11 minute read
The Early Learning Centre connecting play, learning and natureEDUCATION
Surounded by peaceful rainforest and tropical gardens, every child can connect with nature at Flinders Early Learning Centre
You would be forgiven for missing the turn-off to Flinders Early Learning Centre, located in Buderim in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. "e Centre (FELC) is surrounded by tropical gardens and borders a wetland forest corridor, which makes it difficult to spot at first glance on the drive past. "e rainforest is part of the neighbouring 22-hectare campus of leading Queensland Prep to Year 12 school, Matthew Flinders Anglican College. Many parents choose to continue their FELC experience by applying for a place in the Preparatory Year at Flinders, enabling their children to enjoy the smooth transition next door to ‘big school’ through the College’s extensive orientation program, which involves parent information sessions, orientation mornings for play visits and a staggered start to the Prep school day.
FELC Director Jo Osborne explains the Centre’s natural setting is one of the major drawcards for parents.
“We are blessed to have this beautiful One of the Centre’s most popular offerings rainforest on our doorstep and strongly with the 120 families in its pre-kindergarten believe our role at FELC is to guide children to and kindergarten programs is its quality explore their natural environment,” Jo says. bush kindy. "e program enables every child
“Our whole philosophy values play and at FELC to connect with the forest space, enquiry for stimulating and shaping child explore its wonders and consider their place development and early learning at this in the natural world. crucial young stage of life,” “We give children the she said. opportunity to venture into “We know that playing in nature gives children Our whole the forest on a regular basis. In the forest, the children have the opportunity to build philosophy values different opportunities to play, confidence and resilience, boost their physicality play and enquiry learn and to build courage. “"ey may try climbing and wellbeing, be creative the rope tree, balancing on and curious, and explore fallen trees, climbing vines or responsibility and problem-solving. walking over the rickety bridge; they collect
“Parents are extremely supportive of natural resources and learn how to safely our Centre’s values of enabling nature play play with big, long sticks. through a Reggio Emilio experience because “"e children learn about the forest as they want their children to experience the they map the natural space, consider the joy of connecting with nature as often as natural landmarks, identify the flora and possible in their early years.” fauna, and get muddy!
“Some days, we set up an activity in the forest, such as clay, playdough or drawing.
“It’s so peaceful amongst the trees, and it’s wonderful to feel the children relax into it and find their own pace and rhythm as they go.
“It is also very special to observe how the children develop a sense of ownership of and responsibility for the forest space.”
Children at FELC also regularly visit the Flinders Farm, which is just a short walk through the neighbouring College campus and operates as a vibrant learning hub for Flinders students from Prep to Year 12.
On the farm, children learn from the College’s farm manager, Jeff Maclennan – a.k.a Farmer Jeff – about animals, veggies, food scraps, compost, seedlings and irrigation. Farmer Jeff enjoys engaging the FELC children in the farm and observing their excitement and wonder in the little things.
“Over time, the children learn how to hold chickens without hurting them and collect eggs without breakages,” Jeff said.
“"ey soon know which veggie leaves Erol the Emu enjoys most and which ones he isn’t too fussed about!” he said.
“From one visit to the next, they marvel at the rate the seedlings they planted have grown.
“As an educator, it is wonderful to witness their fascination with our natural world.”
Earlier in the year, the FELC children visited the farm almost daily as Farmer Jeff taught them how honey is extracted from the farm’s beehives.
“"ey were enthralled in the process as I showed them the cells that the bees make for the Queen Bee to lay her eggs and told them how the eggs then ‘grow into bees’,” Jeff said.
“"ere are always plenty of questions, in this instance, ‘how are they born?’, ‘what do they eat?’, and ‘where is the Queen Bee?’”
Jo says that one of the best outcomes of the Flinders Farm visits is the play it inspires upon the children’s return to the Centre. "e children will gravitate to the space in the Centre that best suits their imaginative play, whether it is the light-filled classrooms, outdoor learning areas, rainforest gardens, veggie plots, mud kitchen, art studios, writing
www.mfac.edu.au/flinders-early-learning-centre
stations, discovery areas or reading nooks.
“During the honey extraction project, the friends decided to return to FELC and make honey in the sandpit outside,” Jo said.
“And very soon a team was formed as they helped one another use the water pump in the garden and took turns adding it to the mixture,” she said.
“It is wonderful to see the children lead their own play and experience the joy of working together towards a common goal.”
Another project at FELC is the new community garden, which the children and families are helping to design from the ground up with Farmer Jeff’s guidance.
Last year, the children hosted a morning tea event at FELC for their parents and grandparents and served the fruit, veggies and herbs they had grown in their veggie plots within the Centre’s gardens. "e morning tea was a chance to involve their families in the new community garden project and to proudly show their drawings of the food they would like to grow.
“We invite our FELC families to contribute their design ideas about the project, from
Students regularly visit Flinders Farm to feed the animals.
seasonal planting recommendations to plans for water collection tanks, seating options and how we might enjoy the bounty after harvest,” Jo said.
“"e walls and shelves in our FELC foyer are decorated with beautiful drawings, collages and clay models that the children have been inspired to create through this project.
“During the home-learning phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we gave families seed packs and invited them to plant and grow the seeds, and then make observations of the growing process through drawings and written stories.
