Before School Care
Introducing Rise then Shine, a brilliant new childcare program that prepares kids for a day at school.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Before school care is a huge help for working parents, and instead of just dumping your child somewhere, then rushing off to the office, you want to know your under 12 is being cared for in an entertaining and enriching way.
Junior Adventures Group has definitely got this covered!
Through their Helping Hands Network, OSHClub and Primary OSHCare brands, JAG runs 460 Outside School Hours Care services across five states and looks after approximately 30,000 children daily.
They make a positive difference in the lives of learners and earners, and when it comes to before school care, JAG’s new Rise then Shine program is pretty darn exciting!
This morning program has been designed to prepare children well for the school day ahead, and it’s built on seven ‘Domains of Play.’
JAG developed these Domains of Play with the help of childhood development and play experts, and each Domain takes kids on different ‘Adventures’ before school.
Children learn life skills along the way, and at the moment, the Rise then Shine program is focused on these two Domains of Play:
- Flavour Fest, which is all about cooking and yummy healthy food, and
- Super Sports, which helps children develop the skills they need for an active life.
Breakfast Club Adventures and Get Active Adventures tie in with these Domains, and there’s lots more action coming soon!
To coincide with the start of Cheaper Child Care in July, JAG aims to implement the following additional Domains of Play:
- Global Kids, which supports children to be good global citizens, with a focus on community and sustainability
- Brain Boosters, which includes code-breaking, puzzles, engaging games, science experiments and STEM activities
- Power Teams, which helps children build team skills for life through games, challenges and group activities
- Creative Inventors, which immerses kids in creative play, with a mix of expressive arts, materials and crafts that encourage inventiveness, and
- Zen Masters, which sees children practising skills and exercises to promote happiness, mindfulness and wellbeing that balances the mind and body (think yoga and random acts of kindness).
There will be a National Library of Adventures to keep track of all the amazing activities that are happening.
And once the program is fully rolled out, there will be a formalised handover for each child, so parents and educators know exactly how they’re going and what kind of morning they’ve had.
Already, Rise then Shine is a big hit!
The morning program officially launched on 20 February, and instead of being somewhere kids have to go, Rise then Shine has quickly become something they really look forward to.
All the Adventures are fun, fun, fun, and there’s skill development woven into every session.
For instance, during a Get Active Adventure, children may practise teamwork and problem-solving with a game of ‘Rob the Nest,’ or develop their gross and fine motor skills with a round of ‘Sharks and Minnows.’
Meanwhile, daily Breakfast Club Adventures ensure that every child has a job to do!
They might be tasked with food prep, recipe-reading, ingredient-mixing or meal service, and specific challenges, like making a ‘Mighty Muffin’ or creating an ‘Egg-tastic Extravanganza’ build each child’s skillset in a healthy and food-tastic way.
These experiences are important for life, and they also set kids up for their more immediate day at school.
Melinda Crole, CEO of JAG Australia says, “We know that a good breakfast improves nutrient intake, enhances academic performance, wellbeing and energy levels for children, so they can shine during their school day.”
Sporty activities help to boot up the brain and burn off some beans before children enter the classroom and sit down at their desk.
And if a child is finding it hard to transition from the morning rush with their parent to the serious classroom with their teacher, then trained educators are on hand to help them settle into the day and shine at school.
Melinda says, “Rise then Shine is about having a pathway into the school day, fuelled by nutritious food, playing with friends and enjoying activities that children may not get at home in the morning (such as physical or mindfulness play), so they can transition to school feeling great.”
Going forward, JAG is also keen to share resources with parents.
Melinda says, “We will be providing favourite recipes and programs to parents, so they can mirror our Domains of Play at home and share the Adventures with us if they want.”
“By utilising the Rise then Shine program, parents may also be able to have time for a quiet morning coffee before they start their day, giving them a chance to rise then shine also.”
All of this is good news for families (especially if you’re eligible for cheaper childcare from July), and JAG can also help with after school care.
Their new Stay and Play program (launched in tandem with Rise then Shine) supports children to unwind and connect with friends and family after the school day is done.
It’s underpinned by the same thinking as Rise then Shine, and we’re looking forward to seeing all seven Domains of Play, and countless Adventures, being rolled out in the coming months.
If your child attends a JAG service, your educators will be able to answer any particular questions you have about of these brand-new before and after school programs.
And if you’re looking for quality outside school hours care, search KindiCare >>>
