a guide to choosing childcare and more

the first five yearsjust what is early learning?developing a love of learningfinding the right centregovernment benefits explained

early learning pathways

We wrote this little book to help you make big decisions on childcare and early learning.

getting on top of things

early learning explained

heading back to work

separation anxiety?

Choosing a childcare centre is a big decision, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming if you are guided by two questions:

Does the centre look clean and tidy?

Is there a variety of equipment available for children to play with?

Are the children happy, engaged and content?

Is artwork displayed throughout the centre?

Are the staff engaged in activities with the children?

Take the time to talk with the staff. Engaged and interested parents make their job easier, so they’ll be happy to answer questions.

Is there a low staff turnover?

Ask to see the program for the room your child will be in.

What’s the daily routine?

Are the centre’s policies and procedures freely available?

Many parents and families get anxious about their children starting childcare. However, research shows the vast majority rapidly discovers that the advantages far outweigh any initial concerns.

other things to consider

Fees and your eligibility for government benefits?

Will you have to pay for public holidays and sick days? Will you be offered ‘make-up’ days?

Does the centre provide food and nappies?

Is the centre nationally accredited?

Will you get daily updates on your child? Will you be told about how they rested, ate, drank and what activities they did?

How will this information be sent? Quality centres have a ‘communication book’.

You’re welcome

Any quality centre will

welcome a personal visit.

Call the centres that interest you

and make a time to pop in.

Make your visit a relaxed one;

it’s important you get the

‘vibe’ of the place.

What’s best for my child?

What’s best for our family?

Goodstart Early Learning is a not-for-profit organisation focused on bringing the benefits of early learning to Australia’s children. The information in this booklet is general in nature, and nothing can take the place of personal enquiries and face-to-face visits. Ask questions and seek further advice before you make any decisions.

a word about breastfeedingIf you want to keep breastfeeding after you return to work, talk to your employer about a clean, private room for expressing.

Many employers are happy to help – they just might not have been asked before. The Australian Breastfeeding Association offers a lot of information and support to mothers planning a return to paid work.

You can visit their website at breastfeeding.asn.au

Set aside 10 minutes in the evening to write a to-do list for the following day. Divide the tasks between you and your partner. And be selective – not everything needs doing now!

Stay connected. Particularly in the early days, call the centre when you need to and reassure yourself that your child is happy and settled.

Have a back-up plan. Know what you’ll do if your child is sick and childcare is not an option on that day. Know Grandma’s social schedule!

Offer help to others, accept help when it’s offered and ask for it when you need it.

Get to know other families at the centre to build relationships.

Back at work, you’ll find being organised is the key to a stress-free home life. You’ll also discover that just as you think you’ve got the perfect plan in place, something will change

and you’ll need to re-jig it. It’s ok. Just keep juggling!

back to work – paid work, that is

Preparation and planning are key, as is having faith in your centre and staff.

Give yourself, your family and employer as much time as possible to adjust to the changes happening as you return to work or study.

Try to talk about your work in a positive way, particularly around your children. If they sense you are upset or apprehensive they could become anxious. Try to celebrate achievements rather than focus on difficulties.

Returning to paid work means less time for other activities. Be selective about what needs doing around the house and ‘quarantine’ time for relaxing together.

Use trips to and from childcare to engage with your child and talk about what they’re looking forward to and what they did.

Try not to feel guilty about working, or compensate with gifts and activities which are unnecessary and exhausting. If children feel loved and secure, they’ll thrive.

You’re a positive role model for your children. Happy parents mean happy children. Remind yourself you’re doing what’s best for you and your family.

Finally, help employers to understand that although the quality of your work won’t change (your productivity will probably increase!), your ability to be as flexible as you were pre-baby might. Talk about options such as flexible hours or jobsharing.

Quality centres are proud to offer a breastfeeding friendly environment. If you choose a centre that’s nearby, you may be able to pop in to feed your baby.

learning to juggle

Many

parents feel

anxious about

how it’s all going

to work. A few

hiccups are

inevitable –

chaos is not.

Returning to work or study after being at home with small children presents new challenges. Suddenly, a child sleeping late isn’t a good thing, and mobilising the family at the start of the day requires military precision.

