Little Penguins Family Day Care

Today our Little Penguins Family Day Care children enjoyed a truly special visit to Ingenia Gardens where they spent quality time with the wonderful Aunty Jean. 💛

Together, they painted Easter plasters, shared stories and of course enjoyed some yummy Easter eggs! The joy on everyone’s faces said it all—these moments are so meaningful for both the children and the residents.

Intergenerational experiences like these are incredibly valuable. They help children develop empathy, respect and a sense of community, while also bringing companionship, purpose, and happiness to older adults. Building these connections fosters a beautiful exchange of knowledge, stories and care across generations.

We are so excited to continue nurturing these relationships, with plans to visit each month and bring along new activities to share. We can’t wait for our next visit! ❤️❤️

Today we had the incredible opportunity to attend our local library for a special book reading with Indigenous Australian artist Mitch Tambo. He shared his beautifully written story “I Am Me”, weaving in Aboriginal languages and inviting the children to actively participate by answering questions and reflecting on their own identities.

Mitch also took the time to introduce the children to Aboriginal customs and traditions, creating a meaningful and engaging learning experience. The children were full of joy as they sang, danced, and jumped along to familiar songs with an Indigenous twist, building both confidence and connection through music and movement.

Engaging children in culturally rich experiences like this is so important. It helps to foster a sense of belonging, respect for diversity, and an understanding of the world around them. By embedding these meaningful opportunities into early learning, we support children in developing empathy, cultural awareness, and a lifelong appreciation for Indigenous perspectives.

A truly memorable and enriching day for all!

To all the local Early Childhood Educators out there....

Are you looking to make a change in your career? Have you considered opening your own Family Day Care?

I made the jump from Long Day Care 5 years ago and have never been happier in my career. Running my own high quality service has been the best decision for myself and my family!

Come along to our information night this Thursday and see if making the change could work for you. I will be there along with some other FDC educators to have a chat and answer any questions you may have 😊😊

Don't forget! Our Bathurst Family Day Care Prospective Educator Information Evening is THIS THURSDAY!

You still have time to RSVP via phone, email, or a quick message to our page.

Join us for some light refreshments, lot's of information, and the opportunity to talk to some current Educators with our scheme that can share the many benefits that Family Day Care can offer you and your family.

We look forward to welcoming you!

At Little Penguins Family Day Care, the safety, wellbeing and rights of children are at the heart of everything I do. As an educator, I am committed to ongoing professional development, including regular Child Protection training, to ensure I continue to provide high-quality early childhood education and care.

Child Protection training can be confronting and, at times, difficult. The topics discussed highlight the very real risks some children face and it can be emotional to learn about the signs of harm and neglect. However, I understand how vital this training is. It strengthens my ability to recognise when a child may need support and ensures I know the correct steps to take to protect and advocate for them.

This training also strengthens my understanding of my responsibilities under Australia’s National Quality Framework and Child Safe Standards. It aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework, particularly the principle of Secure, Respectful and Reciprocal Relationships. When children feel safe, supported and protected, they develop a strong sense of belonging and confidence to explore, learn and grow.

By continuing to update my knowledge and skills, I am committed to ensuring that Little Penguins Family Day Care remains a safe, nurturing and responsive environment where every child can feel secure and thrive. 💙🐧

🦕🦖 Dinosaur Playdough Play 🦖🦕

Playing with playdough alongside dinosaurs and natural loose parts like leaves, sticks, and acorns offers children a rich, hands-on way to learn and grow through play.

Squishing, rolling, and shaping playdough strengthens fine motor skills. Using dinosaur figures sparks imagination, storytelling, and early science curiosity about prehistoric life and habitats. Adding natural loose parts brings in sensory exploration and creativity—children experiment with textures, patterns, and simple engineering as they build nests, tracks, and tiny “worlds” for their dinosaurs.

This kind of open-ended play also supports problem-solving, language development, and emotional expression, giving kids the freedom to invent, explore, and make meaning at their own pace.

💧🐈🦒🐋Frozen Animal Rescue 🐧🦏🐪🧊

During the holidays, some of my schoolies decided to set up this experience. They independently gathered the animals, cups and bowls then filled them up with water and placed them in the freezer for the next day.

This experience offers a rich mix of sensory exploration and problem-solving. As children experiment with different tools, they learn cause and effect, planning, and persistence while figuring out what works best to melt, crack, or chip away the ice.

The cold, slippery texture and changing states of water engage the senses and spark curiosity, while the open-ended nature of the task encourages creativity and flexible thinking.

This kind of play also builds fine-motor strength and hand-eye coordination, all while keeping children focused, motivated, and proudly independent as they solve a playful challenge through trial and error.

🙈🙈 GOOP PLAY 😍😍

3 simple ingredients made for so much exploration, discovery, creativity and fun!!! A great experience to keep children of all ages engaged and happy during the school holidays. We love our messy play 🥰

🎄❤️🎄12 DAYS OF KINDNESS 🎄❤️🎄

Day 12. Cooking dinner for our families. Everyone is so busy this time of year so we wanted to ease some of that stress by cooking a yummy Bolognese Bake to take home. Such a great end to our 12 Days of Kindness this year! A big Merry Christmas to all our families! ❤️❤️

🎄❤️🎄12 DAYS OF KINDNESS 🎄❤️🎄

Day 11. Today we got to say a big thankyou to our much loved Carrolyn from Bathurst Regional Council Children's Services as we gave her a special Christmas gift. Carrolyn is our chauffeur, bringer of yummy treats and our absolute favourite visitor! Thankyou for being so amazing and Merry Christmas Carrolyn! ❤️❤️

* I missed the handing of presents and cuddles photos as they were too quick!

🎄❤️🎄12 DAYS OF KINDNESS 🎄❤️🎄

Day 10. Getting crafty with making more cards for people in our community. We also had to make a big card for Santa which I need to leave out Christmas Eve for him to collect ❤️❤️

🎄❤️🎄12 DAYS OF KINDNESS 🎄❤️🎄

Day 9. Words from my little friend "it is important we be kind to ourselves too" and what better way to treat ourselves than with some delicious Christmas cupcakes! We made plenty to share with all our friends at our Playgroup Christmas Party this week too. A big Merry Christmas to all my little friends! I have never encountered such kind, caring and thoughtful little souls ❤️❤️

🎄❤️🎄12 DAYS OF KINDNESS 🎄❤️🎄

Day 8. Gifting our bus driver with a lovely handmade card and some chocolates. We love catching the bus, whether it be to the park or into town for different adventures. Our bus drivers are always so kind and love to have a chat with us on our travels so when my friends suggested we make a card to say thankyou and Merry Christmas, I jumped at the chance to add it to our kindness calendar. Merry Christmas to all the bus drivers out there!! ❤️❤️