Settling children into a new routine at Goodstart Cromer is the aim of a breakfast club introduced daily.
The club was started to help children smoothly transition into earlier arrival times by creating a safe and secure new routine.
The centre hours of operation were changed to reflect the community and families’ needs, and to assist the children who arrive earlier to have a better start to their day.
Centre director Amanda Wilson said the breakfast club idea was initially a suggestion from a parent.
“I had a conversation with one of our mothers about the mornings and how she believed that starting the day having breakfast together would be a wonderful way to settle her child into the centre," Ms Wilson said.
"During this conversation we talked about how routines and rituals are so important in helping children feel safe and secure and I thought this idea was great.
“I took the idea to the team and together we came up with the idea of the breakfast club, which is held in the toddler room - a place where our younger children feel the most secure in."
The centre let parents know about the new initiative, including informing them about the types of breakfast food that children could bring in, information about allergies and a reminder that the centre was nut free.
“The first morning the children arrived so happy and excited to show off their breakfast and the educators engaged with the children in conversation over this important meal time. It was a relaxed and unhurried time and everyone settled in well for the day, having the time to enjoy the meal and the connection from home with familiar food being eaten at the centre,” Ms Wilson said.;
She said bread and jam was made available by the centre for children who had not bought in their own food, but wanted to join in.
The club was started to help children smoothly transition into earlier arrival times by creating a safe and secure new routine.
The centre hours of operation were changed to reflect the community and families’ needs, and to assist the children who arrive earlier to have a better start to their day.
Centre director Amanda Wilson said the breakfast club idea was initially a suggestion from a parent.
“I had a conversation with one of our mothers about the mornings and how she believed that starting the day having breakfast together would be a wonderful way to settle her child into the centre," Ms Wilson said.
"During this conversation we talked about how routines and rituals are so important in helping children feel safe and secure and I thought this idea was great.
“I took the idea to the team and together we came up with the idea of the breakfast club, which is held in the toddler room - a place where our younger children feel the most secure in."
The centre let parents know about the new initiative, including informing them about the types of breakfast food that children could bring in, information about allergies and a reminder that the centre was nut free.
“The first morning the children arrived so happy and excited to show off their breakfast and the educators engaged with the children in conversation over this important meal time. It was a relaxed and unhurried time and everyone settled in well for the day, having the time to enjoy the meal and the connection from home with familiar food being eaten at the centre,” Ms Wilson said.;
She said bread and jam was made available by the centre for children who had not bought in their own food, but wanted to join in.