Mini Minors, Rosanna, VIC

Welcome to the Green Room, 3 - 4 year olds!

The Green Room caters for 25 children with one (1) Qualified Child Care Worker (diploma trained) and (1) Qualified Child Care Assistant. The staff in this room run a curriculum to provide a program that is stimulating and enhancing to the individual child.

This room is very active and busy where we encourage independence, individuality and imagination.

The program that is provided for the children is constantly displayed for your perusal on the notice board in the room. We program plan weekly and this allows the caregivers to observe the children and set out goals and objectives to improve or practice the children’s developmental areas. We record all our observations which are then documented onto the children’s individual developmental records for the opportunity to present to you as a half yearly progress report.

We have an outdoor area which is can be shared with the rest of the centre. The activities provided to the children in this outdoor setting is an asset to the younger children as they will pick up skills learn’t from the older children. The activities offered are also displayed with the weekly plan on the notice board. All children are well supervised in the outdoor area.

The centre has an experienced cook with a set menu which is displayed on a notice board in the foyer. We offer a four week menu which is rotated every week offering the children all the requirements of the five food groups. Babies are catered for on their level of development and close communication with their parents of their dietary requirements.

THE PROGRAM

The Green Room is a very busy place for children as they learn to get ready for Kindergarten routines. The program provided gives children an opportunity to interact with each other through both spontaneous and planned experiences. The program provides a learning environment that is a melting pot of learning activities and allows for the children to develop physically, creatively, socially and emotionally. All the learning experiences that you see set out, suit the ages and individual developmental levels of the children.. Family input into the program is valued, encouraged and greatly appreciated by staff. After all, it is the parents and other family members that really know their children the best.

At any stage you wish to speak to the teacher about your child’s development, please let them know and a mutual time will be arranged. We celebrate Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, children’s birthdays and other important cultural celebrations that the children may celebrate at home. If you have any objections to your child partaking in these celebrations please inform the teacher.

WHAT WILL MY CHILD LEARN IN THE GREEN ROOM

The answers are numerous. There are many new skills your child will learn over the year. Play is your child’s work, children do not differentiate between work and play. The Green Room and playground are your child’s workplace. It is a place where tremendous amount of effort is put in by them.

The Green Room is a very busy place and a noisy one full of active, curios, eager learners.

DISPLAYS

You will find the programs displayed on the notice boards of the rooms along with “Your child’s day” detailing what your child ate, how much sleep they had, etc. Please check the room daily for any notices and room routines. Parents are encouraged to enter the room and participate in any activities or routines.

WHAT TO BRING

Parents should ensure that their child has:

Full change of clothes.
Any security toys.
Sun hat during the hot months and winter hat & coat during the cold months.

REST TIME

All children are encouraged to rest during the day. It is a long, busy day for the majority of the children in the centre, and rest is just as important as play.

Rest does not necessarily mean sleep, however it does mean children must participate in quiet time and will be encouraged to relax and rest each day.

All children have their own mattress with name, clean linen and blanket provided.

CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GREEN ROOM

Parents should ensure that:

Each child has a complete change of clothes in their bag each day: underwear, socks, and everyday casual clothing appropriate to season and depending on the child’s development level and room requirements.
Each child has their clothing and personal belongings clearly labeled.
Each child has there belongings in a carry bag (not plastic) with their name clearly marked on it.

It is important for staff to ensure that children are dressed appropriately at all times during the day, changing them if needed. Staff will respect that some cultures and religious beliefs require children to wear certain items.

SUMMER/SPRING

Cooler, lighter style clothing. Long sleeved T-shirts are preferred to protect sensitive arms and shoulders, long style shorts or dresses and T-shirt style dresses. Singlets and singlet dresses are not recommended as they provide no protection of the shoulder and arm area.

The Centre requires children to wear hats which protect the face, neck and ears whenever they are outside. Parents must provide these hats for their child each day they attend the Centre.

Broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen will be provided by the Centre and staff will ensure that each child has it applied before going outside.

Please refer to the “Sun Smart Policy” section as well.

