General News
22 December, 2022
Families get a feel for kinder at The Nest
From numbers and alphabets to rhymes and shapes, kinder programs help children take the first step towards their education journey — and a local organisation is trying to make that process easy for families. Last week, Go Goldfields hosted...
From numbers and alphabets to rhymes and shapes, kinder programs help children take the first step towards their education journey — and a local organisation is trying to make that process easy for families.
Last week, Go Goldfields hosted a Prepare for Kinder information session at The Nest, a space where parents can come together to engage in learning with other families and their children. The session was aimed at parents and carers of kids who are enrolled to attend kinder for the first time.
Developed to help families understand and support their children as they step into kindergarten, the event equipped all attendees with useful advice and tools according to The Nest facilitator Dianne Cullinan.
“The Prepare for Kinder session was a great opportunity for families to pick up practical tips and information about heading off to kinder,” she said.
“Families saw there were a diverse array of local supports to help them right through kinder, so every child can have their best kinder experience.”
Speaking on the day of the event, representatives from Roseberry House, Goldfields Family Centre and the Maryborough District Health Service provided information on a range of important topics which included: the role of parents and carers as children’s first teachers; getting ready before kinder commences; things to pack; daily routines; how to stay healthy; and what kids learn at kinder.
Attendees at the session also received an activity pack from the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, information on how to create healthy, tasty and cost-effective lunch boxes, and an Introduction to kinder for families booklet with guidance on routines, supporting learning at home and managing child illness.
“I’m excited to be involved with this collaborative community event that benefits our families and their children, what a winner,” Goldfields Family Centre education leader Julie Lebkowski said.
“Attending kinder programs for two years before school is a crucial part of every child’s educational journey so it is great to be working together to ensure families are prepared for this new experience.”
The state government has also made this journey accessible and achievable for all according to Go Goldfields manager Carolyn Bartholomeusz.
“Thanks to the Victorian Government’s investment in early childhood education, three and four year old kinder is free for all children in the Central Goldfields Shire,” she said.
“This supports every child in Central Goldfields to get the best start in life.”
For more information on preparing or registering your child for kinder, call 5461-0610, email central.registration@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au or drop into The Nest at the Maryborough Resource Centre.