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Children's services offer a vital service and a valuable resource to all families; and the support which comes form a child
care centre extends beyond just the child. Child care is equally valuable to stay at home parents as it is to those
who work, as the developmental gains a child makes in a social setting are immense.
In early childhood settings, educators provide qualified information and guidance for each child's growth
plus scaffolding experiences that support development and successful future learning. Child care is also a home
away from home where parents may find support themselves. Whether that is a shoulder to cry on, a non-judgmental
ear, expert advice or connecting with another advocate for their child’s needs: a child care centre is an essential
community hub.
Supporting Child Development:
Socially
Social capacity grows the more stimulus children receive and with opportunities to interact with other children
in supportive environments. When children take that brave step to play with peers and educators, without mum, they
start to explore their own identity. They initiate interactions, communication, and express ideas and feelings.
Children begin to form ideas about who they are, how they connect with the world, and what they can become. From
this, we see their confidence blossom and this creates significant foundations for how confident, creative and
secure they become as they grow into their teenage years and eventually their adult life.
Confidence in group settings
In a child care service children access opportunities to vocalise their ideas, listen to others, lead, compromise
and negotiate in a group setting. This forms the basis of learning and promotes success in future classrooms.
Language
Studies have shown that in group settings with other children, a child's motivation to interact and communicate
vocally will dramatically increase. The sense of autonomy away from parents, and the connection to children of
similar age fuels this motivation. Through ongoing, regular participation in group settings, children will naturally
practice and refine their communication skills, while learning the basic rules of conversations (as modelled by
qualified educators).
Importance of self-expression
By expressing ourselves through art, music, dance and role play we learn more about who we are and what drives
us personally. When children feel a sense of freedom to express their thoughts, ideas and views, they can also
feel confident in really opening up to those around them and to those who they have created meaningful connections
with. Children are constantly absorbing and trying to make sense of the world, so learning to be creative and expressive
and doing it alongside each other in a fun, safe and loving environment is a beautiful way for them to do this.
Independence
From the first drop off, toddlers begin on a journey of increasing independence where the simplest of routines
(getting my lunch box, washing my hands, solving a problem, engaging with peers) enables constant achievements
along the way at each child’s own individual pace.
Resilience
I watch in amazement as a child happily says goodbye to mum and embraces their time at child care. Such a
powerful decision for a little person is one which we really celebrate in my service. It is just the start of bigger
milestones towards independence.
One of the reasons that we as educators are so passionate about this stage of children's lives, is because
we are very aware of how significant these early experiences are for all developmental levels, but in particular
social and emotional. Feeling a deep sense of belonging, feeling safe and secure in new environments, creating
connections with others and learning to trust are all fundamental in how well adjusted a child becomes as they
are undoubtedly faced with new situations and challenges as they grow.
Child care centres provide children with opportunities to feel secure in an environment away from their home,
and to start paving the way for experiences that support the development of high self-esteem, self-awareness, learning
how to engage and interact in positive ways and learning how to manage their emotions. All building blocks for
learning resilience.
Our children thrive with the independence and social relationships they develop with time away from the home.
I encourage everyone to explore the various service types in your area and find the experiences in which you and
your child will thrive. Even as I sit in our office writing this, I can hear the communal hum of children socialising,
while parents and staff are engaged in genuine, open conversation with each other. It is just another example of
the belonging, acceptance, support, encouragement, and relationships that families find in a child care centre,
a hub of the community.
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