H2O from the very start of the school day to the end of their extracurriculars! Kizmo’s 600ml insulated water bottle is actually designed to keep cold for up to 24 hours, and its leakproof lid and scratch-resistant finish means no nasty surprises when your primary schooler dumps their bag at the end of the day. All in all, this Kizmo collection is perfect for the new school year, and entering our comp is easy! Simply head to KindiCare’s Instagram or Facebook page and follow the instructions – remembering that the more friends you tag, the more chances you have to win. We wish you luck, and while you’re waiting for the comp to be drawn, you might like to check out Kizmo’s full range of family-friendly gear at kizmo.com.auRecommended
- Hints, Tips & StoriesA Family Favourite!Community Kids Pakenham is our first ever Families’ Choice Award Winner in the KindiCare Excellence Awards. See why Melbourne mums and dads absolutely love this centre!Community Kids Pakenham is our first ever Families’ Choice Award Winner in the KindiCare Excellence Awards. See why Melbourne mums and dads absolutely love this centre! BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE DECEMBER 20, 2024 Quality childcare centres win the respect and trust of their families, and the really good ones win their hearts as well. This is definitely the case at Community Kids Pakenham in Melbourne, where there’s a real childcare family feel, and parents are truly grateful for the experiences their children enjoy, in the care of the educators they adore. Families often praise the centre and its staff, and all their genuine, glowing reviews have earnt Community Kids Pakenham a place in KindiCare history! This G8 Education centre is our first ever Families’ Choice Award Winner in the KindiCare Excellence Awards, and Centre Manager, Tia Van Deursen, is thrilled to see her service being recognised in this way. Tia has lots of experience in early childhood education and care, and a real passion for communication and connection with families. This passion is shared by her team, and it resonates really strongly with their childcare families. Tia explains that, “Community Kids Pakenham is not just a daycare provider. Instead, we build rapport with families, and we’re here for the everyday chat and those deeper conversations as well.” At Community Kids Pakenham, there is always a member of management at the door to greet families, and the whole team has a reputation for being friendly, helpful and kind. They work together to create a homely atmosphere, instead of a clinical or business-like one, and Tia says, “The relationships we build with families are firm and true. “We talk to families in a way that builds trust and connection, and I always say that, ‘If you’re not talking to families, then you’re not showcasing what’s happening or how you can support them.’” Families really appreciate how the team includes them in centre life. They’re kept up-to-date with daily happenings, invited to centre events, and are also privy to the team’s professional expertise. Tia says, “We understand that our team is a knowledge base when it comes to early childhood learning and development. So, we really showcase this knowledge and role model it for the families, so they can apply it themselves at home.” And if a parent has a particular question or concern, they can rely on the team to provide individualised support and always keep their confidences. The make-up of the team is also appealing for families. Tia explains that, “At Community Kids Pakenham, our team is really well balanced between those educators who are quite fresh to the sector, and those with years and years of experience, and our families appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm all our team members share. “Our team has a genuine passion for early childhood education and care. This is more than just a job for us, and our families see this, and know this, from the moment they visit our centre.” Tia says, “I always suggest that families explore a few different childcare centres before enrolling at one, because every family is different and every centre too. “However, I find that families always come back to Community Kids Pakenham, because of the comfort and familiarity they feel, and we have some families who’ve been with us 10 years, as their different children move through the early years.” There’s no doubt that current and former families love Community Kids Pakenham! Special features, like the indoor fort for four-year-olds and hey dee ho centre-based activities are big drawcards, but it’s the people that truly make this centre a family favourite. Parents love how welcoming and sharing Tia and her team are, and it’s their passion for communication and connectedness that makes Community Kids Pakenham a winning centre for everyone.Recommended
- HealthA Fun Approach to FitnessSee why the hey dee ho program is so great for early learners.See why the hey dee ho program is so great for early learners. BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE DECEMBER 17, 2024 Active play will help your under-five to be healthier, happier, smarter and stronger, and this kind of play is a really important consideration when you’re choosing a childcare centre. You’re looking for a centre that will make physical activity fun for your under-five, and although enthusiastic educators and energising environments are great indicators of this, it also helps to look at the incursions on offer. You might find that a centre offers kids’ yoga, dancing, soccer or all of the above on a regular basis, which definitely bodes well for your child’s learning and development; and if you see that a centre has partnered with hey dee ho educational services then this is good news too! Victoria’s KindiCare Excellence Awards Winner, Cuddly Bear Child Care and Kindergarten Heathmont, has a very successful partnership with hey dee ho, and hey dee ho runs early education programs at more than 500 centres around Australia. All of their programs are great for little learners, but if you’re particularly interested in fitness, then their active 8 multi-skilled fitness program deserves a special mention. This program is perfect for your baby, toddler or preschooler, and instead of teaching one skillset (or sport), active 8 is a holistic fitness program that covers these eight learning domains: Sensory Social Emotional Language Physical Cognitive Creative, and Spiritual. hey dee ho’s Director, Jenny Wilkinson, explains that, “Our aim is to help children develop the skills necessary to enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle, rather than teaching a specific type of activity.” Fun is definitely a focus, and each active 8 session is run by an early education professional who comes into the centre on a weekly basis, armed with exciting equipment and ideas. Jenny explains that each active 8 session is based around a kid-friendly theme, and whether the children are crossing a balance beam bridge to escape dinosaurs, stepping through a magical hula hoop to enter a new kingdom, juggling scarves in an imaginary circus, or using bean bag stepping stones to avoid crocodiles, their bodies and brains get a work-out as they become part of the storyline. The