At the onset of 2023, as the children embarked on their pre-prep journey, they brought with them a foundational understanding of their learning environment, nurtured over the preceding years in a childcare setting. Drawing upon this, we have developed a progressive strategy to prepare the children for the significant transition that lies ahead in their educational journey.
Pre-prep provides experiences for children to grow and develop through play and interaction. It also allows children to become confident learners in a safe and supported environment, providing a framework of belonging, being and becoming.
The Framework
The framework is designed specifically to help educators plan, implement, and evaluate curriculum within their pre-prep programs with the end goal of having all young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens.
The framework sets 5 learning outcomes:
- Children have a strong sense of identity.
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
- Children are confident and involved learners.
- Children are effective communicators.
Educational Programming
Our Educational programming at Bright Kids Centre places a strong emphasis on;
- Social and Emotional learning (SEL) ;
- Fostering exploration, discovery and learning by fully immersing in Natures playground; and
- Inclusion of our Native culture.
We harness these teachings through our three specialised programs; (Mindful Kids Resilience, Empowering Our Youth, Indigenous and Nature Inspired). These programs complement the National Curriculum and Framework for optimum growth.
Developmental Milestones
Throughout the first half-year, I observed how each child, in their own unique manner within the pre-prep class, has embarked on a personal journey of learning.
The children have made remarkable progress by achieving and contributing to various developmental milestones set for this year in pre-prep.
Gross Motor
During the initial six-month period, we have successfully achieved numerous milestone objectives. Our primary focus was on enhancing gross motor skills, which encompassed activities such as light toe-tip running, displaying agility and competence in activities like climbing, sliding, and swinging.
Additionally, we worked on skipping using alternate feet, accomplishing the feat of hopping on one foot ten times or more (both on the right and left), and mastering the ability to balance on one foot for a duration of 8-10 seconds (on both the right and left sides).
These skills were further refined through collaborative engagement in the senior yard setting.
Fine Motor
We’ve made significant progress in enhancing our fine motor skills and overall development. I’ve already noted that the children have established distinct hand preferences, demonstrating their ability to grip a pencil using their thumb and 1-3 other fingers.
They’ve also begun their journey into letter formation, practicing writing letters like their names, and their drawings now exhibit greater detail.
Communication
Enhancing communication is a central skill we emphasize to foster increased self-assurance. This is achieved through activities such as identifying colors and shapes, engaging in conversations with both educators and peers, ensuring clear articulation even with those we don’t interact with daily, introducing ourselves with first and last names, and stating our age in years.
Social Skills
Over the last six months, we’ve witnessed the evolution of social skills, particularly the ability to engage in cooperative play with peers. Additionally, the children have initiated participation in group games, demonstrating an understanding of basic rules.
Cognitive Skills
Cognitive Skills are infused into our learning experience by melding cognitive growth with creative play, incorporating narratives and diverse roles. We practice counting objects both by rote and by actual enumeration, ranging from 1 to 20 items. Furthermore, we grasp the concept of differentiating between morning and afternoon.
“Mindful kids” Certified Resilience Program
Our very own licensee is a Resilience Facilitator and Certified NLP Coach, who has developed the accredited ‘Mindful Kid’s’ resilience program. This distinctive initiative has been integrated and embedded into our Centre for the past seven years and is consistently undergoing enhancement and modification with fresh resilience methodologies and tools.
Our mindful kid’s resilience learning has been a very important tool that we have all pulled from in one way or other over the past six months. Supplying resilience tools inside the classroom has created ways for the children to be able to manage stress, challenges, trauma, or adversity that life brings and bounce back from it. When children are resilient, they are going to be more confident, curious, and adaptable to the world around them.
This year we initiated our exclusive “Bright Kids Resilience Book Club,” centering on a single book each month.
We have combined our mindful skill learning with specially prepared books relating to different subject where the children to read, listen, earn, and reflect from. Some of the books we have already reviewed have been:
- ‘Moody Cow Meditates’ https://brightkidscentre.com.au/march-book-club-review/ a releasing and redirection tool involving a visual meditation.
- ‘My Magic Breath’ https://brightkidscentre.com.au/april-book-club-review/ a vibrantly illustrated book teaching mindful breathwork with extension activities.
- “Angry Bull” https://brightkidscentre.com.au/may-book-club-review/ is an innovative way to teach children about the 5 senses as a pivotal tool to harness their emotional world.
