We would like to welcome all of our new families
and educators to Indigo this month and look forward
to getting to know each and every one of you.
We have been growing bigger every day thanks to all
of the wonderful reviews and feedback we have
been receiving from our current families and
surrounding Central Coast community and we are so
grateful for all of you! As you all know, reviews are
SO important, and we truly appreciate your support
in helping Indigo to grow.
Remember to email us when you refer a family to
our centre- we have a great referral program here
and want to ensure everyone is being rewarded for
your kind words and helping hands.
Welcome Beautiful families and educators
AT INDIGO EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
Diamond Dancing class—————- every Friday
Barefoot Yoga classes commence ————–25th
AROUND THE COUNTRY
NAIDOC Week————————————8-15th
World Population Day ————————— 11th
Asalha Puja Day ————————————27th
National Pyjama Day —————————– 20th
School Tree Day ———————————– 27th
National Tree Day —————————– — 29th
International Friendship Day ——————- 30th
Indigo Early Learning Centre
Family Newsletter- July 2018
‘
Kids in the kitchen
PESTO ROLLINI WITH BROCCOLI
TREES AND BEANS
Don’t let the words ‘sleep hypnosis’ deter you- better thought of as a
guided meditation, this children’s audio story truly does help children
to feel more relaxed and ready to go to sleep. We were lucky enough
to stumble across Elaine Martin’s YouTube channel a few months ago
when searching for useful sleepy time aids for Ellie and Indi
(Hannah’s daughters aged 4 and 2). We selected ‘Bonnie’ from a list
of dozens of other sleepy time stories Elaine Martin has recorded),
crawled into bed and pressed play. What happened next was truly
amazing- Ellie and Indi both settled within a couple of minutes and
were both asleep shortly after. We couldn’t believe it! Months later,
and Elaine Martin and her children’s YouTube audio stories have
become a nightly ritual. Both girls asleep within fifteen minutes and a
much more relaxed and calm bedtime routine for everyone involved.
In Elaine’s own words:
Welcome to the wonderful world of kid’s hypnosis and guided
meditation. Hypnosis is similar to day dreaming, and its completely
natural. I am here simply to make it easier for you to use your
imagination. I write mainly for children or adults who love
connecting to that child part. I create bedtime stories to help my
young listeners to sleep but often there are many other special
beneficial tools embedded within the story. It might be something to
build confidence, take away fears or to increase happiness.
SCHOOL TREE DAY – 27TH JULY
Each year, around 3,000 preschools, kindergarten, primary and
high schools across Australia take part in Schools Tree Day.
Trees make happy healthy children by providing shade, helping to
reduce exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. Trees provide fun
play opportunities through activities like climbing, swinging or
creating a tree house. The benefits are endless. We will be
contributing to this great eco-friendly day by planting our own
tree at Indigo. Learn more at www.treeday.planetark.org
Community Events
NAIDOC WEEK – 8 – 15TH JULY
As pillars of our society, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have
played – and continue to play active and significant roles at the community,
local, state and national levels. Their achievements, their voice, their
unwavering passion give us strength and have empowered past generations
and paved the way for generations to come.
At Indigo, we will be implementing a range of activities throughout the week
that promote this awareness and will help to set a rhythm for everyday
practices here at Indigo. We will also be sharing updates regarding several
projects we have been working on including gaining permission to fly both an
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag; and a daily ‘Acknowledgement to
country’ meeting circle where we show respect and understanding about the
land in which we live on and its rich history. NAIDOC 2018: Because of her,
we can! Learn more at www.naidoc.org.au
PREP 5 min | COOK 10 min | SERVES 4
Dinner on the table in 15 minutes or a quick healthy
lunch option, this recipe packs in all the good stuff while
enticing the fussiest eater.
INGREDIENTS
500gm short pasta, fussili/penne/rollini
1 head of broccoli, cut into florets
A big handful of beans, topped and tailed
3 tbs basil pesto (you may need a little more depending on
how thirsty your pasta is)
2 bocconcini balls, torn into small pieces
½ cup parmesan, shaved
METHOD:
Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add pasta and cook for 3
minutes, add broccoli and beans and cook until pasta is al dente.
Drain and return to the saucepan. Add pesto, bocconcini and
parmesan and stir to combine. Serve warm or cold.
SAFETY – Remember to always supervise kids in the kitchen.
Recommendation: YouTube channel- Elaine Martin
BONNIE
YOUTUBE | ELAINE MARTIN| FREE
Bonnie is a free 30 minute audio story found on YouTube for
parents and caregivers of children of all ages that supports children
in feeling more relaxed and ready to go to sleep.
Source: Recipe and images belong to mylovelylittlelunchbox.com
HEALTH & SAFETY: Sneeze into your elbow not your hand. Please.