AUTUMN/WINTER

Warmer clothing is required and should include: socks, windcheaters, jumpers. Jackets, hats and gloves are required in the cooler months if the children are going outside.

Parents need to be aware that at times the rooms inside can become quite warm and should pack their child’s clothing accordingly.

Each room requires different clothing for the children.

SHOES

Shoes worn by children and staff need to be comfortable and safe. The shoes worn at the Centre need to be covered and protective to the environment.

Socks are encouraged even during summer months as they provide protection from the sun and added grip to shoes and warmth in winter.

Thongs and flimsy sandals such as “Jelly Bean” shoes are inappropriate as they provide no protection and bend easily, causing slips and falls.

During winter months, more adequate protective shoes are required.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

All items must be clearly labeled.

We understand that children want to share or show others their belongings, but these can be broken or lost, so we encourage children and parents to leave them at home.

Security toys are encouraged, particularly for rest time.

SUN SMART POLICY

Our Sun Smart Policy has been developed to ensure that all children attending this Centre are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful UV rays of the sun. It is to be implemented throughout the year, but with particular emphasis in terms 1 and 4.

GENERAL SUN SMART STRATEGIES

The Centre will require children to wear hats which protect the face, neck and ears whenever they are outside.
Children who do not have their hats with them will be asked to play in an area protected from the sun.
Children will be encouraged to use available areas of shade for outdoor play activity.
The Directors and Co-coordinator will ensure there are a sufficient number of shelters and trees providing shade in the Centre grounds.
Outdoor activities will be scheduled before 11am and after 3pm daylight savings time whenever possible. The availability of shade will be considered when planning outdoor activities.
Staff will act as role models by:
- Wearing appropriate hats and clothing outdoors
- Using a 30+ sunscreen for skin protection
- Seeking shade whenever possible
SPF 30+, broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen will be provided for staff and children’s use as necessary.
Teaching about skin and ways to protect skin from the sun will be incorporated into the curriculum and programmed activities.
The Sun Smart Policy will be reinforced in a positive way through parent newsletters, notice boards and meetings.
Staff and parents will be provided with educational material on sun protection.

GENERAL INFORMATION

When you arrive into the centre please sign your child into the sign in book provided for in the room and also to sign out your child on departure.

It is very important that you do not store items such as medications or ointments or any other potentially dangerous items in your child’s bag as these bags may be accessible by children. If your child needs medication on the day, please see one of us so that it can be stored safely. The medication book needs to be filled out with complete instructions. Please let us know if you need assistance.

If it is warm weather when your child comes to child care could you please apply sun block before they leave home as children may go outdoors as soon as they arrive. Please ensure they have a protective hat to wear.

Please inform us if your child has had an unsettled night, or if there has been a change to their routine as this will help the staff with your child’s day.

When collecting your child please check your child’s day board so you are able to see how their day has been. This is documented for you just in case the staff member in your room is not present when you collect your child. All efforts are made so that the staff in your child’s room are informed of how your child has been throughout the day. Please do not hesitate to approach us or give us a phone call throughout the day. If you wish to discuss any issues concerning your child or just want to see how they are.

