“Stories and songs for the young and young at heart”

buds & blossoms

Where and when is Buds & Blossoms?

Every Thursday

(during school term)
from 10.45am until 11.45am.

We meet in the Activities room of the Rosebank Hostel in Yea where morning tea can be enjoyed before story time begins.

What is the routine?

10.45 Cuppa time

Arrival of children and parents/carers into the activities room (adults can grab a tea and coffee, water or milk available for children)

11.00 Story Time

The children and parents are led from the activities room to the hostel dining room. Story time lasts approx 15 minutes. 4-5 stories per session.

11.15 Creative Play

A selection of resources are available to encourage creative play.

11.30 Sing-a-long

A selection of various songs with actions for all to be involved (adults too)!

11.45 Finish

What are the benefits?

Did you know that reading . . .

In this day and age of hectic lives and busy schedules, reading together is a simple and enjoyable way for parents to take time out and focus on the family. Young children need lots of special, dedicated time with their loved ones.

Reading...

Shows our children in no uncertain terms that they are important to us.
Moulds our children into becoming readers, and raising a reader significantly increases our child's potential for academic success as well as lifelong success in general.
Builds listening skills, increases a child's attention span, and
develops the ability to concentrate at length of which all of which are learned skills. Develops a childs ability to express themselves more confidently, easily, and clearly in spoken AND written terms.

and much, much more

Are there any other benefits?

There is so much that reading stories out aloud to our children can do for them.

From an educator's perspective, nursery rhymes play an important role in a child's developing phonemic awareness.

We tend to think that learning to read begins with learning the alphabet. However, children first need to be aware of the individual sounds that make up words. Nursery rhymes can help children develop that phonemic.

Mem Fox states that "Rhymers will be readers; it's that simple. Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they're 4 years old, they're usually among the best readers by the time they're 8." Let's start reading and singing together today!

Did you know?

The Buds & Blossoms program was recognised in the Department of Human Services Early Years Awards 2006, winning a highly commended in the category of "Improvements in parent's capacity, confidence and enjoyment of family life".

For further information please call
Natalie (03) 5736 0461
or Michelle 0432 696 070