Search Results
Searching for "reading".
Your child will love acting out their favourite story, whether walking in the park, in the garden or even around the house. Children love to pretend and when you join in, it gets even more exciting!
Award winning Australian children's author Alison Lester reads aloud from her own books. A wonderful opportunity to hear Australian classics by the woman who dreamed them up!
These pirates have a fun and hilarious adventure finding the fabled "pants of gold". These pirates SOOO love underpants, they are willing to do what it takes to find their precious treasure.
Read along with actor Eddie Redmayne as he reads ZOG by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (published by Scholastic and Scholastic UK)
Playing with loose parts is a creative learning experience most children love.
Educator Emilie’s shares her reading of The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland.
Playing with rhythm and movement encourages children to explore what their bodies are capable of.
Recently our preschool children have been enjoying some yoga and gentle stretching before some of our children have a rest.
With daily walks having become one of our main forms of exercise, your local community is a great environment for discovering and exploring with your child.
Music is a fabulous tool for learning and is a simple way for children to learn and practice a first or a subsequent language because it is such a natural part of our daily lives. We hear music everywhere we go.
Did you know that approximately 5 – 8% of preschool children have language delays? These delays can continue well until adulthood and are associated with reading and writing difficulties, poorer academic performance, limited employment opportunities and difficulties with social relationships (The Hanen Centre, 2016).
Garden Street Early Learning Centre loves exploring their local community through regular excursions. Whether they are visiting the fruit shop, the local aged care facility or attending a primary school excursion, the children enjoy meeting the community (and the locals love meeting them too!).
Guardian Early Learning Centre – Caringbah is a wonderful childcare centre in the Shire with lots of natural light and high ceilings indoors and plenty of open space to explore and play outside. We talk to Centre Manager, Hannah Barnett to find out what’s been happening at the centre and to get to know a couple of their team members.
There are many benefits in having a childcare centre in the CBD. One such benefit is the seemingly endless options for exciting excursions. From trips to the nearby museum to visits to local businesses, every week presents something new for the children. Recently the children from Margaret Street took a walk to the park which was inspired by one of the books they had recently read. Educator, Joan Richardson, tells us about this excursion.
Guardian Early Learning – Newstead is a bright and friendly childcare centre in sunny Brisbane. The open plan spaces coupled with nature-inspired spaces and open-ended resources provide endless opportunities for children to learn and develop. With music time, dress up area, recycling centre and regular incursions, there’s never a dull moment here at Newstead!
You’re dreaming of a family road trip with the children in the back. The fantasy of happy faces, singalongs and fun soon gives way to the reality of tears, tantrums, boredom and hunger. There’s a line every parent crosses on the road when the symphony of whingeing reaches breaking point and you’ve resorted to play ‘I spy.’ To keep your sanity and sense of adventure, here are some tips for turning road trips into big adventures.
Earlier this month, the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) ‘Landscapes of Identity’ Conference was held in Sydney. As a sponsor of this conference Guardian held an exclusive event to celebrate the official opening of Guardian Early Learning Centre – Barangaroo.
There’s a lot of value in reading through the different methods for wrangling raising toddlers. These perspectives can validate our own struggles, help us feel less isolated, and make it seem like we’re proactively seeking answers on days when all our toddlers do is melt down over sandwiches cut the wrong way. Here's 5 helpful books that Guardian recommends.
Halloween is almost upon us (we know, where did the year go?). Sure, it’s a bit American and sugar-filled, but the thing is, children absolutely love this spooky holiday. So rather than simply slapping on a Frozen costume and heading out to ask strangers for candy, we thought we’d encourage creativity of the blood-and-thunder kind.
Clare Stewart from Acre Woods in Roseville is there to witness the behaviour and development of children throughout their early years. Although she sees children sometimes get rough and hurt each other, “this can be more about exploration or not being unable to appropriately express emotions, rather than bullying,” Clare says. “It’s not until they get older and learn the power of words, that aggressive behaviour can include exclusion and verbal torment.”
Despite warnings about too much screen time for children, not all technology is bad. We’re surely not recommending hours of Assassin’s Creed, but that doesn’t mean your child can’t learn and create online using children's apps.
To say that Rosemary Green is an institution at East Ivanhoe Early Learning Centre would be an understatement. Having been an educator at this Melbourne early learning centre for 12 years, Rosemary has been a part of the development and care of hundreds of children. Recently, at our Victorian Educator Awards night, Rosemary was one of the recipients of our Educator of the Year award – a very well-deserved accolade!
What started as a seed of an idea has now bloomed into a thriving community garden at Warrandyte Road Early Learning Centre. Several years ago, Centre Manager Janene Melchior had a plan to start a community garden at the front of their Doncaster East centre.
Guardian Early Learning Centre - Barangaroo is a beautiful childcare centre in Sydney's CBD. With state of the art facilities, water play area, a wide range of resources, sandpits and reading nooks, it's a wonderful space to grow, develop and learn. Centre Manager Chloe heads up the team at Barangaroo, and we take two minutes to find out about her views on early learning, her career background and what she enjoys doing in her downtime.
