But you can make things a lot easier for you and your child if you establish routines for each trip.

The key, however, is finding routines that work for both of you. By experimenting trying different things and adjusting it to how your child responds, you can make your drop offs and pickups much less stressful for everyone.

We’ve rounded up five great routine ideas worth a try.

1.   Pack Their Things Together

Getting your child involved with packing their things can make them feel excited for the day ahead. Give your child a small backpack that they can carry with them, and tell them that they can bring their favourite toy to school.

If your child can’t decide on one toy, help them choose one to bring that day. Having something from home can comfort your child if they’re scared or nervous – just remember not to leave it behind when you pick them up.

Getting ready with your child will also give you essential one-on-one time with them. Even just ten minutes in the morning choosing what toy to bring or what colour of t-shirt to wear can strengthen your bond.

2.    Let Your Child Walk You to Their Classroom

Sure, it’s much faster to carry your child from your car to their classroom. But doing this regularly will only create a physical attachment that you would need to untangle yourself from later.

If your child can walk, ask them to lead you to their classroom. Encouraging your child to guide you and asking things like “Can you show me where your classroom is?” can help them feel more independent.

By giving your child this freedom, you’ll build their confidence to explore and spend the day without you.

3.    Keep Goodbyes Short

When it’s time to say goodbye, try keeping it short and sweet.

Never sneak out when dropping off your child in childcare. ALWAYS say goodbye to them, BUT keep it brief. Yes, they might get scared and cry, especially in their first few weeks. But this will pass.

Remember also that your child will often pick up on your mood and energy. If they sense that you’re apprehensive about leaving, they will get scared and cling to you.

Once you get your child to their classroom, you can say hi to their teacher and chat for a few minutes. Showing your child that you trust the other adult in the room can make them feel safer. Afterwards, give your child a kiss or a high five and tell them you’ll see them again later. Then leave.

Even if your child starts to cry – and no matter heartbreaking it is to walk away – keep going. Your child will be fine after a few minutes.

4.    Let Your Child Say Goodbye to Friends and Teachers

While it’s tempting to just swoop in and take your child home when you pick them up, it’s important to make sure that they’re ready to go. Going home when your child isn’t ready to leave her friends yet can make the evening more stressful for you both.

If your child is in the middle of a game or an activity, tell them they can go finish it and that you’ll be right there waiting for them. And if you’re short on time and need to go, give your child at least a few minutes to say goodbye to their classmates and teacher.

Allowing your child to say goodbye at their own pace will make them feel more independent. It will also show them that you trust the people there. Make sure that you also say “see you tomorrow” to their classmates and teachers, so they understand that they’ll see them again the next day.

5.    Talk About What You’re Going to Do When You Get Home

Telling your child about what you’re planning to do when you get home can make pickups much easier. Telling them about things that they can look forward to (e.g. watching their favourite cartoons, playing a game they love, etc.) can make them feel better if they’re sad about leaving that day. It will also help them adjust and transition back to home life after a full day in childcare.

It’s Not Always Easy, But It Can Get Better

Childcare drop offs and pickups come with many challenges; there’s no doubt about that. Childcare, after all, is a new stage in your young child’s life, and they will need time to get used to their new daily routines.

But if you try ideas like those above, you’ll find that childcare drop offs and pickups can be much less stressful for you both.

Of course, it helps a lot if you bring them to a childcare centre that will work closely with you to make sure everything goes smoothly. And that’s exactly what we do in our Bush Kidz centres. We make sure that your child’s entire experience here will always be fun and happy. Contact us today or visit one of our centres to find out how we can help.

Germs that cause bacterial infections can spread easily among children, scattering into the air when coughed out and coming into contact with other children.

That’s why it’s important to teach young children to cover their coughs.

But covering their coughs is something that’s new and unnatural to children, so you’ll need to teach them this habit.

Here’s a good way to do it:

1. Demonstrate It Clearly

The best and most effective way to teach your child how to cover their cough is by showing them how to do it yourself.

Sit down with your child and show what to do when they feel like coughing. Explain how they should cover their cough by bringing their arm up to their face and coughing on their elbow.

(Coughing on their inner elbow is more recommended than coughing into their hands – children rarely wash their hands, and they touch everything.)

