Your Outdoor Childcare

10/08/2024

Happy weekend. What a beautiful day to be out doors in South-East QLD today. Winter sun is the best! I wrote this post during the week because I’m seeing more and more Director burnout and just burnout in general. While I don’t have a magic wand here are some strategies I found help. Winter sun, change of routine and go out in nature needs to be added! Look after yourselves. You are important to so many little people. Xx

I always thought Directing was by far the hardest job. Do a quick google search and you will see loads of articles dedicated to avoiding childcare burnout and stress. When directors or managers share that they have lost their way and feel like quitting, here are 7 things I do to combat burnout and re-engage my passion.

1️⃣ Take a break - have you had some annual leave lately? Our leaders are often the last ones to get a break letting everyone take go first. Remember, oxygen mask! You can’t serve others if you need help yourself.

2️⃣ A moment in time - Understand that even the best directors go through slumps, periods of doubt and wanting to give up. There will always be some people that want to take you down.

3️⃣ Who is in your corner? A supportive owner? Assistant Director? It can be lonely at the top. (This is my friend Summer Picha’s book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Its-Loney-Top-Organizational-Educational-ebook/dp/B0BHBJR6VH?dplnkId=62753738-ee45-41ad-ba43-7efdb1dd2367&nodl=1). You need a team. You can’t be the engine all the time.

4️⃣ Train your brain - What professional networks are you part of? If only to feel you are not alone you will find these groups give you energy, fuel your professional passion and often get you out of the. Centre.

5️⃣ Connect with your staff, human to human. Get out of the centre. Take staff for one on ones at a coffee shop with the simple goal of connecting, less work convo, more personal convo.

6️⃣ Lack and gratitude can’t exist at the same time. Whenever you are feeling down look around and choose three things you are grateful for.

7️⃣ Hold babies - whenever I forget my why I go sit in the babies room. Being with the children very quickly reminds me why I’m doing what I’m doing. Children are worth it. Spend less time in the office and be in and around your centre. Connect with parents on a deeper level.

Be kind to yourself.

02/07/2024

MORE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS!
INCLUSIVE AND ACTIVE
Dear Fellow Inclusivity Advocates,

I am starting a new group next week in conjunction with the GCCC Active and Healthy Program. I have included the flyer below. I would love you to share with anyone that would be suitable.

Rockhoppers are funny little cheeky penguins, and kids (and parents/carers) will love this inclusive active play session for children from 0-8 years.

With an emphasis on sensory elements, children will be given agency to move between a range of activities at their own pace. The focus will be on the development of gross and fine motor skills, social skills and self-regulation.

While these sessions are suitable for all, they are also designed to support children who have developmental delays, sensory issues or are neurodiverse (e.g. ASD/ADHD/Down Syndrome/Intellectual Impairment).

**Only $5 per session

WEEKLY: commencing Wednesday 10th July

TIME: 9:30am-11am

AT: Penguin Parent Education Network

6 Railway St, Southport

BOOK HERE: https://www.penguined.com.au/rockhoppers-active-play.html

MORE INFO: 0473067601 / [email protected]

08/05/2024

I made this video for Penguin and it struck me how powerful nature therapy can be. The garden at Penguin Parent Education Network plays such a significant role in minimising trauma through nature. There is nothing flash or new about what is being done but the power is being immersed in the simple joys of the natural environment.

06/03/2024

Have you got your ticket yet??? Come and join me at this awesome conference. Loads of sessions over loads of days. If you come to my session I’ll shout you a drink/coffee etc 😁. (Yes I do have the fear of a 6 year old having a birthday party fearing no one will turn up. 🤔)

EARLY BIRD RATES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO FRIDAY 15 MARCH!

Don’t miss out, register today to join us in Melbourne for the FRSA National Conference 2024.

Find out more at: http://frsa.org.au/Conf2024

Melbourne Convention Bureau

09/02/2024

gung hei faat choi and Happy Lunar New Year to all those celebrating. Go forth with passion and pursue your early childhood dreams!
Goals/Dreams
🌈what are your goals for this year?
🌈what is your “word/words of the year”? (Mine are Brave - I’m doing a few out of comfort zone things for my big 5 0 year, and Health - as I have a bit of catching up to do from last year.
🌈what are the goals if your children? Have you captured their voice in this?
🌈what are the goals of their parents for them?
🌈how/wear have you documented all this? Older children can make dream/vision boards, cutting out pictures from a magazine or printed from the internet. https://pin.it/1F6Fn9LOB

24/01/2024

TOUGH TRAY FIND!
Like many of you I am on the Kmart educators page. But I found this tough tray in the ikea garden section. It’s lower and the top comes off! Super easy to put together by hand, two butterfly screws. $69. Perfect for the outdoors, small worlds and messy play.

