REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL
LINDFIELD NEWSLETTER 11th November 2022
Principal’s Message
By Christine Irwin
Dear Parents, In previous newsletters, I have discussed the area of sun protection and the importance of outdoor play. This is also important for our younger students at Reddam ELS Lindfield. One of the most favourite parts of my day is visiting our stage 1 classrooms. You may have also had the wonderful experience of walking past our babies and have a happy wave or being blown a kiss from our beautiful babes. Recently we have increased our times outdoors and changed our routine so the children are outdoors earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon. The babies and toddlers are no exception and in a recent visit to the classroom, it was lovely to see the bubs playing in their beautifully shaded playground with the mud kitchen, blocks to climb on and the tiny tent to hide in. Of course, just like our older students the babies and toddlers love to garden, they may have a different style of gardening and have to be reminded how to keep the plants in the dirt but nonetheless they are enjoying their time with the educators caring for our environment. The benefits of outdoor play for babies are many, As stated by ACECQA Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority: “Outdoor experiences are an important part of children’s healthy growth, learning, wellbeing and development. The benefits of outdoor learning environments and engagement in nature play for young children are varied and many. Encouraging babies to spend time in the outdoor environment (including touching sand, grass, dirt or leaves), has potential health benefits and can help stimulate their immune systems. “ ACECQA , 2019 Having the separate playgrounds for all the stages here at Reddam ELS Lindfield provide an opportunity for our youngest to explore their environment freely without the concern of older children interrupting the children’s experience or space. Outdoor play for babies and toddlers extends all developmental areas and is a great backdrop for experiences provided by our educators to extend the children’s self- awareness of where they fit into the world whilst increasing their feeling of belonging, being and becoming. “Opportunities to move freely, grasp objects, kick legs, crawl and observe others running and playing supports physical development. Research indicates that spending time in fresh air also encourages better healthy sleep patterns for babies as they begin to understand the difference between night and day. Making sense of new sights, smells, textures and sounds stimulates brain development and provides a foundation for learning by encouraging discovery and exploration. “ ACECQA 2019