Demonstrate this technique slowly in front of your child, so they can see how to do it correctly and encourage them to do it a few times along with you.

2. Explain How Germs Can Travel

You’ll find that it’s easier for your child to learn and adopt this habit once they know why they need to do it.

To help them understand, explain to them that little germs can travel in the air whenever they cough or sneeze. And when these germs travel and reach another child or person, it can make them sick.

By covering their mouth when they cough, they can make sure that these germs don’t get very far and infect others.

It always helps to explain this concept in a visual way that makes it easier to understand. Here’s one to try:

Get some flour (or something similar) and ask your child to grab a handful. Tell your child to hold this handful of flour in front of their face and then pretend to cough.

The flour will then fly and spread in the air. This will help your child imagine how germs can travel in the air when they cough.

3. Praise Them When They Do It Right

When you see your child covering their cough correctly, make sure to praise them and let them know they did a great job. This will encourage them to keep doing it until it becomes second nature to them.

If you see them coughing without covering it, don’t get mad or scold them. Be patient and remind them gently what to do next time.

4. Lead By Example

Children learn best by copying others – especially you – so it’s important to show them consistently how to do it.

If necessary, try deliberately coughing every now and then and covering it correctly to remind them how to do it. When your child sees you regularly doing this, they’re more likely to follow you and do it, too.

Other Tips

Aside from the method above, there are many other ways to teach your child how to cover their cough.

• Make it a game. Ask your child to count how many times they’ve covered their cough and give them a prize when they reach a certain number.

• Draw a cute mark on their elbow where they should cough. Make a cute drawing on the inner side of their elbow to show them where to cough.

• Turn it into a song. Sing a song about covering their cough every time they cough, or show a video like this and sing along.

Want More Helpful Advice?

Check out our blog for more tips and advice on taking care of children and how to make sure they grow to their full potential.

Children are full of enthusiasm for life and are crazy little balls of non-stop energy. If they’re not running around playing they’re making friends (or talking to imaginary ones). As children grow, they develop emotions and they learn to manage these emotions.

After all, we have all seen children crying or screaming because they haven’t been allowed to buy a lolly from the store, but how often do you see a teenager screaming like this? Children’s emotional self-regulation is a key part of growing up, and as a parent, it’s our responsibility to equip them with the tools they need to develop good emotional intelligence.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is something that stems from a range of sources, but the simplest definition that we have come across to date is that:

“Emotional intelligence is the ability to monitor your own emotions as well as the emotions of others, to distinguish between and label different emotions correctly, and to use emotional information to guide your thinking and behaviour and influence that of others.” Source

As children grow and develop, they learn emotional regulation and strategies for regulating their emotions to get the best possible outcomes. Children are very clever and will work out strategies for dealing with problems and managing issues.

Emotional intelligence, in a nutshell, is a child’s development of awareness, understanding and how well they can manage and express their emotions. Emotional intelligence is part of healthy development, and at Bushkidz we are committed to ensuring that your child has the best possible opportunities for growth and change.

Why is emotional intelligence important in children?

It has been found in numerous studies that children who can regulate their emotions and engage in self-control are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviour, accomplish their goals, and achieve success in their lives.

A study focused on school aged children and tested the same children again in their 30s and found that those children who were able to self-regulate were more likely to succeed in terms of social achievement, family, finance, and overall achievement. Children who had self-control and emotional intelligence were also less likely to have issues with substances and alcohol.

How is emotional intelligence shaped?

Children’s emotions are unpredictable and can run rampant. This is all part of growing up, and one of the first components of developing emotional intelligence is developing an understanding of emotions and the role they play in our lives. Emotions are a part of being human, so they serve a purpose, whether it is to motivate behaviour or to regulate our actions.

When you think about each of the emotions we possess, it’s important to treat them with respect and understanding and to be patient with ourselves. Even as adults it’s important to be kind to ourselves and to give ourselves time and space with our emotions. And for children, it’s especially vital to give emotional development ample space and time, lest the development of a child is stunted or hindered.