“We had such a lovely response to this simple project and many parents observed how their children felt proud to initiate a family activity in their homes for their older siblings and parents to enjoy.”
Jo says the children are at the heart of the learning at FELC, which makes every day a fascinating adventure.
“At FELC, we are mindful to engage a child’s five senses to provoke wonder, curiosity and intellectual engagement – and what better place to explore this than in nature.”
1800 171 882 playgroupqld.com.au
Discover Playgroup!
PLAYGROUP Where friendships are made one nursery rhyme at a time
It’s 9.30am on a Monday in a leafy Brisbane suburb. !ere’s a group of a dozen children, varying in age from bubs up to five years, dressed in brightly coloured clothes and singing the Wheels on the Bus in their best (loudest!) voices, while the parents are doing the actions alongsideg them, enjoying the children’s laughter. !e song ends and attention switches to activities… for some, it’s time for building blocks, while others are helping to create artistic masterpieces with cardboard, glue, feathers and glitter!
As the children play, parents can chat and connect, sharing their joy over the newest phrase their toddler is using, or seeking advice on food options for fussy eaters. Conversations go from light-hearted to meaningful, just like parenting! !is pocket of busyness is playgroup and anyone with a child under five can join in the fun.
“It’s given me a place to go where my little girl can learn as she plays and has fun, and I get to enjoy playtime with her,” Fern Warren said.
“At home there are so many distractions … playgroup makes you stop and have quality time with your kids. But mostly for me, it’s about supporting other mums or parents going through similar things; laughing about the funny stuff and giving each other ideas on how to manage things. Going to playgroup is honestly such a pleasure each week,” she said.
WHAT IS PLAYGROUP?
Playgroup is a safe, relaxed environment where ideas, experiences, challenges and the joys of parenting can be shared. !e playgroup experience helps parents, families and children connect with each other, build friendships and establish a sense of community through informal, weekly get-togethers. Most importantly, playgroup supports parents on their child’s development journey by learning through play.
As a mother of four, Fern Warren has been a playgroup mum from the time her oldest son was 18 months old. Jake is now in his first year of high school and Fern is the facilitator of her local playgroup.
“I started going to playgroup when Jake finally slept through,” she said.
“In hindsight, I should have gone sooner because when I told the other mums at playgroup about Jake not sleeping, they were really good about it and suggested loads of things to help. It was great just to have people to connect with and you realise you’re not alone. Playgroup is so good for new parents. Honestly, it should be something every new parent gets encouraged to go to
PLAYGROUP HELPS CHILDREN: • participate in new experiences • develop and increase their social skills • learn about sharing, cooperating and routines • interact with other families in a safe environment • discover more about their world • and have fun!
PLAYGROUP HELPS ADULTS: • meet other local families and develop friendships • relax and talk in a safe environment • share experiences and ideas • play with and nurture their child’s development • make connections within their local community • have fun!
from the birth of their child.” BENEFITS OF PLAYGROUP
Fern started her local playgroup two years Playgroup Queensland offers numerous ago, when she decided to build a playgroup playgroups throughout Brisbane and community for her youngest, Ella. Most families can join for just $40 a year ($30 playgroups meet once a week, usually with concession or free Play Stars* membership six to eight families, but Fern’s group now for families with a child under 1) and get meets a few times a week and on its busiest access to as many playgroup sessions as days can have over 20 children along with you like. In addition, membership gives you their parents. a community both in-person
“I have seen how going to and online, tips and resources playgroup has helped my children’s overall development and how much of a difference it I STARTED GOING TO PLAYGROUP EVERY on how to learn through play at home, member-only deals, and a friendship circle that can makes in getting them ready for WEEK AND FOUND last a lifetime. kindy and school,” Fern said. I FINALLY HAD A “I didn’t have many friends
“But more than that, SOCIAL LIFE WITH or family in Queensland when playgroup is not just about the OTHER PARENTS Jake was a baby and needed kids, it’s also about the parents WHO BECAME MY support. I started going to being part of a support network and the bigger community. And CLOSEST FRIENDS! playgroup every week and found I finally had a social life as you become closer, it also with other parents who became becomes this great catch-up my closest friends,” Fern said. with your best friends each week while the babies are happily playing together. !ere WHO IS PLAYGROUP really aren’t many places where you can sit QUEENSLAND? and have a conversation with other parents, Playgroup Queensland was founded in enjoy playtime with your kids, and know 1973 by Queensland families, to connect, that the kids are in a good environment.” engage and share in the early stages of parenthood. !e organisation continues to work to empower families to support each other and advance children’s development through play.
For over 45 years, the organisation has connected families with young children across diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds. Playgroup Queensland’s ethos of recognising parents as their children’s first teachers is embedded in every activity and program implemented by the organisation.
Playgroups are accessible and inclusive to all parents and carers; the organisation currently supports in excess of 10,000 families with children aged birth-to-five.
With the topsy-turvy year we’ve had already, finding a supportive community is vital. Get connected to other families through Playgroup Queensland. Visit www.playgroupqld.com.au to become a member and discover playgroups in your local area. To contact the team directly, message through Facebook or freecall 1800 171 882.
FUN & FITNESS FOR 2-15 YEAR OLDS
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND
Morayfield, North Lakes, Sandgate, Everton Park, Greenslopes, Springfield & Ipswich
Self Defence Confidence Discipline
