We're a very busy team at Kids at Home ... and this is the place to find out about what we've been up to, and what we've got planned! There's also lots of other information we think is worth letting you know about.   

So check back regularly ...

Christmas card-making session – come along to the centre and join us on Monday the 28th of November for a Christmas card-making session run by Rachel, Lorrie and Karen.  Bring along old Christmas cards and decorations if you have them and we'll supply the rest!  

Real Christmas trees for sale – if you are after a REAL Christmas tree this year, a friend of ours
is selling them from Frontier Rd, Te Awamutu (on the way to Pirongia).  If you want to pop along now
and “tag” one for later, you are most welcome. Ph: 021-1621066 for details.

Free ear clinic in Te Awamutu – 31st October, The Rose Gardens, Gorst Avenue; 22nd November, Pekerau School, Te Rahu Road. Both clinics run from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

School holiday programme at Westfield Chartwell – click here for details.

The Wonky Donkey – spaces strictly limited.  For details click here.

Visit to the Taitua Arboretum – Thursday, 20th October at 9.30am.  

Congratulations – to our Visiting Teacher, Lyn Sinclair, who has just completed her Certificate in Adult Teaching. Well done Lyn!

Measles update – measles is still circulating in the community.  We have not had any reports of measles, or exposure to measles in our service, however we contacted the Immunisation Advisory Centre NZ for up-to-date advice. 

They advise it is extremely important that vaccinations are up-to-date - if your child is not immunised because they are too young (the MMR vaccine is normally given at 15 months and again at four years) the first dose can be given any time from 12 months of age and the second dose four weeks later at a parent’s request. Parents are advised immunisation is the best way to protect your child against the risk of measles. 

If you would like more information you may contact the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) or visit their website: www.immune.org.nz  This link takes you to the page that focuses specifically on measles.  Or you can visit the Waikato DHB page here.

Our new Hamilton office/Little Ladybugs Learning Centre - click here for pics!

Baby feeding focus - click here for details.

The Gruffalo - this is the musical adaptation of the monster hit children's tale The Gruffalo.  It is suitable for all early childhood audiences.  The Gruffalo will be performed in Hamilton at the Founders Theatre on the 2nd of September at 11.30am and 1.30pm and on the 3rd of September at 10am, 12noon and 1.30pm.  For bookings, phone Ticketek. 

School holiday stuff at Westfield Chartwell - Monday to Friday - 18 to 22 July they are running a "Time to Shine" competition - basically a talent quest.  Every day at 11am with the final on Friday.  They also have a free Creativity Centre (Monday the 25th to Friday the 29th - 10am to 2pm). Children aged 4-10 can join for a whole hour of crafts, dress ups, story time and lots of other activities. 

We've moved!  Kids at Home can now be found at our new office at 1 Gillies Avenue, Claudelands, Hamilton.  Our office has been custom-renovated for us and it won't be long before we can hold our music and play groups at our own venue as well - we can't wait!  Feel free to pop in and visit us!  Our Te Awamutu office remains in the former Plunket rooms in Vaile Street.

Chickenpox - unfortunately this seems to be making the rounds a bit at the moment - for some general information, click here. 

4 July - 10 July 2011 is Maori Language Week - click here for Kids at Home's tribute to the Maori language and for ways you can incorporate Te Reo Maori into your day.

We're visiting the library!

To support our literacy focus, our Visiting Teacher team have organised a visit to the library.  The kind staff at the library are really excited to have us and have organised some great stories and activities.

Venue: Hamilton Library, Garden Place

Date: Tuesday, 19 July

Time: 9.30am

Ruben the Road Safety Bear is visiting Music Group!

Date: Wednesday, 3 August

Time: 9.30 to 10.30am

Venue: Fairfield Baptist Church, 1101 Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton

Be there or be square!

We have two nanny roles we urgently need to fill: click here for details.  Thanks - these roles have now been filled.

New venue for Playgroup: from the 10th of May, our weekly Playgroup will be held at the Fairfield Baptist Church Creche, 1101 Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton.  This is a fabulous venue and we're really excited to be able to offer something more central for educators, as we realise the North City venue was a long way out for many people.  In order to secure the new venue, we have had to swap our Music and Playgroups around; so Playgroups will now be on a Tuesday, and Music Groups will be on a Wednesday - same venue.  We look forward to seeing you all there.

National Immunisation Week: 23 to 29 April 2011. 

