Contrary to what you may have heard, it’s not only children with difficulties related to social integration that can benefit from sensory play but something all children can benefit from.

The benefits of sensory play for toddlers and babies go beyond simply having fun with your child. As parents, sensory activities can be used at home to encourage children to explore this amazing world with their senses. In addition, sensory activities don’t need to be complex, and there are things such as specifically designed sensory tables that can help you keep your home neat and tidy.

Humans and animals use their senses to explore their environment, and of course, children are no different. While there are five primary senses (taste, smell, touch, sight and sound) known as external senses, there are also internal senses like balance and positioning. Sensory activities differentiate from other types of play because there is a massive emphasis on tangible, expressive play. 

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What is sensory play?

Sensory play refers to any activity that stimulates your child’s senses. This sense could be hearing, tasting, touching, smelling or seeing. Some parents use dough and cold pasta to encourage sensory play, and it really doesn’t need to be any more complex than that. Painting your finger or jumping in piles of leaves are great examples of sensory play.

It dramatically benefits children because they can learn about and explore the world through their senses. This isn’t something you need to overthink. Babies are already using their senses to investigate and explore their environment right from when they come out of the womb, so it only makes sense to encourage them in what is a natural behaviour.

So, it is something your children do without even having to learn it, but some sensory play does require teaching them how it’s done. All you need to do is make sure you allow and encourage your children to keep exploring with all their senses.

Sensory play for toddlers and babies

Sensory play for toddlers and babies is fun and is usually easy to set up, but sometimes it can be challenging to think of ideas to help children engage in sensory activities; that’s why our team here at Little Scholars has put together this list of activities for toddlers and babies.

Create a Sensory Bin

A sensory bin is just a container used to hold your child’s sensory playthings.

To create a sensory bin, just fill a small container with things that have an interesting feel or texture, such as leaves, stones, sand, shredded paper or anything else you can think of.

Whilst there are a wide variety of objects and materials that can be included in a sensory bin it is important to bear in mind that children love to explore not just with their hands, but also with their mouths – choking hazards need to be taken into account! If you do choose to include objects that your child may put in their mouth, be sure to supervise them at all times.

Sensory play with food

Playing with food can be fun but messy. However, allowing your child to play with food by tasting, smearing or squishing can give them a sensory experience they won’t soon forget. If you are unsure about encouraging food play, just remember that sensory food play isn’t mealtime. For example, you can use cornmeal as sand if you are indoors, or you can give them some Rice Bubbles to crack, but make sure they understand it is a special occasion and they don’t start sticking their hands in their dinner! Helping you decorate cakes and other baked goods is another example of sensory play that your children can participate in and one that you can even show off to your friends.

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Sound tubes

To create a sound tube for your little one and to connect them with the auditory world around them, here’s what you need to do:

First, save a few empty paper towel rolls. Then duct tape one end of the rolls, or seal them in another way, and add different materials inside each tube, like dried beans or uncooked rice. Finally, seal the other end of the tube and there you have it, a fun auditory sensory toy!

6 benefits of sensory play for toddlers

It strengthens the connection in a child’s brain and develops their learning skills

When you encourage your children to play with their senses, this helps to create unique pathways in their brains.

Sensory play is also great for your children because it teaches them to be little scientists, discovering how the world works through trial and error. With the use of scientific reasoning, they will learn how to solve problems efficiently.

It develops and enhances children’s memory

Sensory play also helps your child to retain information. Learning new letters, words, numbers, textures, sounds, movements – you name it – stimulates your child’s brain and helps to light up the areas of the brain associated with memory.

 

It teaches children valuable life skills

Another benefit of sensory play is that it helps children learn a wide range of life skills that they will carry for the rest of their lives. For example, your baby can learn problem-solving and social skills like sharing and planning. It also helps develop motor skills in your child, like cutting and pouring.

It enhances cognitive development

Sensory play also helps cognitive development in your child. As babies, everything to them is unique, and most experiences are new experiences. So they see everything as an opportunity to learn.

It improves motor skills

One of the most significant benefits of sensory play is that it increases their coordination, strength, and motor skills just by having fun and interacting with various objects in different ways.

