By Kirsty Fantini, Early Years Training & Consultancy
Educator Well-Being Challenge
So how did your February Well-Being challenge go? Were you able to find “All About Me” time? Enjoy a coastal or bush walk? I would love to hear about them – feel free to share on this Facebook post!
So for the month of March our Well-Being Challenge is to “BE STILL”. For some of us (me included) being still, present and mindful is a challenging task. So let’s start small… at least 1-3 times per week and at least 5 mins each time to sit and be still…. listen to the sounds around you, clear your mind, turn off your device! One thing that works for me is Sunday morning coffee. I love to sit outside and just watch and listen. This Sunday, as I savored my coffee for 15mins or so I was able to watch the sun shine across a spider’s web, a beautiful blue banded bee visit a flower near me and my chickens enjoying the early morning sun!
You can even do this on your lunch break… take time outside in the garden or park, turn off your device, still still and just watch and listen. I would love to hear how your felt.. was it hard? Did you feel more relaxed and re-energised? What did you see?
Blog Piece – Meal Times
Are your meal times Calm or Chaotic?
Picture this…. Sophie is 4 years old. She is asked to sit at the table for lunch… it is tuna bake today. Sophie really dislikes tuna and they never eat it at home… as Dad dislikes it too!
Sophie is best friends with Ava and they love to chat over lunch, however they are always placed at different tables because they talk too much. Sophie sits and begins to pick at the pasta bake, eating only the pasta. The educator tells her “Sophie, eat all your lunch please otherwise no dessert”
Sophie tries to eat the tuna and starts to gag… she really does not like it! The educator seems upset with her and says “oh stop that.. Now eat up your lunch, its not that bad!” Sophie eats the pasta only and leaves the tuna. She feels satisfied and is looking forward to yoghurt however she doesn’t receive any. When she asks for some the educator says “you didn’t eat your lunch Sophie so no dessert”
Does this happen in your service? Or have you seen a similar scenario before? Here are some things you may like to consider and discuss with your team…
What messages are we sending children about eating, food, having preferences? Why do children have to like everything, when we don’t? Why do children have to eat everything on their plate or rush through their meal when we should in actual fact eat slower so we don’t consume everything on our plate? http://children.webmd.com/guide/kids-healthy-eating-habits
Why can’t meal times be social occasions where children can chat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company?
The National Quality Standards state that healthy eating is promoted and that children are supported through respectful and equitable relationships with educators. The above scenario does not reflect these standards, instead it demonstrates a coercive, disrespectful interaction which confuses and intimidates the child.
Children’s days are busy and meal times provide them with the opportunity to sit and interact in a relaxed way with their friends. It is a time to listen, discuss food and nutrition, it is a time for staff to observe friendships and for children to enjoy the social context of food rather than possible negative emotions linked with eating.
What happens in your service at meal times? What so you consider to be positive? What do you believe needs to be considered?
Upcoming PD webinars & offers for you!
Book into any of the below online webinars and receive 15% off the price. All times are AEST/AEDT (NSW) time. Just email kirsty@earlyyearstraining.com.au and quote “MONTHLY MUSING 15% OFF” in your email!
Tuesday 19th March @ 6.30pm: Supporting the needs of Infants
Tuesday 2nd April @ 6.30pm: The Planning Cycle- Let’s make it easy!
Monday 8th April @ 6.00pm: Creative Arts & Brain development
Reflection Questions…. explore these with your team
– Am I physically & emotionally available to all children?
– How often would I smile and laugh WITH the children each day?
Something Yummy!
CACAO SLICE… delicious and healthy!!
I just love this treat for so many reasons. It is quick and easy to make, it is actually healthy as it’s made from whole foods and no sugar and it’s (have i told you before) just delicious. Please note this is not to be made a in a child care setting due to nut content.
Ingredients:
- 1 CUP nuts (chopped or blended) I like to use oven roasted almonds, macadamia and peanuts
- 1/4 CUP pure maple syrup
- 1 CUP shredded coconut
- 1/2 CUP melted coconut oil
- 1/4 CUP seeds (i like to use pumpkin and sunflower seeds)
- 2 TBS Cacao (NOTE: Not cocoa)
- 1/2 CUP dried fruit (I like craisins or dates)
- Pinch salt
- 1Tsp cinnamon
Method:
- Blend / chop nuts
- combine all ingredients into a bowl
- pour into square tray lined with baking paper
- leave in fridge until set
- cut into small squares and keep in the fridge
Thank you for reading Monthly Musings. I hope you have enjoyed the March edition! I wish you an amazing month and love to hear about how you “KEPT STILL”, discussions about meal times or if you tried the recipe. For ideas and feedback please feel free to email me – kirsty@earlyyearstraining.com.au or comment on the Facebook post
Kind regards, Kirsty
Early Years Training & Consultancy – RTO 91839 – https://earlyyearstraining.com.au
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