Angie Bailison, a parenting consultant says, “It’s never easy leaving your child with another person, so try leaving your baby with trusted family or friends for a few hours from a very young age. Giving your child time to adjust to others is a great way to alleviate separation anxiety”.

Angie recommends a gentle transition to childcare starting with a few visits each week with mum or dad, followed by increasing periods of separation.

Arrange some settling time with your child so they can get to know the carers and the environment with you there.

“If possible, visit the centre together more than once a week, as a week between visits is a long time for your child to remember the place and faces. Once they feel more confident in their surroundings, start by leaving your child for three to four hours before building to a full day,” says Angie.

Most children adjust quickly to the new experiences and stimulating environment provided at childcare.

Some children take a little longer to feel comfortable, sometimes up to six weeks. If your child is regularly distressed after more than a month, organise a meeting with carers to review the issues and discuss options. Remember, the lines of communication should always be open. If you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to call the centre soon after you leave to reassure yourself. Parents should take heart in knowing they’re doing the best they can and that carers are there to provide the best experience for your child.

Children absorb feelings from their parents, so it’s important to start this new chapter in your family’s life with optimism and positivity.

working together for your child The best outcomes happen when experienced early learning professionals understand a child and their family.

They need to know about likes and dislikes, as well as your family values and expectations. Every family and child is unique and the best carers use their understanding to provide a positive, meaningful and enjoyable childcare environment.

helping carers help your childLet the staff know as much as you can about your child when they start at a centre, and think about what you’d like your child to gain from early learning.

A quality childcare centre will use this information as a way to engage your child and involve them in the life of the centre in a way that suits them.

At the end of each day, carers should be able to tell you not only what happened at a practical level – what they ate, and when they slept – but also on an emotional and social level.

Open communication is the best way for parents and carers to provide the best experience for your child.

be positive.

Think about your own

body language when

saying goodbye to

your child. You could

be transfering your

own anxiety.

Ask your child’s

carer if they can

help. Maybe they’ve

noticed your child is

having difficulty

settling down for an

afternoon nap –

a toy from home

could help.

Pack

a fa

milia

r obj

ect

such

as

a fa

vour

ite

stuf

fed

ani

ma

l or

sec

urity

bla

nket

.

what if the tears don’t dry?

Arrive with plenty of time so you can help your child to settle into an activity before you leave. They are less likely to be upset if they’re having fun.If your child reacts

strongly, see if your partner or a trusted

friend can drop them

off instead. They might be protesting

about your departure

more than the centre

environment.

Say goodbye with

a hug and a smile.

Then go – repeated

goodbyes are

unsettling.

Keep your child’s

home routine as

consistent as possible,

while getting them

used to childcare. For

example, this would

not be a good time to

move your child from

a cot to a bed.

Parents should be

confident in knowing

that they are doing

the best they can and

separation anxiety

is normal.

Children do best when their family and carers work together.

minimising separation anxiety

Children are born ready to learn. Importantly, the gaps between vulnerable and other children start as early as the age of two, and those gaps tend not to close. Children who start behind tend to stay behind.

By intervening early, we can both minimise risk factors and strengthen the protective factors. The earlier the intervention, the higher the effectiveness and the lower the cost.

International evidence proves that high-quality early learning involving the child, family and community works for all children.

Nurture trumps nature: Young brain development depends on a positive environment – good nutrition, good health, and nourishing and stimulating parenting.

Conversely, persistent stress has the potential to interfere with the developing brain. In fact, many problems of adult society – substance abuse, depression, crime and obesity – result from early childhood experiences.

Clearly, the brain is a work in progress and the early experiences your child has make all the difference.

Their future is our future

There’s no such thing as neutral early learning experiences for a child, just positive and negative. They say it takes a village to raise a child. These days, families and communities are our villages.

That’s why early learning offers so much promise as we work together for our children – because their future is also ours.

the science of early learning

Neuroscience shows that early experiences have more impact on brain development than genetics. This revelation alone highlights the power and importance of early learning.

Why is early learning so important when choosing childcare?

Your child’s first five years are an incredibly exciting time – with a profound influence on their future. Every new experience, each moment of discovery help shape who they are and who they’ll become.

