Research shows that children's development and learning is continuous. There are plenty of opportunities to learn regardless of the season. There are two important reasons why children benefit from care throughout the holiday period. Consistency and predictability of care are essential benefits, as is a more gradual transition into the new year.
Maintaining Routine, Rituals and Rhythm
Educators within the infant's space consistently maintain routines, rituals and intrinsic rhythms created by families in their home context. Educators support these routines within the Lifelong Learning Centre and ensure that infants in the Healthy Beginnings Room experience holistic support due to the safe, secure, nurturing connections built with key stakeholders and Educators. A familiar routine plays a significant role in a child's healthy social-emotional development, stimulating their growth and fostering confidence, curiosity and social skills.
Young children are born to learn, and we ensure that consistent routines at our centres support children in their learning rather than disrupting valuable and enjoyable experiences. Breaking consistency in learning or play experiences may confuse children and prevent them from immersing themselves in subsequent play.
Our Educators thoughtfully manage routines and rituals throughout the day, creating moments rich in potential for interactive learning and developing secure, solid relationships for children.
Schemas In Action
The festive season is filled with happiness, connection and joy within Affinity's Lifelong Learning Centres, your local community and your household. Connecting with your children through play schemas at home also supports your child's holistic well-being and development by noticing repeated and persistent patterns of behaviour, deep fascinations and curiosities. During the festive season, this may be shown by your child placing toys / items in empty boxes, containers or bags and moving them to different places in the home. A way to further provide opportunities for your child to support the play schema of transportation is for children to have access to items where they can place objects, such as opened gift boxes, baskets or buckets. These activities will support your child's innate interests as they are currently developing an understanding of the world around them by engaging in schematic play in action.
Moving Up To The New Room
As children move to new rooms or environments, it can be an emotional time to try adjusting to new environments and establishing relationships with new children and Educators. To ensure this process is smooth, we conduct "transition visits" from December to provide enough time for children to spend time in their new rooms and become comfortable with their new learning environment. These visits also allow them to develop relationships with peers and Educators.
Our Lifelong Learning Centres are valuable resources for families during the holiday season, providing consistent care and support for children's development while maintaining routines, rituals and rhythm. This support is essential in helping children navigate the changes that come with the end of the year. Our dedicated Educators ensure a holistic approach, fostering secure relationships and creating teachable moments and meaningful experiences. During these moments and experiences, the focus on play schemas adds an extra dimension, promoting holistic well-being and encouraging children's innate curiosity.
Healthy Beginnings Curriculum
The Lifelong Learning Healthy Beginnings Curriculum for babies’ birth–1-year-olds emphasizes the establishment of secure attachments and positive relationships between babies and educators through the use of Circle of Security and learning zones focused on play schemas.
Early Experiences Curriculum
The Lifelong Learning Early Experiences Curriculum for 1-3-year-olds emphasizes the development of Toddlers’ language and social development using the Abecedarian approach within our intentional learning zones focused on play schemas.
School Readiness Curriculum
The Lifelong Learning School Readiness Curriculum for 3-5-year-olds emphasizes enquiry-based projects and foundation academic skills to support children’s development of key 21st-century school-readiness.