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Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most exciting times of the year, especially for children. It’s a time for sharing, giving, and gathering with family and friends. Make it a handmade affair, and here are some suggestions to get you started.   🎄 Christmas Crafts Make decorating the Christmas tree a family affair by encouraging children to create their own decorations. Here are some child-friendly and practical decoration ideas. ·       Handmade Christmas wrapping paper using your child’s artwork. ·       Use cut-out shapes of your hands to form a shape of a wreath or Christmas tree. ·       Create your own snow globe using an old jar and a special family photo.   🎄 Baking Everybody enjoys receiving yummy Christmas treats.  Here are some fail-proof and easy recipe ideas. ·       Make salt dough decorations for the Christmas tree ·       Christmas shortbread            ·       Bliss balls ·       Strawberry Santas 🎄 Giving This time of year is a perfect time to teach children about the spirit of giving.  Whether it’s thanking the postman, baking for a neighbour or generally giving in some way, it is the little warm fuzzies that mean a lot. ·       Cookie mixture in a jar (this is all the ingredients and a recipe in one) ·       Homemade Christmas decorations ·       Create your own calendar with personalised photos ·       Make salt playdough decorations for the Christmas tree   🎄 Children’s Christmas Stories We all know how much children love listening to stories, and what better time to treat your child to a new Christmas story?  After collecting a new book each year, it won’t be long before you have your own library of Christmas books. ·       Slinky Malinki – Christmas Cracker ·       A Pukeko in a Punga tree ·       A Kiwi Jingle bells ·       All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth   🎄 Christmas events happening in Howick and East Auckland this festive season: There are many places to visit around Auckland, and here are a few that the family might enjoy: ·       Stockade Hill Howick, Christmas Lights: Sunday, 30 November, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm ·       Howick Village Christmas Fair: Friday 5 th  December ·       Twilight Christmas @ Howick Historical Villag; Saturday 6 th  December 7.00pm – 11.30pm) ·       Howick Santa Parade; Sunday 7 th  December 2.30pm – 3.30pm   We hope your holiday season is fun and festive, and your house will now be filled with many exciting new homemade Christmas treasures.

Rockabye Early Learning Centre, in Highland Park, takes the care and education of young children seriously.  Today, the focus is on introducing children to some springtime activities. It’s springtime, and there are buds on the trees, the air feels warmer, and you can finally get out of the house and enjoy some time outdoors in between showers. When Spring arrives, it certainly seems to brighten up our lives, with the arrival of baby animals, pretty flowers, and nature springing to life.  It certainly puts a spring in everyone’s step! Here are some fun spring activities for your children to take part in. 1.  Enjoy nature in your garden Who knew there was so much fun in the backyard?   The garden is a great place for kids to learn about nature. From bugs to slugs to growing things, there’s always something going on, even if you only have a small garden. 2.  Paint spring pictures Get out the art materials and paint some spring pictures together.  Ask your child what they think they can see in Springtime and choose one or more things to paint.  Maybe they would like to do a spring scene with lots of Springtime things in it. Rainbows are fun to paint, too. 3.  Grow egg cress heads Plant some cress in empty egg shells to grow eggy cress heads !  Cress is an absolute breeze to grow – you don’t even need soil or potting compost, since cress will grow in kitchen paper or cotton wool.   4. Plant seeds  Every child loves gardening, there’s something about squishing your fingers into the soil and of course the watering after you’ve planted the seeds is so fun.  Some popular crops for planting include: beans, carrots, lettuce, peas, potatoes and spring onions. 5.  Make a homemade bird feeder Try making a bird feeder for your garden.  All you need to do is find a clean, empty   yogurt container and poke a hole through the bottom. Push some string through the hole and tie a knot so it can’t be pulled back out. Melt butter in a small pan, and stir in some birdseed.  Spoon the mixture in the yogurt container and let it harden as it cools. 6. Dig for worms Worms love cool, dark places, and the evening time is good for finding worms or after a rain shower. You’ll need clothes that can get dirty, a shovel or spade and a container to put them in (don’t forget air holes).  When you’ve finished looking at your worms, release the worms in your compost pile and garden beds; they help make the soil even better. Enjoy your springtime fun!

As winter approaches, it's the perfect time to think about how to keep your family healthy and happy during the colder months. At Rockabye Early Learning Centre , we know that winter often brings its share of bugs and viruses, but with a little preparation, you can help your little ones thrive, whether they’re at home, in daycare  or preschool. Clothing 🧣🧥 Young children tend to get cold more quickly than adults, so dressing them in layers is key! Here are some tips: • Layer Up:  Choose clothing that can be easily added or removed. This way, your child can stay comfortable while enjoying outdoor play at daycare or preschool. • Make It a Routine:  Encourage your child to wear their jacket as part of your leaving-the-house routine. This helps them remember to stay warm! • Don't Forget the Essentials:  Hats and socks are a must, as a lot of body heat is lost through the head and feet. Keep Your Home Warm 🏡🔥 Creating a cozy environment is essential for your family's health: • Ideal Temperature:  Aim for a home temperature of around 18–20ºC to keep everyone comfortable. • Fresh Air:  Open windows for a short time during the day to let in fresh air, then close them before it gets too chilly. • Safety First:  Ensure heaters are out of reach of little ones and consider using a fire guard for extra safety. • Combat Dampness:  A dehumidifier can help reduce dampness and mould, which can lead to respiratory issues. Nutrition 🍏🥦 While no single food can prevent illness, a balanced diet supports overall health, something we also prioritise at Rockabye Early Learning Centre : • Seasonal Goodness:  Incorporate delicious seasonal foods like pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, kumara, beetroot, kale, spinach, mushrooms, citrus fruits, kiwifruit, and apples into your meals .• Soothing Drinks:  Homemade lemon and honey drinks are perfect for those days when someone is feeling under the weather. Keeping Children Entertained 📚🎶 When illness strikes, keeping your little ones entertained can make a big difference. • Cozy Storytime:  Snuggle up under a blanket and enjoy some storybooks together. Libraries have plenty to choose from! • Creative Play:  Build a fort with chairs and sheets, fill it with cushions, and read stories inside. • Active Fun:  For healthy kids bursting with energy, try games like musical statues, ‘Simon says,’ or ‘hide & seek.’ • Embrace the Rain:  Don’t shy away from a little drizzle! Equip your family with umbrellas and raincoats and enjoy splashing through puddles in gumboots. While we can’t stop winter from arriving, following these simple suggestions from our team at Rockabye Early Learning Centre  will help you and your family be ready to embrace the season with warmth and joy. Stay cozy and healthy! 🌈 ❤️