New Zealand has been invited to participate in the WHO (World Health Organisation) initiative "Vaccination Week in the Western Pacific" which will locally be known as National Immunisation Week.  The campaign supports the work being undertaken to lift immunisation rates in order to achieve 95 percent immunisation amongst the under twos by 1 July 2012.  Families who have concerns or questions about immunisation will be encouraged to talk to their family health professional or call the Immunisation Advisory Centre's free helpline 0800 IMMUNE throughout the three-month campaign.

Southwell School Fete: everyone welcome!  This Saturday at Southwell School, 10.30am.  It's billed as a good, ole fashioned fair with flair!  International deli and food stalls, cakes, biscuit and fudge stalls, Devonshire Tea, pantomimes, live music, Splat the Rat, Golf Challenge, Cow Pat Sweepstake, Treasure Hunt, Coconut Shy, Teacher Dunking, Daddy Bake-off, Hoopla and much more!  Southwell School is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, so they would love the community to join in!

Women's Lifestyle Expo: This coming weekend Kids at Home are exhibiting at the Women's Lifestyle Expo.  Come along and see us on stand number 001 ... right next to the entry/exit! 
Details: 19th and 20th March - Claudelands Event Centre. 10.00am to 5.00pm.  Click here for a $2 discount voucher on the entry fee.

Incredible Years Parenting Programme: The Ministry of Education, Special Education department is running the Incredible Years parenting course in the Te Awamutu area in Terms 1 and 2 this year.  They already have several enrolments but have room for more and welcome any parents who would be interested in attending.

Venue: Plunket Rooms, Te Awamutu

Time: Thursdays, 10-12.30pm

Duration: 14 weeks

Start date: 24 February

Finish date: 9 June

This course is for parents with children around the 3 - 8 year age range who are experiencing difficulties managing their child/children's behaviour.  Research suggests this course is effective for parents from all cultures and helps to build positive parent/child relationships and teach a range of effective strategies to manage behaviour and enhance children's self-esteem, peer relationships, emotional self-regulation and promote positive home/school relationships.

The course is free and each parent also receives a free copy of the book on which the course is based. 

The course commences in three weeks, so please phone for more details:

Jan Frederick - Administration Officer

Ministry of Education, Special Education

Phone: 07-850 8882, Fax: 07-850 8998

E-mail: jan.frederick@minedu.govt.nz

Fish'n'Chip evening: come along and join us for a Fish'n'Chip evening - all educators, nannies, volunteers and families welcome - including older children.  Bring your own fish'n'chips and meet us at the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens at 5.30pm.  This will be a great opportunity to meet other members of the Kids at Home family.  If you'd rather, we are holding a Hamilton venue as well on the same night - meet there at Claudelands Park - 5.30pm.

FREE information evening for educators: the New Zealand Homebased Early Childhood Education Association is holding a a FREE information evening for educators.  Click here for more details.

FREE  ear clinic for children - Health Waikato are running FREE children's ear clinics in Te Awamutu in February and March.  You can visit the ear nurse for advice on: grommet checks; wax/foreign body removal; treatment of discharging ears; glue ear assessment and management. 

Dates:
Te Awamutu:

Tuesday, 1st February - The Rose Gardens, Gorst Avenue - clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Monday, 28th February - Pekerau School, Te Rahu Road - clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Tuesday, 29th March - The Rose Gardens, Gorst Avenue - clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Cambridge:
Friday, 18th February - Cambridge Primary School, Wilson Street, clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Thursday, 10th March - Leamington Primary School, Lamb Street, clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Raglan:

Thursday, 10th February - Raglan Area School, Norrie Avenue, clinic hours: 9.30 - 2.30pm

Thursday, 24th March - Raglan Area School, Norrie Avenue, clinic hours: 9.30 - 2.30pm

Te Kuiti:

Te Kuiti Hospital, Outpatient Department - by appointment (call 07-878 7333).

Otorohanga:

Monday, 14th February - Otorohanga Support House, Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga, clinic hours: 9.30 - 2.30pm

Monday, 28th March - Otorohanga Support House, Maniapoto Street, Otorohanga, clinic hours: 9.30 - 2.30pm

Morrinsville:

Wednesday, 9th February - Plunket Rooms, Anderson Street, clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Wednesday, 9th March - Plunket Rooms, Anderson Street, clinic hours: 9.15 - 2.30pm

Matamata:

Thursday, 17th February - Matamata Primary School, Broadway, clinic hours: 9.30 - 2.30pm

Wednesday, 13th April - Matamata Primary School, Broadway, clinic hours: 9.30 - 2.30pm

Tuesday, 8th March - Firth Primary School, Station Road

All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.  Appointments are required - call on

07-838 3565.

