Managing today’s risks
THE Canadian Government proclaimed National Families Week as an official week in 1995 to celebrate families.
The US, UK and Australia have since joined in, with Australia’s National Families Week being supported by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Today’s families are under enormous pressure financially and socially.
The cost of housing, education and feeding a family is considerable.
Social pressures on today’s families in the form of social media and coverage of global world events are constantly in the forefront of family life.
The information age has compounded the feeling of fear around safety that parents have for their children.
Children no longer play in the streets or bush surrounding their home for fear of abduction, snakes, falling out of trees or other imagined or real possibilities of harm.
Is it really that unsafe out there in the community, or is it that our systems of communication are so efficient that nothing escapes the media, and as a result the whole world is informed al- most instantaneously of any disaster or event?
Children need to learn how to take calculated risks, under the supervision of a responsible adult, that are age appropriate.
Not an easy task for our riskaverse society.
Territory Child Care Group has a range of programs for families that are safe, nurturing and educational.
We have Darwin Family Day Care where children at- tend the educator’s home.
The groups are small and strong relationships are formed with families. Darwin Family Day Care cares for children zero to 12 years. Murraya Children’s Centre provides education and care for children zero to five years and is set in a large garden with trees where flower and vegetable gardens are cared for by children and staff. Eggs are collected and incorporated in the learning program. Bees Creek Outside School Hours Care and Vacation Care provides care for children after the school day has ended.
Children can try their hand at crafts — learn a new skill such as woodwork, cooking or sewing.
Children, like adults, sometimes just like to chill out and read a book or socialise with friends.
Territory Child Care Group Inc has a highly qualified team that understands the needs of children.
They are innovative in their approach to providing stimulating learning experiences for children and value relationships between children and parents.