THE GREEN ROOM ROUTINE


6.30am	The centre opens with two staff. We have family grouping with all the children from all the room in the Blue room. We allocate this room as it allows us to cater for the babies in nappy changing facilities thus not leaving one staff member with all the children.
7.00am - 8.00am	Breakfast is served.
8.30am	The children are dispersed into their own rooms to begin with their morning activities and routines.
9.15am	Morning tea is served to children either formally(which is sitting at the table) or informally where the children help themselves to fruit and milk. Once morning tea is over children are to go to the bathroom to use the toilet and wash their hands.
9.30am	Children are offered the planned programmed activities or if weather permitting an indoor / outdoor program where the children have the opportunity of both.
11.00am	Children are asked to help pack away activities and prepare for setting up the beds for sleep time. Children enjoy being helpers and this is encouraged for independence skills. Once this is complete children go to the bathroom and wash up for lunch.
11.30am – 12.00pm	Children serve their own lunch.( Self help skills are highly encouraged.) When lunch is finished children scrap any scraps into a bowl and go to the bathroom for toileting and washing up. Once this is complete children undress on their beds and are offered a story to be read quietly to themselves. This gives the staff the opportunity to clean up after lunch time. The children are then settled by being sat beside or some children need patting or stroking on the back.
12.30pm – 2.00pm	Rest time for children. Quiet activities are organized for children who do not wish to sleep.
2.00pm – 3.30pm	Children begin to wake and are encouraged to go to the toilet. Children are encouraged to dress themselves and to pack up their bed by placing sheets into personalized pillowcase provided.
3.00pm	Afternoon tea is served to children.
3.30pm – 4.30pm	Afternoon activities are provided to the children with the flexibility to outdoor play depending on the weather.
4.30pm	Children are asked to help pack away planned activities and quiet activities are set out for the remainder of the day.
5.00pm – 6.30pm	Family grouping begins where the Green room and the Kindergarten room join in the Kindergarten room. Once numbers begin to drop substantially by about 5.30 pm all the children remaining are joined together in the Blue room and offered a late snack. Staff are also to begin closing duties for the centre.

OUTSIDE LIMITS

Children are to walk on concrete area.
Hats and sunscreen on before going outside.
Children need to slide down on the slide one at a time. Not climbing up from the bottom.
No throwing sand while in the sand pit.
Children may take their shoes off while they are in the sand pit, but they must be put back on when leaving the area.
Tan bark needs to stay in the tanbark area.
Encourage children to pack up activities before going inside, in case of rain.
No war games to be played or games with make-believe violent weapons.
Bikes are to be on the bike track only and only one child at a time on a bike.

INSIDE LIMITS

Children to walk inside.
Children to wear smocks at messy play/art experiences.
For children to sit on chairs.
Children are encouraged to stack chairs after meal times.
To use quite voices inside, not screaming across the room to others.
Children are to wash their hands before/after meal times, and after going to the toilet.
To pack up activities before going outside.
Children are encouraged to scrape their own bowls and place bowl and cups onto the tray.
Shoes may be taken off during the hot weather. Inside only.
No throwing the toys around or kicking.
Always encourage children to use self-help skills at all times.
Children must be seated when eating, no walking around with food.
Own toys from home are only permitted for rest time period and show and tell time.
Children need to respect each other and be polite at all times.

GREEN ROOM GOALS

Personal & Social Development

For children to increase socialization skills.
For children to increase their independence (self help skills).
For children to play with one another and to build friendships with others, showing empathy, caring and affection.
For children to develop confidence, understanding of self and group, verbal and non-verbal expressions, feelings and bonding.
For children to share and take turns.

Gross Motor Skills

For the children to increase their co-ordination skills.
For the children to increase their balance skills.
For the children to use large muscle movement.
For the children to increase their catching skills.
To develop the children’s control and confidence of mobility.

Fine Motor Skills

For the children to be able to manipulate blocks to build a tower of 8 or more blocks.
For children to manipulate scissors.
For the children to be able to recognize minute details in books and pictures.
To develop children’s control and confidence of manipulative skills.
For children to sit and place puzzle pieces into puzzle.

Language Development

For children to develop communication skills, clarity and pronunciation of words.
For the children to use appropriate verbal & non-verbal expressions and gestures.
For the children to use simple conversation.
For the children to increase vocabulary through play, being able to discuss things of interest.

Cognitive Development

For children to increase eye-hand co-ordination skills.
For the children to explore the environment around them using all the 5 senses.
For the children to increase understanding of basic size/shape comparisons.
For children to develop sensory abilities, process of thinking, awareness of environment and thinking, concentration and reasoning skills.
For children to identify and match primary colours.

Creative & Imaginative Development

For children to use self-help expression.
For children to extend their creative thoughts.
For children to be able to use a variety of different art/craft materials for e.g.; pasting, easel painting and using different textures.

Group Time

For children to talk about something special they have done or want to talk about, a special toy etc.
For children to have a show and tell.
Children are able to talk to their friends about something special.
For children to sit and listen to a story being read by a staff member.