🧱 Thursday Play with Toddlers – Imagination in Action! 🧱
After morning tea, we invited the children to immerse themselves in an open-ended play experience where their imaginations could run wild and free.
The floor became a creative wonderland—scattered with soft foam bricks, bits and pieces from different toys, and endless possibilities. There were no instructions or rules, just space to explore and create.
Some children focused on building upwards, stacking bricks into tall, wobbly towers. You could see the deep concentration on their faces—tongues poking out, little hands carefully placing each piece. If a tower toppled, it was met with laughter and a cheerful “oops!” before they eagerly started again.
Others created long, winding roads across the floor, thoughtfully placing blocks side by side and zooming toy cars or guiding animals along their makeshift tracks—each child lost in their own adventurous storyline.
In one corner, a group turned the blocks into ramps and platforms. One brave jumper would climb up, pause at the top, then leap off with a delighted grin—followed by more eager little jumpers. When one child suggested making the jump “even bigga,” the whole group jumped in to help build it.
What was truly beautiful was the unspoken teamwork. No formal plans, no adult prompting—just organic collaboration. A block passed over without a word, a space made to include another friend. It was messy, yes—blocks everywhere, shoes off, children stretched out on the floor—but it was the best kind of mess. A mess filled with creativity, cooperation, exploration, and joy.
🎨 Outdoor Art Studio – Exploring Creativity in the Sunshine 🎨
Our outdoor space was transformed into an open-air art studio, where our little artists were invited to freely explore and create. White fabric was draped across the yard, offering a blank canvas for expression. A wide variety of tools—paint, brushes, rollers, syringes, and spray bottles—were thoughtfully provided to support children's fine motor development and hand-eye coordination.
By offering a blank white space, we encouraged each child to express their ideas, emotions, and thoughts through art, using creativity as a powerful tool for communication. This experience promoted a strong sense of agency, allowing children to make choices about what and how they painted.
Many children chose to work alongside friends or collaboratively on shared artworks, naturally building on their social and teamwork skills. It was a joyful, colourful celebration of individuality, imagination, and connection.
So beautiful and something I bet they are very proud of
🌿 Kindy 4 Bush Walk – Exploring, Creating & Connecting to Country 🌿
Our Kindy 4 children had a beautiful day out in the local bushland, deepening their connection to nature and learning about the significance of the land we walk on.
We started by exploring Indigenous artwork in the “wooden tent,” then used natural materials to build creative structures in small teams—sparking imagination, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Along the trail, Morah Rachael shared the traditional uses of native plants for food, medicine, and tools. The children were full of curiosity, asking questions like “Why are the trees burned?” and “What’s that box in the tree?”
At the obstacle course, their confidence and gross motor skills shone as they tackled challenges with persistence and pride. A quiet moment under a large gum tree gave us time to reflect, as children placed their hands on the bark and whispered their thanks to Country.
It was a powerful day of learning through nature, showing respect for Aboriginal culture, and building meaningful connections with the world around us.
We’re so grateful for our ongoing partnership with Coolbinia Primary School and appreciate them warmly welcoming us into their beautiful space.
Love your work!!
🐠Our Fishy Friends🐠
There was a beautiful energy in the Adventurers Room on Monday morning as the children joyfully reunited after the weekend, exchanging warm hugs and cheerful greetings. As part of our daily rhythm, the fish also received their own morning hellos, with children gathering around the tank to see what their shimmering friends were up to. Busy little hands eagerly helped prepare materials for our creative experience, inspired by our classroom pets – the fish! With curiosity and a strong sense of agency, the children explored the sound and feel of foil, delighting in how it changed shape: “A ball!” one exclaimed, sharing their discovery with peers.
The creative experience drew inspiration from the children's ongoing connection with the fish. They often pause during the day to observe or speak to them, finding calm and comfort in this simple interaction. Educators join in too, noticing and naming the vibrant colours and movements we see in the tank. We brought these moments of wonder into our Foil Painting experience. Using recycled cardboard cut-outs of fish and shiny foil as a base, children explored texture and colour, brushing iridescent hues over the foil to reflect the beauty of our real-life classroom pets. This sensory-rich experience encouraged creativity while deepening the children’s connection to nature and each other.
“Having a pet at your service gives children the opportunity to observe, interact and learn about animals. It can be a valuable
part of a child’s education and care \experience, enriching their learning about nature, ecology and relationships.” – ACECQA
Rain or shine, we headed to the Old Central Fire Station Heritage Centre on Wednesday! 🚒
Our children, raincoats on and smiles wide, were excited to spot traffic lights, buses and tall buildings on the way. Some even shouted, “My Daddy/Mummy works in the city!”
Inside the museum, the children were thrilled to try on real firefighter uniforms, helmets, and sit inside the fire truck! They also explored different emergency scenarios — house fires, floods, and wild weather — learning about fire safety and the tools firefighters use to keep our community safe.
This hands-on experience supported our recent learning about fire safety as part of our Lag B’Omer celebrations, where we’ve been talking about bonfires and staying safe around fire. It was wonderful to see the children connecting what they’ve learned in class with real-life heroes who help keep us safe.
We’re so grateful for the memories and learning this excursion created!
Always a crowd pleaser with the little ones. Have a good weekend xx
