Welcome to the October 2010 Camden Macarthur Child Care Directory Newsletter.

This month we welcome at Kids Kinder Childcare at Macquarie Fields to our child care directory.

We also welcome Transition into Parenthood & Calmbirth®, Kids Kontact, Maternitywear.com.au, My Mini Munchkin to our Resources for Parents Directory. Read more about these great services below.

Some child care services still have vacancies for 2010 and are taking enrolments now for 2011, so be quick to get in contact with the services that you are interested in for more information be sure to check out the detailed listings.

As the year is flying by it won't be long until the new year begins and many children commence child care for the first time, this month's parent resource is about Introducing your child to child care and is full of helpful tips to making the process at lot easier for you and your child.

WIN...WIN.... This month you have a chance to win a Navy Big Alphabet Wall Sticker Pack valued at $65.00 from Mm is for me

Kids Kinder Childcare is dedicated to providing a safe, friendly environment that fosters your child's social and educational development.

Kids Kinder is a privately owned and operated childcare centre operating for long-day hours providing care and education programs for children 2-6 years old.

The centre operates 52 weeks a year Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm closing only on public holidays.

We have a team of dedicated childcare professionals who each day provide a fun and safe learning environment with daily routines similar to that of home for each child.

Kids Kinder is big enough to provide lots of toys, equipment and great facilities, yet small enough to provide an individual level of care for each child and their family. Our focus is the well-being of each child and their learning.

We believe that all children are unique. It is our hope to extend and compliment the home by providing a happy, stable and secure environment in which each child develops towards their full potential.

We currently have vacancies for all ages and look forward to welcoming you and your child to our lovely centre, please contact us

CHILD SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY

Identity wristbands, the cost is small but the saving could be massive.

A wandering child is every parents worse nightmare when visiting shopping and events and can cause distress to both parents and children alike

Kids Kontact specialises in safety, ID wristbands, allergy alerts and tracking devices to ensure that children remain safe and easily identifiable in an emergency. To see our full range visit www.kidskontact.com.au

Maternitywear.com.au

Australia's most AFFORDABLE place to shop for Fashion Maternity Wear with huge savings on our collections you can shop online at your convenience on our secure web store  or in store for a huge range of stylish fashion maternity wear from Latest Addition and Materna-Tee designed and made by Cosmic Clothing Company Sydney Australia.

Our maternity wear range includes breastfeeding clothes, bestselling maternity wear jeans, maternity wear for work, and elegant maternity wear evening dresses, comfortable casual pregnancy clothing, maternity pants, stylish casual maternity tops, nursing tops, maternity sleepwear.   With Sizes from extra small to tall and plus size maternity wear Size Range (8 to 26).  We offer the largest range of PLUS SIZE MATERNITY WEAR clothes Available in Australia.  With such great value maternity wear, we ship our maternity wear all over Australia and around the world.
Telephone:  1300 255 628 or 95312955 or http://www.maternitywear.com.au

What does every Parent wish for?  A happy, healthy, confident child. Introducing My Mini Munchkin Home to
Kimochis... toys with feelings inside

Kimochis are perfect if you're experiencing or having trouble with:

• Tantrums and frustration
• Teaching kids how to share or play nicely with others
• Learning/developmental delays or children with additional needs
• Divorce or separation
• Bullying
• Loss or terminal illness
• The "terrible 2's or 3's or 4's or so on
• A child who is going through a big change e.g. transitioning to school, arrival of another sibling etc.
• Or simply if you want to teach your children how to be compassionate, responsible, resilient and respectful.

Being praised as an invaluable tool helping to instil character and confidence in kids, and being adopted in classrooms and homes everywhere, these cute and cuddly characters are a fun, age appropriate way for kids to discuss feelings and behaviour. They come complete with 3 little emotions that can be placed in their tummy and a detailed Feel Guide with ideas for activities and games. They have also just launched their Tool Kit for Teachers which includes the long awaited Kimochi Curriculum written by communication expert Ellen Pritchard Dodge (M.Ed. CCC-SLP).
Kimochis are redefining the way parents, health professionals, caregivers and teachers approach social and emotional education for academic and life success, one feeling at a time. They have proved to be an effective communication tool for children with additional needs such as Asperger's syndrome, autism and other disabilities, engaging children on a visual and tactile level and opening up another avenue to enable them to express themselves.

Kimochis are making feelings fun for everyone. Check out the full range of Kimochi products at http://www.myminimunchkin.com.au/
You will also find a great range of other educational products at My Mini Munchkin. However we pride ourselves in offering quality over quantity so you won't be overwhelmed with 101 products, rather you will find a selected range of items, each hand picked for its quality and educational value.