The best learning happens

in nurturing relationships.

Children learn by being engaged

and doing, watching and copying.

Early experiences have more impact on

development than what a child inherits

genetically.

early learning quality standards

What is the Child Care Rebate (CCR)?

The CCR is a payment from the Government that helps working families with the cost of childcare. If you’re using approved childcare and meet the work-study test, the Government will provide you with 50% of your out-of-pocket childcare costs, up to the annual cap of $7,500 per child.

What is child care benefit (CCB)?

Child Care Benefit is a payment from the Australian Government that helps you with the cost of your childcare.

Who can get CCB?

From 1 July 2009, Centrelink and the Family Assistance Office recognises all couples, opposite-sex and same-sex. You may be eligible for CCB if you are a parent, relationship parent, foster parent or grandparent with a child in your care who is attending childcare services approved by, or registered with, the Government.

It can be confusing trying to understand the benefits and rebates available. Here’s a brief explanation*. The childcare centre you choose will be able to provide you with more information.

How much CCB will we receive? This depends on:

Your income

The type of care you use (approved or registered)

The amount of care you use

The reason you are using care

How many of your children are in care.

getting your head around government assistance

the ‘typical’ child?

Quality standards of childcare vary across Australia. Information to help families choose the best service for their children is often hard to find. That’s why the Australian Government created the National Quality Framework.

It requires all providers to improve services in the areas that impact on a child’s development and safety, and provides families with quality information to help them make informed choices.

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is a key component of the National Quality Framework being adopted by quality childcare providers. EYLF gives parents confidence that their child is not merely being ‘babysat’ while in care.

The framework is intended to help children develop the skills they need to:

Every child is unique and quality centres recognise this. It isn’t helpful to assume, ‘one year olds are walking,’ or ‘two year olds are toilet-trained.’

Happy children learn more. Being happy doesn’t necessarily mean being entertained (they might be very happy watching a DVD but they may not be learning).

Look for a centre that:

Offers programs tailored to each child’s interests to help develop their strengths and assist with weaknesses.

Ensures each child’s learning and development is encouraged through interactions, experiences, activities and routines.

Acknowledges that each child learns differently.

Recognises the value of play-based learning.

General childcare

information is

available at

mychild.gov.au

or 13 36 84

*This information is from the Information For Families Using Childcare Fact Sheet produced by the Australian Government and available for download at mychild.gov.au

Have confidence to be themselves and make friends

Learn to respect cultural diversity and the environment

Become strong socially, physically and emotionally

Experiment, explore, create and learn

Use literacy and numeracy to communicate

1

2

34

That’s why it’s important that a quality early learning program facilitates a wide variety of experiences and activities. These might include:

Music making it, listening to it, dancing and singing.

Stories help form our identity and teach us about others. They can take the form of books, oral presentations, songs, plays and puppet shows.

Gross motor skills play activities that exercise and develop large muscle groups. Running, jumping, climbing, kicking balls, peddling bikes and trikes, and using a scooter.

Fine motor skills activities like threading, play-dough, drawing and painting, playing with small blocks, songs and games with actions.

Dramatic-play role-playing and dressing-up.

Water play filling, pouring, spilling.

Art and crafts play has a major role in early learning, giving children many opportunities to express themselves, work with others, touch and feel different materials, develop fine motor skills, and just have fun!

There is so much more to art than painting and drawing, including:

Crepe paper paintingWet chalk drawingSand paintingCollageInk pad printingFoil paintingBaby oil paintingPlay dough

busy bodies and minds learn bestQuality childcare is about engagement, participation and opportunity. Young children love to take part – you know they can only remain a spectator for very short amounts of time!

Art and crafts allows children not only to play and learn, but to create

something to be proud of and to share with their

family at the end of the day.

inspiring a love of learning

Early learning is vital to giving a child the best possible start in life.

Given the chance to love learning, children also embrace literacy and numeracy – so vital to them reaching their full potential.

Encourage your child’s natural curiosityVisit libraries, parks and museums. Cook together. Sort things.

Encourage creativityMake sure your child has access to basic drawing and writing materials. Praise their efforts. Suggest they do something creative when you need a break instead of turning on the television.

