Mim's Place Family Day Care

Today didn’t quite go according to plan!
Our planned outing wasn’t possible due to some changed circumstances, so instead of letting that derail our day, I asked the group what they would like to do.
The answer was a very enthusiastic “MAKE BROWNIES!”
So brownies it was!
One of the things I love most about Family Daycare is the flexibility it allows. Plans can change, and I can follow the children’s interests in the moment while still creating meaningful learning experiences and meeting their individual needs.
Today’s change of plans turned into a wonderful opportunity for cooking, measuring, mixing, turn-taking, conversation, following instructions and, of course, taste-testing the finished product.
Sometimes the best learning experiences aren’t the ones written on the plan. They’re the ones the children help create.

Today was Daffodil Day
The children created their own beautiful daffodils using tissue paper, gluing the pieces onto our flower templates.
I prepared the tissue paper in different colours and shapes including squares, triangles and oblongs, turning a simple art experience into lots of learning along the way.
We were developing:
Colour recognition and matching
Shape recognition
Fine motor skills through picking up, placing and gluing
Hand-eye coordination and concentration
Creativity and decision-making
A lovely, hands-on way to talk about Daffodil Day while letting the children explore colour, shape and texture through art.

Time to pack Bunji's suitcase!
With Bunji's big adventure getting closer, there was one very important job left to do… decide what he needs to pack!
After lots of discussion and sharing of ideas, the children decided Bunji should take:
A hat
Sunglasses
His passport
A towel
A brush
A toothbrush and toothpaste
Bandaids
A book to read
A camera
Snacks
A toy to cuddle
There was lots of thinking involved as we talked about why Bunji might need each item and what it might be like travelling away from home.
I think Bunji is going to be very well prepared!
His suitcase is packed and the excitement is building… not long now until the adventure begins

Yay, our spring seeds have arrived!
There’s something pretty special about watching a tiny seed become something the children can eventually pick, taste and enjoy.
Our latest seasonal seed collection from Grow It Local has arrived, and this time we’ll be planting rocket, beetroot and lettuce. Soon there will be little hands digging in the soil, planting seeds, watering, checking for those first tiny shoots and patiently watching our garden grow.
Gardening offers so much learning for young children — connecting with nature and the changing seasons, developing fine and gross motor skills, building patience and responsibility, encouraging curiosity and problem solving, and creating wonderful opportunities to explore where our food comes from.
And, of course, there’s always the excitement of eventually tasting something we grew ourselves!
Now to get planting… I wonder which seeds will pop their heads up first?

Bunji is officially ready for take-off!
Today Bunji received a very important document... a passport!
The children were excited to discover that, just like people, Bunji needs a passport to travel to new countries. We talked about what a passport is, why it's important and how it helps people travel safely around the world.
Bunji's passport even says his occupation is Nature Explorer and Travel Friend—a job the children thought was just perfect!
Now that his passport is ready, Bunji is one step closer to his big adventure. Next stop... packing and planning the journey!
Stay tuned as we continue counting down to Bunji's travels.

As our adventure gets closer , the children helped create Bunji's Travel Rules before our little koala begins his overseas adventure.
Together we decided that wherever we go, it's important to:
1. Be kind.
2. Learn new things.
3. Care for Country and the environment.
4. Use our manners.
5. Pick up our rubbish.
6. Make new friends.
7. Respect different cultures and traditions.
These simple ideas sparked wonderful conversations about kindness, caring for our world, and how people may live differently from us. We can't wait to see where Bunji travels and the stories he'll share with us along the way

Thursday
Today we made brownies!
To the children, it's a fun activity with a yummy treat at the end. To me, it's so much more.
As we measured, poured, mixed and took turns, the children were developing early maths skills, following directions, building fine motor strength, expanding their vocabulary, practising patience and learning to work together. We also talked about changes in ingredients and what happens when heat transforms the mixture into delicious brownies.
Sometimes the richest learning happens in the simplest moments... and today, it just happened to smell like chocolate!

Meet Bunji, our travelling friend!
The children at Mim’s Place have helped name a very special little companion who will be joining me on my upcoming adventure to Spain and Portugal.
Bunji’s name was chosen because it represents friendship and connection, which felt like the perfect name for a little koala who will be travelling the world, meeting new people, discovering new places and bringing stories back home.
While I’m away, Bunji will be sharing some of his adventures here. We’ll discover different landscapes, animals, gardens, food, buildings and everyday moments from another part of the world.
We can’t wait to see what Bunji discovers along the way!
Follow along as Bunji prepares for his big adventure.

Today we celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day. ❤️💛🖤
Held each year on 4 August, this special day celebrates the strengths, culture and incredible potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It also began as a way to honour members of the Stolen Generations who never knew their true birthdays, making it a day of both celebration and reflection.
At Mim's Place, I believe every child deserves to grow up with a strong sense of belonging, respect for culture, and pride in who they are. Today, each child will receive a small Children's Day gift bag to help celebrate this important occasion.

Happy Children's Day to all our amazing little learners. May they continue to grow with curiosity, kindness and connection to Country.

Over the past little while I've been a little quieter on social media, and I wanted to share why.
As many of you know, keeping the children in my care safe has always been, and always will be, my highest priority. As I continue to navigate the changing expectations around sharing children's images online, I've been taking some time to reflect on how I can best showcase the wonderful learning happening at Mim's Place while still protecting their privacy.
Although you may not have seen as many posts recently, we've certainly been keeping busy! Every day has been filled with curiosity, laughter, creativity, nature play, and meaningful learning experiences.
Here's a little snapshot of what we've been up to over the past few weeks. Thank you for continuing to support Mim's Place as I find new and creative ways to share our journey while ensuring the children remain safe and protected.