 

It enhances the development of social skills

With the help of sensory play, your children will be able to interact with each other and the environment around them. Children are curious, and by observing and playing with their little friends, they can learn faster. It also helps build cooperation, promotes teamwork, and allows children to be creative and share ideas.

It can help your child eat more vegetables?

That’s right! One of the most interesting recent findings in regard to sensory play is that it can help your child eat more vegetables! By allowing children to physically play with a food first, researchers found that the child was far more likely to eat it than if they didn’t play with it. Incredible!

How we incorporate sensory play into our daily activities

Little Scholars is a privately-owned and operated early learning service providing quality early education and care for children across SE Queensland, and we take sensory play very seriously (or…. not so seriously!).

We offer you and your child the very best facilities, resources and early educational, play-based programs available, which are underpinned by the early years learning framework. Our belief is that through quality education and care for children we can also encourage, assist and support the entire family.

Our dedicated team of educators are committed to the individual needs and interests of children and their families, and thus we encourage and welcome family input and involvement.

We aim to be like an extension of your family and are very relationship-driven. We foster nurturing relationships between our educators and your child, the relationships your child has with the other children who attend, and we value our relationship with you as the parent and other family members. So book a tour today to get started!

The importance of routines for children is often overlooked. Life moves with different patterns each day, and habits can help children make sense of it all. As parents or carers, it’s crucial to be aware of this and implement healthy structures in your child’s life. Following these routines makes it easy for your child to transition through the different stages of life, whatever happens.

At Little Scholars, we understand the importance of routine and make sure to help all children in our care develop healthy habits. To share this knowledge, we collated eight of our top tips to help you implement routines for your child that will help them flourish.

8 reasons routines are important in early childhood

1. They help children deal with change

One core benefit of a well-structured routine is that it can help the child feel safe and manage any changes that come their way. These challenging periods may include moving home, changing school, etc.

Maintaining a routine during these trying times can help them find some comfort and stability, allowing them to adapt in a healthy manner.

2. They create an opportunity for learning

Many daily routines such as taking baths, mealtime, story time, bedtime, or setting the table, can be seen as simple and taken for granted. However, each has the opportunity to teach valuable life lessons about responsibility, time management, and more that will stay with them until adulthood. Whatever the routine may be, it’s an excellent opportunity to support your child’s learning and development, even while having fun.

A routine can help your child build their curiosity, self-confidence, and self-control, all things they will require while growing up.

3. They develop children’s social skills

Love them or not, routines are a fact of life. They encompass almost everything we do as adults, from work to socialising. This is why accustoming your child to routines at a young age can help develop their social skills.

Routines around playtime and mealtime are the best to develop these skills fully. As they communicate, share toys, help others, share food, and take turns in different activities, children start to develop excellent social skills. In addition, with a routine in place surrounding these activities, they begin to understand whether it’s time to play or not.

If you’re based in South East Queensland and want the best environment for your child to develop their social skills, then book a tour with us today.

4. They promote family bonds

Routines perform a vital role in the home environment as they can help your child feel more secure and cared for. So try and build practices centred around having fun or around family time as they can instil a sense of belonging and strengthen family bonds.

It’s easy to understand this if you imagine your child had a tough day at school, yet they know they can look forward to story time when they get home. In addition, activities like reading together, sharing conversations over a meal (meals could be a no-technology time), or playing sports can foster healthy habits in your child – which brings us to our next point …

5. They help develop healthy habits

Another relevant facet of routines for young children is that they can establish healthy habits that can sometimes be hard to implement. These habits include brushing teeth, washing hands, using the toilet, exercising, etc.

Eventually, these routines can also reduce your stress as your child begins performing these necessary habits by themself. Daily routines also help set the child’s body clock. For instance, bedtime routines can help program the child’s body to know when it’s time to sleep.

6. They make your life easier

Routines are in place for your child, but they also make your life easier. Parenthood can be pretty overwhelming, and having a pattern to work around is a huge bonus. On top of this, a predictable routine helps free up spare time that you might not have had, as there is less time wasted on figuring out what you or your child need to do next.

They can also take some stress out of decision making – if Tuesday night is taco night, then there’s no room for arguments!

7. They teach skills and responsibility

Most of all, they teach children skills and responsibility.

Chores may well be chores, but they are an essential aspect of every person’s life, and developing good habits and routines around them from a young age can help guarantee success for your child.