Building literacy skills is an important part of the learning journey at every one of Guardian's early learning centres. Through a wide range of experiences, such as local library visits, we scaffold on children's interests and skills to develop a strong foundation for literacy development.
Spiders, spiders everywhere! But fortunately not of the dangerous variety at Sweet Peas Early Learning Centre - a childcare centre in Homebush. Recently, the children had been showing an interest in insects, which then developed into an in-depth investigation into the fascinating world of spiders.
To prepare your child for a world of technology, Guardian has a range of resources designed to arm them with the skills they'll need to become 21st-century citizens. And this includes technology. Because technology is so integrated into our lives, by using open-ended, intelligent learning experiences, we assist children in developing a healthy relationship with technology.
As a childcare centre in Brisbane's CBD, children are exposed to a bustling urban experience daily. It is from this that Guardian Early Learning - Charlotte Street's Kindy Village project grew.
Reading to children from birth is a great introduction to the written word, tactile page-turning and early literacy concepts, as well as learning verbal structures and encouraging development in verbal language and communication. By reading to children every day from an early age, they come to view books as a source of information, inspiration and creativity.
There are many other ways to develop literary skills in children than through rote learning. Educators at Guardian centres, such as Darling View, support children in their literacy development by providing them with a range of different forms of literary materials, encouraging participation in individual and group learning experiences and giving children a positive space in which to feel comfortable around literacy concepts.
This August, many Guardian centres helped to raise money for Australian farmers through the "Fiver for a Farmer" campaign, we also chat to Centre Manager Bex Scott from Early Learners and look at ways to teach your child to cope. Read on to catch up on August's childcare news.
Clare is the Centre Manager for Guardian Roseville, a light-filled centre which features herb and vegetable gardens, water play areas, and alfresco dining spaces. Clare took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Literacy encompasses everything from talking and listening to visual literacies such as drawing and ebooks. At Guardian Early Learning - Springfield, literacy is all around us; we promote it throughout all aspects of learning. During the early stages of development, we use play and real-life contexts to advance writing concepts with an emphasis on literacy.
https://www.guardian.edu.au/blog/playtime-with-children/children-need-tricky-experiences/At Guardian, play is always more than just play.
Annette is the Centre Manager for Guardian Wahroonga, a homely centre which features a teepee, vegetable garden, a water pump, a creek bed, and worm farm. Annette took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Peta is the Centre Manager for Guardian Clayfield, a modern centre which features vegetable gardens, an inbuilt slide, and a range of age-specific ateliers. Peta took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
After watching a news report on the benefits of the elderly connecting with children, Guardian’s Guardian Maroubra East Centre Manager, Kelly, decided to add an extra destination to the centre’s excursion program.
Lily is the Centre Manager for Guardian Lemon Tree, a freshly renovated centre which features modern resources, natural play structures and a range of age-specific ateliers. Lily took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Michelle is the Centre Manager for Guardian Wanniassa, an open-plan centre which features vegetable gardens, a compost bin, a worm farm and an active recycling program. Michelle took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Ethos’ Q&A with Simone, Centre Manager, Guardian’s Blyth Street Early Learning Centre (now Guardian's Victorian Curriculum Mentor).
The Rainbow Room at Guardian Early Learning Centre – Artarmon has been transformed into an exploration of space, with the children building a replica of our solar system.
Zoe is the Centre Manager for Guardian Newstead, a light-filled centre which features a water pump, purpose-built hills and tunnels, indoor gardens, city views and natural play structures. Zoe took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Book Week would have to be one of our favourite events of the year at Guardian Childcare & Education. Not only because we love reading, but the week allows Educators and children to embrace their creative side and let their imaginations run wild.
If you’ve been to the Pre-Kindergarten room at Guardian Early Learning Centre – Charlotte Street in recent months, then you’ve probably heard the book Mopoke being read and children laughing along the way. The children love the book so much that it’s turned into an ongoing exploration of native birds and habitats.
Michelle is the Centre Manager for Guardian Queen Street an open-plan centre which features a project atelier, city views, natural play structures and indoor gardens. Michelle took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Responding to the damage of the kinder yard’s greenhouses, the Guardian Early Learners – Altona North team decided to turn a disappointing situation into a centre-wide sustainability project – using soft drink bottles to build a new greenhouse for the yard.
Meaghan is the Centre Manager for Guardian Augustine Heights, an open-plan centre which features a running creek, colourful gardens, water play, and a worm farm. Meaghan took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Rebekah is the Centre Manager for Guardian Walker Street, a light-filled centre which features herb and vegetable gardens, a worm farm, and an alfresco dining space. Rebekah took a few minutes out of her busy day to share insights on her career background, her education approach and a few fun facts.
Inspired by Book Week, the children at Guardian Early Learning Springfield have begun an epic game of hide and seek with their local community. Hide and seek with books, that is.
Friendship plays a pivotal role in healthy development and wellbeing in every stage of a child’s life, offering opportunities for sharing, learning, excitement and support.
The team at Playdays Wahroonga have created a literacy space showcasing their Read Aloud Book Suggestions at the centre.