FOCUS ARTICLE: Its science: Having a routine helps your family be happier
In the chaos of modern stress, life with young children can
easily drift into a haphazard crazy survival mode. Dinners,
activities and bedtimes start to resemble a fly-by-the-seat-ofyour
pants style rather than an intentional one. However,
science shows that routines and rituals can be one of the
most important contributors to a joyful and connected
family.
Research suggests that family routines are related to
parenting competence, child adjustment and marital
satisfaction. Studies have found that routines can also
promote children’s language acquisition, academic skills,
social skills and emotional bonds with their parents.
Here are four ways routines reduce power struggles, calm
stressful circumstances, and promote humour, stability, and
closeness among families:
1. Routines invite cooperation Laura Markham of Aha
Parenting notes that having set routines helps prevent kids from
feeling “pushed or bossed around” because they know the activity
“is just what we do at this time of day.” Knowing what to expect
helps them develop a sense of mastery and helps them be less
oppositional, more cooperative and more independent. One way to
develop routines is with when/then wording. For example, “When
you have your pyjamas on, then we can read a book.” To drastically
reduce daily power struggles, set up expectations such as:
• “All homework must be done before an electronic device is
turned on.”
• “You must be dressed for school before you have breakfast.”
• “Your room needs to be clean before you go out on Friday
night.”
The alternative—arbitrary amounts of T.V. time, random bedtimes,
inconsistent responsibilities, haphazard dinners, or a jumbled order of
activities—Markham argues, invites conflicts.
2. Routines offer safety, comfort and ease to the day Knowing what to
expect and when to expect it helps kids feel safe and move through their
days with greater ease.
For example, research suggests that children with regular bedtime routines
tend to sleep better and longer. Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry
Sleep Solution, details how being absolutely consistent about a
baby’s bedtime routine—such as bath, book, turning the same light on,
singing the same lullaby, playing same white noise, and giving the same
pacifier and lovey—in the same order every day “cues” a baby that it’s
bedtime, provides comfort and helps him or her fall asleep easier. Having a
set routine for after-school or weekends also helps kids relax and
cooperate.
3. Routines act as a “stability anchor” and relieve stress The comfort and
predictability stemming from routines acts as a “stability anchor,”
according to research. It helps both parents and children relieve stress,
reinforces emotional calm, and decreases anxiety. Routines also help
comfort children in unfamiliar or tough circumstances. For example, if your
child loves listening to you read a bedtime story before lights go out, doing
so may help her sleep when she’s in a different environment. In an early
childhood setting, a routine can be developed between a parent and child
or a teacher and child to ease separations. According to Steinglass and
colleagues, family stress is often first noted by the disruption of family
routines. However, if routines are maintained under potentially vulnerable
conditions such as divorce or financial strain, families are able to adapt
better to change. Routines can also help family members stay connected
despite interpersonal conflicts.
4. Routines are made better with rituals, which ingrain sweet memories
Adding rituals to routines makes them even more powerful. Rituals can be
defined as “the sweetness, fun, or warmth that accompany routines.” They
are “acts that provide extra meaning, communicate ‘this is who we are’ (as
a family), build family ties, offer a sense of belonging, and help build love
and connection.” A ritual can be a crazy handshake, a special song at bath
time, or the way you always wink at your daughter and say the same thing
each time you drop her off at school. It may be things that no one but your
family understands—code words, inside jokes, a way you celebrate a
holiday together, or your own rules for sports games. These repetitive, fun
or creative behaviours strengthen family ties.
Source: Motherly. (2018, June 17). It’s science: Having a routine helps your family
be happier. Retrieved from https://www.essentialparent.com/lesson/how-to-helpyour-
child-develop-a-growth-mindset-rather-than-a-fixed-mindset-2284/
Nursery rhymes might seem like a silly, unproductive pastime,
but volumes of empirical evidence suggest that they are
actually invaluable pedagogical tools for small children.
Rhymes help develop the memory, language skills, and reading
skills in a way that slips in under kids’ radars because, above
all else, rhymes are just plain fun.
Reciting nursery rhymes is an excellent bonding activity, whether for a
group of children or for parents and children. Memorizing and reciting
nursery rhymes encourages self-expression and builds confidence
because rhymes are so easy to learn. The activity is simple, you don’t n
need any equipment and it can be done anywhere,
anytime.
Source: Learning Lift Off (2018, June 15).
Take time to rhyme. Retrieved from
https://www.learningliftoff.com/take-the-timeto-
rhyme-how-rhyming-benefits-early-education/
Source: Recipe and images belong to mylovelylittlelunchbox.com
TIME TO RHYME
Fun withLITERACY
When you feel a sneeze or a cough coming on, covering your
mouth prevents the spread of infectious germs. You probably
knew that. But the way you cover up also matters, and there
are plenty of people who haven’t yet heard the consensus
guidance of health officials: If no tissue is available, you should
aim into your elbow, not your hand. Even if that means
breaking a long-held habit.
