Mahurangimatters 5 June 2013 | 3931

• High quality programme • Affordable fees

• Babies to 5 year olds• 2 beautiful centres • Limited spaces

Call Kowhai Kids now!

GIVE YOUR KIDS THE SMART START!

Warkworth 425 8730 Wellsford 423 8246 www.kowhaikids.co.nz or like us on facebook

FEATURE

babies & childcare

Phone us anytime Carol or Kylie 09 425 5771 or 021 742 552Email: enquiries@sandcastles.net.nz“We would love to hear from you”

• Small Homely Centre • Quality teacher – child ratios• Free Sessions for 3 and 4 year olds up to 20 hours per week

• Nurturing Under 2 Space – maximum 6 babies• Opening Hours 7:30am to 5:30pm

• Located at 56 Hamatana Road, Snells Beach

OPEN

NOW IN

SNELLS BEACH!

The Camera Shop in Warkworth has stepped in to rescue the annual Warkworth Plunket Baby Photo Competition.The competition is one of the local branch’s biggest fundraisers, raising $2000 last year. However, it relies on volunteer organisers and this year, there was no-one prepared to take it on.Plunket president Angela Brangwynne says the committee is struggling to recruit enough people to help with Plunket’s local activities.“We’re very grateful to Colin and the team at The Camera Shop for agreeing to run this year’s competition,” she says. The rules will be the same as last year. Entry is open to any child in Rodney aged under five years as at June 1, 2013.There will be prizes in three categories – most creative, most votes and cutest photo.Entries will be accepted between June 1 and 29 and photographs will be displayed at New World Supermarket

Who’d want the job of choosing Rodney’s cutest baby, in the annual Plunket competition! Pictured is last year’s winner Eva Morrison.

The Camera Shop goes ‘ga-ga’ over babies

from July 1 to 14, when votes can be cast by the general public at a cost of 50 cents a vote. Winners will be displayed from July 15 to 21.The cost to enter is $5.Camera Shop assistant manager Emma Ward says all entries will receive an enlargement of their photo, courtesy of the shop. Entries can be emailed to photos@thecamerashop.co.nz or delivered to the shop in Queen Street, Warkworth. The entry fee must be paid within three days of sending the email.Further details are available on both The Camera Shop and the Warkworth Plunket Facebook pages.All proceeds will go towards Warkworth Plunket initiatives, which support Plunket nurses, provide information and organise events.Info: Angela Brangwynne on 021 734 837 or angbrang@xtra.co.nz.

TAKING ENROLMENTS NOWPhone 425 7096

Email: mahurangi@naka.co.nz13 Albert Road, Warkworth

Warkworth’s only public kindergartenA member of the

Northern Auckland Kindergarten Association

| Mahurangimatters 5 June 201340

0800 KIDS R US (0800 5437 787)www.kowhaikids.co.nz or like us on facebook

• Babies to 5 year olds • High quality programme • Hourly fee $5.50 • Free 20 hrs ECE sessions• WINZ subsidies

Call Kowhai Kids Home-Based Educare now!

Looking for home-based childcare? Give your kids the Smart Start

Warkworth Birth Centre

ALL SERVICES ARE FREE

Our friendly helpful postnatal staff at the birthing centre

quality maternity carequality maternity carequality maternity carequality maternity carequality maternity carequality maternity care

FREE pregnancy tests Prenatal classes, birth venue & post-natal stay Own room in peaceful rural surroundings Excellent equipment and atmosphere Water birth a speciality Midwives on call at all times, and as backup for your caregiver (LMC) Full post-natal hospital stay 24 hour Registered Nurses / Midwives to care for you and your baby You can transfer from your birth hospital within 12 hours of normal birth or 24 hours following a Caesarian

