Nurturing Young Minds in Our Early Learning Centre

Early education and childcare can provide children with opportunities to develop independence and build their social understanding early.

90 - 95 per cent of the brain is developed by the time a child turns six, this means the early years of childhood can drastically impact a child's abilities and brain structure as they begin to grow. After this time the brain will slowly adapt and develop the remaining five per cent until about the age of 25.

Early education and developmental support has the ability to nurture your child's brain at its most important phase. This is why our early learning centre encourages building good habits, understanding mindfulness and learning gratitude.

Cultivating wellbeing and resilience in Early Education

The wonderful thing about working in education and with young children is that it is ever-evolving. Our work reflects developments in the latest research, in professional practice, and in the skills we as a society want to instil in the next generation. Currently, an important focus in education and our communities is our wellbeing – the health of our minds and bodies. We as adults know how mindfulness can positively impact our lives, but where do we start with young children?

As early childhood educators, we know that so much of what challenges a child is their developing brain – a brain that is navigating the social and emotional world around them, with problems, difficulties, and unpredictability.

We know that the social and emotional development of a child’s brain is the key to unlocking and supporting the rest of their development. This is where learning about good habits, mindfulness, and gratitude is extremely beneficial to children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development. In the Early Learning Centre (ELC), we embed these practices into our everyday program and curriculum.

1. Good Habits

Encouraging good habits and practices is important. Our ELC educators set up the learning environments at the start of the day to provide a calm and positive transition. Establishing regular classroom routines assists children in consolidating their skills, independence, and confidence. During the day, educators care for and work with children to take regular breaks for hydrating, eating healthy food, and knowing when their body and mind need rest.

Regular discussions about emotions and feelings allows educators to support children with self-regulation and, more importantly, with co-regulation. Working alongside children to assist them with working through emotions and feelings sets them up to have a growing awareness of their emotions and how to independently regulate their emotions. When a child is becoming frustrated with something, being able to give themselves time to refocus before taking the challenge again is an important part in learning emotional regulation.

2. Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices are an integral part of our daily routines in the Early Learning Centre. We actively engage in these practices and hold discussions with our students to cultivate awareness of their thoughts and emotions. We also prioritise curiosity and conversations with children about emotions and how they manifest physically, aiming to deepen their understanding of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Within our Health and Wellbeing lessons, children receive guidance and support centred on their physical wellbeing. They are encouraged to physically challenge themselves through indoor and outdoor yoga, relaxation exercises, and mindfulness techniques. By directly engaging in these practices, they develop important stress management skills and enhance their overall health and resilience.

3. Gratitude

Gratitude serves as a powerful catalyst for happiness — it nurtures our wellbeing, enhances the fabric of our relationships, and bolsters our physical health. Within our Early Learning Centre environment, we embrace gratitude as a foundational principle, actively modelling, guiding, and nurturing its expression among our students.

We cultivate a culture where gratitude is not just a sentiment but a lived experience woven into the very fabric of our interactions. Whether it’s a simple “thank you” exchanged between friends, acknowledging someone for their generosity or kindness, or recognising the importance of inclusivity and belonging within our community, we emphasise the interconnectedness of our actions and their impact on others. By instilling these values early on, we equip our students with the awareness and empathy to navigate the complexities of human relationships with compassion and grace.