The Seahorse Room - Ages Two to Three

Our Philosophy of Care

The Toddler carers believe it is important for toddlers to feel safe and comfortable in their surroundings. We strive to foster a sense of belonging so that the children feel confident becoming involved in experiences and the environment.

Toddlers are unique and, knowledgeable, feeling and thinking people and are therefore to be treated as individuals, with respect.

Toddlers are naturally curious and are eager to learn.

We value play as it is vital in their learning process.

Play is:

children’s work, self initiated and spontaneous
the way children make sense of the world and the people around them
a means of developing and practicing skills
a way of nurturing creativity and self expression
an opportunity for toddlers to use their curiosity, to explore, experiment and test ideas.

Our programme is developed to meet the many and varied needs of the toddler. Through observations, carers recognise and strive to meet the toddler’s emerging skills, as an individual and as part of a group. The environment should be “homelike”, varied and interesting.

It should provide:

consistency, safety and encourage challenges, individual interests and needs
equal opportunities to participate in all aspects of the program.

Carers in the Toddler Room believe a partnership between carers and parents will enhance the toddler’s overall development and well being. Two way communication between families and children is actively encouraged.

Room Goals

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Is developing a sense of belonging with the family and/or care group.

plays confidently alone and alongside others
socialises independently within the care group
develops self-help skills within the care group
demonstrates confidence and security in a group situation

PERSONAL FUTURES
Is developing trust in others and confidence in self.

separates comfortably from primary caregivers
demonstrates confidence to leave a secure base
demonstrates secure attachment to significant others
adjusts to minor change in a positive way

COMMUNICATING
Uses gesture, sound and movement to express needs and feelings and to engage with others.

explores the boundaries of familiar spaces
uses sounds, face and body to communicate
responds and participates in reciprocal communication
selects appropriate communication strategies to achieve desired outcome
responds to visual stimuli and movement in own environment

THINKING
Observes how things appear to happen and experiments with simple strategies to achieve effects.

repeats actions to test process and effect
shows interest in the activities
involves others and resources to achieve desired outcome
learns from experience and modifies behaviour to accommodate.

WORLD FUTURES
Is exploring the immediate environment with enjoyment and curiosity.

uses the senses to explore
demonstrates a sense of wonder and discovery
uses the environment as a learning resource
collects and shows interest in objects from the environment

General Information

Carers

Susan
Kristie

Ratios

The Toddler Room ratio is one carer for every five children and has as maximum, fifteen children with three carers.

Things Parents need to supply

If your child is having bottles they need to be provided. If your child has not had breakfast before arriving at the centre this also needs to be provided (including milk and/or spreads). All nappies, cloth or disposable, are to be supplied by parents. If carers run out of nappies for your child, the centre will provide disposables at a charge of 50 cents per nappy or parents can replace the number of nappies used. It is also necessary to pack a spare change of clothes and provide a hat applicable to the season (the hat needs to be toggle free). Toys from home are discouraged, unless they are for comfort or settling. If there is anything that may help settle your child, please bring it along e.g. dummy, rug or teddy - it all helps.

Change of Clothing

Due to some experiences on the room programme your child may need an extra set of clothing.

The weather conditions change so quickly, so we need to be able to add or take off clothing as needed. NO SINGLET TOPS or THONGS are permitted - see centre policies.

Meals

The centre provides the children with a hot lunch and morning and afternoon tea. The drinks available are: milk and water. Orange juice is provided on non meat days and water is available at anytime throughout the day. The menu is displayed and copies are available, recipes are also available. Your child may bring a drink bottle but it would be preferred if water or juice was supplied and not cordial. We are a nut free centre. If your child has any allergies/intolerances please speak to the Director/staff on enrolment.

Signing In and Out

Upon arrival and departure parents/guardians must sign and write the time of arrival and departure on the day sheet, which is located inside the room.

Medical Instruction Sheet

If your child requires medication whilst in care, you will need to fill in the medical instruction sheet. Please ensure that this form is filled in correctly as we are unable to give medication if there is an error. Medication must NOT be left in the child’s bag, please hand to room carers.

Programme Planning

Once a fortnight carers in the Toddler Room meet for two hours to plan for the children-this is referred to as programme planning. Planning in early childhood settings involves the daily challenge of providing flexible, secure, supportive, peaceful, respectful and collaborative relationships and environments within the centre. Informal chats about children’s development and care also play a large role in planning. Carers use parental input and observation of children to plan a programme of experiences, which will best assist the enjoyment and development of your child whilst in care.