Emotional intelligence is shaped by:

• Developing empathy and an understanding of how others feel – as well as putting this skill into practice
• Building social skills and managing the emotions of others through understanding
• Growing the ability to self-motivate and to prolong gratification through the furtherance of a less pleasurable goal
• Building self-regulation and the ability to manage negative and disruptive emotions

At Bushkidz, we have a deep understanding of how emotional intelligence is developed and how important it is for children to have the opportunity to experience a range of emotions and feelings. We do not seek to prohibit growth, and we are committed to providing the best possible environment for your child to learn in.

The importance of all emotions

All emotions are important; not just the happy ones. For example, sadness is an emotion which works on us by slowing us down, both physically and mentally, and makes up hyper-reflective and often pessimistic. Sadness is a profoundly centring emotion where feelings come thick and fast. It is common to be fearful of being sad – of being depressed – and being blue.

‘Cheer up’ and ‘stop crying’ are common things to say to someone who is sad, but in actual fact sadness is an emotion worthy of attention and respect. Without sadness in our lives we lack dimension; so we know that acknowledging sadness is just as important as celebrating happiness. That’s not to say we dwell on sad times — we do not believe that self-pity or enduring focus on sorrow is helpful! But by acknowledging sadness when it comes, about real things, and letting feelings be acknowledged, we can encourage development where children become adults who are truthful, vibrant and balanced individuals.

In contrast, when happy times come, we celebrate them, engage with them, and reinforce them without trying to cling to them – acknowledging the transitory nature of all emotions and the value of being in the moment.

Ultimately, we respect and reflect on emotions – even anger – and we practice feeling emotions and tolerating them as part of our human experience.

At Bushkidz we:

• Value all emotions – even negative ones – and help children solve problems while at the same time, placing limits on appropriate behaviour
• Are patient, kind, and respectful with children
• Use emotional experiences as an opportunity for growth and to offer guidance
• Are aware of our own emotions and use these as an opportunity to connect and teach
• Listen and validate your child and reflect with them, helping them to understand what they are experiencing
• Help children develop a vocabulary about their emotions
• Put appropriate limits in place for problem-solving about emotions – after all, all emotions are acceptable, but that doesn’t mean that all behaviours are!

As a final word from us to you…

Your emotional intelligence needs nurturing too; it’s not just in childhood that growth and development take place. Remember that your child does what you do, not what you say, and they pick up on so much from us. If you are feeling sad, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted think about taking time to reflect. See if you can get help from a family member or friend with some care for your child, or come and see us at Bushkidz.

Your personal wellbeing is so important, and it is vital that you are in a good place so that you can provide the care your child needs. We are always here to help with daycare and childcare services, so call us on (07) 3201 4231 at Blacksoil or (07) 3813 0975 at Brassall.

Heading to primary school for the first time is one of the most significant milestones your child will experience. It’s a big change for them and you. Your children have been set in their routines and habits for a while now, so everything they’ve known is going to be very different, very suddenly, as soon as they start school.

As a parent, you want to make the whole process easier for both your children and for yourself. To help guide you in the right direction, we have a few pieces of advice that we think will help!

Talk to Them All About School

For a few months or at least a few weeks leading up to their first day of primary school, you should start talking to your child about school, telling them what it will be like and what they can expect. Get them interested and excited about the idea of school. Whatever you do, don’t spring school onto them suddenly. The experience could be very off-putting and frightening for them if they’re not eased into it.

Your child’s outlook on going to school can be greatly influenced by you and how you talk about it. If you’re stressed and worried about it (which is completely normal for new parents) try not to let it show and always express positivity and enthusiasm for school. Ease their minds about the whole idea by telling them the fun things they will be doing and the new things they will be experiencing while at school.

Establish Their Independence

As a baby and toddler, you did practically everything for your little one. But as they get older, they slowly begin to learn how to do things on their own. It’s all part of growing up! Whether it be putting their things away, brushing their teeth or putting on their clothes by themselves, anything they can do on their own they should do on their own.

Avoid doing things for them and encourage them to do and make decisions for themselves, so their independence grows and becomes well established. The more and more your children do things on their own, the more confidence they will have in themselves and their abilities. Independence is incredibly important at school because they will need to do many things on their own here, and they won’t be able to ask someone else to do it for them.