children really get into the imaginative story arcs, and they also benefit from the structure of the active 8 program. Jenny explains that, “The aim is to initiate good habits, exposing children to basic movement skills in a structured musical environment.” As such, “Every session starts with an Acknowledgement of Country, welcome song and warm up activity. The children then enjoy activities centred around Cardio, Balance, Quickness and Agility, Strength and Endurance exercises. And each session finishes with some cool down exercises.” The active 8 sessions are not too long and not too short, to ensure just the right amount of fitness focus. The babies navigate their 20 minute sessions to the best of their abilities, while the toddlers and preschoolers throw themselves into their 30 minute sessions, and especially enjoy the Cheerleading and Tai Chi exercises! Jenny explains that, “The Cheerleading is a real fun time of movement, listening and dancing. The pom poms are a hit, and everyone loves the popular, fun songs.” She says, “Children also love the Tai Chi exercises, and it has been very interesting to watch how early learners resonate with the breath work and slow movements, which help them cool down at the end of the session and practice emotional regulation at other times.” hey dee ho has been around for more than 35 years, so they definitely know how to engage early learners in fun, fit ways, and they’re also adept at supporting us grown-ups! The active 8 presenters provide weekly supporting documentation that educators and families can easily put into action. And if you’re looking for ways to get active with your little one outside childcare hours, then Jenny suggests that you, “Find something your child loves to do, then involve everyone in it.” This could mean that you: Walk around the block, counting all the doggies you see Have a cheerleading party at home, with music, dancing and pom poms Pretend to be mermaids or crocodiles in the shallows at the beach Kick a ball to each other, moving one step back each time Make or buy a kite to fly in your local park Really, the opportunities for active play are endless, and although hey dee ho doesn’t run programs at every single early learning centre in Australia, their presence is a great selling point if you are looking for childcare. And whatever your priorities, KindiCare makes it easy to search, compare and enquire with different childcare centres, so you can find the perfect fit for your family!Recommended
- FinanceMore Centres, Less TestingPrime Minister Anthony Albanese is promising big things for childcare families if his government is re-elected.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is promising big things for childcare families if his government is re-elected. BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE DECEMBER 11, 2024 The Labor government wants all families to be able to access high-quality, affordable and inclusive early childhood education and care (ECEC), and today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced some pre-election promises to support this. The Prime Minister has vowed to spend $1 billion on building or expanding more than 160 ECEC centres, located in the places that need them most. He has also promised to replace the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test with three days of guaranteed subsidised childcare, from January 2026, for families earning up to $530,000 per year. Prime Minister Albanese has described the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund as, “The biggest investment by an Australian government ever in new childcare services” and the need is definitely there. In his speech today, the Prime Minister acknowledged that, “There are simply not enough childcare centres in the regions or in outer suburbs that are growing fast;” and this Fund aims to improve childcare access for Australian families. The government explains that the Fund will include, “$500 million in targeted capital grant rounds, opening from July 2025, focused on quality not-for-profit ECEC providers and state and local governments to establish new services and increase the capacity of existing ECEC services.” Prime Minister Albanese says he’d like the new childcare centres to be located at local schools, wherever possible, because this “makes sense” for the parents doing drop-offs and pick-ups, and also benefits children by instilling a sense of confidence and connectedness. Prime Minister Albanese says, “We will look at schools that have space we can use, and will work with states and territories when they build new schools to make early education part of the plan from day one.” The government says the Building Early Education Fund also includes a, “$500 million provision for future Commonwealth investment in owning and leasing a portfolio of ECEC centres to increase the supply of services,” and money is being set aside to investigate how this investment might look. The prospect of new centres in childcare deserts and other in-demand areas will be appealing to families struggling to secure ECEC, and the government’s vow to replace the Activity Test with a Three Day Guarantee policy is also welcome news. Parenting advocates have long been campaigning for the Activity Test to be scrapped, due to the heavy administrative burden it puts on the families it’s supposed to help; and the Productivity Commission officially called for the Activity Test to be removed back when it released its final childcare inquiry report in September. The Productivity Commission’s report recognised that children’s participation in ECEC should not depend on their parents’ work, study or other ‘recognised activity’, and noted that the Activity Test wasn’t leading to ‘substantial’ increases in workforce participation. The promise of at least three days of subsidised childcare per week also ties in with the Productivity Commission’s final childcare inquiry report. The report recommended that by 2036 every child should be able to access at least 30 hours, or three days, per week of this quality ECEC, for 48 weeks per year. And today, the Prime Minister has promised that, “Under a re-elected Labor government, every family earning up to $530,000 will have access to the Child Care Subsidy for three days a week, guaranteed,” without having to work a certain number of hours or jump through bureaucratic hoops. The Activity Test would still apply for families accessing more than three days of ECEC per week, however, the Three Day Guarantee policy would mean that every family could afford plenty of high-quality ECEC in their child’s formative years. Although there would be no pressure on families to use the three days of subsidised ECEC, the government estimates that the Three Day Guarantee would benefit around 66.700 families in the first year after its introduction, and there is lots of evidence that high-quality ECEC makes an incredible difference to children, families and society. All in all, the Labor government is definitely committed to building a universal childcare system that’s, “Simple, affordable and accessible, for every family” and the only catch is their re-election!Recommended
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