Annie Dennis

September already! At the end of last month, we said goodbye to Elijah and Oscar, who will be spending the remainder of the year overseas, and welcomed Maeve and Claire to the Possums Room.

Active/gross motor play is the big focus in the room at the moment, with all children participating to their level of skill. Coordination and balancing skills are being put to the test with the balancing experience indoors; climbing abilities are increasing as children tackle the climbing platform and slide outdoors.

As well as this, most days the children are involved in various music and movement experiences with staff. Favourites at the moment are:

- Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

- Everybody Jumping/Waving/Running etc

- The Hokey Pokey

- Three Cheeky Monkeys

This is lots of fun for both children and staff!

Warmer weather means we will be spending more time outdoors, and so children need to be wearing hats, sunscreen and appropriate clothing. For more information on this, see staff.

The children are thoroughly enjoying the new outdoor space improvements that were completed during the working bee, as well as discovering and exploring the autumn and winter changes happening outdoors.

They have been catching, throwing, scrunching, stomping and rolling in the leaves dropped from the tree and enjoying the effects of the wind moving the bells and fabric pieces around.

Most of the children are up and walking now, which makes the room a very busy place.

They are showing more interest in puzzles, books and animals, as well as singing songs with their carers.

We have started music and movement sessions with Theresa and Blaga every second Monday, and will try to repeat this ourselves throughout the rest of the week with the other children.

We are quite a settled group in the Possums Room this year. Staff and children alike have settled into their new environment well.
The children have been offered indoor/outdoor programs as much as possible (weather permitting!). We have just included a climbing frame and balance beam in the outdoor program so the children can develop and extend their gross motor abilities. The children are very curious about their carers, other children and any parent who strays across their path – wanting to be picked up, say ‘hello’ or share a toy.

• All the children are walking, and after spending some time out in the basting street yard a few are very confident at jumping from low boards.

• Anthony is finishing his placement next week, and has been completing his overall responsibility over the past 2 weeks