If you have not yet brought your Child’s 2018 Enrolment form (blue form) please do so as soon as possible as you child’s 2018 position cannot be secured without an updated enrolment form.

Reminder: For those of you who are leaving Mimosa Kids in 2017, and are planning to leave early, please make sure you give 2 weeks’ notice in writing to the Centre.

DON’T FORGET!!! Our end of year party and Christmas concert is on Friday 15th December @ 10am in the new school hall. We ask for all families that are coming to please bring a plate to share. You can drop your plate of food at the Centre before making your way down to the hall, ready for the concert. Please remember we are an allergy aware Centre and therefore, we ask no nuts or seeds be brought in. So that we can make sure there is plenty of yummy food to go around we ask the Joeys to bring fruit, Bilbies to bring cheese, dips, chips or anything savory and Kookaburras to bring something sweet, cakes, biscuits and cookies etc. Important Dates - Please remember to mark in your calendars our closing date for 2017, Friday 22nd December, and our reopening date, Monday 8th January 2018. Quality Improvement - In December, we as a team focused on Quality Area Seven, Leadership and Service Management, of the National Quality Standards. If you have anything you would like to add to our Quality Improvement Plans please contact the Centre. 9453 1162/ MKenquiries@MimosaKids.com.au Thank you to all our families - Our service always aims to work in a collaborative partnership with all families. Our team has enjoyed connecting and working with families to provide the children of our service experiences that allow them to explore their world and community. We thank all the families of our service, as you have all contributed in your own way. We thank you for allowing us to be a part of your families lives and putting your trust in us to care and look after your most precious treasures, your children. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and a happy new year. We look forward to working with some of you in 2018 and for those moving on next year we wish you all the very best in what is yet to come. The Mimosa Kids Team

Happy Holidays! Some dates to remember…

AT MIMOSA KIDS KOOKS Farewell/ End of Year DISCO----------- 8th

Christmas Concert/ End of Year Party--------- 15th

Last day for 2017----------------------------------- 22nd Re-opening in 2018 --------------------Mon 8th 2018

AROUND THE COUNTRY

International Day of People With Disability --- 3rd Human Rights Day -------------------------------- 10th International Mountain Day --------------------- 11th International Migrants day----------------------- 18th Operation Santa ------------------------------- 1 – 24th

Christmas Day -------------------------------------- 25th

Mimosa Kids PELC

EASY FRESH MINI PIZZAS

A few charming NEW

picture books to finish

off 2017

Here We Are OLIVER JEFFERS | 3-7 YEARS Another stunning picture book from Oliver Jeffers. Perfect for bedtime reading.

BIG HID

Roisin Swales | 3+ YEARS

Tender and vibrant illustrations take children on a refreshing journey of friendship.

Big and Little are the very best of friends. They do everything together! That is until one day, when Big suddenly hides away inside his shell . . . Little tries every method to get Big to come out and play again - he bakes him his favourite cake, he even asks all of his friends for help... but nothing seems to be working! What could possibly be wrong?

SAY ZOOP HERVE TULLET

This is a fun interactive story that encourages readers to explore and interact with the physical book

in all its dimensions.

PREP 10 min | COOK 10 min | MAKES 4 mini pizzas

INGREDIENTS

1-cup (250 grams) ricotta

2 heaped tablespoons Parmesan, grated zest of 1 lemon

4 sprigs thyme, leaves picked

4 wholemeal pita breads

1 zucchini, cut into thin ribbons using a speed peeler

6 stalks of asparagus cut into thin ribbons using a speed peeler

1-tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

3/4 cup (75 grams) shredded mozzarella (or tasty cheese)

100 grams turkey breast, shaved

1/2-cup (125 ml) basil pesto

Tomato wedges and extra pesto, to serve

METHOD: Preheat oven to 200-degrees Celsius (390 F). Line 2

oven trays with baking paper and set aside. Place the ricotta,

Parmesan, lemon zest and thyme into a small bowl and mix to

combine. Place the pita breads onto the oven trays. Divide the

ricotta mix between the pita bread and spread evenly to cover

each base. Place the zucchini and asparagus ribbons into a bowl,

add the olive oil and toss to combine. Top each pita with the

zucchini/asparagus mixture, shredded cheese and turkey. Dot

each pizza with pesto and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden

and cooked. Allow cooling slightly before slicing into chunky

pieces and serving alongside tomatoes wedges and pesto.

Enjoy mylovelylittlelunchbox.com

SAFETY – Remember to always supervise kids in the kitchen.

OPERATION SANTA – 1ST – 24TH The Target and Uniting Care Christmas Appeal has been a gift

giving campaign, offering support to disadvantaged people of

all ages for the past 27 years. The campaign is launched in all

Target stores in early November each year and aims to make

Christmas more special for the thousands of Australians who,

Source: Recipe and images belong to mylovelylittlelunchbox

for various reasons, are unable to celebrate Christmas with gifts. You

can help by placing an unwrapped gift under the Operation Santa

Christmas Tree or you can donate a gift card by selecting a dollar tag

from the tree. Find out more at unitingcarechristmasappeal.com.au.

INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY – 18TH Throughout human history, migration has been a courageous

expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a

better life. On the 4th of December 2000, the General Assembly, taking

into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world,

proclaimed the 18th of December International Migrants Day.

www.un.org/en/events/migrantsday/index.shtml

Make some noise! Shout "OH!" Whisper "oh!" Say "Zoop"? Yes! "Zoop!" "Zoop!" "Zoop!" The newest book from Hervé

Tullet magically responds with bursts of color and moving shapes, empowering children by letting their imaginations

liberate and direct each page's reaction.

Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy. Jeffers created this story especially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents.

FOCUS ARTICLE: Why Telling Family Stories To Our Kids Is So Important Read more: http://www.essentialkids.com.au/development-advice/advice/the-risk-of-not-letting-our-children-take-risks-20170515-gw50nv#ixzz4tJimRh6K Follow us: @essentialbaby on Twitter | EssentialBabyAU on Facebook

Everyone has a story - and kids love hearing these family tales. Funny mishaps when they were younger (they love being the star character), how their parents met, the naughty things you got up to at their age and what you did in the ‘olden days’, these are the stories your children never tire of hearing. So why do children enjoy the telling - and retelling - of these stories so much? “Children are naturally self centered so any story featuring themselves will have an extra attraction. Hearing about family members being younger and getting into adventures, or living at a time when things were different can stir the imagination and the contrast between the grown up and the story of the child can amaze and surprise,” says psychologist and parenting expert Claire Halsey. But these familiar stories are also important in your child’s development and their sense of self. There have been psychological studies that show the more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believe their families function. In one study children were asked questions including: Do you know where your grandparents grew up? Do you know where your mum and dad went to school? Do you know where your parents met? Do you know an illness or something really terrible that happened in your family? Do you know the story of your birth? This “Do You Know?” scale of 20 questions turned out to be the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.

“Our identity is strongly tied to our family and its history; not only where we’ve come from but the family characteristics such as adventure, courage, creativity and even the jobs or achievements of family members,” explains Claire Halsey, co-author of Your Child Year by Year. “Family story telling reinforces those family characteristics and establishes the connection between generations in even the simplest way when, in a story, a child is told of characteristics they share with a parent or other relative.” The sense of a shared past, common experiences and characteristics can be powerfully reinforced in family history or story telling. Differences can be celebrated too and become integrated into the family identity. Stories also constitute family traditions and family rituals, when you re tell stories at celebrations or festive times of year.” Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, has these top tips for parents to encourage family storytelling: 1. It’s never too early to share family stories. Research shows that by the age of five, children in ‘word poor’ households have heard nearly 30 million fewer words than their peers and this holds them back when they start school. What’s more, teenagers in families who regularly talk about their history have higher self-esteem, stronger self-concepts, better coping skills and are more resilient. 2. All families have traditions and a story to tell about them! If your traditions are steeped in history, encourage your child to do some research and find out everything they can. Also get your child to speak as many different family members as possible about the traditions, from grandparents to aunties, uncles and cousins. 3. Create a family memory box and fill it with objects and images that remind you of key events and moments. Whenever you open the box, use the objects to prompt the retelling a family memory. 4. If your child is going through a difficult situation which you can relate to, don’t be afraid to share your experience with them. Family storytelling enables children to learn about powerful emotions and cope with life’s challenges in a safe environment. To read this article in its entirety, follow the link below: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk Source: Huffington Post, 15.5.17. Author Tamsin Kelly

PATTERN PLAY Basic math skills in preschool and kindergarten set the foundation for learning more advanced math concepts later on. Patterning is one of those important early skills. Thankfully, patterns are easy and fun to teach!