For example, if you set your child the task of setting and clearing the table, they may not know which side to put the forks on the first time they do it. However, as they perform the task more often, they will get comfortable doing it and learn to appreciate the importance of the job and how it is a help to you.

8. They’re not the be-all and end-all

While routines are helpful in many ways, and some structure is good, it’s vital to note that they’re not the be-all and end-all of raising a child. There should still be free time to relax, play, or pursue creative activities. This free time might even lead to spontaneous ideas, which can be the highlight of not just a child’s week, but of their early life. Routines should also be flexible, adapting to the child as they grow, or under certain special circumstances.

Little Scholars Can help with all of your routines

Little Scholars is a privately-owned and operated early learning campus providing quality early education and care for children across South East Queensland.

We offer you and your child the very best facilities, resources and early educational, play-based programs available, which are underpinned by the early years learning framework. We believe that through quality education and care for children, we can also encourage, assist, and support the entire family.

Our dedicated team of educators are committed to the individual needs and interests of children and their families, and thus we encourage and welcome family input and involvement.

So if you’re looking for an early learning company that can fit in with your daily routine, contact Little Scholars today. Want to keep reading? Check out our blog on Getting Messy in Childhood now!

As early childhood educators, we encounter a variety of situations on a daily basis, ranging from ordinary to interesting (to say the least!). Reflective practice in early learning is about taking a step back and critically examining these experiences to better understand what happened and why. By reflecting on our practice, we can learn from our experiences, improve our approach, and ultimately provide better care for the children in our campuses.

Little Scholars provides an attractive and safe environment to children on the Gold Coast while giving you total peace of mind while your children are in our care. Learning areas include well-equipped playrooms and landscaped outdoor spaces for maximum learning opportunities. Book a tour today if you are looking for an early learning campus in South East Queensland.

What is reflective practice in early learning?

Reflective practice is a process of critical examination and evaluation of experiences, situations, and decisions to learn from them and improve future practice. It involves actively seeking out information, analysing and interpreting it, and using it to guide decision-making and improve outcomes. Reflective practice is not just about what happened, but also about why it happened and how it can be improved.

We apply reflective practice to various aspects of our work, such as planning, teaching, assessing, and communicating with children and families. It helps us identify the rationale behind our practices and evaluate whether they are consistent with our beliefs, values, and core philosophy.

Little Scholars School of Early Learning’s The Collective is a service-wide, multi-faceted educational initiative, designed to enhance each child’s learning and development and best support educators’ time spent with children.

The models of reflective practice in childcare

There are different types of reflective practice, including reflection-in-action, reflection-on-action, and reflection-for-action.

Reflection-in-action occurs spontaneously as we make decisions in response to what is happening in the moment.

Reflection-on-action involves thinking about experiences after the event and questioning how and why a specific practice contributed to or detracted from a child’s learning or relationships with families.

Reflection-for-action is a proactive way of thinking about future action and involves considering different approaches and refining inclusive practices and communication strategies to improve outcomes.

We view reflective practice as an essential component of developing a culture of learning that drives continuous improvement and focuses attention on quality outcomes for children and families. It helps us to enrich children’s learning, build our own knowledge and skills, and affirm and challenge our colleagues.

How to engage in reflective practice

To engage in reflective practice, we take time to observe children closely, foster relationships and gain insights into their thinking and learning. Here are some strategies we employ to engage in reflective practice in early learning:

  1. Review staffing arrangements and routines: We create an environment that is conducive to reflective practice by reviewing staffing arrangements and routines. This might include providing extended periods of uninterrupted time for educators to interact with small groups of children, foster closer relationships, and gain greater insight into children’s thinking and learning.
  2. Establish routines that allow for reflection: We regularly set aside time during scheduled programming or at the end of the day to record our reflections. Similarly, a similar amount of time can be allocated during a regularly scheduled meeting to reflect on practice across the service. These meetings can also provide a forum for team members to talk about their personal experiences.
  3. Work closely with experienced colleagues: We encourage our team to work closely with more experienced colleagues to provide opportunities to observe, critique, and learn from each other. They can describe what they noticed about a child’s response to an experience and ask questions about why their colleague used a particular strategy.
  4. Network with other services: Networking with other services can provide insights into the way the service is perceived by others. We meet with other people regularly in the wider community as we believe this provides opportunities to explore ways the service can become more responsive to the interests and needs of families and children in the local community.

