Nutrition / Sample Meal Plans
Our in-house cook will provide a nutritious and satisfying selection of meals throughout the day for your child.
The menu will rotate weekly within a monthly meal plan.
Nutritional needs of the children will be a priority with meals planned around the Australian Dietary Guidelines. (Quality area 2.1 of the National Quality Standards- Each child’s health and physical activity is supported and promoted).
Children will be offered morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack. Breakfast will be available from 7:30-8am daily if required.
Our cook and early years educators have training in food hygiene practices and have strategies in place to ensure safe food handling. (Quality Area 2.1.2 of the National Quality Standards- Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented).
Meal times are seen as opportunities for autonomy, provided within consistent routines. The weekly menu will be displayed in the foyer and recipes are available on request or through our website.
Sample Menu: Toddler & Kindergarten Room
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Selection of wholemeal toast and healthy cereals served between 7:30-8am | Selection of wholemeal toast and healthy cereals served between 7:30-8am | Selection of wholemeal toast and healthy cereals served between 7:30-8am | Selection of wholemeal toast and healthy cereals served between 7:30-8am | Selection of wholemeal toast and healthy cereals served between 7:30-8am |
| Morning Tea |
Fresh fruit platter | Fresh fruit platter | Fresh fruit platter | Fresh fruit platter | Fresh fruit platter |
| Lunch | Spaghetti Bolognese | Vegetable Fried Rice | Zucchini fritters served with salad and tzatziki | Home-made pizzas | Vegie, chicken and noodle stir-fry |
| Afternoon Tea |
Pumpkin scones | Carrot cake served | Wholemeal banana muffins | Cheese and crackers | Wholemeal blueberry muffins |
Meals will be adjusted to cater to dietary requirements. All meals will be served with water or milk. Water will be available throughout the day via self-serve water bottles in the toddler and kindy rooms, and offered to babies often throughout the day in the baby room.
Babies Room: Older babies will eat from the toddler/kindy menu. Younger baby’s meals will be modified to accommodate. Morning/ Afternoon tea options include strained, mashed or pureed fruit with rice cereal. Lunch options include pureed or mashed vegies (depending on age) and pureed meals from toddler/ kindy menu.
Break-Out Room
We recognise that on occasion there is the need for individual or specialised care.
Our Multipurpose room provides a quiet and calm environment for children who need a break from the main activity areas.
This area provides a calming and soothing environment for children who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or upset.
In addition to providing a quiet space, this purpose-built contemporary area can facilitate flexible, targeted interventions that aim to support educators and parents with strategies for achieving developmental goals.
These goals are often in areas such as sleep and settling, child behaviour, and parent and child health and wellbeing.
Our multipurpose room is a flexible space for teaching, training/education and client group activities.
Interactive Play
Interactive play in our childcare centre is essential for fostering development and learning through creative education.
Through hands-on activities, children explore, problem-solve, and develop social skills.
They engage in imaginative play, collaborate with peers, and express their creativity. This dynamic learning environment prepares them for future success by promoting cognitive, emotional, and physical growth.
Interactive play encourages children to use their imagination and think creatively. Creative expression through play nurtures self-confidence and self-esteem.
Interactive play promotes problem-solving skills as they find solutions and overcome obstacles.
Social interactions during play enhance communication, cooperation, and empathy. Physical activities can also improve motor skills, coordination, and overall physical well-being.
At our childcare centre, we strongly believe in the power of interactive play as a crucial component of a child’s development and learning journey. Through creative education, we foster an environment that encourages children to engage in hands-on activities that stimulate their imaginations, problem-solving skills, and social interactions.
Interactive play allows children to explore and experiment, promoting their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Whether it’s building with blocks, engaging in dramatic play, or participating in group activities, children learn to communicate, cooperate, and negotiate with their peers, developing essential social skills.
Furthermore, interactive play nurtures creativity, as children are free to express themselves, think critically, and discover their unique interests and talents. By providing opportunities for interactive play, we aim to create a rich and dynamic learning environment that supports holistic development and prepares children for future success.
Outside Activities
Outside activities are an integral part of our childcare centre, playing a vital role in helping children develop and learn through creative education.
Engaging in outdoor play provides numerous benefits that contribute to their holistic growth and learning experiences.
Outdoor activities encourage physical exercise, helping children develop gross motor skills, coordination, and overall physical well-being. Being in nature also stimulates the senses and promotes a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Outdoor play also offers opportunities for unstructured exploration and imaginative play, fostering creativity and problem-solving abilities. Interacting with the natural environment enhances children’s understanding of the world around them.
Outdoor activities can also help promote social interaction, cooperation, and teamwork among children.
By incorporating outside activities into our daily routines, Up ‘N’ Grow Early Learning Centre provides our children with the following benefits:
Sleep & Nurture
In our childcare centre, we prioritize both sleep and nurturing connections, recognizing their vital roles in helping children develop.
In our childcare centre, we prioritize both sleep and nurturing connections, recognizing their vital roles in helping children develop.
Creating a soothing sleep environment and promoting healthy sleep habits offers numerous benefits that contribute to children’s overall growth and well-being.
Developing sleep routines and creating a sleep-friendly atmosphere can also help establish healthy sleep patterns in children. This in turn promotes restful sleep and optimal brain development when calm and confomfortable sleep environments are provided.
Other benefits from restful sleep environments include: