Getting Ready for Prep

The first five years of a child’s life are critical to their development. They learn more proportionately in this time than any other time in their life. This is the foundation period that shapes the child’s future heath, happiness, growth, development, learning achievement including structured learning (school), learning for family and community life and future life in general.

Early experiences provide the basis for the brain’s organisational development and functioning throughout life. They have a direct impact on how children develop learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities.

Play is paramount to a child developing across all areas of him / herself. While there is mixed opinion on how a child receives the ‘play’…in a structured and planned curriculum or purely lead by their own creativity and experimentation there is no argument that play is essential for early learning.

An holistic approach where the child is engaged in a diverse and stimulating range of activities addressing physical, social, intellectual and emotional facets of development is fundamental.

Furthermore, the relationship you have with your child shapes the way they learn and grow. One of my favourite quotes is a most appropriate summary … there is no more important a time in your child’s life than the first six years, no more important a place than the home, and no more significant a person than you.