Dear Readers...
Jane is having a break this week, her son Cristian broke a rib - well actually his sister Emily broke it during a game of rough and tumble! Having recently returned home from a two day stint at the children’s hospital Jane asked me if I would step into her shoes and write the introduction to this weeks enews from Parenting Australia, so here goes...
As parents we all make different choices. Most of the time it isn’t a case of right or wrong – we just decide what works best for us and for our children. Cloth or disposable. Bottle or breast. Routine or demand. Choices start early and seem to continue as our kids grow! The choice between staying home with your children, and returning to work, is a decision that can be hard to make.
The right choice for my family has been for me to stay home. I loved my career as a teacher, but I have chosen not to choose childcare. I must admit I found it hard as one-by-one my mummy-friends returned to work and our playdates dwindled, but I respected their decision as the right one for them. And I appreciated their support in the choice I made too. 
If you are thinking about childcare, we hope you’ll find some useful information at Parenting Australia this week. Feel free to join us for a chat in the forums, leave a comment for one of our bloggers or read up on tips from our experts.
As parents we all make different choices, but these choices don’t define us. Being a good parent isn’t about any one choice. Being a good parent is about genuinely knowing and intentionally growing our kids, and it’s about what we choose to do when we’re together.
I hope you choose well. |
Catherine Oehlman AKA Squiggle Mum
Mother duck to Lily(3) and Rueben(14mths)
squigglemum.com |
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Be a Super Organised Mum with Bright Star Kids Labels
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Will your kids be starting Day Care or School in 2010?
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Make sure their brand new things don't get lost or mixed by simply sticking personalised labels on all their items.
Bright Star Kids have all the labels you'll need including clothing, shoe and book labels all at fantastic prices. You can choose from lots of packs, including our most popular Pre-School & Day Care Label Value Kit (only $34.95).
You'll also get 40 FREE Tiny Labels and best of all delivery is FREE Australia wide.
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Choosing the best child-care for you
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There are many aspects you need to take into account when choosing the best daycare for your child. Age, budget, special conditions etc are all important factors that need considering when deciding something as important as the care and safety of your child. Hopefully this guide will help you make that decision.
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The benefits of using quality childcare |
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Every child is different and will respond to child care differently. Current research in child development suggests that attending quality child care, which is safe, caring and supportive, is beneficial to children’s overall development and wellbeing.
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Naptime?
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Introducing the Kozy Koala an all-in-one padded sleep mat with attached sheet. Great for nap time at Pre school/ Childcare, Prep Year, Camping or just resting at a friends house. Made from poly/cotton fabric with hypo allergenic inner. Gentle cycle machine washable and fast drying.
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| Blogger |
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The word “childcare” conjures up so many different thoughts and feelings in parents. It can also play right into our parent guilt when we think about leaving our children with someone else for a few hours or an entire day... by Johanna Baker-Dowdell. Read more.
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Great Christmas gift for a young mum
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Now available from CoolThings.com.au the Lunch Punch Critter Cutter is a great gift this Christmas that turn’s an ordinary sandwich into an Elephant, a Dog in a kennel, two whales or a beautiful butterfly.
It’s easy and safe for kids to use and we’ve found our own kids just love eating their little animal creations. Great for fussy eaters and to spice up a kids lunch box.
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| Top ten tips for coping with Separation Anxiety |
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Visit your centre of choice in advance and take your child on a tour to
familiarize them with the environment and meet carers. |
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Even if you are worried yourself, don't let it show. Your child will
gain confidence from your confidence so maintain an upbeat attitude. |
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It is normal for tears on the first few drop-offs. Stay calm and give
them a quick kiss and cuddle, say goodbye and leave quickly - don't draw it
out. |
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Don't sneak out - this will just serve to make your child mistrustful and more clingy the next time. |
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If you have any fears/worries yourself, don't hesitate to call the
centre for reassurance. |
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Pick them up early the first few days. As your child adjusts to a new
routine they will be tired by the end of the day. |
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Talk to the carers about your child's day, what they learned, what they
enjoyed and so on you will feel more involved even though you can't
participate. |
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Talk enthusiastically with your child about their child care centre,
positive stories will make them look forward to going back. |
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Arrive at least 15 minutes in advance on their first day. By the time it
is time for you to leave, your child will already be engaged and having fun. |
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If your child has a comfort toy/blanket, take it along. It may help
having something familiar if they are feeling upset or anxious. |
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This week Mihiri wrote us a poem titled 'Where has my shadow gone?' for our Starting Child Care edition. Read more.
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| Give your child a head start in life... |
HeadStart’s unique approach to childcare ensures that children at the centre enjoy higher staff ratios, nutritious meals freshly cooked on the premises, extensive educational programs for all ages as well as a comprehensive preschool program.
Their programs are designed to meet specific developmental needs of every age group – from babies to preschoolers. Their school readiness program ensures that children leave HeadStart educationally and emotionally ready for school.
In addition to age appropriate educational programs, HeadStart also provides children with an abundance of educational and developmental resources including computers and age appropriate software for the older children. For the younger children and babies, individual daily routines are designed to mirror the routine and environment children have in their homes.
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Parenting Australia Competition
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Parenting Australia have 6 books (RRP $49.95) to give away!
Monica Trápaga knew exactly what to do when her daughter Lil announced she was leaving home: present her with a collection of tried-and-tested family recipes and stories...
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Baby Teeth
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Your child's first or primary teeth are as important as permanent teeth and require daily care. babyteeth.com.au is a new site run by the ADA that helps you make the right choices about your child's oral heath.
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If you have interesting products or a service you’d like our online family to know about, list it on our directory by contacting us here. |
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Special editions of Parenting Australia’s eNews to look forward to |
15th December
12th January
19th January
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Festive Hurry
New Year, New You
Starting school and getting ready for child care.
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Please click here if this email was sent to you by a friend and you'd like to subscribe.
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The content of this article is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Any questions regarding a medical diagnosis or treatment should be directed to a medical practitioner. |
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