- Currently reviewing ‘Tiger, Tiger is it true’ a self-inquiry tool. This tool has instructed us in the art of pausing, reflecting, and challenging our own viewpoints. Clinging to a single perspective in the face of numerous alternatives prompts us to inquire within ourselves. The insights from this book provided us with an opportunity to roleplay, enabling us to delve deeper into conversations about our emotions.
“ABC YOGA” was voted our favourite book that we reviewed this year.
It was unanimous! “ABC Yoga” was voted favourite book https://brightkidscentre.com.au/june-book-club-review-yoga/. The children have gained a strong sense of confidence in practicing Yoga on a regular basis and were prepared to embrace a challenge by exploring various yoga poses and viewpoints.
This book added an element of joy as the children encountered a plethora of unique animal poses, prompting laughter and amusement. However, the experience didn’t stop there – we also uncovered a creative method to spell out our names through these remarkable poses. With deliberate, unhurried breaths and deliberate movements, we meticulously balanced ourselves while forming each letter.
Discussing and managing emotions regularly in our room is a basic steppingstone for the children making the step to big school in 2023.
“Empowering Our Youth” Indigenous Inspired Program
As we are an Aboriginal Sensitive Centre, honouring the land in which we were given here at Bright Kids, by understanding and paying respects to the traditional custodians of past, present, and emerging. We are a part of the ‘Kombumerri tribe’ and the Yugambeh Language people here in Nerang. Collaborating with Miss Billie, our Aboriginal consultant, developing our ‘Empowering our Youth’ inspired program.
Our Aboriginal inspired educational program
Has led us to:
- Traditional movement, dance and instruments;
- Exploring symbols;
- Absorbing the art of storytelling through observation and the acquisition of visual techniques to develop captivating narratives.
- The exploration of Dreamtime stories has been most effectively carried out using props, showcasing a potent method to foster a sense of connection among children. This connection extends not only to their cultures but also to the generations that came before them.
- Delving into the significance behind the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, and then expressing our interpretation of these flags through artistic creation;
- Explored the diverse array of native edibles, often referred to as bush tucker, that thrive in our remarkable homeland. These foods are deeply rooted in our indigenous heritage. Through engaging displays and even tastings, we’ve had the fortunate opportunity to intimately acquaint ourselves with some of these culinary treasures.
We inspire the children to engage with our Yugambeh Language
This endeavor not only introduces them to a second language but also enhances their cognitive focus, critical thinking abilities, creativity, and mental adaptability.
“Nature Inspired” Bush Kindy Program
Our campus outdoor environmental yard was designed as an extension of our indoor studio, providing space for sensory exploration with natural materials, discovery, artistic creations, stillness, relaxation, collective group learning and gross motor skills.
Our nature inspired planning brings us to many varied learning opportunities from acknowledging different events, such as Clean up Australia day where we not only had the chance to ‘clean up’ the kindy yards but reflect on why we have to clean up, where does the rubbish come from and what are ways we can help to keep Australia clean?
We took the opportunity to combine our learning of this day and explored recycling moments. We repurposed old items into new creations for our classroom and contributed to the environment through gardening activities, such as crafting feeders for bees and birds.
Have you had the chance to admire our thriving garden? As we continue to nurture it, guided by the lessons we learned during our session with Miss Angela from the Garden Growers Show, we’re mindful of the need to provide ample water to the plants’ roots and protect them from pests.
Bush Kindy Field Trips
Undoubtedly, our bush kindy outings stand out as cherished memories for us. We consider ourselves fortunate to have a nearby national park that allows us to delve into our weekly activities and expand upon them.
Lately, we’ve delved into the transition of seasons and reveled in our close interactions with nature, linking our understanding of the changing colors of leaves and the shifts in weather and temperature.
Conclusion
We’ve truly had a fun filled six months of learning and growing as a collective and individually this year. Beginning the year with a mix of uncertain and anxious glances, I can confidently assert that each child has blossomed into a unique and radiant individual. Every one of them is a shining star, showcasing their brilliance in exceptional ways. Anticipation fills me as we embark on the ongoing voyage of learning together. Our path is illuminated with a multitude of ideas and plans waiting to be realized, along with a wealth of stories and milestones to embrace and conquer.
That’s all this month from Miss Tracy and the Sea Turtles (Pingin) children
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