Parenting a wilful toddler can be filled with joys and challenges, sometimes just moments apart. Toddlers need to interact with other children to help them to learn important social skills such as co-operative play, sharing and taking turns, as well as other developmental areas like problem solving and communication. Here at Oakdowns Early Learning Centre your child will have the opportunity to develop these skills, foster meaningful relationships, and engage in experiences that will benefit them now and in the future.

Here's some helpful tips from the wonderful educators at Oakdowns Early Learning Centre to help you guide your toddler's behaviour.

Distraction/Diversion – To avoid a melt down or conflict, try diverting your toddler's attention to another interesting activity they will enjoy. For example, if it's time to go home from the playground try focusing on the fun things you will do together when you get home like reading a favourite book or enjoying a favourite activity together.

Communication - Encourage toddlers to express themselves in words rather than actions and be sure to focus on and reinforce positive behaviours/efforts. It's also a good idea to get down to their level and speak to them calmly. Being calm and assertive in your approach helps your child to understand how you want them to behave.

Encouraging cooperation – Toddlers like to be able to exercise the right to make choices and feel in control. You can help with this by offering two choices, for example “We are going outside now, would you like to wear your shoes or your gumboots”. When & Then statements also work well with young children, especially if you consistently apply them. An example would be “when you put your hat on, then we can go outside to play”. Keep the statement simple and encourage your child to complete the task so that they can move on to what they want to enjoy.

Finally, toddlers can make a mess with remarkable efficiency, it's great to have different activities available to them, like painting, sandy buckets, or play dough. If you have the space and the weather is fine moving these activities outside can make it easier for you both to make mess with reckless abandon! These experiences and plenty of other fun and messy activities are embedded in our programs at Oakdowns Early Learning Centre on a daily basis.

Please contact us if you would like to arrange for a tour of our beautiful centre, or to discuss these and other helpful tips to help you manage your toddler's behaviour.

 The children who have attended our Holiday program so far have had a blast!
The visit to the skate park and playground was a fantastic day and it was great to see the children all sharing their bikes/ scooters with each other.  What a special treat to have hot chips for our lunch delivered by Jackie!​  Call 0457 036 814 or 6247 6589 to join in the fun!

​We are now offering After School Care & Vacation Care operating at Rokeby Primary School.  
Please note that numbers are limited and subject to Australian Government guidelines.  
Child care benefit and child care rebate apply to all our school age services.
We have a kindy bus equipped with safety seats and can arrange collection of your child in a designated area if you wish to use the After School Care service.

​Our inaugural HOLIDAY PROGRAM will commence on Monday 11 April, continuing until Friday 22 April.
We use qualified child care educators to create and supervise our After School and Holiday programs.
For a glimpse of our planned program for the upcoming holidays, click here.
More information is included on our booking letter.
If you wish to use either After School care or our Holiday Program, and have not yet enrolled, you will need to complete our enrolment form.
If we can provide you with more information, please contact us by any of the following methods: Contact Oakdowns Early Learning Centre: Phone: 6247 6589 Mobile: 0448 169 452;  OSHC mobile: 0457 036 814   Email: oakdownschildcare@bigpond.com.

You may also want to view our flyer with some brief details about these services.

​January has been a big month here at Oakdowns with many children transitioning to their new rooms and new families joining us! We also have many of our older children making the big and exciting transition to school.
 
Transitions offer a time of new opportunities and challenges for children and we try our hardest to make this time positive and exciting for each child.  Our educators work closely with each other and also with our families to ensure that each child feels comfortable with the process.
 
When children move into their new room our educators help each child feel secure and confident in their new environment by supporting them with the new routines and providing play spaces that they know are of interest to each child. This information is gathered from educators from the previous room and from our families.
 
We took some photos last week of these wonderful play spaces that our children transitioning into their new room get to experience throughout the day!  It almost makes you want to go back to being a child yourself!

By Emma Ramsay (working mother to 3 beautiful kids)

All too often us Mums are faced with having to juggle way too many commitments - between family, work, friends, the never-ending housework and those gorgeous kids who insist on eating every single meal time, it's hard to find the time to focus on another really important commitment - YOU!

Just taking a little time each day for yourself will give you the energy and focus to lead a happier, fuller life. And remember a happy mum = happy family.

So here's my top 4 tips for making more time for you in 2016.

1. Child Care - most of us will feel guilty at one time or another about putting our kids into care to go back to work or find more time for ourselves. But finding a quality child day care centre is key to helping you rest easy that your children are well cared for. Oakdowns Early Learning Centre is a family run business with wonderful caring educators and a program that supports your child to learn through play. Give them a call today to organise a tour of their beautiful childcare centre. 

2. Schedule time for fitness outdoors - we all know we feel better after doing something good for our bodies. So why not kill two birds with one stone by doing some exercise and getting some fresh air at the same time. We all know Tasmania has the most beautiful environment so let's make the most of it! 

3. Focus on your goals and aspirations - we often put the needs of our partner and children before our own, but taking the time to focus on what you really want, be it career or personal development, can help you work out a plan for achieving your goals. Putting something down on paper and including a time frame might be just the nudge you need to unlock your potential.​

4. Happy Mum = Happy Family - ever noticed how much easier it is to enjoy time with family after doing something for your self. Be grateful for what you have and remember happy mum = happy family.

We are excited to be hosting this year's Christmas party for our families next Thursday.  A great opportunity for our families to mix with our fantastic educational team, support staff, and other families and share some memories of the year we've had.