Available to all women and their caregivers

For further information talk to your LMC/Midwife or Warkworth Birth Centre

Phone 09 425 820156 View Road, Warkworth

www.warkworthbirthcentre.co.nz

Warkworth has a Mum’s Support Group running every Thursday morning at the Women’s Centre in Morpeth Street. The group has been running for 10 months and was previously known as the Warkworth Post Natal Distress Group. Mums from around the area have been getting some much needed support to help them cope with the changes when becoming a mum and various forms of postnatal distress. The group decided that the original name could be a barrier to people wanting to attend, so they decided to change the name to the Warkworth Mums Support Group. Danielle Kleyn facilitates the group, which meets every Thursday during term time from 10.30am to 12.30pm at the Rodney Women’s Centre. It is free to attend and children are welcome. Mums share their experiences and help each other. Danielle guides the group through discussions and helps each individual to discover ways to cope with their particular needs. The Plunket Nurse and GPs can refer people to the group, or mums can just come along. No worry is too small and knowing you are not alone is the first step to becoming a happier, more

confident mother, she says.It is common for women to experience a range of emotions in the first two weeks after childbirth. For some mothers, however, the low feeling lasts longer and may develop into postnatal depression. Postnatal depression affects about 13 percent of new mothers, and can occur at any time during the first year. Some women with postnatal depression also experience depression during their pregnancy.There are many causes such as the hormonal changes following childbirth, the stresses of looking after a young baby and having your sleep disrupted. Postnatal depression is more severe than ‘the blues’. The blues can leave you feeling tearful, anxious and experiencing mood swings in the first two weeks after your baby’s birth.Feelings of anxiety, irritability, having difficulty sleeping and a reduced appetite are some of the early signs of postnatal depression and these symptoms may be noticed before a woman realises that she feels depressed.Many women don’t realise that the feelings they are experiencing could be postnatal depression.

Mothers’ support group changes its name

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Warkworth Plunket needs volunteers to produce the newsletter, run the coffee group, support the nurses and run the

photo competition.

Please contact Nadine at rodneyplunket@gmail.com

if you can help.

Supported by Mahurangi Matters

NEEDS HELP!

babies & childcare

Mahurangimatters 5 June 2013 | 41

Where learning and discovery are nurtured by nature

Come in and enjoy nature’s

lessons

Licensed from birth to 5 years

7am-6pm

Early Learning Centre

33 Glenmore Drive, Warkworthwww.natures-nest.co.nz

Phone 425 0511

18b Glenmore Drive, Warkworth 09 425 9593

www.elocinfoods.co.nz

Great food that is Gluten free

Specialty foodSELOCIN

“Hi, do you or your child require a gluten free or allergy restricted diet? Don’t know where to get products or information? Well, you don’t have to look any further. I have the perfect little shop stocking a wide range of carefully selected gluten free products to provide a one-stop shop for your specialty food needs. Please come on in, I would love to see you! Regards, Nicole”

Nature’s Nest Early Learning Centre in Warkworth has been open for 18 months and recently received its first Government review.The Education Review Office says the centre has been beautifully designed to provide opportunities for children to learn in a motivating and natural environment.“The environment stimulates children to explore and to engage in play for long periods of time.”Teachers and owners have built responsive and respectful relationships with families to support children’s sense of wellbeing and learning.Tikanga Maori is strongly evident in the environment and in centre values, programmes and expectations.The review says there is a strong focus on children developing independence and self-management skills. “This is carefully managed so that children’s skills and dispositions develop over time. This focus supports children to make the transition to the different age-based rooms in the centre and when they are ready to move on to school.”Teachers talk to children about

their learning, which helps children with their language, vocabulary and intellectual development.“To build on these foundations, teachers should now increase their focus on reading and encouraging children to experiment with writing, including digital literacy, in the context of their play.”The programme at Nature’s Nest is driven by children’s choices and their engagement with nature, the report says.“Teachers support children’s learning by setting up areas of play in ways that trigger children’s imagination and stretch their thinking.”Strong professional leadership is provided and work is being done to support teachers’ assessment, planning and evaluation practices. “To further build head teachers’ capabilities the owners could also consider seeking further leadership training for the head teachers in each room.”The review says the centre’s owners are focussed on continuous improvement and self-review is thorough, comprehensive and well documented.