Why is reflective practice important in early learning?

Reflective practice in early childhood education is important as it ensures educators regularly reflect on what they do, why they do it, and how this knowledge can improve their practice.

Studies show that high-quality early childhood settings positively affect children’s development, and reflective practice is a feature of such environments. This practice allows early childhood professionals to develop a critical understanding of our own practice and continually develop the necessary skills, knowledge and approaches to achieve the best outcomes for children.

Reflective practice also helps us create real opportunities for children to express their own thoughts and feelings and actively influence what happens in their lives. In addition, reflective practice helps professionals to develop a deeper awareness of their own prejudices, beliefs, and values, and advance learning for vulnerable children.

We value reflective practice at Little Scholars

At Little Scholars, we recognise the importance of reflective practice in providing high-quality early education to the children in our care. Our educators engage in regular reflection and are encouraged to share their insights and experiences with their colleagues.

We believe that by reflecting on our practice, we can continually improve and adapt to better meet the needs of the children and families we serve. The Collective allows for educators to have autonomy in how they document and plan for children. This supports a strength-based approach with our team.

If you live in South East Queensland, book a tour today to enrol your child in the best early learning campuses in the community.

At Little Scholars, we use the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to guide our approach to teaching and learning. We are committed to creating fun and engaging experiences, which are inspired by Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, for children that promote their social, emotional, and cognitive development. This, combined with our committment to reflective practice, is why we believe we provide such a strong foundation for the children in our care.

Little Scholars provides an attractive and safe environment to children in South East Queensland while giving you total peace of mind while your children are in our care. Learning areas include well-equipped playrooms and landscaped outdoor spaces for maximum learning opportunities. Book a tour today to find out more.

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What is the EYLF?

Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) was designed to ensure that a consistent standard of early childcare education is provided to all children aged 0 – 5 years. The framework works as a guideline for early childhood educators to use when building out their programs and activities.

Early childhood educators who follow the EYLF are able to provide high-quality, play-based learning experiences to promote children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development, and help them to become confident, resilient, and engaged learners.

The framework is built on a series of key pillars, principles, practices, and learning outcomes.

The three EYLF key pillars

The three key pillars of the EYLF are Belonging, Being, and Becoming.

  • Belonging
    Belonging is about children’s relationships and sense of connectedness with their families, communities, and culture. It recognises the importance of supportive relationships in helping children to feel secure, confident, and valued. Children who feel a sense of belonging are more likely to participate in activities, take risks, and explore new ideas and concepts. In this sense, belonging is the foundation for all learning and development.
  • Being
    Being recognises the importance of the present moment and encourages children to enjoy the here and now. It is about valuing children’s unique personalities, interests, and strengths, and supporting them to develop a positive sense of self. It recognises the importance of play-based learning and encourages children to engage in meaningful and enjoyable experiences that promote their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
  • Becoming
    Becoming is about children’s growth and development over time. It recognises that children are active learners who are constantly evolving and changing. Becoming emphasises the importance of ongoing learning and development and encourages children to develop a strong sense of agency, curiosity, and resilience. Children who are encouraged to explore their interests, ask questions, and take on new challenges are more likely to develop a lifelong love of learning.

The five EYLF principles

There are five principles in the framework that guide educators in providing high-quality, play-based learning experiences for young children.

  1. Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
    This principle emphasises the importance of building positive relationships between children, families, and educators. It recognises that children learn best in environments where they feel safe, secure, and valued. This principle also emphasises the importance of reciprocal relationships, where educators and families work together to support children’s learning and development
  1. Partnerships
    Partnerships emphasise the importance of collaboration between families, communities, and educators. This principle recognises that families are a child’s first and most important teachers, and that effective partnerships between families and educators can enhance children’s learning and development
  1. High expectations and equity
    This principle highlights the importance of setting high expectations for all children, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. It recognises that all children have the potential to learn and achieve, and that equity and inclusion are fundamental to effective early childhood education. Educators who follow this principle provide inclusive and equitable learning environments that promote children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development.
  1. Respect for diversity
    This principle recognises and values the diversity of children and their families, including their cultures, languages, and backgrounds. It emphasises the importance of creating inclusive learning environments that reflect and respect the diversity of the children and families in the community. Educators who follow this principle provide learning experiences that are culturally responsive and respectful, and that promote children’s understanding and appreciation of diversity.
  1. Ongoing learning and reflective practice
    This principle focuses on the importance of ongoing learning and professional development for educators. It recognises that effective early childhood education requires a commitment to ongoing learning and reflection, and encourages educators to continually reflect on their practices and make changes where necessary. Educators who follow this principle are committed to ongoing learning and development, and are able to provide high-quality, evidence-based learning experiences for young children.

