Best Wishes to all for a Merry Christmas, well the debate about whether its best for most Child Care Services to close over the Christmas Week and ensure family time for staff and children has hotted up again this year.

There is definately plenty of reseach about why family time is important to children's development and also more recently the research is showing that the Educators (staff) would also have great benefits. As stress is a number one reason for absences and workers compensation claims.  Cost always factors into the debate, but it is important that we advocate for quality which means we give both Educators and Children the time with their family and friends that is need to refuel their relationships. There would always be a couple of services availible in each area who would be open for those parents who are working through Christmas, it would just take some cooperation between services to organise and let families know in advance, perhaps now so late ready for next year.

What do you think? Is your service closing?