23/01/2024

What is this??
📓An awesome book??
Well yes, but……

This book represents a special ritual for a child and their parent at a supported contact visit. It sits on Lucy’s desk, “saved”. The paper is the bookmark indicating the chapter they are up to. Parent and child take turns reading. Saving it on Lucy’s desk give the child a sense of belonging which reassures them when the arrive for the visit. Or!!! Take it outside under a tree. Sit in a cubby, change it up.

This book is…
📓a chance to connect
📓an extra reason to come to Penguin
📓a reason to snuggle up close
📓brilliant for brain development
📓a time to be calm

We have loads of chapter books and books for all ages. Children can even borrow them.

💡Extend on this away from the centre by having two books, one for the child and one for the parent to read “together” during phone/zoom calls.

23/01/2024

What is exciting you today????

11/01/2024

Barefoot is the best! 😁👣👣👣👣 When creating your risk assessment consider if being barefoot might actually be safer.

Consider:
🦶age of child
🦶environment
🦶weather
🦶type of equipment (eg climbing is safer without shoes)
🦶activity
🦶type of shoes (thongs can be lethal)

04/01/2024

It was a lovely surprise to see the memory come up of my 2020 podcast with the amazing and inspirational from Wearthy. The last 4 years has been an amazing journey and changes to navigate but these long term relationships and friendships with people who share my passion for early childhood will always be important to me. 🩵🩵🩵🩵 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7q3mPNt8Mn3AuNfDPFTITR?si=LnS2bWMGR8WJNw9r6vNq2A

Listen to this episode from Play It Forward, A Wearthy Podcast on Spotify. Episode 3 of Play it Forward. Lukas chats to Lucy Cook, Co-Founder of Amaze Education. A Mother, Business Owner and Teacher with a Masters of Education. Lucy discusses what it's like to be a mother of children with Asperges....

02/01/2024

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R 2 0 2 4 !
I posted this on my Lucy Cook Child Care Results page but really think it’s applicable here as well.
🎆Good wishes to you all for an amazing new year. I’m not usually a big resolution person as I find they are too easily broken. However, one thing I do subscribe to is choosing a word or two that becomes my theme or compass for the year.
**SHARE your word(s) in the comments below**
🎆Embarking on a new year is also a wonderful time for early childhood educators to set intentions that will shape their experiences in the classroom. Selecting a word of the year can serve as a meaningful guide, fostering personal and professional growth. Here are some top tips to help you choose the perfect word for the upcoming year. As always the children’s voice is a central theme.

🪩Reflect on Educational Goals:
Begin by reflecting on your educational objectives for the year. Consider the specific areas of growth you want to facilitate in your students and within your teaching practices.

🌱Identify Areas for Professional Development: Pinpoint aspects of your teaching that you want to enhance or develop further. Whether it's fostering creativity, cultivating empathy, or refining communication skills, choose a word that aligns with your professional goals.

💜Connect with Your Teaching Values:
Consider the core values that guide your teaching philosophy. Your chosen word should resonate with these principles, creating a strong foundation for your approach in the classroom.

➕Encourage Positivity:
Opt for a word that carries positive energy and can inspire both you and your children. It could be a quality like "curiosity" or "cooperation," promoting a positive learning environment.

🧸Keep It Child-Friendly:
Choose a word that is simple and easy for young learners to understand. A clear and straightforward word will be more accessible for incorporating into your teaching practices and discussions with children.

👀Visualize Learning Moments:
Envision how your chosen word will manifest in your interactions with children. Visualization can help you integrate the chosen word into daily learning activities, creating a positive impact on your children.

🧘‍♀️Trust Your Instincts:
Allow your intuition to guide you. If a word feels right and aligns with your teaching aspirations, go with it. Trusting your instincts will ensure that your chosen word resonates authentically with your role as an early childhood educator.

🖼️Create a Visual Classroom Reminder:
Once you've chosen your word, create a visual reminder in the classroom. Incorporate it into displays, activities, or discussions with the children. Visual cues can serve as gentle reminders of your guiding principle throughout the year.

🤗Embrace Flexibility in Lesson Plans:
While your word guides your teaching intentions, be open to adapting it based on the evolving needs and interests of the children. Flexibility ensures that your chosen word remains a source of inspiration rather than a rigid expectation.

🎆Throughout the year, celebrate the learning milestones and positive moments you share with your children. Recognizing progress reinforces your commitment to creating a nurturing and enriching early childhood learning environment.
🎆Choosing a word of the year is a heartwarming practice that can infuse intention and joy into your role as an early childhood educator. It becomes a gentle compass, guiding you towards creating meaningful learning experiences for the young minds in your care.
**Ideas in the image attached.