Socialising With Others

Along with being a place for learning, school is a place for socialising and making new friends too. Childcare is an ideal place to get used to meeting, socialising and being around other children and adults outside of the family circle.

But if your child doesn’t go to childcare, they can always socialise with other children at playgrounds or in play centres. You could also set up play dates with other families with children. The more opportunities they have to be around and interact with other children, the more socially adjusted they will be heading into school.

Prepare Them for Learning

Many childcare centres have early learning programs in place to help foster an interest in learning from a young age. A structured ‘learn through play’ program like this is the ideal introduction to learning, because it makes learning enjoyable and fun. But lots of learning can be going on at home too.

There are many ways to learn, and you can find lots of toys and learning materials to help your children with letters, numbers and more from a young age. To nurture their learning and development you should:

• Read to them
• Ask them questions where they need to think or find out an answer
• Put them in scenarios where they can solve basic problems
• Get them playing sports or outdoor games to improve hand and eye coordination
• Give them fun and creative activities to do
• Most of all nourish their curiosity about the world around them

Listening and Following Instructions

School is a very structured and routine driven place. There are rules in place, teachers have to be respected and listened to, and children have to do as they are told. Being able to adjust to this environment should start at home.

Just like school, your household should have rules in place for your children to follow, and children should respect their parents and do as they are told. This all comes down to good parenting and establishing yourself as the leader of the household. If this type of environment is something you nurture at home, they will be well adjusted when school starts.

A Childcare Centre That Supports This Transition

Check to see if your childcare centre has a ‘transition to school program’ in place to help make this change easier for them. This transition program primarily focuses on reinforcing a healthy attitude towards school. At Bushkidz, we’re all about nurturing your children while in our care so that they are well prepared and ready to head to school.

Interested in enrolling your child in a childcare centre that can ease your child through this important milestone in their lives? Contact us today for more information about Bush Kidz Blacksoil and Bush Kidz Brassall.

If you would like to know more about our childcare centre or if you would like to arrange a visit to meet our carers and childcare workers, then please call us to arrange a time to stop in. Contact us in Brassall on (07) 3813 0976 or in Blacksoil on (07) 3201 4231.

How to help ease the transition into childcare?

When starting childcare, it’s important to help your child get comfortable with the idea of going somewhere new. They may well experience separation anxiety – something that’s perfectly natural – and when you manage this anxiety well, it can be a positive learning experience for your child. We have some simple steps you can follow to ease the transition into care, whether your child attends five days a week or half a day a week.

1. Make sure you pay a visit to the childcare centre together

This is one of the most critical things you can do as a parent or caregiver because it gives you and your child an opportunity to visit the space they’ll be spending their time in and it lets them get comfortable with their new surroundings.

At Bush Kidz, we offer parent/child visits where you can bring your child along and be there as they explore the centre. We find that this type of experience is deeply helpful for parent and child because when children come along for their first care session, they already know where things are and are excited to play.

2. Don’t rush things

Try and go for gradual exposure with your child’s visits. If possible, try and have your child visit for a shorter period of time and work up to a longer visit. You don’t need to go straight into your child being in care for a whole day immediately. Try starting with an hour and work up from there. Some children adjust to being in care quickly, while others take a little more time. If you’re worried about your child crying or being upset after you leave, you can always ask staff to call you after a certain period of time, and you can come back to get them or work out a plan for next time you come.

3. Talk about what is going to happen

A key part of ensuring that your child is prepared for childcare is to talk to them about what they are going to experience. But be honest as well; children are very perceptive and will see through any kind of falsehood. Instead of telling your child that they’re going to have the best time and that they’re going to love childcare, be honest. Just talk to your child about what is going to happen at childcare. You might say something like “when you get to childcare you’ll see your teacher, you’re going to play inside, then you’ll put on your togs to do water play outside. Then you’ll have lunch, and after that I’ll be there to get you.” When your child understands what’s going to happen in their day, they’ll see it happen just as you said, which allows them to feel safe.

4. Say a good goodbye

This one is key – it’s so important; knowing how to say goodbye to your child is vital when it comes to ensuring a positive experience for your child in care. If your child is screaming and crying and is finding it hard to settle, it’s often best to just say goodbye and leave. Most children do calm down very quickly after their parents go, but if you stay to try and comfort your child, they will find it harder to settle because you’re still there providing comfort.

