Local childcare centres have not closed their doors once throughout the pandemic despite many challenges, with educators working hard to maintain normality in children’s lives.
Mount Gambier Child Care Centre Director Fiona Paltridge believed it was important to highlight the work of childcare educators because of the essential role they play in the community.
Ms Paltridge said workers had to make changes to how the centre operated in relation to COVID-19, striving to maintain a normal and cheerful centre while keeping children safe.
“One of my philosophies was that we needed to keep our high-quality practice,” she said.
“That no matter what happened we would always put the children’s needs first.”
Ms Paltridge said the centre’s workers had always maintained consistent hygiene practices and had empowered children to take control of their hygiene with additions such as sensor taps.
However, Ms Paltridge said a major challenge was children’s mental health, with many experiencing “emotional irregulation”.
Ms Paltridge said children’s emotional responses could be intense and overwhelming and they can feel the trepidation and anxiety caused by the pandemic, which results in tired, exhausted and frustrated children.
Childcare provides a support network for both children and their families, who Ms Paltridge said had been extremely supportive.
“I think being very clear and transparent and sharing as much as we can with families about what we’re doing to try and make things better has really helped them and kept them relaxed,” she said.
Ms Paltridge said the first three years of a child’s life were critical, particularly for brain and cognitive development.
“We have to make sure that we get that right,” she said.
“Because that foundation for children to thrive is so important in the first three years.”
Ms Paltridge said building relationships and social interaction were priorities, therefore all activities at the Mount Gambier Child Care Centre were collaborative.
They use a Reggio-Emilia curriculum, which perceives the child as capable and competent, and the Marte Meo method, a social-skills building strategy which helps children become good social citizens.
Ms Paltridge said they were also developing a ‘Parent and Child Connection Hub’ which they hoped to launch mid-year and they also hoped to provide something for dads.
“It’s a place where we want to provide lots of opportunities for parents to come together to strengthen their healthy, positive connections with their children,” she said.
“The hub will provide families with an environment where they can be engaged and interested in supporting their child’s development and positive outcomes.”
