The importance of hand washing
11 May, 2015
Teaching children about hand washing is not just important to keep them healthier in childhood... but all through life. Hand washing really is our best defence against many kinds of bacteria and viruses that cause infection. Children typically don’t like to take the time to wash their hands therefore it is very important that they are shown the correct techniques to do so and be guided to when they should wash their hands. Children learn best through their senses, and benefit from doing and seeing as well as hearing. A good idea is to let them see you washing your hands throughout the day and…
There has been great excitement over the past few days in the Montessori room in Crawford Childcare, Glanmire, Co. Cork as we prepare for a fairy visit! We have done everything we can to ensure a pleasant stay. With the help of our Montessori “Super helpers” we found a nice quiet corner in our classroom to position our fairy door. Our talented “Cutters” and “Gluers” made a foam castle complete with fairy door. We even created our own fairy post box, where we can communicate with our new friend by leaving our letters, colourings and drawings. Laura and the Montessori class sat down together to…
Gender stereotypes often begin in the pre-school year. Supporting gender equality can really enhance education. Here in Crawford Childcare, Glanmire we provide various aspects of learning and different play opportunities to the children that support this. Harry loves playing in the kitchen and cooking up a storm and also making the teachers a lovely cup of tea with some buns he’s baked. Niamh loves playing with the cars on the garage while Rian and Abigail enjoying folding away the clothes which are part of our Montessori practical life section. Typically, as is everywhere here in Crawford Childcare, some gender differences do occur as it is…
This week's blog is all about the Montessori Method and how it is carried out within Crawford Childcare, Glanmire. To begin with, here is a little background on Dr Maria Montessori. Dr Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952), born at Chiraville, Italy was Italy’s first female doctor of medicine. Working with children at Rome’s Psychiatric Clinic, she noticed that they sought to learn about their environment through the use of their hands. This idea that the path to intellectual development is through the hands is a major theme in her method of education. Montessori education is a child centred method of education. This method allows…
Here at Crawford Childcare Creche, Glanmire we use the Montessori method. The Montessori curriculum consists of practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language and culture. Eva walks to the shelf and picks up the tray carefully and walks to the table where she sits down with her work. She begins to polish the little shoe meticulously and intricately. A practical life activity has begun. Neave and Michaela walk to the basket to get their mats, they roll them out carefully on the ground. They decide to work with the brown broad stairs and place them gently on the mat. They build a castle first before identifying the…
As the saying goes “time flies when you are having fun”. This is certainly true for the Montessori class at Crawford Childcare in Glanmire. We are a little over half way through our summer camps. We can hardly believe it. We are enjoying a wide range of outdoor activities which include hula hooping, football, balancing games, parachute games, bubble chases. There could be a footballer or two in the making amongst the class or even a professional hula hooper. We have also had plenty of indoor activities this week when we have needed to take some shelter from the sun. We have decorated our class…
Last week was a busy fun filled week at Crawford Childcare in Cork. Our ECCE pre school year has come to an end which we celebrated with a fabulous performance of songs learned over the year, our graduation ceremony and party. I think we will all be singing our show’s finale Firework for a while courtesy of Katy Perry: Cause baby you’re a firework Come on and show them what you’re worth Make em go, Aah aah aah As you shoot across the sky-y-y Baby you’re a firework Come on and let your colours burst Make ‘em go, Aah aah aah You’re gonna leave…
Allergies in children are common. Proper control and treatment of your child’s allergies will make them happier and healthier. Please talk to the team at Crawford Childcare and Montessori if your child has been diagnosed with an allergy concerning its management and treatment so that allergies do not get in the way of your child’s enjoyment and learning. Any child may become allergic but there is a higher likelihood if there is a family history of such. Allergies can show up in different ways including skin rashes, asthma, hay fever and food allergies. Hay fever may cause a runny itchy nose, red eyes and ear…
Research shows that high quality early years care and education benefits children. Rising economic costs puts pressure on families’ abilities to avail of this which is why we have welcomed and provide the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme in our pre-school room at Crawford Childcare, Cork. The ECCE scheme provides a free year of care and education for children of pre-school age. Children are eligible for the scheme if they are aged over 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years and 7 months on 1st September of the year that they will be starting. In some cases this upper age limit…
Here at Crawford Childcare, Glanmire we understand that starting in a crèche environment can be stressful for both the parents and the child. We find that parents of children often take longer to relax and trust their child’s teachers than the children themselves. This is especially true when the child has not yet developed more than a few words and is unable to give you a rundown of their day. We like to get to know your child’s individual interests and incorporate these into the curriculum to help make them feel part of the service but how can a parent be sure a service…
