Platypus Playcentre

Starting at the daycare

The first couple of days a child is away from parents and familiar surrounding are obviously difficult for the child and the parents! Unfortunately, it’s normal for children to become a little anxious and unsettled for a short time.
To help your child settle in, we recommend you visit the centre for an hour or two with your child before starting regular sessions. You’ll both get to know the place and the people.
What to Bring on Your First Day:
• Parents of babies, please supply us with formulas and bottles if needed
• Sheet and blanket for babies and for older children who sleep during the day
• A named bag containing a complete change of clothes, including a sunhat for summer, and a coat, hat and gumboots for winter
• Nappies/Diapers for children who are not toilet trained
• Lunch each day
Handy Platypus Hints:
• Label all your child’s clothes and belongings clearly – get great labels here
• Dress your children in appropriate clothing as paint and glue can stain

Dropping off and picking up

Entry to the daycare is only admitted through the front door.
Full day and morning children are to be delivered into the centre no earlier than 7:45am and no later than 9:30am.
Morning children must be collected by 12:45pm.

Pick up must be no later than 5:30pm

Your child must be personally delivered to a staff member, and a staff member must be informed of his/her departure.

A late pick-up fee of $10 for every ten minutes over the collection times will be charged.
If children are not picked up by closing time, every attempt will be made to contact the parent, alternate contact person or emergency contact person. Is this is unsuccessful the child welfare officials will be contacted one hour after closing time.

Daily schedule

Below is an outline of the daily schedule for Platypus Playcentre. Both groups will have a similar daily schedule; however the younger toddlers group will have a lot more flexibility. Considering the individual care needed per toddler for naps and snacks, schedule times may vary.

7:45am Centre opens and children are free to come in and play as they choose (free play)
9:30am Mat time
10:00am Morning tea/snack time
10:30am Outdoor play (free play)
11:30am – 12:00pm Lunch time

1:00pm Quiet time – this will be an opportunity for children to nap if they need to or play quietly on a mat for a little down time.
1:45pm Free play
2:15pm Mat time
2:45pm Afternoon tea/snack time
3:15pm Outdoor play (free play)
4:45pm Indoor play (free play)
5:30pm Centre closes

At Platypus Playcentre each of our staff members will be fully interacting with the children during their whole time at the centre.

Free play this simply means that the children will be free to choose which activity, toy, or part of the room they wish to be in.

Programs and activities

Below is a list of the activity centres that will be available for the children every day. The specific toy, task, challenge or experience at each centre will change as the programming requires.
Each activity centre heading has a simple explanation of why the centre will be an important part of the daily activities, but please know that each centre will promote many positive experiences that are not listed.

Roos – 31 – 60 Months Group:
PAINTING AND DRAWING
* Allows for individual creative expression
ARTS AND CRAFTS
* Encourages children to use their own ideas creatively
PUZZLES AND CONSTRUCTION GAMES
* Promotes concentration and problem solving skills
BOOKS AND DISCUSSION
* Helps develop or continue a child’s love of books and reading. It also will help build comprehension skills.
MESSY PLAY
* Works little fingers strengthening fine motor skills
BLOCKS
* Encourages creativity, balance and problem solving skills
DRAMATIC PLAY
* This gives children a chance to play out their worlds
MAT TIMES
* Teacher directed – a time for joining the group, building listening skills, taking turns, discussing topics and playing together.
OUTDOOR PLAY
Climbing
Bike riding
Running
Rolling
Kicking
Catching
* All activities will promote gross motor skill development and coordination
SAND PLAY
* Encouraging sharing, working together, creativity and imagination.

Joeys - 12 – 30 Months Group:
MESSY PLAY
* Encouraging the children to use their fingers and hands
BLOCKS AND BUILDING TOYS
* Helping children to concentrate
MAT TIME
* Teacher directed – a time for joining the group, building listening skills, taking turns, and playing together.
DRAMATIC PLAY
* Encourages creative imaginative play
ARTS AND CRAFTS
* Encouraging the children to use their fingers, hands and express themselves
BOOKS
* Promoting a love of reading
OUTDOOR PLAY
Tumbling
Climbing
Rolling
Pushing
Walking
Crawling
* All encouraging gross motor skills

Food

For the infants, formula or milk in labeled bottles needs to be provided to the daycare daily.
Children will bring their own labeled snack/lunch boxes with appropriate balanced healthy food choices. Platypus will provide healthy snacks for the children but we ask if your child has specific dietary needs that we are advised of these and the appropriate food is supplied to Platypus Playcentre. Please provide the appropriate container for food that needs to be heated, warm soups etc in a thermos are also acceptable. We also ask you do not send pop, candies or other sweet treats with high levels of sugar. Platypus Playcentre will provide water and juice for the children at snack times – please specify to the staff what you prefer your children to drink.

News and updates

We will produce a monthly newsletter which we will send home with the children.
Our website www.platypusplaycentre.com contains additional information and will be updated often through our news/blog section so visit it regularly.
We will provide a forum section on our website where parents can interact and communicate with each other.

Birthdays

We will acknowledge the children’s birthdays at Platypus Playcentre with special circle time and a small gift from us at Platypus. If you wish to send a special treat for your child to share on their birthday please let us know ahead of time so we can have everything ready at Platypus.

Naps and quiet time

In the toddlers section we will have the children napping in the morning and afternoon if this is what they still require. We will have cots for the children but we ask that you provide a familiar blanket from home for their sleep time.
In the three to five year old section we will have quiet time from 1:00pm till 1:45pm and children if they still nap will be able to at this period, if they continue sleeping we will allow them to until 2:30pm. Those who do not nap will be able to get up at 1:45pm but we will continue a quiet play time until 2.30pm. Please send with your children daily a favorite blanket for this quiet time.

Books

Here at Platypus Playcentre we participate in the Scholastic Children’s Book Program.  Each month a catalogue will be available for you to purchase books.  As part of this program Platypus Playcentre receives a number of free books for the children.

 

 Email This Page