OSHC News

Throughout this year we have witnessed how worldwide events can have a significant impact on our children. It is important to recognise the need to use play to express and process these complex life events. The constant presence of COVID-19 has led to survival camps in the park where we see emotions played out through drama and role play. Children are seen to process and organise their thoughts through their play.

We often recognise stages of deep play by providing unstructured time that allow for children to become engaged.  Deep play allows children to encounter more risk and develop survival skills to conquer their fears. In this type of play, children can find strength (both physical and mental) they never knew they had, to overcome obstacles that they will face through their life time. Through these observations, we are able to identify changes in behaviour and also acknowledge the benefits occurring within.

The value we place in imaginative play and the impact it has on regulating emotions is observed through free play in the unstructured program we offer. This free flowing movement provides opportunities for children to manage and negotiate their socio-emotional interactions. This sets an inclusive environment which in turn shapes their negotiation tactics and self-regulation.  While overseeing children’s play, we often come across situations in which we consider stopping, due to the potential risk involved. However, we need to question whether limiting these activities or movements would be detrimental to the child’s learning, growth and development.

“The playing adult steps sideward into another reality; the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastery.” -Erik H. Erikson

We currently have vacancies for before school care and after school care. To enrol your child, please email email me.

Blessings,

Susan Cooper

Director of OSHC