"All children, no matter their age, can derive tremendous benefits from taking part in regular nature play and learning outside of the classroom" Nature Play QLD
At CHCCD we value the real, experiential and authentic learning opportunities that are provided through nature based learning and as such incorporate both "Nature Play" and "Bush Kindy" in our Educational Programs. Nature play is the term we use to describe the outdoor learning program we provide within our service that encourages the children to play and learn from and within their natural environment in an authentic and unstructured ways. Our oversized and natural outdoor environments, with real trees, plants, bush tucker, rocks, dirt, mud, sticks, leaves and wildlife provide the perfect space for daily immersion in the natural world. While our Bush Kindy Program offers the children the opportunity to venture past our grounds and explore the natural wonders on offer in our community. All children throughout the service enjoy the opportunity to regularly engage in our Bush Kindy Program, with our youngest children hitching a ride in one of our 6 seater prams. Bush Kindy Days are our Favourite Days!!
Ready for Prep Program
All children have different interests, needs and motivations and each child’s transition from Kindy to Prep will be unique. We will support you and your child to feel more comfortable about starting school by embedding school readiness in our daily Kindergarten program and by providing families with knowledge and understanding about their role to play and what they can do.
Our 'Ready For Prep' Program will help your child prepare for their first year of school by:
building confidence
strengthening their independence
encouraging interpersonal and communication skills
supporting the children's ability to regulate emotions
stimulating the children's imagination and natural curiosity
sparking the the children's innate disposition for enquiry and knowledge acquisition.
developing the children's understanding and knowledge around school-life
We will support families to prepare their children for their first year of school by encouraging them to:
establish a daily routine
strengthen their child's independence
get to know and be involved with their chosen school
engage in family activities at home.
understand their child's development and school readiness
The 'Get up and Grow' Program
The Get Up & Grow program that we implement across all 5 rooms at Carina Heights Child Care and Development is in line with the Healthy eating and physical activity for early childhood guidelines and accompanying resources that have been developed by child health and early childhood professionals in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
This healthy eating and physical activity program is based on three key national health documents that focus on children, namely:
The Australian Dietary Guidelines (2013)
The Infant Feeding Guidelines (2012), which form the basis for nutrition policy in Australia
The National Physical Activity Recommendations for Children 0 to 5 years, which has been developed to guide policy and practice around physical activity for young children
The children’s early years are arguably their most important and establishing healthy behaviours from birth will lay the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. Nutritious food and regular physical activity supports the normal growth and development of children and reduces the risk of developing chronic lifestyle related diseases later in life.
Working collaboratively on the two halves of the "Get up and Grow' program our Nutrition Advocate and centre Chef focuses on healthy eating and nutrition while our qualified and experienced specialist educator plans and implements a targeted physical activity program.
Little Ballet Dancer Program
We understand that when a child dances, they learn about how their body can move. They experiment with travelling motions such as walking, sliding and jumping, as well as other movements like twisting, bobbing and bending. Dancing uses more muscles than simply standing and walking around does, which strengthens them. Through dance, children learn to coordinate and control their bodies and the movement helps them develop spatial awareness.
For these reasons and so many more we are proud to offer a weekly Little Baller Dancer Program for all children over the age of 3 years. The Little Ballet Dancer Program, which was developed by a professional and dedicated Ballet Teacher who specialises in teaching children 3 to 7 aligns with our curriculum, the Early Years Learning Framework.
The structured dance lessons support in developing the children's; concentration, creativity and coordination. Each of these elements further benefiting the children's cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
The Little Ballet Dancer program allows the children to have fun, concentrate on steps, imitate people and animals through imaginative actions and challenge their body with purposeful movement.