Greetings

Hello everyone, welcome to our December newsletter! As always, we provide an overview of what is happening within our childcare community. This month, we will focus on exploring cultural diversity through holiday traditions.

As we step into the season of joy and festivities, it is a great opportunity to do a cultural exploration of how cultures celebrate Christmas or its equivalent holiday in other cultures. Foster a diverse and inclusive environment by weaving a rich tapestry of holiday traditions and delve into the vibrant celebrations that mark this time of the year for families around the world.

The Power of Inclusive Celebrations: Why Celebrate Cultural Diversity

Exposing children to various cultural traditions not only broadens their understanding of the world but also instils a sense of respect and appreciation for differences. By celebrating holidays from different cultures, children develop a sense of cultural relativism and experience a new way to celebrate Christmas.

A Global Celebration: Spotlight on Holiday Traditions

Christmas is a time of joy celebrated by people around the world. By choosing to celebrate a holiday tradition from a different culture every week, centres can explore the cultural significance of these holidays in various countries–from remote Australian communities to the Indian peninsula and the world over. 

Diwali, the Festival of Lights

Also known as Dipawali, the name comes from clay lamps arranged in a row. Indians light this row of lamps to symbolise the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness. Like Christmas festivities that could go on for days, Diwali is celebrated over five days. They clean their homes, shop gold or kitchen utensils for good luck and decorate their homes with clay lamps. These lamps are arranged in a rangoli pattern using coloured powders or sand. Diwali is a festival where families gather together for a fabulous feast and fireworks.  

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights

Hanukkah came to be celebrated as a miracle of the oil. The oil signifies the single jar of oil left in the ransacked Temple of Jerusalem, which miraculously burned for eight days. Today, Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting a candleholder called a menorah. The menorah holds nine candles–one for each night plus the shamash which is used the light the other eight candles. The festival starts by light the first candle on the first night and continues for the next seven nights until all eight candles are lit. Jewish people recite special prayers, sing songs, and exchange gifts to celebrate and commemorate the miracle that happened in the Temple of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. They also feast on traditional food like latkes or fried potato pancakes and deep-fried jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot. These dishes are deep-fried to represent the long-lasting oil lamp. 

Wangkarnal, Warmun’s Black Crow as Santa Claus

Ngalangangpum School via ABC News

The world recognises Santa Claus as the giver of gifts during the holiday season but one remote community in Kimberley has a different, slightly terrifying but nonetheless exciting tradition of the arrival of the crow. Instead of a jolly old man in a red jumpsuit and a red sack with his team of reindeer, a murder of crows, (usually 3 people dressed up as crows), called Wangkarnal arrives. They scare children at first and children do their very best to act terrified. But as soon as Wangkarnal calls out their name and their gifts are handed out, the screams turn into squeals of joy and laughter. 

Parent and Family Engagement: Enriching Cultural Exchanges

As Christmas is a time of joy celebrated with family and friends, it’s best to engage parents and include them in holiday activities in the centre. From storytelling, to story swapping and cultural exchanges, weave a beautiful tapestry of how Christmas and its holiday equivalent in other cultures are celebrated. 

Storytelling: Christmas Around the World

Feature a collection of books and stories that transport children to different corners of the world, exploring how Christmas and other holidays are celebrated in other cultures. This storytelling initiative encourages literacy development while fostering an appreciation for cultural narratives.

Family Holiday Stories

Invite families to share their holiday traditions and stories with the little ones. From show-and-tell to recorded videos, children can learn firsthand about the unique ways their peers celebrate special occasions. This activity encourages a sense of pride in one’s cultural and familial heritage and strengthens connection between home and childcare. 

Cultural Exchange Day

Hosting a Cultural Exchange Day can be a way for families to showcase aspects of their cultural heritage. From traditional attire, special dishes or holiday customs such as games, it can provide a platform for children to experience these holiday traditions for themselves. It’s also a great way for families to connect with each other, finding a commonality while celebrating diversity.

