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Family Day Care invaluable

As all parents know, it's quite an involved process finding suitable child care. If you are looking for a place where your child will get individual attention and a place where they can learn while playing then Family Day Care is the option for you. The Lyla Elliott Family Day Care Scheme has taken the individual needs of parents to heart and created a network of quality home operated Family Day Care services focused on individual attention for the children.

The Lyla Elliot Family Day Care Scheme commenced in 1985 in the suburbs from Perth to Ballajura. In 1996 the scheme extended its boundaries by agreement to include the area bordered by Wanneroo Road, Gnangara Road and Alexander Drive. The area now incorporates Landsdale, Madeley and Darch.

The feature that sets Family Day Care apart from other types of child care is that it guarantees the number of children in care is low, which means each child is afforded lots of individual attention. Young children are often more at ease in small groups and learn best through play. The focus of Family Day Care, therefore, is to support children's development through play experiences appropriate to each child's level.

Family Day Care Providers are all licensed by the State Child Care Licensing Unit and those selected for membership are supported, monitored and resourced by trained staff within each scheme. Care provided in Family Day Care is affordable and the Commonwealth Child Care Benefit and 30 per cent Parent Rebate are also available.

Family Day Care also offers a fantastic career path if you have a passion for working with children. You are given the opportunity to run your own business from home, which means spending time with your family while earning an income.

Joanne Georgiou, of Madeley, operates a well-maintained child-care business from her own home. "I not only enjoy the benefits of operating my own business but I also really love the fact that I can spend my days playing with children, including my own one year old son," Joanne says. "The support and resources I have received as a member of the Lyla Elliott Family Day Care Scheme are invaluable and have extended from the moment I started the licence application process right up until now. Being part of this Scheme is really an incredible source of help and the support seems endless!"

The helpful and ongoing support Joanne receives from the staff includes home visits by child-care trained and experienced staff, access to extra toys and equipment and resource materials, access to facilitated scheme play sessions and up-to-date training and information, to name but a few points.

Sandra Taylor, manager of The Lyla Elliott Family Day Care Scheme said Family Day Care is a highly sought-after service because children are generally more at ease within a small group. They learn best through play, which is why carers are supported to provide well for them using a wide range of age-appropriate experiences. According to Sandra, as the demand for Family Day Care continues to grow, the scheme has a constant need to maintain and develop carer numbers, particularly in the inner-city suburbs and the growing areas of Madeley, Darch and Landsdale.

If Family Day Care sounds like the option for you, contact Sandra Taylor on 9272 7696. She will identify the scheme area in which you live and provide you with all information you need. Staff members are also available to speak to parents who would like to place their child in accredited quality care with a small number of children and one carer.

The Lyla Elliott Family Day Care Scheme is Accredited by the National Child Care Accreditation Council.

"He is not a slow child any more!" 

When Artwell Chen was very young he was a special child, labelled as a late developer. He was so lacking in confidence that any sound or noise was enough to scare him. His school noticed that Artwell was different from the other children, so the teachers and principal suggested the Chen family seek medical advice or see a psychiatrist. Artwell had been through all kinds of medical testing but the answer was always the same: he was "a slow child".

 "From year one to year two, Artwell had never played with other kids independently, never spoken aloud and it seems he was scared of the whole world," Artwell's mother says. "His self-esteem was so low that his physical development became slower as well. He was so much smaller than others of the same age that the school had to put him in a Year One group at the carnival when he was Year Two. Still he came last. He came last in everything: maths, English and was even the last one to finish his lunch at school.

Artwell's confidence was so low that his mother felt embarrassed everywhere they went and her own self-esteem diminished. "My husband had already given up any hope on this child. I looked to seek help from different community groups. I attended different classes wanting to learn how to deal with this child but because my English was not good enough, I found it was difficult to understand. We also tried other after-school educators but he was too special to follow the class."

One day when nobody was home, his mother rang Kumon Kardinya Centre. After talking to the Supervisor Sophia Tang-Smith, she felt there might be a hope for Artwell after all. Artwell was subsequently enrolled in both maths and English in June 2002.

"Artwell is now in Year Four and we can't believe the changes in him. He is not a slow child any more!" his mother says excitedly. "After days and days of practice at Kumon, he has now very strong foundation skills in both maths and English, and it has built up his confidence and self-esteem so much that his whole personality gradually changed. He is in an advanced Year Three and Four class this year and much more independent in everything that he does. We can see his happy face when playing with other kids now."

"I always remembered that Sophia told me the hardest part of Kumon is to have this long term commitment. She also asked me to talk to her whenever I had difficulties. I made sure I did and this is the reason why we have continued this programme for over two years."

"There were so many times Artwell wanted to quit and I wanted to quit too, but I always thought maybe Sophia may have some ways to handle this situation. So I would call her or talk to her in the Centre. She always gave me different advice and talked to Artwell. I don't know what she says to him but it seems the miracle always happens after she talks to him. Our whole family appreciates the ways she loves kids, her passion for educating children and the hard work that she puts in." Artwell's Supervisor Sophia Tang-Smith is very happy with his progress and is looking forward to seeing him become even more confident and independent in the future. Her dream for Artwell is to have him working beyond his grade level and being the best student he can be.

Artwell wants to be a policeman when he grows up so that he can stop the "baddies" and help people. His father, Bo Chen says that he wants Artwell to do whatever makes him happy and his studies with Kumon will allow him to be whatever he wants to be in the future.

Kumon Education Centres are located across the Perth metropolitan area. For more information about Kumon please call 1800 458 666 or visit www.kumon.com.au.

School holiday fairy magic

Join Perth's own Fairy Queen Caroline and the Rainbow Fairies for some school holiday fairy magic at Karrinyup Community Centre. It's Beehive's birthday and you're invited to the party! Celebrate the all new 'Beehive the Bear's Birthday Show'.

Full to overflowing with fabulous prizes and giveaways, this fantastic hand-clapping, toe-tapping, interactive stage show will delight and entertain fairies and pixies under eight years of age.

After the show, enjoy a fairy light disco. Dance and sing all your favourite songs with your friends. Choose one of three shows on Thursday 21 April 2005 - 10.00am, 12.30pm, or 3.00pm. Doors open 15 minutes prior to commencement of each show.

Tickets are $9.90 per child + postage/handling and the price includes a drink and a take-home lollypop. Adults attending this event are admitted free!

Fairy Queen Caroline merchandise including the newly released 'Lilly Brook' DVD, will be on sale. Pre-booking is essential so book early through Fairies & Themes on 9247 3236 as numbers are restricted with absolutely no doors sales.