Parenta Magazine
Every month we bring together a collection of articles relating to the childcare industry, utilising experts in the form of our guest authors who provide an insight into their specialist topics. Give it a read, share it with colleagues and friends. We hope you enjoy it.
Hello and welcome to the December edition of the Parenta magazine!
The season of ‘peace and goodwill’ is upon us; and this month, we take a festive trip around the seven continents of the world to discover how families would usually celebrate Christmas. However, it has certainly been a strange year in so many ways and as we approach the end of 2020, people across the globe are wondering whether they will be able to see their families during the festive period, or will many seasonal traditions be put on hold for a year?
Something that will definitely happen – pandemic or not – is the shortest day of the year (the Winter solstice) falling on 21st December. Winter Solstice traditionally marks the start of the days becoming longer meaning it will start to get lighter again – a welcome sight for us all!
It is also ‘Human Rights Day’ in December, and there is no better time than this season of peace and goodwill to teach the children in our care about working together to build a more equal world and to embrace diversity. We have a wonderful ‘circle of hands’ craft for the children to do on page 35 which symbolises unity and connection – and will look great as a decoration in your setting!
The nature-nurture debate is one that often divides opinions and will never wane: are our children a result of genes – who they are born into – or are they mostly influenced by their environment? Industry expert Tamsin Grimmer looks at supporting children post-lockdown using the six principles of nurture in her article on page 10.
We hope you enjoy our wintery, festive magazine this month – it really is packed with so much advice from our wonderful guest authors, and all the articles have been written to help you with the efficient running of your setting and to promote the health, happiness and wellbeing of the children in your care. Please do send in pictures of your festive decorations!
Please feel free to share with friends, parents and colleagues – they can sign up to receive their own copy here!
Please stay safe everyone and we wish you season’s greetings and a happy new year.
Allan