Nature’s Nest gets thumbs up in its first ERO report

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AGES 6 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS

HOURS: 8.30AM - 3.30PM

HALF DAY OR FULL DAY SESSIONS

Qualified caring staff who support and extend your child’s interests

Quality education in a friendly, fun loving family environmentPhone: Carmel 422 6516

or visit us at 5 Seatoun Avenue, Leighwww.leighpreschool.blogspot.com

Excellent staff ratiosSpecial offers availableSpacious outdoor area

20 hours ECE competitive feesPRESCHOOL, INC.

LEIGH COMMUNITY

babies & childcare

If you are interested in fun, friends, whanau and learning alongside your child. FREE NZQA Adult Education.

Contact your local centre for 3 FREE VISITS

0800 PLAYNZ or

Warkworth PlaycentreChurch Hill, Warkworth

09 425 8331

Matakana Playcentre3 Torea Rd, Matakana

09 422 9070

| Mahurangimatters 5 June 201342

www.pukekopatch.co.nz pukekopatch@gmail.comShop 7, Riverside Arcade, 62 Queen Street, Warkworth • 425 9440

VISIT OUR NEW SHOP IN THE RIVERSIDE ARCADE

Stockists of:• Lily & George• Mohair Snuggle Bunnies• Great selection of baby’s 1st ornaments & kids felting kits• Range of novelty fabrics• Children’s clothing patterns

Fabrics • Patterns • Kits • Threads • Notions & Tools • Quilting Supplies Gifts • DMC Embroidery thread • DIY Felting kits for kids

Offering flexible hours to suit needsFor babies to 6 years oldOpen 8am to 5pm20 ECE hours

For further information contact us on 022-1677280 or email info@thebeehivechildcare.co.nz

Opening in Snells Beach1st July 2013...

Rodney has 25 early childcare services, not including those in Helensville, and there’s a concern not all will survive.Early childhood council CEO Peter Reynolds says a law change in 2010 has put pressure on existing providers and allowed new players to “mushroom”.“The Government responded to the economic crisis by cutting funding to centres that employed more than 80 percent of qualified staff,” Mr Reynolds says.“An average centre lost $70,000 off its bottom line. They’ve been facing revenue issues and some have gone out of business ... We’re saying the Ministry should accept a requirement to demonstrate community need.” A discussion between operators and the Government would allow for more agreement about where the service is located and where the Government perceives there’s a strategic opportunity for growth.Mr Reynolds says a recent survey carried out by the council shows 70 percent of New Zealand’s early childhood centres have empty places and 54 percent say they used to have waiting lists but don’t anymore.He believes the increasing intensity of competition is the biggest current threat to the quality of early childhood education in New Zealand. “Many centres are walking a tightrope trying to both maintain high quality and cover their costs.”He says the Government has a role to play and at the moment they are “shirking their responsibility”.“We’ve raised the issue with Minister Parata and the Ministry of Education but it’s not getting an awful lot of traction.”

Early childhood council CEO Peter Reynolds says the Government is shirking its responsibility.

Concern over number of Rodney childcare services

Mahurangi Kindergarten head teacher Karen Carr says the North Auckland Kindergarten Association anticipated funding cuts by changing the kindergarten model to a schoolday model. “It’s been good for some parents. Lots are rural and they found the two-and-a-half-hour afternoon sessions a bit of a pain.”On the other hand she says there’s less spaces available, so younger children go somewhere else and often don’t end up moving over.North Auckland Kindergarten association general manager Garth Halliday says more mothers are being forced back to work and kindergarten hours (8.30am to 2.30pm three days a week) don’t suit them. “They’re opting to go to private early childhood centres, which can prove more expensive.”Mr Halliday says the percentage of children going to kindergarten has dropped steadily over the past five years and now sits at around 13 percent.“We believe there is a real need for kindergartens for those families that can take advantage of them.”

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babies & childcare