If you would like some more information or have any questions regarding our Kimochi range or any other product, I would love to hear from you.  http://www.myminimunchkin.com.au/

Transition into Parenthood & Calmbirth®

Julie Clarke is a fully trained childbirth and parenting educator of over 20 years experience, conducting courses in Sylvania, in Sydney's South.

Clients are attracted to attend Julie's classes for her advanced knowledge of Active Birth and her warm, balanced, encouraging approach.

Julie conducts two types of courses, "calmbirth" is one and the other is the "Transition into Parenthood" and referred to as the birth and baby course. Both courses are very popular. Many pregnant couples wisely choose to do both of the courses.

The atmosphere here at Sylvania is stress-free and relaxed, Julie has thought of everything to make this a wonderful, interesting learning experience, with participants kicking off shoes at the door, then entering a very comfortable classroom lounge to rest on purpose designed seating comfortable for pregnant women with generous cushions. An assortment of delicious refreshments are readily available for you and the venue is air-conditioned; snug in winter, refreshing in summer. Even reluctant partners find its welcoming, fun, interesting and easy to participate. They walk out of here inspired!

The group size for each session is limited to allow for participation and interaction.

Use these links for more information on our Transition into Parenthood preparation classes or calmbirth
for more information please For more information please contact Julie on Ph: 9544 6441  Mobile 0401 265 530 or www.julieclarke.com.au

Pencil Grips Plus Two new products are now available....

Activities For Little Fingers is a resource manual for early childhood and kindergarten teachers and parents. It contains reproducible handouts as a well as fun activities to further develop a range of fine motor and self care skills.

The Perspex Writing Slope Board is a great way to assist children to adopt an upright sitting posture, maintain the correct wrist position for drawing and handwriting, and allow good visual contact with the writing or reading page.

If you're looking for stocking fillers or gift ideas for Christmas check out our children's cutlery in 4 fantastic colours, our fun Textured Pop Beads, or for those children heading off to school next year our School Pack, which contains an Easy Hold Ruler, Bear Shaped Eraser/Sharpener, and moulded pencil grip.

As a post-holiday offer, with any order over $20 placed before the end of October, receive a free Writing CLAW grip, Crossover Grip or Original Pencil Grip. Just mention this offer in the 'Comments' section when you checkout and what grip you'd prefer and we'll include it in your package. Remember Pencil Grips Plus is run by a qualified Occupational Therapist, so if you need any advice on products please email us: enquiries@pencilgripsplus.com.au

Introducing your child to child care

Beginning child care can be a difficult time for both parents and children. Some children (and parents) adapt more easily than others. It's normal for some children to look forward to playing with their child care friends, or for you to enjoy spending time back in the adult world.

With a little preparation, the transition into child care can go more smoothly. Here are some tips to help you along.

Introduce the carer
If the carer or centre is not already a person or place your child knows, introduce it slowly.

• Drive past the child care centre.
• Visit for a short time and play with your child, then both go home. This will help establish that childcare is temporary, and gives both of you an opportunity to see how the child feels about the new environment.
• When leaving your child in care for the first time, make it a brief visit. Come back after an hour or two, so your child understands you will always return.

Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is strongest when a child is between eight and 18 months. It is quite normal for children in this age group to be distressed when being left with a carer, but they will usually settle quickly once the parent leaves.

To reduce the impact of leaving your child each day:

• Talk with your toddler or preschooler about child care being temporary - that you will come back in the afternoon and all go home for dinner together.
• Allow time to settle into care each day in a relaxed way, without rushing. Play a game together, or breastfeed your baby before leaving.
• Make sure your child has their security blanket, teddy, or other familiar possessions with them. It may help to give them your worn t-shirt if they are used to having you settle them to sleep at nap time.
• Leave smoothly when the time comes to go. Stopping and starting can prolong the period of time that your child is upset.
• Call the carer when you get to work, if you are concerned about your child's distress. Tell your toddler or preschooler that you phoned and heard that they were playing happily - they will be reassured that you are only as far away as a phone call while they're in care.

Other handy hints
Make sure you allow time for a relaxed pick-up at the end of child care, rather than collecting your child in a rush. A baby might want a reunion breastfeed, or your child might want to show you what they've been doing while you were gone.

Some children need extra rest after a day in care, as the child care environment can be very stimulating. Most children will settle into their new routine, even with part time or occasional care, within seven or eight weeks. If your child is still not coping, you may need to consider a different style of care, or reducing the amount of care each week.

Keep in mind that there are many different forms of child care, and an experienced carer may have suggestions that help your child gently adjust to their new environment. Ultimately, your instincts as a parent are the best guide to whether your child needs more time to settle into care.