How do we teach patterns? We can notice them, hear them,

and physically make them. Here’s a simple progression you

might want to use when you teach patterns:

ABAB (red, blue, red, blue),

ABC (car, truck, plane, car, truck, plane)

AABB (crayon, crayon, pen, pen, crayon, crayon, pen, pen)

AAB (Cheerio, Cheerio, raisin, Cheerio, Cheerio, raisin)

ABB (stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap clap)

Basic math skills in preschool and kindergarten set the foundation for learning more advanced math concepts later on. Patterning is one of those important early skills. Thankfully, patterns are easy and fun to teach! You don’t need any special materials, for this activity, simple items such as leaves and sticks, toy cars or blocks will work fine. So how do we teach patterns?

We can notice them, hear them, and physically make them. Here’s a simple progression you might want to use when you teach patterns: ABAB (red, blue, red, blue),

ABC (car, truck, plane, car, truck, plane)

AABB (crayon, crayon, pen, pen…)

AAB (car, car, raisin, car, car, raisin)

ABB (stomp, clap, clap, stomp, clap clap) Source: A great activity from ‘The measured Mom”. www.themeasuredmom.com/ simple-ways-teach-patterns-preschoolers/

HEALTH & SAFETY: Sun safety - Sunscreen Most skin cancer can be prevented by using good sun protection - It’s never too late to improve your sun protection habits, no matter if you are six months or 60 years old. Slip! Slop! Slap! Seek! Slide! Protect your skin - For best protection, we recommend a combination of sun protection measures: • Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as

possible. • Slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ (or higher)

sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time you spend in the sun.

• Slap on a hat – broad brim or legionnaire style to protect your face, head, neck and ears.

• Seek shade. • Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian

Standards. Sunscreen - There are two types of sunscreen ingredients: 1. Absorbers which absorb most of the UV, and 2. Reflectors that scatter most of the UV away from your skin. Some sunscreens utilise both absorbing and reflecting ingredients. Examples of reflecting ingredients include Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide. UV absorbers use ingredients such as Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor and Butyl methoxy dibenzoylmethane. What does SPF mean? - SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF relates to the amount of time it takes for redness to appear on the skin compared to when no product is used at all. The test is done in a laboratory. For example, if it takes 10 minutes for unprotected skin to show redness, then an SPF30 sunscreen correctly applied, in theory, will take 30 times longer or 300 minutes to burn. However, it is hard to achieve this level of protection in real life - factors such as skin type, ultraviolet (UV) levels, swimming/drying and how much sunscreen you apply can affect the level of protection. To maximise the protective benefit of sunscreen, apply as directed

HOW TO HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS

Christmas doesn't have to be a burden on the environment. With a little effort and imagination, we can reduce the environmental impact of the holiday season. DIY, homemade or vintage gifts - Instead of buying all your gifts new, choose vintage or pre-loved items from markets, op shops or garage sales.

Cards and wrap: time to get crafty - Beautifully wrapped presents quickly turn into a depressing mountain of ripped paper. Cut the waste with material off-cuts, old scarves or vintage hankies. Decorations: deck the halls with recycled goodies - Choose durable baubles and trinkets that will last for

What does broad spectrum mean? – Broad-spectrum sunscreens offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays, the two types of harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. UVB is the principal cause of sunburn, but both UVA and UVB contribute to increased skin cancer risk. The recommendation: The Cancer Council recommends using any sunscreen that is labeled broad spectrum, water-resistant and SPF30 or above. Remember sunscreen alone will not provide adequate protection against overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation always, Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide. UV Index Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the invisible killer that you can't see or feel. UV radiation can be high even on cool and overcast days. This means you can't rely on clear skies or high temperatures to determine when you need to protect yourself from the sun. The SunSmart UV Index is reported daily by the Bureau of Meteorology. The alert identifies times during the day when the UV level is 3 or above and sun protection is needed. As well as appearing on the Bureau of Meteorology website, the alert is published in the weather section of daily newspapers, on Cancer Council Australia's home page and as an app for smartphones. Download the SunSmart app for iOS or Android keep track of the UV levels throughout the day. Always remember to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SEEK and SLIDE!

Article Source: http://www.sunsmart.com.au

years. Instead of using paper napkins, tablecloths, plates and cutlery, go for fabric ones that can be washed and used again. Decorate the table with flowers or pine-cones and get the kids to make name tags and place settings out of last year’s Christmas paper and cards. How to find sustainable and ethical store-bought gifts If getting crafty is not for you, then give some thought to

what you buy, where it came from, who made it and how far it travelled. Shop local and buy Australian-made where possible Read more green Christmas tips at www.greenvillages.com.au/dreaming-of-a-green-christmas/