Sustainable Practices

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Sustainable Practices
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This area was not very big in early childhood
before National Quality Standards came into
place, as it was not really covered under the old
regulations or under NCAC quality areas.  So, we
need to start thinking how we can turn our
centres into more sustainable places.  You might
already have started putting things into place or
have some great ideas.  Below are some ideas that
can help you brainstorm. 
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Recycle your rubbish  A good idea is having
different bins for different things (e.g a bin
for recyclable items boxes, plastic containers
anything that could be recycled, a bin for food
scraps and a bin for all other items.) There are
many companies out there that have child-sized
recyle bins that you can have in rooms for
chlidren and Educators to use. Children can be
responsible for the recycling program in your
room. You may choose to keep some items to
re-use, such as scrap paper etc, and then you can
dispose of the other items appropriately.     
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Compost bins  start collecting all your food
scraps and place in a compost bin, make sure you
involve the children in this by having a
container children can put their food scrapes in
and get them to help fill up the compost bin and
explain to them how it works.    Worm farms 
you can place your food scrapes in this and then
either sell the worm juice to parents or use it
on your own gardens. Vegie Patch  this is a
great way to teach children where vegetables
comes from.  Children can see the whole cycle by
placing their food scrapes into the compost bin
and worm farm which then helps their vegetables
grow, they can then see how the vegetables are
then used in cooking.      
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Look at the ways you can recycle conserve
energy and water, this could be a great
discussion with the older groups of children that
way they have their input also make sure you are
involving families and all educators in these
discussions as well.  From these discussions you
can create your services environmental strategy. 
It is vital that you dont just have the above
items just sitting there and educators not
implementing them and embedding it into their
program, otherwise it is just a tokenistic view
on sustainability. The other area to look at, is
when doing activities with children and extending
their interests use as much natural resources or
recycled resources that you can.  Below are just
a few ideas- 
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Painting Ideas - Instead of painting on paper,
collect leaves and use them to paint on or use
leaves, twigs etc to paint with.  You could ask
parents to see if they can bring in large leaves
from home.  You could also paint on rocks   When
doing collage you could use a lot of natural
resources, or make things with these resources
like a fairy garden.  How about making blocks
from driftwood or other wood found in parks. 
This is a great way to get families involved in
your programme by asking them help you search for
wood.   You can use sticks, leaves pebbles etc
with play dough or clay. 
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Contact us

• Email - Samantha_at_giggletree.com.au
• Call us - 07 3204 1102

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