If you’ve ever watched a child zip up their own jacket, share a turn without prompting, or proudly carry their artwork to the car, you’ve seen kindergarten doing its quiet, important work.
At Child’s Play ELC, our kindergarten program pairs play-based learning with intentional teaching so children build confidence, curiosity, and the everyday independence they’ll carry into school and life. Across our centres, you’ll find warm educators, thoughtfully designed environments, and a rhythm to the day that helps children feel safe enough to try new things.
Curious what that looks like in real rooms with real children? Let’s take a peek.
How our kinder program works
We take the ‘Learning through Play’ philosophy (inspired by Kathy Walker) and blend it with Reggio Emilia principles. This means children are invited to co-design their learning, while teachers guide, scaffold, and celebrate along the way.
Each centre uses a fortnightly program that covers seven curriculum areas. Together, these areas help children explore the world around them, discover their interests, and prepare for school in a balanced, play-based way.
- Creative Arts (IAE) – Innovation, artistry and expressionism through music, drama, and visual arts.
- Science & Technology (RDE) – Research, discovery and exploration of how things work.
- Child Led Routine (CLR) – Building autonomy, self-reliance, and confidence in daily rhythms.
- Foundations of Learning (FOL) – Literacy, numeracy, and the early building blocks for school readiness.
- Planning & Design (P&D) – Development, construction and architectural innovation, from block towers to imaginative problem-solving.
- Children Within Nature (CWN) – Connecting with flora, fauna, and sustainable practices that encourage care for the environment.
- We Are The World (WATW) – Exploring society, diversity, and First Nations perspectives to foster inclusion and respect.
Educators bring these areas to life through play-rich experiences. As Kavita, kinder teacher at Point Cook, explains: “In term one we get to know the children and their families, building trust together. By term two we start a little bit of school readiness, and by terms three and four the children are doing more for themselves like serving lunch, packing their bags, zipping jackets, and even resolving small conflicts.”
Within these curriculum areas, teachers also add intentional learning experiences tailored to the group. For example, Play-Doh might be used to strengthen hand muscles for pencil grip, or a drawing provocation introduced when a child shows an interest in art.
A day in kinder
Across all of our centres, routine gives children a sense of comfort and security. A predictable rhythm helps them know what’s coming next, which in turn makes them feel safe enough to explore new experiences.
At Child’s Play Torquay, for example, the morning includes a special class time from 10:30 to 12:00. Every fortnight the activities change, keeping things fresh and engaging.
The week also brings regular highlights, like incursions. “On Mondays and Fridays we have Happy Feet and Sportsbuzz,” says Reina, kinder teacher at Torquay.
‘We love to bring learning into everyday experiences. The children might make their own pizzas to practise self-serving and independence, or plant beans and watch their life cycle unfold,” says Priyanka Sharma, Centre Director at Child’s Play Tarneit West.
To deepen connections, educators often break into smaller groups using a multipurpose room. This allows more one-on-one time with teachers and helps every child feel seen and supported.
Families as part of the journey
Family involvement is an important part of kindergarten life. During Book Week, for example, parents and grandparents were invited in as “secret readers,” with up to eleven family members sharing stories with the children.
Ongoing communication is equally valued. “Parents know they can contact us anytime – by email, phone or in person,” Sam Magro, Centre Director at Child’s Play Point Cook explains. “And every parent who walks in gets to chat with an educator about their child’s day.”
Families also notice the difference this connection makes. As one parent, Hammad, shared: “The kindergarten program has been outstanding, helping the kids grow in their learning, social skills, and overall development. Both of my children have thrived in this nurturing environment. The staff was kind, attentive, and truly dedicated to ensuring every child feels supported and valued. We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact they’ve had on our lives.”
What school readiness really means
For us, school readiness is about the whole child, not a checklist. Educators look at social skills, like whether children are confident to play with others, ask for help, and regulate emotions. They consider physical abilities, such as balance, ball skills, climbing, and fine motor control. And they celebrate independence, from serving lunch to managing belongings.
“Research tells us the most important indicator of a successful start to school is not whether a child can read and write, but their social and emotional skills and maturity,” says Terralee Halbert, Centre Director at Child’s Play Dandenong. “We focus on confidence, concentration, teamwork, and independence, alongside literacy and numeracy.”
Kinder at Child’s Play_September-2025
Special milestones
Kindergarten graduation at Child’s Play is always a heart-warming occasion. Children sing songs they’ve practised with pride, slip into tiny gowns, and walk across the stage to receive their certificates. For families and educators, it’s a chance to reflect on just how far the children have come, from those first shy days to confident, school-ready learners.
As kinder teacher Pawan Kaur says, “Graduation is a joyful celebration full of family, pride, and reflection. It’s about sending the children off, ready to take on big school with confidence and excitement.”
Beach Kinder at Child’s Play Torquay
Nothing says Torquay like bare feet and big skies, and our Beach Kinder program embraces that spirit by turning the coastline into a classroom. Children practise independence as they walk to the beach, manage their belongings, and use public facilities, while also exploring literacy, numeracy, and science in a hands-on outdoor setting.
The learning unfolds through both planned activities and free exploration. Children might count and fill buckets, write in the sand, or recognise numbers, alongside time to roam within safe boundaries. While it took some time for the group to settle into the routine, they soon began to thrive. “They knew the walk, the bathroom stop, morning tea, then play,” the educators recall. “They thrived in the open space.”
For Torquay families, this program feels like home. As the team puts it, “Our whole yard is sand, so the beach is part of our culture.”
Ready to see kinder in action?
Come and meet the educators, explore our indoor and outdoor spaces, and watch play turn into learning. Book a tour at your nearest Child’s Play Early Learning Centre.
At Child’s Play, we believe Every Child Matters, and every day brings new opportunities to grow, explore and belong.
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