Hello to our wonderful Daisy Hill Early Learning Centre families!
We have had another great month with some exciting events and activities.
From the Office
Welcome to the June edition of our monthly Newsletter and welcome to our new families! We hope that you are settling into centre life, if there is anything we can do take make your stay with us more enjoyable, please let us know! Remember to like us on Facebook. This will help you keep up to date with centre events.
Welcome to our new Daisy Hill ELC staff members!
Miss Sara joined us as the third staff member in the Junior Kindy classroom and has now gone on to support the children in their transition to the Senior Kindy classroom. Miss Sara is so bright and bubbly and a huge hit with the children, staff and families, we are very pleased to have her join our team.
Miss Zera has been working at our service for a while as a relief staff member but her amazing presence in the classroom in the centre became a permanent fixture this month. Thank you for joining our team!
Miss Hayley is the newest addition to our team! She comes to us with a deep knowledge of early childhood development. She is a passionate and vibrant educator. Welcome and thank you for joining our team.
Transitions
Transitions are taking place throughout the centre for some of our wonderful children. We endeavour to ensure that no child is ‘moved’ into an older classroom based simply on their age group. Children must show the signs of wanting or needing to transition to an older environment and be supported throughout the transition process. I am so confident in the ability of our staff to support your child throughout this process. If you have any concerns regarding your child, their environment or transition. Please feel free to speak with myself or your child/rens teachers.
Transitions occur throughout education and as such they are important milestones to be acknowledged. Routines and moments of transition offer so much that has the potential to be rich, warm, comforting and nurturing for children.
How to BOOST your child’s immunity through GOOD food!
When you child’s immune system seems to contract every bug that crosses their path resulting in recurrent runny noses, colds and repetitive gastro intestinal infections, it is time to take a closer look at their immune system. You can take steps in order to empower yourself with the right tools to boost your child’s immune system.
It all starts with food.
In order to maintain a healthy and strong immune system, fresh, real food is the key. It is important to keep packaged and processed food to a minimum.
Focus on feeding your child foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, poultry, meat, fish, whole grains, legumes, eggs and if there are no allergies, nuts and seeds can be included as well. It is also important to give your child water instead of fruit juices and cordials. Both of these are high in sugar which can be suppressive to the immune system, it can also cause inflammation and dysbiosis, amongst other things.
Probiotics are a supplement containing live bacteria. When taken they can boost your friendly gut bacteria.
Yoghurt contains live bacteria such as these. However, the supermarket is saturated with different types of yoghurt – most of which contain mammoth amounts of sugar. Opt for plain or Greek yoghurt rather than the fruit flavoured ones which contain very concentrated sugar levels. To add some sweetness to your plain yoghurt, try a dash of maple syrup, rice syrup or fruit!
Sleep
Sleep plays a very important role in the healthy development of your child. It is also very important in building a strong immune system. According to the National Sleep Foundation, toddlers between the ages of 1-2 years need 11-14 hours of sleep per night, preschoolers between the ages of 3-5 need 11-13 hours of sleep per night and school children between the ages of 6-13 need 9-11 hours of sleep per night.
Supplement to boost immune function
When your child’s immune system is a bit run down and colds and flu seem never ending, there are a variety of supplements that are very supportive to the immune system. Namely, these are zinc, vitamin D, fish oils, and probiotics.
Immune boosting foods for kids
Garlic: This amazing food contains anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Garlic stimulates the immune cells and increases antibody production. It also contains the compound sulphur which has potent antioxidant properties. TIP: You can add garlic into your child’s favourite meals such as the sauces of pasta dishes, spaghetti Bog. You can also add it to hummus to be used as a dip for those carrot fingers.
Berries: The beautiful and bright red, blue and purple colours get their pigment from the potent antioxidant called anthocyanin. They also contain vast amounts of vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, both of which bolster your child’s immune system. TIP: Add a handful of mixed berries to your child’s breakfast oats or morning cereal. A delicious snack idea could be a handful of mixed berries stirred through a bowl of plain yoghurt topped with a dash of maple syrup. You can even try and mix in some flaxseed meal for added nutrition.
Green leafy vegetables: Green leafy vegetables are exceptionally rich in immune boosting nutrients. One of these is iron which is important for the production of white blood cells and antibodies. Unfortunately, green leafy vegetables are not always the favourite option on your child’s menu. Getting them to eat a handful of greens is often quite laughable. TIP: Try making a green ‘Smurfie’ smoothie. Throw some kale or baby spinach, frozen banana or frozen mango with your choice of milk into a blender and blend until smooth. You can add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup or rice syrup depending on the desired sweetness.
House Keeping
* Please ensure that your children’s belongings are clearly labelled.
*All children are to wear a hot in our outdoor environment, please enquire at the front office about purchasing a Daisy Hill ELC hat if you would like, otherwise a hat from home must come with your child everyday.
*Please ensure children have adequate warm clothing, it is getting a bit chilly and we want the children to play in a suitable environment