Germs are most commonly spread by the respiratory droplets emitted
from sneezing and coughing. When they land on your hands, they’re
transmitted to things like doorknobs, elevator buttons and other
surfaces the people around you are likely to also touch.
Cough and sneeze etiquette refers to simple hygiene practices
everybody can take to prevent passing on respiratory infections
like cold and flu to other people.
Hand Hygiene Australia director Professor Lindsay Grayson said people
must learn to cough and sneeze into their elbow simply because it
reduces potentially deadly influenza spreading.
“Sneezing or coughing into your elbow should be considered the new
good etiquette. It’s better than into hand or snotty handkerchief,” he
said.
Sneezing into your elbow or a clean tissue breaks the chain of
transmission and you must wash your hands properly and regularly.
You should sing Happy Birthday twice over while washing your hands
with hot water and soap, a quick squirt of cold water will not do it.
HEALTH & SAFETY: Sneeze into your elbow not your hand. Please.
Mythbusters explored the best way to sneeze to limit the
spreading of germs. Sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow
prove the most effective methods. Go to
ed.ted.com/on/2rST1A0d to see the Mythbusters experiment.
Not to be sniffed at
• A single sneeze produces more than 40,000 droplets of
moisture and millions of germs, propelled over a distance of 32ft
• The fastest recorded sneeze was 103.6mph. The average speed
is between 80mph and 100mph
• The longest recorded sneezing fit lasted 978 days
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (2018, June 18). Do you use your
hands to cover a cough or sneeze? You’re doing it all wrong. Retrieved
from https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/do-you-use-your-hands-tocover-
a-cough-or-sneeze-youre-doing-it-all-wrong-20170908-
gydem6.html
Sustainability
CORNER
1. Go on a tree hunt: How many different types of trees can you find?
2. Explore the texture of bark: Take magnifying glasses on a walk and
take a closer look.
3. Lay a sheet and shake a tree: Lay a white sheet below the branches of
a tree and shake. Investigate what has fallen from the tree. Bugs,
leaves, bark, sticks, seeds?
4. Leaves: Go on a walk and collect a range of fallen leaves, take a closer
look when you get home. Are they all the same? What makes them
different?
5. How old is a tree: The thickness of a tree provides a rough estimation
of how old a tree is. Next time you are in a park find 3 different trees
and order them by age.
Source: Tree activities for kids (2018, June 17). Healthy Teeth. Retrieved from
Trees combat climate change, clean the
air, provide oxygen, conserve energy,
save water, prevent pollution and
erosion, provide habitats, shelter and
food, heal, reduce violence, mark seasons
and create economic opportunities. They
are teachers and friends, bring diverse
groups together, add unity…it is an
endless list. Trees are vital to the future
of our planet.
There are so many fun ways to learn
about trees for kids. Try these
appreciation activities to teach your
children more.
Childcare News
The Modern Cloth Nappy:
Changing the World from the ‘bottom up’
Our wonderful Indigo educators have been trialling the use
of modern cloth nappies from Lavenderia and it’s safe to say,
they are a big hit!
Lavenderia offer a fantastic modern cloth nappy service- hiring
and selling nappies and a range of useful accessories. They
are recognized and approved by the Australian Nappy
Association, and their professional laundering service is just
down the road at Long Jetty.
We have found these nappies to be super absorbent, easy to
use and of course- good for eliminating nappy rash and
irritation often caused by disposable nappies. These nappies
are biodegradable, hypoallergenic and are designed to be toxin
free; no bleach, alcohol, fragrances, phthalates or parabens are
used in the manufacture of these nappies.
The professional laundering service we utilize in Long Jetty
specializes in the laundering of modern cloth nappies. They do
not use heavy duty chemicals in the daily wash cycles, as this is
the number one cause of nappy rash from cloth nappies. The
nappies are washed in specially designed hypo-allergenic
detergents, then the nappies are rinsed 3 times in every
laundering cycle to restore a neutral pH balance.
We will trial the use of Lavenderia and their services for three
months here at Indigo and will provide you with updates along
the way.
We are able to offer our beautiful Indigo families the
option to choose cloth nappies, disposable nappies or a
combination of both, for your child (at a cost of $107 per
day for centre supplied nappies).
Child Care Subsidy and
Complying Written Agreements
As per our new Child Care Subsidy requirements, all families
attending Indigo need to sign a printed agreement stating the care
arrangements that families have agreed to ‘comply’ with.
