Day Three in Norway
15 Oct, 2014
Tuesday 14th October 2014 A second day at Queen Maud University College (QMUC) campus today. Something that strikes me is how children are invited and welcomed into this adult setting. Of course it makes sense that people training to become early years teachers need to be around children. Common sense is common in Norway! We had several lectures today including: - Lecture on physically active play in Kindergarten - Lecture on children with special needs in Norwegian day cares - Lecture on mentoring new teachers - a state funded national development programme. There was a lot of information much of which I am still…
Monday 13th October 2014 Our day begun after breakfast at 7am with a walk through Trondheim to Bakklandet Barnehage. A direct translation for barnehage is child garden. Many of us are familiar with the term kindergarten but in Norway barnehage is the term used for any type of childcare for children aged 0 to 6 years. Features of the barnehage we visited included low ratios, small groups, free access for the children between rooms, basic equipment and a large amount of time spent outdoors. The atmosphere was relaxed and unhurried. The teachers referred to as the grown ups participate in children's play rather than…
Lately in the baby room in Crawford Childcare in Cork there has been a lot of focus on everything to do with spiders. Interests range from Spiderman whom Tiarnan’s brother Cormac brought in for us all to see, to Incy Wincy himself. The children have really enjoyed listening to our rhymes “Incy Wincy Spider” and “Little Miss Muffet” although Aoife and Peig seem to have become a little more protective of their porridge! Robert, Eilish and Amelie have been providing us with some actions for Incy Wincy and the baby room team are all trying to master it as well as this terrific trio. We…
Summer camps have started for our 3 to 5 years in Crawford Childcare in Glanmire. The weather has been kind (mostly) allowing lots of outdoor play and physical activity. World cup fever has helped spur us on! Structured games include warm ups and cool down activities. Favourites include Rabbits, Squeeze, Animals, Sticky bits and other more traditional games like Simon Says, Obstacle courses, Duck duck goose and What time is it Mr Wolf? Children also have free play time to choose and create their own games using the available equipment. Even when the weather has meant we have needed to stay inside we still stayed…
Bullying behaviour is typically associated with older children. The danger of this is that bullying maybe overlooked in the pre-school years. Pre-schoolers are learning to experiment socially and it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between this and emergent bullying. Bullying may include physical aggression, exclusion, rejection, verbal assaults and ridicule. The odd disagreement or falling out is normal for pre-schoolers. However alarm bells should start ringing if a child appears to enjoy seeing others hurt. Deliberately hurting others whether physically or emotionally is always unacceptable. Bullying can cause stress, fear and anxiety. The behaviour may harm victims’ and perpetrators’ development. If you are…
Good and bad behaviour varies according to perspective. Circumstances can often affect how behaviour is judged. For example not putting your toys away may be a bigger problem if you are living in a confined space. Adults react to behaviour in different ways and the child’s character will also make a difference. Reasons for difficult behaviour may include life changes such as the birth of a sibling, moving home, change in care arrangements or something much smaller. Children are often very receptive to what is happening around them so the likelihood is if you are feeling upset they will quickly notice to. They may then…
Summer has arrived at Crawford Childcare, Glanmire! Please remember sunscreen and hats as we are hoping to spend a lot of time outside over the next few months. The toddlers have kicked off the summer months with a sudden interest in flowers – their colours and smells especially. We have made some beautiful sunflower crafts and even planted our own sunflower seeds – hopefully they will begin to sprout out soon. With a little care they should grow bigger than us. If your seedling grows this big after taking it home be sure to share a photo with us! The babies have been busy making…
How many times have you heard that “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? We believe this in Crawford Childcare, Glanmire too but we also know it can be hard work getting your children fed in time for crèche which is why we offer a range of healthy breakfast options at the crèche. But why is it so important? Firstly a good breakfast provides your child with the fuel they need for their day ahead. Children who eat breakfast tend to eat healthier over the day and are more physically active – the 2 main factors for maintaining a healthy weight. Children who…
There has been a great buzz around Crawford Childcare, Cork last week which was topped off nicely with pyjama day on Friday. Funds collected from pyjama day are all donated to the Irish Hospice Foundation for homecare for children. The motto used by Early Childhood Ireland to promote the campaign was “Helping children to help children and having fun!” There was certainly a feel good atmosphere on Friday. By supporting this campaign we all made a small but significant difference in the lives of families that are less fortunate than our own. Combined on a National scale every contribution makes a huge impact – thank…
Most of us work to some sort of daily routine as adults. We are also responsible, at least in part for creating the children’s we care for routines. Apart from fitting in with our own needs, routines are also important in your child’s development. Routines help children learn self-control. Consistency and keeping to similar times for play, snacks and naps etc provides a sense of security and emotional stability for the child. – A routine can help children to trust caring adults. A child must feel safe before they are able to play and learn. Our baby room keyworkers work closely with parents to ensure…