Make every interaction an exploration of languageMake up rhymes, stories and games. Listen to questions and try to answer when they ask, ‘why?’

Foster your child’s independenceGetting dressed and using the toilet properly are important life skills. Resist the urge to help, fostering their independence.

Read to your child every dayReading should be a pleasurable, shared activity – and not just at bedtime. Be sure they see you reading books.

Encourage your child to mix with othersPlan simple get-togethers and activities. Children learn from both adults and other children in social situations.

Some centres require families to provide meals and snacks for their children. Each centre will have guidelines about what should be packed and how, as well as rules regarding allergens, sweets and highly flavoured snacks.

Water and unflavoured milk are recommended as the best drinks for children. The use of fruit juice as a thirst-quencher is discouraged because natural sugar is still sugar!

Many childcare centres provide meals and snacks. Most offer morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, and some offer breakfast too.

Mealtimes should be relaxed and pleasant, with a variety of foods offered.

Parents are often amazed at how well their children eat at their centre, while being fussy at home. Seeing other children try and enjoy new foods sends a powerful message: “If my friends like it, it must be good, and I don’t want to be left out!”

Centres providing food must ensure all staff are trained in proper food handling practices and all centres must be rigourous about hand-washing, hygienic serving of shared food (fruit platters, for example), and correct storage and handling of food.

Parents who provide breast milk for their child must be assured that correct storage procedures are followed.

Food allergies and intolerances are on the rise, particularly among children. Some allergies can be life threatening. Quality childcare centres will have policies in place to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in vulnerable children, and action plans to manage allergic reactions if they occur.

Quality centres will offer programs for children right up to school age. Children are always welcome to join these programs even if they haven’t been at the centre during their younger years.

If you’re unsure about whether your child is ready to start school, here are a few points worth considering:

Language Can they follow instructions, ask for help if they need it and communicate with their peers?

Physical wellbeing A child with a disability, chronic illness or developmental delay may need more time to prepare for the rigours of school.

Motor co-ordination and skills Children at school need to be able to dress and undress, use the toilet, manage their lunch, use a pencil and scissors and participate in a variety of activities.

Concentration Can your child sit still and listen for a

reasonable period of time? Can they cope with structured activities, transitions and the need to wait their turn?

Being ‘school ready’ means a child’s transition to school is a positive one. This is possible if they have developed a love and enthusiasm for learning in their younger years.

le menu?Centres that supply food are required to outline their nutrition policy as well as display menus. Parents are welcome to ask questions, comment and make suggestions.

A typical daily menu may include:Breakfast: Weet-Bix with milk and raisin toast.Morning Tea: Variety of fresh, seasonal fruit.Lunch: Chicken and vegetables with rice noodles.Afternoon Tea: Wholemeal cheese sandwiches and fresh fruit.

Late Snack: Sultanas, cheese, zucchini, cucumber and crackers.

quality childcare reinforces the importance of good nutritional habits.

Very young babies have pureed seasonal vegetables and fruit, while older babies and toddlers are provided with food appropriate to their development and in line with parents’ wishes.

food for

thought

Choosing a centre with a nationally accredited learning program, such as EYLF, is a giant leap towards helping

your child become a confident and happy lifetime learner.

who’s ready for school?

A handy checklist for when you’re ready to select childcare.

J Are the staff passionate, qualified and experienced?

J Is the vibe of the centre happy and lively?

J Will the centre update you regularly about your child’s progress?

J Do staff acknowledge your child’s individuality and tailor their learning program accordingly?

J Is the centre fully accredited?

J Are families entitled to government benefits and rebates?

J Are opening hours convenient and is it handy to home and/or work?

J Is there an open-door policy? Are parents welcome to drop in any time?

J Does the centre recognise the Early Years Learning Framework?

Behind Goodstart Early Learning:

Goodstart Early Learning ticks all these boxes and more. So when the time’s right, we’d love you to drop in for a chat with your local Centre Director and see for yourself.

To find out more, please visit goodstart.org.au or call 1800 222 543.

Produced by Goodstart Early Learning to help parents make informed decisions © Goodstart Early Learning 2011