EYLF practices

There are several EYLF practices that guide educators in providing high-quality, play-based learning experiences for young children, and they are:

  • Holistic approach
    The holistic approach recognises that children learn and develop across all domains, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. It’s all about addressing children’s holistic needs to promote their overall wellbeing and development.
  • Responsiveness to children
    Responsiveness to children means being attentive and attuned to each child’s individual needs and interests. This practice recognises that children are active learners who construct their own knowledge and understanding of the world, so it’s important to support their interests and curiosity.
  • Learning through play
    Play-based learning is at the core of the EYLF! It recognises that children learn best through play, and we provide open-ended, exploratory learning experiences that promote their creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
  • Intentional teaching
    Intentional teaching involves planning and implementing learning experiences that are tailored to each child’s needs and interests. It emphasises the importance of setting learning goals and objectives and using intentional teaching strategies to support their development.
  • Learning environments
    The learning environment plays a crucial role in promoting children’s learning and development. This practice emphasises the importance of creating supportive and engaging learning environments that are designed to promote children’s exploration, inquiry, and learning.
  • Cultural competence
    Cultural competence involves recognising and valuing the diversity of children and families, including their cultures, languages, and backgrounds. This practice emphasises the importance of creating culturally responsive learning environments that promote children’s understanding and appreciation of diversity.
  • Continuity of learning and transitions
    Continuity of learning and transitions involve supporting children as they move through different learning environments and experiences. This practice recognises the importance of providing smooth transitions and building strong partnerships between families, communities, and educators.
  • Assessment for learning
    Assessment for learning involves ongoing observation, assessment, and documentation of children’s learning and development. This practice recognises that assessment is an integral part of the learning process, and emphasises the importance of using assessment to inform and improve teaching practices.

EYLF learning outcomes

The EYLF outlines five learning outcomes that guide educators in promoting the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children. These outcomes are:

  1. Children have a strong sense of identity
    This learning outcome emphasises the importance of children developing a positive sense of self and their place in the world. It recognises the importance of children’s relationships with their families, communities, and culture, and encourages children to explore and express their own unique identities.
  1. Children are connected with and contribute to their world
    This learning outcome emphasises the importance of children developing a sense of connection to their communities and the wider world. It recognises the importance of children’s relationships with their families, communities, and culture, and encourages children to participate in meaningful ways in the world around them.
  1. Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
    This learning outcome emphasises the importance of children’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. It recognises the importance of providing supportive and safe learning environments that promote children’s health and wellbeing, and encourages children to develop positive attitudes towards their own wellbeing and that of others.
  1. Children are confident and involved learners
    This learning outcome emphasises the importance of children’s confidence and enthusiasm for learning. It recognises the importance of providing engaging and challenging learning experiences that promote children’s curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills, and encourages children to take an active role in their own learning.
  1. Children are effective communicators
    This learning outcome emphasises the importance of children’s communication skills. It recognises the importance of providing opportunities for children to develop their language, literacy, and numeracy skills, and encourages children to express themselves effectively in a variety of contexts and for different purposes.

The EYLF at Little Scholars

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) provides a solid foundation for high-quality, play-based learning experiences for young children.

At Little Scholars, we follow the EYLF principles, practices, and learning outcomes to create a fun and engaging learning environment that promotes children’s overall development and well-being. We’re committed to ongoing learning and reflection to continually improve our teaching practices and provide the best possible learning experiences for young children. If you’re in need of high quality early childhood education for your little ones in South East Queensland, book a tour today.

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Come and see the Little Scholars difference

Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!

Come and see the Little Scholars difference

Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!