When you can say goodbye with confidence, it shows your child that they are safe as well. If you’re anxious or appear upset, it signals to your child that this is a situation where they should feel anxious too. Instead just give your child a quick hug and a kiss, say goodbye and when you’ll be back, and leave them with the carers at your childcare centre.

At Bush Kidz, we have a range of strategies in place to help you and your child feel comfortable with their surroundings. Bush Kidz is a friendly and welcoming environment where we welcome children from Blacksoil, Brassall and surrounding areas to come and enjoy care away from home.

We care for your children as if they were our own and are committed to the wellbeing and happiness of every child. Contact us today to come down and visit in Brassall on (07) 3813 0976 or in Blacksoil on (07) 3201 4231.

Research has shown that children spending time outdoors is great for their motor skills, social skills and their psychological development; not to mention that physical health is improved when children spend time in nature.

At Bush Kidz we provide play-based learning in a natural setting where you can be assured of a safe, respectful, and fun environment for your children to play and stay. We wanted to share some of our top tips for helping your children to develop a love of nature.

Make a garden

One of the most rewarding ways to encourage a love of nature in your children is to build a garden in your yard. You can plant fruits and vegetables in your garden and can get children involved in planning what to plant, learning about companion planting (where certain plants deter bugs from other plants), and let children help with digging, fertilising, and harvesting. A garden is a great way to show children where foods come from and encourages a healthy lifestyle as well.

Plant butterfly-attracting plants

Along with your vegetable and fruits growing happily in the backyard, why not plant some trees or shrubs that attract butterflies? If you choose nectar and pollen-rich plants, you will find that butterflies are quick to flock to your yard. The benefit of this is not only will you have beautifully pollinated and flowering plants in your yard, you’ll also enjoy a bounty of beautiful butterflies fluttering around. Your children will love identifying them and watching them dart around in the sunshine.

Make a worm farm

Every family has food waste scraps, so why not turn them into a useful product for use on your garden? A worm farm (or a compost bin) is a great way to convert the energy in that food waste matter into a high-energy and nutrient-rich compost. When composting your food scraps in a worm farm, make sure you don’t put any animal products, onion or garlic in there as the worms will not like that, and it will upset the balance of your worm farm.

Go camping

Children love getting out into the wilderness and sleeping under the stars, so why not organise a camping trip where you get away into the bush for a few nights? If you simply can’t arrange the time to go away for a weekend, consider setting up the tent in the backyard and camping out in the yard instead? You can do some stargazing, look out for meteors and then tuck into your sleeping bags for your sleep out.

Have a picnic

Pack up the sandwiches and the picnic rug and head out for your nearest park. Pick a scenic spot with a walk nearby or try picnicking on a beach foreshore so you can enjoy a salty swim before or after your lunch. Get children involved in choosing the snacks for the picnic and get them to help you pack up the car with all of the comfortable things for sitting on.

Head out on a hike

You could combine this with your picnic if you were feeling up to carrying a backpack with some lunches – and choose a scenic spot for your hike so you can lunch with a view afterwards! There are so many lovely spots for hiking around south east Queensland, so why not choose a destination for your next weekend off?

Identify bird calls

You would be surprised how many different birds are flying in and around your local area, so why not get your children on board with identifying the different calls? Whether it’s a crow, a magpie, a butcher bird or something a little more exotic, children will love listening out for the various calls and then identifying them.

Help out on a beach clean up

With so much plastic and rubbish entering our waterways, it makes sense to take part in a clean-up effort. Whether you take part in one of the Sea Shepherd’s organised clean-ups or if you make one of your own, you’ll be getting your children thinking about their impact on the environment. Make sure you take a large durable bag for rubbish, gloves to protect hands, containers for small pieces and some disposable kitchen tongs for picking up trash.

Get Your Children Into Nature With Bush Kidz

We hope you have enjoyed reading about some of these ways to get children loving nature. At Bush Kidz we are committed to providing a safe, beautiful, and natural space for your children to play and learn. Come and see us in Blacksoil (07) 3201 4231 or in Brassall (07) 3812 0975 to find out more about enrolling your child with us.