Wellness in Action
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Top 10 Mood Booster Tips
Prioritising our own wellbeing means not only taking care of ourselves, but also setting a positive example for the children we nurture and guide. -
Tip 1 – Sleep
A solid sleep routine can work wonders for your mood! Get that 7-8 hours of optimal sleep. -
Tip 2 – Reduce Caffeine
A little reduction can go a long way in supporting your mood and overall wellness! -
Tip 3 – Get Active
Whether it’s dancing to your favourite tunes, going for a nature walk or practicing yoga, find activities that fill your cup whilst keeping you active. -
Tip 4 – Do Something for Someone
Practicing kindness and gratitude not only boosts our mood, but also sets a wonderful example for the children in your ELC or OSHC services. -
Tip 5 – Eat Well
Sometimes we eat for convenience, and we don’t eat to replenish the energy and fuel us the way we need to stay energised and positive for the children in our care. -
Tip 6 – Get Some Sun
While it’s crucial to stay sun-safe with the slip, slap & slop rule, getting some vitamin D from the sun is equally important. -
Tip 7 – Stay Social
By prioritising genuine connections, we not only enhance our own wellbeing but also role model healthy social behaviours for the children in our care. -
Tip 8 – Check your Unhealthy Habits
Take the time to understand what works for you and focus on minimising habits that don’t bring you joy or purpose. -
Tip 9 – Manage Stress
A little stress? That’s healthy stress! It can even keep us motivated. But toxic, prolonged stress? That’s a mood buster we don’t need! -
Tip 10 – Have Fun!
The best way to make all these mood-boosting habits sustainable? Enjoy them!
Inside Out
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Top 6 Tips to Develop Children’s Emotional Intelligence
Help children manage emotions effectively, avoid being thrown into chaos by their feelings and build more positive relationships. -
Tip 1 – Modelling Behaviours
Modelling emotionally intelligent behaviours not only helps children understand and regulate their own emotions but also sets an example for how they can respond to challenges with empathy and understanding that they will need later in life. -
Tip 2 – Encouraging Empathy
Encouraging empathy is a powerful way to support children’s emotional intelligence. By encouraging empathy, we support children in understanding and connecting with others’ emotions. -
Tip 3 – Teaching Emotional Vocabulary
Helping children identify and label their emotions is a key step in developing emotional intelligence. Using tools like a feelings chart with faces representing different emotions can guide children in recognising what they feel. -
Tip 4 – Conflict Resolution
Conflict is a natural part of childhood development and a key opportunity. As educators, it’s our role to guide children in resolving conflicts peacefully and help them understand the impact of their actions on others. -
Tip 5 – Creating Safe Spaces
For children to develop emotional intelligence, they need more than a “safe adult”. They need an environment where they feel secure and supported, both physically and emotionally. -
Tip 6 – Practicing Mindfulness
Mindfulness can play a big role in developing emotional intelligence in children. By encouraging empathy, we support children in understanding and connecting with others’ emotions.
NQS Insights
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QA 1 – Documentation of Children’s Learning
Quality over quantity? Absolutely! Instead of asking how many observations, focus on meaningful learning journeys that reflect outcomes and support each child’s development. -
QA2 – Children’s Health and Safety
By integrating nutrition and physical activity into daily routines, educators play a vital role in helping children develop lifelong healthy habits and fostering wellness-focused learning environments. -
QA3 – Physical Environment
By merging play with eco-friendly practices, we create engaging and sustainable learning spaces that support both curiosity and conservation. -
QA5 – Relationships with Children
When children feel valued and respected, they thrive – not just in their learning but in their relationships and future endeavours. -
QA7 – Governance and Leadership
Performance evaluations can feel overwhelming, but when approached the right way, they transform into a powerful opportunity for growth — not only for educators, but also for children.
Thought Bubbles
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Literacy
Did you know that before children are ready to learn the alphabet, they need a lot of time to play with words? -
Social Development
Did you know that our role as educators is to guide children in understanding their behaviours and emotions? -
Self-regulation
Did you know that we can influence children’s behaviour to help them gain healthy self-regulating habits as they grow older? -
Importance of Play
Did you know that play is the central activity by which children learn? -
Scaffolding
Did you know that, as educators, we can break down children’s new learning into smaller parts to make it less overwhelming? -
Smilansky’s Play Stages
Did you know that children go through different play stages?
Career Tips
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Message to those entering the ECEC Sector
“Be passionate about children.” – The biggest advice Connie, our consultant, shared for those considering to enter the early childhood sector. -
Learnings from working with children
Amanda explained that working with children is a two-way process. “We learn just as much from children, as they do from us”. -
Handling pressure
“Seek support from team, ask plenty of questions, and don’t be afraid if you don’t know anything” are just some of the tips Sasha shared when handling pressure.
