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Child Care News for Parents & Carers
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April 22, 2020
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Welcome, this week how child care services are reaching out to families during the COVID-19 pandemic, strategies for keeping your allergic child happy and well in their early learning service. Also, dialogic reading, what it is and why it is so great for preschool aged children.
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Amazing child care services doing amazing things
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Early childhood education and care services continue to operate during the COVID-19 outbreak, unless closed for public health reasons, but with large numbers of families choosing to keep their youngsters home, many services are taking an innovative approach to staying connected with families and keeping children engaged in their learning.
Services both large and small have responded quickly and positively to the changed conditions and have started offering a range of resources to educate parents about COVID-19 and support them to educate and care for their children at home.
The wonderful thing about these offerings is that many of them are being made available to all families, not just those who are enrolled with a specific service.
We are delighted to highlight some of these initiatives below, and please drop us a line (editor@careforkids.com.au) if your child care service is going above and beyond to support you in these unprecedented circumstances.
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How to manage food allergies when your child is in care
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Although a food allergy can develop at any age, it's most common in children under five and in percentage terms, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), says that food allergy affects 10 per cent of babies before they turn one, and eight per cent of children up to five years of age.
A food allergy occurs when a person's immune system reacts to a food protein that's usually harmless. Cow's milk, eggs and peanuts are the most common causes of food allergy in children, although tree nuts, sesame, soy, fish, shellfish and wheat are also common triggers.
Allergic reactions can be mild, moderate or severe, ranging from face swelling, hives, stomach pain and vomiting to anaphylaxis – which is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction that can cause throat/tongue swelling, breathing problems and dizziness.
For these reasons, it can feel risky sending an allergic child into a care environment that’s full of messy eaters and close contact. The good news, though, is that food allergies can be managed in the child care setting.
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Why is 'dialogic reading' so helpful for under fives?
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Dialogic reading sounds technical, but it's actually a simple way for grown-ups to actively engage children in books and promote their pre-reading and early language skills.
Here's how you can incorporate this approach into your reading routine.
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