Happy New Year!  And welcome back to all our educators, nannies, volunteers, families and children.  We hope you all had a relaxing and happy break and are raring to go for 2011!  We've got some exciting things planned for this year and we can't wait!

NEWS FOR 2010

Nannies required in Morrinsville: Kids at Home needs two superb nannies for two very special roles, based in Morrinsville.

Twins due in March - days and hours to be advised on application.

Twins due in January + a three-year-old: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11.00am to 2.00pm.

Please contact Sharon on 07-871 7673 for details or send your CV to sharon@kidsathome.co.nz

5 + a Day Month: November is 5 Plus a Day Fruit and Vegetables Month!  The objective of  5+ A Day is to

encourage all New Zealanders to eat and enjoy eating 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day for health, taste and variety.  Visit the website for fun facts, games, recipes and resources.  www.5aday.co.nz

Parenting Worx - we believe this is an excellent website with some wonderful resources (and courses!) for parents.  Visit www.parentingworx.co.nz 

Workshop: Te Whariiki and Planning - see attached flyer for details.  We'd love to see as many of our educators, nannies and volunteers attend this professional development as possible... in order to make it really accessible, we have scheduled three different sessions. 

Magical Garden Holiday programme - available Thursday, 16 December to Friday, 24 December.  Re-opening Monday, 10 January to 28 January 2011.OSCAR funding available.  High quality programme, small group size (25 children attending).  Ideal for children who have just started school! Large, natural environment - lots of fun activities and outdoor games.  Located at 105a Newel Road, Hamilton. Phone Sharon on 07-856 6146 for more details or visit their website: www.magicalgarden.co.nz

Hearing and vision checks - B4 School Checks (audiometry and vision) for 4 year-olds are being carried out in our office on Wednesday, 27 October by Sue Collier at approximately 11.00am. These checks are for 4 year-olds who have not been seen before, or who require re-checks from previous visits.  If you're unsure, or haven't been contacted, please call Sharon on 07-871 7673.   

Come along to our Hamilton excursions - our Visiting Teachers in Hamilton have organised a couple of really exciting excursions for our educators and children to attend. On Thursday, 28 October at 10.00am there is a visit to the Chartwell Fire Station (which will fulfill many a child's dream to see a fire engine up close and personal!) and on Friday, 19 November at 9.30am there is a Treasure Hunt at the Hamilton Gardens ... sounds like fun to me!

Westpac Te Awamutu Starter Pack for Children - give your child a head start. Click here for more details.

Notifiable diseases - certain diseases must be notified to your local health professional - click here for details of these diseases/illnesses.  

How to "quake-safe" your home - and how to prepare for other natural disasters.  Visit EQ-IQ.

St Johns Course - just letting you know that St Johns has its next four hour paediatric first aid course in Hamilton on Thursday the 16th of December for any of our educators, nannies or volunteers who need to do it.  You can book at 0800FIRSTAID.

Five ways to boost your child's confidence - (1) Give them the chance to try doing things you usually say no to because it's quicker or easier to do them by yourself.  The buzz of achievement they get out of tying their own shoelaces or ringing the movie theatre to find out when a film starts will help build self-esteem.  (2) Listen to the way you talk to them, then try rewriting the script to include more positive language and praise.  Comment on good behaviour you've taken for granted - how well they're playing with their siblings, for example, instead of waiting for a punch up, then telling them off.  (3) Make a mental list of all the things they've done or aspects of their character you feel they should especially value and talk about them.  We all need to be reminded of our strong points to help boost that "feelgood" factor and its a knack kids benefit from learning early.  (4) Encourage them if they attempt something new but don't make them feel they've failed if it doesn't work out at first.  It's trying which counts.  (5) Feeling loved breeds confidence so tell them you love them.  Putting it in writing works wonders too. 

Ian Grant's "Hot Tips for Parents' seminar - Ian Grant of Parents Inc is running a seminar - 40 Top Tips on Parenting - Monday the 1st of November at the Founders Theatre from 7.30-9.45pm.  Tickets are $14.99 each.  You can purchase them online at www.ticketek.co.nz or call Bridget on 027 289 2866. 

Daffodil Day -this Friday, the 27th of August 2010.  Give generously to support the work the Cancer Society does in the community.  You can text "daffodil" to 883 to make an instant $3 donation.

Toddler Time at the Cambridge and Te Awamutu Libraries - did you know that both libraries run a special "Toddler Time" event every Thursday from 10.30am to 11.00am?  Toddler Time is a great way to introduce children to reading skills, listening and concentration in a group setting. 

