Early childhood is a time for learning. As children’s brains develop rapidly in the first 5 years of life, we understand that supporting children’s learning and development during this stage can lay the foundations for future success.

Emotional intelligence, sometimes referred to as (EI) or (EQ) refers to the ability to identify, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on not only focusing on cognitive or academic skills and learning, but also on the importance of emotional intelligence, mental wellbeing and social skills. Emotional intelligence is linked to many positive outcomes for children and adults recognising the value of understanding ourselves and how we relate to others.

There are many benefits to supporting emotional intelligence in early childhood, some of which include:

A childs health and wellbeing is of utmost importance in an early childhood setting. It can be common, especially during the colder months, for children to come home with cold and flu symptoms. As we all know, illnesses can come on fast and can spread quickly. Both children and adults are constantly exposed to various health risks as they move about their busy lives. We understand that when a child falls sick this can feel overwhelming for families, but we believe that there are some simple steps to follow to reduce the likelihood of occurrences.

Here are some tips to support your child staying healthy during the cold and flu seasons:

Children exist in an increasingly diverse world. Culture is the foundation of our identity and impacts on our thoughts, values, and behaviours. Embracing a variety of cultures and languages in early childhood will support children to understand themselves, their family, and all those around them.

Encouraging cultural awareness will empower children to develop respect and empathy. When children learn about and experience other cultures, they learn to value the differences in people Through an appreciation of these difference, children are more likely to develop positive relationships with others into their adult years. 

At Sage, we value all children, families and educators and we love to learn about and celebrate all cultures. Here is how we embrace cultural diversity:

Toilet training is a significant part of a child’s development. Children build on their self-help skills and independence as they progress through the toilet training process. Toilet training can be a challenging journey when a child’s body is still developing, and they are still learning about how their body works. This process requires a lot of positivity and patience.

Its often best to have a plan in place before starting toilet training. This will often involve working in partnership with your child’s education and care setting to ensure you are both on the same page and there is consistency throughout the journey.

Here are some signs to look out for to know your child is ready to start toilet training:

Forming Healthy Habits in Early Childhood.

Early childhood is a time of rapid growth and development for children. Good nutrition and healthy eating are vital to this process and promotes ongoing development giving children the best start to life.

Forming healthy eating habits in the early years is important as children need to develop a positive relationship with healthy foods to continue with good eating habits into adulthood and throughout life. Good nutrition in early childhood offers a range of benefits including physical growth, strengthening muscles, brain development and ability to learn, as well as immune system support and protection from illness and diseases. A well-balanced diet along with regular physical activity are healthy habits that are well promoted in an early childhood setting.

Here are some tips to encourage healthy eating in early childhood:

Early childhood educators have the incredible privilege and responsibility to care for and support children’s learning in the early years of life. With this in mind, it is important that educators not only possess the qualities suitable to work with children, but to also have the knowledge, training and qualifications required to carry out their roles successfully.

The National Quality Framework sets out the minimum educator qualification requirements for working with children preschool age and under in centre-based services.

The requirements state:

At Sage, we understand that finding the right centre for your child can be an overwhelming task. There is so much to consider and so many questions you would like to ask. We understand that one area that parents are keen to learn about is their child’s safety at the centre.

Child Safety is our number one priority and is a consideration in everything we do at Sage. Here is how your child’s safety is embedded in our environment and our practices:

Children love to play. Play is often seen as the work of childhood or our brain’s favourite way of learning.

As educators and parents, it’s important to understand the value of play In relation to children’s development and learning. Understanding that play is not simply leisure, fun or amusement separate from learning or a distraction from learning. Play is so much more and essentially the building blocks for lifelong learning.

At Sage, we understand that starting your child in care is a significant milestone for families. It can be an exciting time with your child starting their educational journey, but it can also be emotionally challenging. You may be wondering.. Am I making the right choice?.. will my child be okay without me?.. Will my child make friends? All of these questions are natural for parents to wonder when starting their child in a new early childhood environment.

The first day of Kindergarten is just around the corner. While this is a great time to relax and enjoy some fun family time, it is also a good time to start preparing for your child’s first year at school.

Here are some tips to help prepare your little one for a happy first day of school and to also help prepare yourself with this exciting transition.

Dropping off your child in care can be a difficult time for both child and parents. For newly enrolled families joining our Sage family, the first stage of your child settling into care is a big step. It is natural for both child and parent to need some time to adjust to a new routine, new faces and a new environment.

Please know that the thoughts and feelings you have are okay and we are here to support you all the way.

Here are some drop off tips we would like to share:

Kindergarten Pretend Play:

Set up a room in the house to look like a classroom. You can include tables and chairs and a whiteboard. This can also be done with dolls and toy furniture. Your child can take turns being a teacher and also a student. Dolls can take on these roles as well. Practice everyday school routines during play such as storytime, lining up, sharing news, putting your hand up to answer questions. This activity will support your child to become familiar with the school experience in preparation for experiencing it in real life.

Children can begin to learn about positive values from a young age by observing the adults around them. Role modelling good values and engaging children in meaningful conversation can support children’s early spiritual and moral development. Role modelling consistently for children can be challenging for adults, but often its these challenges that are great to discuss with your child teaching them that its okay to acknowledge mistakes and we can always strive to improve.

The following values are important to start teaching in early childhood:

In an early childhood setting, Storytime can be one of the most exciting times of the day. It is a time for a teacher to invite the children over to a comfortable space where they can escape the realities of the day and dive into the experience of the story. Storytime is an opportunity for bonding, creativity and imagination. A shared experience that can support children’s social, emotional, cognitive and language development. Most importantly, a fun and engaging Storytime experience is a powerful tool in supporting a child’s lifelong love of reading.