young maia

It’s an exciting time for Young Academics and we are proud to announce our Canterbury centre is due to open very soon!

At Young Academics, every day is filled with learning, exploring and having fun. We have a set routine that combines playtime with an enjoyable learning experience. In between activities and group time sessions, children also enjoy delicious nutritious meals and get some much needed rest.

Now more than ever, we are hearing the notion of “sustainability” being implanted within education, business, industrial, government and even household contexts. The United Nations has defined sustainability as that which “meet the needs of the present without compromising the well-being of future generations to meet their own needs.” In a nutshell, it is focused on avoiding the depletion of natural resources especially those in which there is scarcity. The three pillars of sustainability are economic development, social development and environmental protection, and the objectives expand from ending poverty to addressing the effects of climate change.

Children are constantly learning by seeking opportunity through every new activity. Nearly everything they do, hear, smell and interact with can turn into a learning opportunity. Apart from the immense academic benefits of early childhood education, the social advantages are just as prominent. Encouraging social skills and building on social interaction is fundamental for children to develop self-confidence at early stages, and carry this attribute with them for life.

Literacy includes talking, listening, visual literacies such as viewing and drawing, and critical thinking — not just reading and writing. In addition, the literacies of technology (e.g. computer games and activities, internet searching, faxes, emails), popular culture (e.g. movies, theatre, and arts), functional literacy (e.g. road maps, timetables), ecological literacy (especially for Indigenous groups) and literacies other than English are relevant to the lives of young children today.

Gardening allows children to learn responsibility, self-confidence, creativity, cooperation, reasoning and discovery. They gain an appreciation of their natural environment and an understanding of patterns and life cycles.

I know we have all been on the receiving end of “look after yourself” or “take care of yourself” after catching up with people and you have gone away just saying “thank you, you too”.  Once you turn around, you have not given that statement a second thought.  I know it is hard to ‘take care’ and ‘look after’ yourself with everything going on around you where you are constantly looking after and taking care of others. 

Like an iceberg, the bulk of behaviour for both children and adults is found below the surface: it is what gives rise to the part that is visible. Behaviour is triggered from feelings, which stem from the more deeply rooted needs of a person. 

For most children, entry into a Young Academics Early Learning Centre will be the first experience of being separated from their parents. Most children will experience some anxiety leaving their parents for the first time and it will be important that both parents and staff work together to build the special relationship necessary for successful transition and adjustment for all parties involved. Even if a child has been in care before, she/he will still need to time to adjust to the new staff and environment.

Toilet training, it is a part of growing up. A very important step into society – being able to use the toilet.  So how can we help assist in the toilet training journey of the children in our care?