Basic organisational skills, information filtering, and communication are all combining to prepare your child for formal education. In the contemporary landscape, where technology is ever present, it is more important than ever to take a hands-on approach to early learning. From birth until the age of five is the most rapid period of development in your child’s life. Spending time with them and communicating through conversation, play, music and reading teach your child much more than just the sounds of the alphabet.

Relationship building is central to children’s learning experiences. Beginning within the family, children learn the natural rhythms of relating: the give and take required, the differences of opinion, point of view, emotional needs, and the intimacy and trust inherent in close relationships. Once these foundations have been formed, it is a wonderful experience for children to open up the world of relationships to incorporate people outside of the immediate family.

Gardening is a terrific way to get children involved with nature. It has the power to teach children about the beauty of flowers and vegetables, whilst also teaching them valuable life lessons like patience and self-confidence.

Healthy food choices are so important for growing minds and bodies, and there are many fantastic fresh whole foods available. Introducing these foods into your child’s diet as early and regularly as possible will ensure they come to regard it as a natural part of their day. The great thing about fruit and vegetables is their naturally interesting appearance. Coming in a range of bold colours, unusual shapes, and varied textures, they are wonderful things to discover with your child.

Play dough allows children to explore patterns and form. It helps them discover the impact they can have on an object in a safe and fun way. This gives them a sense of agency and importance, as they control the play dough and it does what their hands want it to. While play dough is readily available and affordable, it is much more fun to make it at home with your child.

Risky or adventurous play gives children the opportunity to push boundaries, experience challenges and tests their limits in an exciting, engaging and fun environment. You can promote risky play environments in the home, outdoors and in child care settings, providing safe and supervised environments that teach children about risk.

Music is central to the learning curriculum at Keiki Early Learning. From infants to toddlers to kindy all programs incorporate music in different ways. There are a range of ways this can be continued at home, depending on your child’s life stage.

Children are not born with a set of values, ethics and morals. It’s something that’s learnt from their parents and upbringing. Laying the foundation of values in early childhood will mean that children have acquired the knowledge to grow into well balanced adults and lead a bright and healthy future.

Love and respect for the environment can start young. At Keiki Early Learning, we believe the fate of the Earth is in the hands of our children and with our help, they have the power to make a substantial difference in the future. Follow our suggestions to help your children build lifelong habits that will work towards living a greener life.

Action songs are songs or nursery rhymes with sing-song phrases and movements. Benefits to your child include enhancing creative language, vocabulary and motor skills.