The Takeaway

As we navigate through the busiest but hopefully, happiest time of the year, weave a beautiful tapestry of traditions that reflects the richness of our diverse community. Through thoughtful exploration and hands-on experiences, childcare centres can commit to fostering a sense of unity, understanding, joy, and diversity among children and families in their care. 

0-12 month development

Origin of cultural learning: Babies imitate because they are imitated

Author: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t München

Have you seen your baby imitating your facial expressions? It seems babies learn to imitate because they are imitated themselves. In the first few months of their life, babies learn so much through imitation. And a parent sensitive to a baby’s signals and prompt in resuming interaction makes a baby a better and faster social learner through imitation.

Find out more about the study and how imitation helps a baby learn social skills faster here.

1-2 year development

Scientist Reveals Essential Activity That Boosts Child’s Brain Development

Author: Pandora Dewan

When it comes to a child’s brain development, there’s one essential activity that boosts it–play. As young children learn more about the world around them through play, it’s the most effective strategy in educating young kids. 

Find out more about the study and how play boosts a child’s brain development here.

2-3 year development

We need to talk about ‘toddler math’

Author: Eleanor Katelaris

Toddler math isn’t what you think it is. In their developing minds, 1+1 isn’t exactly two. Instead, it simply means trying to pinning down your toddlers likes and dislikes into a formula that shapeshifts faster than water. For example, when a toddler wants a banana but when you give it to them, they don’t want it anymore so you eat it. And then finally come around and cry because you ate the banana they didn’t want anymore. That’s toddler math. 

Find more examples of toddler math, how it never adds up and see if there’s even a solution here. 

3-4 year development

How children’s secure attachment sets the stage for positive well-being

Authors: Marissa Nivison, Audrey-Ann Deneault, and Sheri Madigan

Attachment theory, or how a parent responds to their child’s needs forms a child’s attachment style for life. As babies and children express their needs, they learn from a series of experiences how their parents and caregivers respond to them and helps their attachment style, secure or insecure attachment. 

Find out more about how parents and caregivers can help children form a secure attachment here.

4-5 year development

Why are my kids good around other people and then badly behaved with me?

Author: Trevor Mazzucchelli

Have you noticed children turning into sweet little angels when interacting with strangers while being their wacky, mischievous selves when they’re alone with you? Research shows children learn the consequences of their behaviours at home and may act out to produce a reaction. Parents can do some small changes to encourage good behaviour in their children.

Find out what these small changes are in this article.

Easy Sun Prints

Harness the power of the sun this summer by making sun prints. You can do so by using solar-sensitive papers upon which objects and things like flowers, leaves and even uniquely shaped toys can be placed upon to create a distinct print out of the paper. Another more creative way is to use pennies or lego blocks to create a pattern on the paper. 

Find instructions on how to make these interesting sun prints here.

Rainbow Sun Catcher Shadow Art

Enjoy the sunny summer days more with a colourful rainbow sun catcher. This STEM activity teaches kids about shadow and light and how the sun’s rays are able to pass through its translucent cellophane panes. 

Find instructions on how to create a rainbow sun catcher here.

Sunscreen Painting: STEAM for Kids

A STEAM activity perfect for kids who refuse to wear sunscreen, show how it works by creating a sunscreen painting. Using sunscreen, let them paint using sunscreen as their ink and let the finished artwork bake in the sun. After a couple of hours, see how the sunscreen protected the paper’s colour and how the background has faded against direct sunlight. 

Find instructions on how to create this enlightening sunscreen painting here.

Tin Can Ice Cream Science Experiment and STEM Activity

Keep cool this summer by making your own ice cream! This delicious STEM activity will have kids mixing and measuring ingredients. It’ll put their arms and patience to the test. Mixing salt and ice also offers an opportunity for a physical reaction!

See the recipe for a tin can ice cream and learning opportunities in this STEM activity here.