Christmas Shopping evening at Jumpin Jack Toys - we have organised a “Shopping Night” at Jumpin Jacks Toys (www.jumpinjacks.co.nz) on Wednesday, the 27th of October. They will open their store for us from 7.30 to 9.00pm and will provide drinks and nibbles.  There will be all sorts of games open to try and "funtastic" toys and books etc to browse.   It is envisaged this will be a “child-free” night – basically allowing parents/educators the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping in peace!  Laybys are available on the night and they will gift-wrap as well (Christmas or birthday).  And ... best of all, there will be 10% discount for attendees!  Kids at Home will also receive a credit of 10% to be used to purchase educational resources for our toy and book library.  More information will be available in our newsletters and your Visiting Teacher will have a flyer for you on your next visit. 

Stain removal guide - we all know that children manage to get stains on pretty much everything they wear (or touch!) so Persil have put out a comprehensive stain removal guide - click here for details.

St Johns Ambulance excursion - the Visiting Teachers at Kids at Home have organised a visit to the Te Awamutu St Johns Ambulance Station.  This is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about what the ambulance staff do, all about the equipment they use, and reinforce that the ambulance association have an important role in our community.  We are allowed to take photographs and ask questions.  (Please note, if the ambulance is called out, then the visit may be cancelled or shortened without notice.)  Links to Te Whariki: Belonging (Goal 1) Children develop: (1) connecting links with the wider community and (2) knowledge about the role of the wider world such as local emergency services.  Also contribution and communication (asking questions and showing their understanding, later artwork and books) and Exploration (being inquisitive, trying things out, observing.)

Te Awamutu St John Ambulance Station, Tuesday, August 24 at 9.30am

Kids at Home is having an ERO audit! All homebased childcare providers are audited by the Education Review Office on a regular basis - our turn is coming up from the 23rd to the 27th of August.  This is an excellent opportunity for us to again prove to the Education Review Office that we offer a high-quality childcare and education service. 

Library Week (Monday, 16 - Sunday, 22 August) - Library Week is a week-long celebration of libraries and librarianship taking place in libraries right across the country.  On Wednesday, the 18th of August at 10.30, they are holding "New Zealand's Largest Storytime" - children, librarians, parents and teachers will gather in libraries all across the country for this very special Library Week event.  The story they will be reading this year is Mr Muggs The Library Cat by New Zealand author Dave Gunson.  Parents and educators/nannies/volunteers, take your children and their friends along to share a story during Library Week and find out who the special guest storyteller at your library is! For more information, visit www.libraryweek.org.nz

Health Waikato release - click here for information that has been sent to us by Dr Anita Bell, Medical Officer of Health at Population Health, Waikato DHB.  This is with regard to influenza-like illnesses, Gastroenteritis and Meningococcal disease.  

Keeping your children safe around dogs - click here for some general information. 

Hearing and vision checks - B4 School Checks for 4 year-olds are being carried out in our office on Monday the 2nd of August at 1.30pm.  This is for 4 year-olds that have not been seen yet - Sue, our Vision Hearing Technician, will have been in contact with parents by now if this applies to you.  If you're unsure, or haven't been contacted, please call us at the office.  

Kids at Home has turned eight! Click here to see how we celebrated!  

26 July - 1 August 2010 is Maori Language Week - click here for Kids at Home's tribute to the Maori language and for ways you can incorporate Te Reo Maori into your day.

Lyn's Learning Stories seminar on the 27th of July - click here for details.

Well done Lyn ... the session was particularly informative and thanks to the educators who attended - they said they learned heaps!

Kids at Home makes the semi-finals at the Waipa Networks Business Awards!  We are extremely proud to announce that Kids at Home was one of the semi-finalists in the Best Small Business category at the awards. Thanks to all our clients and staff who have helped make Kids at Home such a progressive company.  Congratulations to Beamish Gemtime Jewellers who took out the Supreme Award on the night - great work! 

Open Day - Saturday, 10 July - click here for pics
To celebrate our move to our new office in Vaile Street, Kids at Home held an Open Day - we had a bouncy castle, Fairy Caravan (complete with Fairy Godmother, Fairy Helper, eight fluffy bunnies and bubbles galore!), as well as face-painting, balloons and a sausage sizzle (proceeds to Plunket).   What a FANTASTIC day ... the weather was absolutely brilliant and we all had a wonderful time.  Thanks to those of you who popped along to join the fun - we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did!

Sharon O'Connor wins the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Month! Click here for more information and a great pic of Sharon, Paula and our newly signwritten vehicle!