The group plan is displayed in the room for parents to view and make comments. Each child has an individual file, which contains all observations and planning. Parents are welcome to read their child’s file - simply ask one of the toddler carers.

Parent Information

At the start of the year, carers will be give parents ‘a parent information pack’ to fill out. This will contain information about the room and forms for parents to complete. This is so we can share the links between home and the carers to build a more positive relationship, that benefits the child.

Incident Forms

If your child should be injured or involved in an incident/accident, a form will be filled out by a carer, outlining what has taken place. These forms are to be sighted and signed at the end of the day. The forms are then kept in your child’s personal file in the office.

Allergies and Intolerances

If your child has an allergy/intolerance to any thing please let the room carers know. You will need to fill out an allergy/intolerance/special diet forms.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is provided by the centre. Parents can provide their child with their own sunscreen if your child has an allergy to the one provided by us.

Birthdays

Parents who wish their child to celebrate their birthday at the centre are welcome to bring a cake.

Due to many allergies and dislikes that other children may have, we ask that it be a plain cake free of cream and nuts or any heavy food colouring (Pedder Patter is a nut free environment!).

Sleeping

The centre has sleep rooms set up for your child’s nap if needed (everything provided).

Parents please remember that if your child sleeps up to 2 or 3 hours at home, that this may not be the case here. Many things can play a part here e.g. noise level, other children in the sleep room and general noise from the rest of the centre. If your child has a special sleep comforter, don’t forget to provide this.

Toilet Training

This is the age group that many parents begin to toilet train their children, the carers are more than happy to assist you. There may be differences experienced between home and the centre. Your child may become absorbed in play and just forget to go on occasions. Feel free to discuss any strategies you wish carers to adhere to in this area.

Art Work

If your child has participated in any art experiences and has art to take home, it is placed in their personal art folders located on the rear bench.

PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING THAT YOUR CHILD BRINGS INTO THE CENTRE.

As you can appreciate, if every child brings a toy along just think how many toys are brought to each room - we just can’t keep track of them.

Activities We Enjoy

DRAWING- helps develop fine motor skills, hand eye co-ordination and colour awareness. This is an early writing skill.
PAINTING- develops creativity, experimentation with shapes, size, texture and colour.
FINGER PAINTING- develops gross and fine motor skills and is a great tactile experience.
PASTING- develops creativity, imagination, hand-eye co-ordination and problem solving skills.
PLAYDOH- a tactile experience that develops gross and fine motor skills and social skills.
HOME CORNER- promotes role playing and pretend play.
CONSTRUCTION- encourages sharing, problem solving and fine motor skills.
THREADING- develops hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills.
WATER/FLOUR/WHEAT PLAY- develops tactile awareness and initial measuring skills.
MANIPULATIVE TOYS- (puzzles, shape sorters and hammering boards) develops sharing and waiting turns, sequencing, persisting and completing tasks.
BOOKS- develops language and literacy skills.
SINGING, MUSIC, MOVEMENT & MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS- develops language, concepts of loud and soft, fast and slow.
STORIES- develops language, anticipation, concentration and imagination.

BEST OF ALL, THESE EXPERIENCES ARE FUN!!

Words We Use

GROSS MOTOR- the use of large muscles, i.e. climbing, running, balance beams, ball games, etc.
FINE MOTOR-the use of the small muscles of the hands and eyes, i.e. puzzles, threading, cutting, drawing, etc.
COGNITIVE- thinking and problem solving skills.
TACTILE/SENSORY-something that you can do with your hands i.e. flour/wheat/water play, play doh, etc.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM-the maintenance of our high standard of care to meet the requirements necessary of the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
DRAMATIC PLAY- includes role playing and pretending, i.e. home corner, dressing up.
CREATIVE PLAY- includes painting, finger painting, drawing, pasting, etc.
CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY-involves blocks, collage, etc.
MANIPULATIVE PLAY-includes jigsaws, threading and shape sorters.
INTEGRATION-is the process of welcoming and settling new children and families into the centre.
TRANSITION-is the movement of children between home and care, from one area to another and from room to room.
MULTICULTURAL-presenting a wide range of materials from around the world and other cultures.
GENDER EQUITY-to ensure that each child, regardless of gender, has equal opportunity to participate in the wide range of experiences offered.

CONTACT US

You can contact us on 03 6344 9993 during business hours, or email us at childcare@pedderpatter.org.au.