EARLY YEARS 26 <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>January</strong> <strong>13</strong>, <strong>2022</strong> 2441004 Healthy lunchbox choices Withthe startofthe <strong>2022</strong> school year not far away, thousandsofparentsacross Aotearoa will be stepping up oncemore to the daily challenge of fillingthe kids’ lunchboxes. Health and wellbeing is atop priority for parents in these uncertain pandemic times. Making sure tamariki get anutritious midday meal at school and early childhoodcentresaround the region is crucialtotheir development. Providing healthy snacks whichare highinimmunityboosting vitamins and minerals is also important. 5+ ADay project manager Carmel Ireland is encouraging Kiwiparents to makethe most of locally grown fruit and vegetablestocreate healthy, affordable and deliciouslunchboxkai. ‘‘Eatingwhat is in season is an affordable and healthy way to fill aschool lunchbox,’’ she says. ‘‘Atthe start of Term One, summer fruit suchasnectarines, apricots,peaches and plums are deliciousand goodvalue. ‘‘They are also conveniently packaged by Mother Naturesoyou can pop them straight into your child’s lunchbox without having to chop or wrap anything. ‘‘Tuck them in with wraps or sandwiches so they don’t get bruised,’’ saysMsIreland. Other options can include cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks with hummus, which are alwaysfavourites for little hands to snack on. Thisyear, 5+ ADay has created an easy downloadable card for parents lookingfor lunchbox inspiration. The card features alist of which ENROLLING NOW 20 HOURS FREE ECE Pre-school and nursery 0-6 years Excellent child/staff ratios Exciting and caring environment Hours 7.00am-6.00pm Welcome Special for new enrolments, where the first 4weeks are FREE 48 Church Street, Rangiora Phone (03) 3<strong>13</strong> 5675 www.firstlearners.co.nz Lunchtime ... Make sure you pack a healthy lunch for the kids. The First Years Are Forever Taking enrolments for <strong>2022</strong> PHOTO: FILE seasonal produce is available each term, plusquick and easy recipes to include in kids’ lunchboxes. Making lunchescan be abit of achore for us all. Download the card on to your phone or print it out to stick on the fridge so you havealways got abit of weekday inspirationonhand 5aday.co.nz/kidszone/forparents/. Keepaneye on 5+ ADay’s social media channels for regular tipsand recipes to makethe most of seasonal produce for the whole whanau. Eachterm thisyear tasty lunchbox recipes will be shared. Ms Ireland says eating at least five servings of fresh, locallygrown fruit and vegetablesisthe most nutritious and affordable way to supportthe health of yourwhanau. Ministry of Health guidelinesstate children should eat two servings of fruit and three or more servings of vegetables every day for optimal health and development. The resourcesare designed to help makefillingthe lunchbox withhealthy kai eachday amuch easier task. Use the following seasonal fresh fruit and vegetablesinlunchboxes throughout the school year: TermOne: Summer fruit (nectarines, apricots, peaches +plums), passionfruit. TermTwo: Apples, pears/nashi,feijoas, satsuma mandarins, persimmons. TermThree: Kiwifruit, carrots, tamarillos, Naveloranges,broccoli, kumara. TermFour: Avocados, tangelos, strawberries,tomatoes, berries, cherries. For more tips and recipestomake the mostofseasonal produce, head to the 5+ ADay website: https://www.5aday.co.nz/ and follow the 5+ ADay Charitable Trust on social media: @5adaynz . Playing outdoors ... The Rangiora Toy Library has lots of big outdoor toys to get the kids playing outside over summer. PHOTO: FILE Toys with education focus Toy libraries are alow cost way for families to access the latest toys. There are active toy libraries all over <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> that are run by volunteers. They allow families to borrow toys without the big expense. Rangiora Toy Library librarian Vikki Morrison says her library provides a range of educational toys such as globes, and maths, science and english resources to meet agrowing demand. ‘‘We try to grow the educational side and we’re quite keen for kids to do experiments so they can look at the world with awe and wonder.’’ Since merging with the Woodend Toy Library afew years ago, the Rangiora Toy Library has become one of the largest in the South Island with more than 1400 toys available for hire. There are lots of big, outside toys for all ages, including climbing frames, big toy cars, mini roller coasters and water play. Bikes are popular, from the trikes for the littlies, to parent handle bikes, and bikes with training wheels and without training wheels. Bouncy castles are also available to hire for parties and birthdays. Membership costs $90 ayear for ‘‘duty members’’, who do at least two shifts a year at the library. Covid19 regulations mean volunteers must be fully vaccinated, while vaccine passes are required for entry to the toy library under the orange and red traffic lights. Aclick and collect membership is also available. The Rangiora Toy Library, based at 1Blackett Street, reopens on <strong>January</strong> 21. To find out more, contact the library on Facebook, via the website rangioratoylibrary.mibase.co.nz or phone 0272646924. The Amberley Toy Library meets in the Plunket rooms, behind the Amberley Library, and is open on Tuesdays from 9.15am to 11.30am. It can be reached on Facebook. The Amuri Children’s Toy Library is open alternate Wednesdays from 3.15pm to 4.15pm and every second Sunday from 10am to 11am at the plunket rooms, 1 Leslie Street, Waiau, and can be contacted on Facebook. The Cheviot Toy Library is located at the corner of Reeves and Hutchison streets, Cheviot. It is open fortnightly on Sundays from 10am to 12pm and has a group page on Facebook. The Cust Toy Library meets at the Cust Community Hall, Mill Road, Cust, on Mondays from 9.30am to 10.30am and Saturdays from 10am to 11.30am. It can be contacted on Facebook. The Hanmer Springs Toy Library meets fortnightly on Thursdays from 3.30pm to 4pm in the Hanmer Springs Sports Pavilion and can be contacted on Facebook. The Hawarden/Waikari Toy Library meets in the RSA Rooms on O’Carrolls Road, Hawarden, on Mondays from 3pm to 3.45pm and can be contacted via its Facebook page. The Kaiapoi Toy Library meets at 9 Cass Street, Kaiapoi, on Saturdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm, and can be contacted on Facebook. Annabel’s Educare Arlington Opening Hours: Monday -Friday, 7am -6pm 50 weeks ofthe year. Annabel’s Educare –Arlington provides anurturing,creative, challenging and learning focused environment forchildren aged 0-6yrsold. Annabel’s Educare –Arlington is an innovative, purpose built, Early Childhood Centre that has been specificallydesigned to meet the learning and careneeds of all children. Choose Kindercare Rangiora for allyour childcareneeds. 26 Sandown Blvd Arlington Ph –033<strong>13</strong> 6346 www.annabelseducare.co.nz 2431843 Ph: 03 310 6631 www.kindercare.co.nz
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