By Kirsty Fantini, Early Years Training & Consultancy
Welcome to the first edition of “Monthly Musings”! I hope you enjoy these monthly blog posts! Feel free to share with your team and even request topics to be explored!
Educator Well-Being
I think we have become very focused on well-being for young children and rightly so! However I strongly believe that nurturing our own well-being is essential not only for our mental, physical and emotional health but it also provides great benefits to your children. To have a relaxed and positive educator provides a great role model and relaxed learning environment.
So how can you nurture your well-being? Each month I shall write about simple easy things you can do … starting with assigning (at minimum) a monthly “All About Me Day” in the effort that we can eventually enjoy these fortnightly or weekly. This has to be fun and stress-free. For the Mums & Dads out there… it needs to be child free to get us out of the “mum / dad zone”. This is why I start monthly and maybe even just a few hours or a half day working up to a full day per month… per fortnight…. you get the gist!
So my first one is simple… go for a walk in the early morning… (child free) and preferably in nature and/or near water! Just walk and listen… observe the sun coming up, the sounds and smells, breath deeply. I always end this with a really good coffee!!
I would love to hear about your “All About Me” day. Feel free to post on the Facebook post!
Provocations, NQF and Theoretical Perspectives
My provocation this month is “Loose parts play with nature”! You can gather wonderful resources on your bush / coastal walk and bring these back to the centre. I love the diversity of loose parts play especially with natural resources such as “journey sticks”, “sensory bands” which are wonderful for infants & toddlers and of course free, open-ended, flexible exploration!
This provocation supports EYLF Outcomes 2, 4 and possible 5 along with supporting environmental respect and awareness.
Theories that may be relevant are Bronfrenbrenner’s Ecological Theory, Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence and this also supports Biophilia (love of nature).
Upcoming Educator PD and Special Offers… just for you!
For the month of February we have the following online PD webinars. These are live and you can join from work or home.. even in your PJs! All you need is internet connection and sound on your device. Sessions run for 1 hour and participants receive a Certificate of Participation. For “Monthly Musing” readers you can receive 15% off any of the below sessions. Just quote “MONTHLY MUSING DISCOUNT” in your email to kirsty@earlyyearstraining.com.au
Supporting Children’s Well-being – 4th Feb @ 6.30pm
Understanding & Supporting Behaviour 12th Feb @ 6.30pm
Creating Meaningful Spaces – 18th Feb @ 6.30pm
For more information please go to https://earlyyearstraining.com.au/workshops/staff/
Something Yummy!
Are you someone who needs or prefers the gluten free option? Love bread but hate the “6 month pregnant belly bloat” afterwards? Well I have a bread recipe that is yum, easy to make and no bloat!
Buckwheat Bread (no wheat involved!)
Ingredients:
- 2 C Buckwheat flour
- 3 tsp baking powder (GF)
- 1 C almond, soy or cow milk (I use almond for nutty flavour)
- 1/2 C olive oil
- Salt and herbs of choice (optional – I use oregano or fennel seeds)
- 2 egg whites
Method:
This is what i love…. it’s super easy!
- Just whisk egg whites until fluffy (not meringue quality… just fluffy)
- sift flour and baking powder into egg whites, add milk, oil and salt/herb
- mix really well
- pour into bread baking mold
- into oven on 180 for 40-45 min
- serve warm or cold.. I love it with avo, tomato and an egg!
- Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for several days
This month’s quote… how does this relate to adults?
“Play is our brain’s favourite way of learning” by Author Diane Ackerman.
Thank you for reading Monthly Musings. I hope you have enjoyed our first edition! I wish you an amazing month and love to hear about your “All About Me” Day, if you tried the recipe or provocation. 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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