We will be requesting families sign these in the first two weeks of
July. Staff will be handing each family a printed agreement and we
ask that you sign these ASAP. This agreement will list the current
arrangement in place for care of your child for example. 12-hour
session x 2 days per week at a cost of $107.
We have also included two other care structure types in these
Complying Written Agreements: a casual care option for families
who occasionally utilize a casual day (as well as their permanent
days); and, a late fee of $15 for every 15-minute block.
These Complying Written Agreements simply require your
signature and need to be backdated to the first day this new
arrangement took place, being Monday, 2nd July. We would greatly
appreciate your support in helping us to successfully complete
this signed Complying Written Agreement task to ensure we are
meeting our new child care provider requirements.
Feel free to use the ‘comments’ tool on Storypark to provide feedback and
interact with each of these Rooms. The more comments from families the
better! Please note: Most information is stored in the ‘Community ‘section’
of each of these rooms.
See below for three of our Storypark Rooms (there are plenty of others too):
• 2018-2019 Quality Improvement and Planning Process
This room houses our Indigo goals and our progress towards these goals.
Our new Quality Improvement Plan for July 2018-June 2019 will be posted in
this room this month- stay tuned!
• Indigo Eco Warriors
This room houses everything sustainability and eco-warrior related. We
actively promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices here at Indigo and
this room is a great space for sharing related ideas.
• School Readiness Room
This room is jam packed with everything school readiness related including
easy to download stencils and checklists for families.
Indigo Policy review Process
We have a great policy review process here at Indigo and pride
ourselves on ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be involved
in the decision-making process. Every month we review a list of
policies (as per our Policy Review Calendar, located in the
POLICIES ROOM on Storypark.
At the beginning of every month, approx. 5 policies are
individually posted on Storypark with a notification being sent out
to families and staff requesting feedback for each of these policies.
This gives you the opportunity to truly participate in the centre
decision making process. Feedback can be provided in several
ways: via the policy post comments section, via direct email to the
centre or via the anonymous suggestions box in the front hallway.
Towards the end of every month we will review all feedback
provided, as well as current legislation, other associations and
what is deemed as current best practice and update each of our
policies- with the updated policy then posted on Storypark and
another notification being sent out to families and staff.
Thanks to everyone who has provided their feedback for previous
months- this feedback has been invaluable!
We love using Storypark here at Indigo! There
are some great ‘Rooms’ set up for families
that you may not be aware of. Why don’t you
take a few minutes to check them out- via
computer is always best- using the Storypark
App gives you limited access to these rooms.
.
5 MOVES Minute
Feature Article
We are very excited to announce that we have joined
forces with Barefoot Yoga!
Starting, Wednesday the 25th July 2018, Kathryn from Bearfoot
Yoga will be joining us at Indigo to lead a 40 minute yoga session
for children who are interested. This will be a free session for our
beautiful Indigo children and will run for 40 minutes EVERY
Wednesday (following school terms).
We have included some more information about the wonderful
benefits of Bearfoot yoga for children as a separate attachment.
Diamond Dancing Studios will
continue to provide a dance lesson
on Friday’s in the Crocodile Room.
We are in the process of organizing
a Possum Room class on a different
day- Updates soon!
How can we make our newsletter even better?
What information would you like us to include?
Email: info@indigoelc.com.au
Phone number (landline): 4385 8545
Phone number (mobile): 0432 825 626
Indigo Early Learning Centre
Feedback is always welcome
Short simple activities to get some active minutes in the day.
‘Stuck in the mud’ is a fun school yard game that kids love. It
burns a lot of energy as you run around and move between levels.
When “it” tags someone, she is stuck in the mud and can’t move.
To get unstuck, someone else has to crawl through her legs. To
make it harder, you can add this twist. If a player touches the
stuck player’s legs when crawling through them, then they are
stuck too.
PRESCHOOL FUNDING
Stuck in the mud
Preschool funding a good move!
Voters can be wary of politicians
bearing gifts around election time.
All those offers, all that smiling
generosity … where’s the catch?
One measure in the state budget (NSW),
though, should attract no cynicism. In the
government’s decision to boost funding for
preschool education there is no catch. This is
genuine progress. The government has
promised to spend $200 million on fee
subsidies for two years of preschool for every
child from the start of next year.
Along with next month’s changes in the way
Canberra helps families with childcare costs,
these should improve significantly children’s
access to preschool education and care at a
time in their lives when it can make the most
difference. There is plenty of research to show
the benefits of preschool education. By
accustoming small children to interact with
peers and adult Carers from outside their
family and familiarising them with simpler
versions of the skills and experiences of
school, preschool benefits children from all
backgrounds but particularly those who are
disadvantaged. (Source: Sydney Morning Herald
21st June 2018)
To read the complete article click on this link.