In recent months, the team at Guardian Balmain Cove have worked hard on improving their systems and techniques for their plant care.
After reading about the benefits of outdoor naps, the team at Kids Time McKinnon decided to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and host the toddlers’ naps outside.
The team at Guardian Tree House St Kilda are passionate about embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into their curriculum. Their latest addition to the initiative is weekly incursions with Uncle Glenn, an Elder from the Wiradjuri Land.
From excursions exploring the local community to celebrating a world of cultures in our Centres, Guardian’s practices and programs focus on collaboration, diversity, uniqueness and experiences that open up a world of possibilities.
Taking inspiration from our Summer Learning Program, the team at River Garden have compiled a list of indoor activities to try this summer.
The children at Guardian Acre Woods Childcare Eastwood finished 2019 with an exciting visit from Eastwood Fire Station.
This week, Guardian Childcare & Education’s King Street Head Chef, Guilherme, shares his crowd-pleasing, dairy and egg free chocolate cake recipe.
Taking inspiration from the toddler’s interest in their room’s home corner, the team at Guardian Childcare & Education Marsfield have introduced tea time as a weekly ritual.
To further support the Centre’s families and each other as a team, Guardian Childcare & Education Taringa Centre Manager, Monique, and the Educators have created several parents spaces and a staff wellbeing space.
To build relationships and celebrate the new preschool children enrolling at Guardian Childcare & Education Arthur Street in 2020, the Centre’s teachers and Educators recently explored the concept of being and belonging.
Guardian Childcare & Education Camberwell has created an engaging zoo-themed sociodramatic play space in their Opals Kinder Room.
After weeks of planning, the team, children and family volunteers ventured off on Lilyfield’s first excursion of 2020 to their local park.
Like at all Guardian Centres, literacy and numeracy is embedded into the curriculum and the daily programs and practices at Guardian Childcare & Education Marsfield.
In the lead up to Purim, a Jewish celebration held on March 10, the children in the kinder room at Guardian Childcare & Education Caulfield North have been learning about Jewish culture through incursions and discussions.
To further support the children’s self-regulation and communication, the team at Guardian Childcare & Education Charlotte Street have introduced emotion cards into the pre-kindy room.
Over the past few months, the preschool children at Guardian Childcare & Education Tempe have been exploring the wonderful world of science experiments.
Inspired by the older children’s eagerness to spend time with their younger cohorts, the team at Guardian Childcare & Education Marsfield have launched a leadership program.
For Australian families, spending most of their time at home is now the norm. And with more time at home comes filling the hours with interesting and entertaining activities for our children.
After reflecting on how best to support families who are in self isolation or working from home, the team at Guardian Childcare & Education Barangaroo decided to record videos of themselves reading books for storytime that they could then send out on Storypark.
To bring some delight to their neighbourhood, Guardian Childcare & Education Rouse Hill North are participating in their local bear hunt, a live-action experience of the book, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt.
The team at Guardian Childcare & Education Wallaby Street have transformed one of their Centre windows into a puppet show to record and share with the children at home.
Children from Guardian Childcare & Education Phillip Street have been working with their educators to connect with the wider Guardian community during COVID-19. As a result, Centre Manager Harriet Wilshaw McAllister has set up a national pen pal program.
To alleviate the children’s worries and answer their many questions, the team at Guardian Childcare & Education South Yarra have been reading Hi. This is coronavirus. everyday.
To bring some joy to their local communities, Guardian Centres across the country are joining the rainbow trail, decorating their windows and fences with children’s rainbow artwork and positive messages.
Dinnertime doesn’t have to end in tears – there are positive ways to help your child expand their palate and enjoy their meals.
Book Week 2020: October 17-23
Lauren Kate (Mad Max Mum)
Children, no matter their age, learn best when they feel secure and happy - in a stimulating environment, with a supportive network. Our Teachers and Educators take pride in developing educational programs based in play and real-world contexts. These support each child’s current knowledge, strengths, ideas, culture, abilities and unique interests.
At childcare, babies, toddlers and preschoolers are offered development opportunities, the chance to learn about the world, and develop socially, emotionally and develop a lifelong love of learning. The Australian Government suggests that between 10 and 15 hours of early learning a week optimises these outcomes.
Developmental milestones are the essential abilities such as moving, seeing, hearing, communicating and interacting with other people. Babies are developing these skills from birth, and they gradually develop – at a rapid pace – during the first five years of life.
Whatever question you have about parenting your child under the age of five, there’s a resource here to assist. From questions about developmental milestone, to why ‘does my child bite?’ – there's a resource here to help. We’ve also collected some of the best educational websites and those with resources to help you entertain your children.
We take cooking and nutrition very seriously in our Centres – but we have a lot of fun doing it!
A fantastic example of this has come from one of our amazing Bachelor Qualified Teachers at our Guardian Kinfolk Albury Centre. As part of our national Guardian Literacy Program, our Curriculum Team are always on the lookout for the best examples of age and stage appropriate books to choose for our Centres and to recommend to our families. As part of this, we discovered a great book for pre-schoolers and kindy aged children written by one of our own, Christine Cameron.