Placing babies and infants in the care of people they are unfamiliar with is not an easy thing to do. However, many mums, either for their financial stability, sanity, or for their children’s socialisation and developmental needs, decide to send them to childcare. When we do, we need to be confident they are getting the best care.

Studies have shown that the relationships children develop with educators during childcare can significantly impact their attachment style.

Attachment styles essentially describe how we bond, or struggle to bond, with the people in our lives. They have a significant influence on our ability to form and manage friendships and relationships and feel comfortable exploring the world as we grow.
 

Why secure attachment matters

There are four kinds of attachment styles, but secure attachment is optimal.

Secure attachments have profound positive effects on children, including:

• Improved intellectual development and academic performance
• Increased social competence
• More robust emotional stability and regulation
• Greater self-esteem
• Fewer behavioural problems

Rise and Shine Kindergarten understand the importance of helping your children form secure attachments. In fact, these findings have guided them to create Care + , their approach to looking after children who are 6 weeks to 3-years-old.

“Forming attachments at this age is very important, which is why educators spend lots of one-on-one time with each child, to make sure they develop a trusting relationship that makes your child feel safe and secure,” explains Jackie, Centre Director at Rise & Shine Kindergarten Sylvania.

The Care + approach

“Our Care + practices and relationships are influenced by the Pikler and RIE approach to the care and development of each child. Our goal is an authentic child,” says Jackie.

“We do this through making time for uninterrupted play, tuning in respectfully for cues, trust in infant’s competence, sensitive observation, providing a safe, challenging and predictable environment and consistency.”

Emmi Pikler was a Hungarian paediatrician living in Budapest post WW2 who witnessed many children become orphaned after the war. She recognised that the key to achieving good physical and emotional health for infants and young children was creating secure attachments.

From Pikler’s work came the Resources for Infant Educarers™ approach, which revolves around respectful relationships between an adult and an infant or young child. The principles of this approach underpin Care +. They include:

• Respectful Care
• Developing secure attachments
• Slowing Down
• Build Trust
• Free Movement
• Full Attention

Give your child the best start

Care + ensures that Rise & Shine Kindergarten centres offer the best care for children from 6 weeks of age. Their purpose-built centres have dedicated nurseries, designed to allow your child to play and grow in a safe and nurturing environment.

The Rise & Shine Kindergarten educators work closely with each family to meet their child’s needs and maintain their home routine. You can rest assured that when you can’t be with your child, their development is in the best hands.

Rise & Shine Kindergarten have centres in Sylvania, Kogarah, Carlton and more locations across Australia.

Their centre in Sylvania is rated exceeding in the National Quality Standards (NQS) and was awarded the Most Outstanding Early Childhood service at the 2021 Sutherland Shire Local Business Awards.

Visit the Rise and Shine Kindergarten website to find out more or request a tour now.