--- title: Tea time, a small ritual that helps children settle description: "Tea time at ECMS: a simple ritual that helps children settle, feel safe and belong—building calm connection, wellbeing and learning in early childhood." image: https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20114340-1.png --- ![ECMS\_Logo\_Teal\_22 1](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/EMCS%20Logos/ECMS_Logo_Teal_22%201.png?width=112&height=88&name=ECMS_Logo_Teal_22%201.png) [Careers](https://www.ecms.org.au/careers/) [Blog](https://www.ecms.org.au/blog/) [Contact](https://www.ecms.org.au/contact-us/) [Search](https://www.ecms.org.au/search-results/) [Kindergarten](https://www.ecms.org.au/kindergarten/) [Childcare](https://www.ecms.org.au/childcare/) [Find a centre](https://www.ecms.org.au/find-a-centre/) About About Overview [Who we are](https://www.ecms.org.au/about-us/) [Leadership team](https://www.ecms.org.au/partnerships/) [Partnerships](https://www.ecms.org.au/partnerships/) [ECMS policies](https://www.ecms.org.au/policies-page/) [Child safety commitment](https://www.ecms.org.au/child-safety-commitment/) [Book a tour](https://www.ecms.org.au/contact-us/) ![logo-combined](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-combined.png?width=98&height=32&name=logo-combined.png) ![logo-combined](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-combined.png?width=98&height=32&name=logo-combined.png) [Book a tour](https://www.ecms.org.au/contact-us/) (03) 8481 1100 [Kindergarten](https://www.ecms.org.au/kindergarten/) [Childcare](https://www.ecms.org.au/childcare/) [Find a centre](https://www.ecms.org.au/find-a-centre/) About [Who we are](https://www.ecms.org.au/about-us/) [Leadership team](https://www.ecms.org.au/partnerships/) [Partnerships](https://www.ecms.org.au/partnerships/) [ECMS policies](https://www.ecms.org.au/policies-page/) [Child safety commitment](https://www.ecms.org.au/child-safety-commitment/) [Careers](https://www.ecms.org.au/careers/) [Blog](https://www.ecms.org.au/blog/) [Contact](https://www.ecms.org.au/contact-us/) [Search](https://www.ecms.org.au/search-results/) ###### Share on [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/tea-time-a-small-ritual-that-helps-children-settle) [Follow us on LinkedIn](http://twitter.com/share?url=https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/tea-time-a-small-ritual-that-helps-children-settle) [Follow us on Twitter](mailto:?subject=ECMS&body=https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/tea-time-a-small-ritual-that-helps-children-settle) [Home](https://www.ecms.org.au/) [Blog](https://www.ecms.org.au/blog/) Tea time, a small ritual that helps children settle # Tea time #### A small ritual that helps children settle Mar 12, 2026, 11:03:39 AM By Liz Jensen Share Before children can explore freely, they need to feel safe, known, and that they belong. Often they’re asking, without words *Is this place safe for me? Will you be there when I need you? Do I belong here?* At ECMS, we answer those questions in simple, everyday ways. At one of our kindergartens, the team has a gentle ritual they call tea time. When the day feels a bit big, they bring out a tray and small cups and sit together in their outdoor circle for a few quiet minutes. Children can join in, come and go, or sit nearby - a calm pause to breathe, have a chat, and feel close. Over time, children start to recognise tea time as a way to reset. One child even says they “need a cup of tea”, because they know it means slowing down and finding their calm again. Tea time works because it’s small and kind. It says *we can pause, we can be together, you’re not alone.* And from that place of calm and connection, confidence and learning can grow.   ## Read On [![A diagram showing the ecology of the child](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Ecology%20Model.jpg?width=352&name=Ecology%20Model.jpg)](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/a-smooth-start-for-your-family) ### [A smooth start for your family](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/a-smooth-start-for-your-family) A smooth transition to early childhood education is important for lifelong learning. At ECMS, this... [![](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/0A5A6511.jpg?width=352&name=0A5A6511.jpg)](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/making-space-for-childrens-voices) ### [Making space for children’s voices](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/making-space-for-childrens-voices) At our recent ECMS Conference, we spent time thinking about what it means to create safe places of... [![A child plays in a kindergarten sandpit](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/2024.05.27_ECM_LOWRES_@MAXROUX__-127%20cropped.jpg?width=352&name=2024.05.27_ECM_LOWRES_@MAXROUX__-127%20cropped.jpg)](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/holistic-approaches) ### [Holistic approaches](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/holistic-approaches) At ECMS, we understand that early childhood education is not simply about preparing children for... 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Northcote VIC 3070 ![ECMS\_Logo\_Teal\_22 1](https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/ECMS_Logo_Teal_22%201.png?width=112&height=88&name=ECMS_Logo_Teal_22%201.png) [Privacy Policy](https://www.ecms.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Privacy-Policy.pdf) © Copyright 2024 ECMS ABN: 13 012 989 761 [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ecmschildren) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/early-childhood-management-services/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.instagram.com/ecms_childhood/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Liz Jensen", "url" : "https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/author/liz-jensen" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-12T00:03:39.241Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-12T00:03:39.000Z", "headline" : "Tea time, a small ritual that helps children settle", "image" : [ "https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-03-03%20114340-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blogs.ecms.org.au/blog/tea-time-a-small-ritual-that-helps-children-settle", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blogs.ecms.org.au/hubfs/Primary_Logo_Teal_Sml.jpg" }, "name" : "ECMS" } } ```