Generated by Rank Math SEO, this is an llms.txt file designed to help LLMs better understand and index this website. # Nido Early School ## Sitemaps [XML Sitemap](https://nido.edu.au/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages. ## Posts - [Nido Early School Gables Opens in Growing North-West Sydney Community](https://nido.edu.au/news/nido-early-school-gables-opens-in-growing-north-west-sydney-community/): Nido Early School is delighted to announce the opening of Nido Early School Gables, welcoming families to a purpose-designed early learning environment in the heart of the new Gables Town Centre. - [School Readiness Through Real-Life Experiences at Nido Golden Grove North](https://nido.edu.au/news/school-readiness-through-real-life-experiences-at-nido-golden-grove-north/): Excitement filled the air as the Flying Start children enrolled at Nido Early School Golden Grove North embarked on a special visit to Golden Grove Primary School, taking another important step in their school readiness journey. - [Constable Care Incursion – Building Safe, Confident and Empowered Children](https://nido.edu.au/news/constable-care-incursion-building-safe-confident-and-empowered-children/): Sometimes, the most meaningful learning begins with a question, and for many of our children, that question was about safety, feelings and how to respond when something doesn’t feel right. - [Nido Early School Hawthorn East Celebrates an Exciting New Chapter Ahead of Opening](https://nido.edu.au/news/nido-early-school-hawthorn-east-celebrates-an-exciting-new-chapter-ahead-of-opening/): Nido Early School Hawthorn East recently welcomed families, community members and special guests to celebrate a significant milestone in the centre’s journey, with a special opening event held ahead of officially welcoming their first children and families. - [Big truck sparks curiosity about sustainability at Nido Maylands](https://nido.edu.au/news/big-truck-sparks-curiosity-about-sustainability-at-nido-maylands/): There are moments in a learning journey where something simple becomes truly memorable, and for the children at Nido Maylands, the arrival of the Cleanaway truck was exactly that. ## Pages - [Infant and Toddler Curriculum](https://nido.edu.au/infant-and-toddler-curriculum/): What is the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum? ## Services - [Goulburn](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/goulburn/) - [Delacombe Village](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/delacombe-village/) - [Dalyellup](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/dalyellup/) - [Kidman Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/kidman-park/) - [Bullsbrook](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/bullsbrook/) - [Sunshine West](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/sunshine-west/) - [Wangaratta](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/wangaratta/) - [Beveridge](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/beveridge/) - [Highton](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/highton/) - [Tonsley Village](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/tonsley-village/) - [Henley Brook](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/henley-brook/) - [Australind](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/australind/) - [Kew](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/kew/) - [Hawthorn East](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/hawthorn-east/) - [Lakelands East](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/lakelands-east/) - [Sienna Wood](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/sienna-wood/) - [Safety Bay](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/safety-bay/) - [Sunshine](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/sunshine/) - [Gables](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/gables/) - [Clyde North](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/clyde-north/) - [Long Gully](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/long-gully/) - [Swan View](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/swan-view/) - [Mandogalup](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/mandogalup/) - [Hilbert](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/hilbert/) - [Wandi](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/wandi/) - [Butler](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/butler/) - [Airport West](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/airport-west/) - [Cumberland Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/cumberland-park/) - [Taperoo](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/taperoo/) - [Treeby South](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/treeby-south/) - [Mandurah](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/mandurah/) - [Piara Waters](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/piara-waters/) - [Thornlie](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/thornlie/) - [Kingsley](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/kingsley/) - [Dayton](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/dayton/) - [Para Hills](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/para-hills/) - [Wembley Downs](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/wembley-downs/) - [Mount Eliza](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/mount-eliza/) - [Mount Hutton](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/mount-hutton/) - [Eyre Village](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/eyre-village/) - [Redwood Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/redwood-park/) - [Ferntree Gully](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/ferntree-gully/) - [Athelstone](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/athelstone/) - [Riverton](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/riverton/) - [Ormond](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/ormond/) - [Seaford](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/seaford/) - [Black Forest](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/black-forest/) - [East Victoria Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/east-victoria-park/) - [Paradise](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/paradise/) - [Woodend](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/woodend/) - [Yokine](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/yokine/) - [Wilson](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/wilson/) - [Brabham](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/brabham/) - [Secret Harbour](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/secret-harbour/) - [Scarborough](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/scarborough/) - [Palmyra](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/palmyra/) - [Maylands](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/maylands/) - [Harrisdale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/harrisdale/) - [Duncraig](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/duncraig/) - [Yallambie](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/yallambie/) - [Rosanna](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/rosanna/) - [Kingsbury](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/kingsbury/) - [Essendon](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/essendon/) - [Coburg North](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/coburg-north/) - [Chadstone](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/chadstone/) - [Avondale Heights](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/avondale-heights/) - [Bulleen](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/bulleen/) - [Alkimos](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/alkimos/) - [Mount Hawthorn](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/mount-hawthorn/) - [Ellenbrook](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/ellenbrook/) - [Blackburn](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/blackburn/) - [Trafalgar](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/trafalgar/) - [Colac](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/colac/) - [Ascot Vale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/ascot-vale/) - [Melbourne Square](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/melbourne-square/) - [Golden Grove North](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/golden-grove-north/) - [Franklin](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/act/franklin/) - [Gregory Hills](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/gregory-hills/) - [Seven Hills](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/seven-hills/) - [Tuggerah](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/tuggerah/) - [Bayswater North (VIC)](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/bayswater-north/) - [Waurn Ponds](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/waurn-ponds/) - [Donvale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/donvale/) - [Glenroy](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/glenroy/) - [Grovedale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/grovedale/) - [Montrose](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/montrose/) - [Moonee Valley](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/moonee-valley/) - [Moorabbin Airport](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/moorabbin-airport/) - [Ocean Grove](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/ocean-grove/) - [Prahran](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/prahran/) - [Truganina](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/truganina/) - [Werribee](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/werribee/) - [Westmeadows](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/westmeadows/) - [Wyndham Vale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/wyndham-vale/) - [Belair](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/belair/) - [Blakeview](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/blakeview/) - [Elizabeth Vale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/elizabeth-vale/) - [Fulham](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/fulham/) - [Golden Grove](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/golden-grove/) - [Kensington Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/kensington-park/) - [Pennington](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/pennington/) - [Salisbury Downs](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/salisbury-downs/) - [Somerton Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/somerton-park/) - [Aveley](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/aveley/) - [Balcatta](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/balcatta/) - [Baldivis East](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/baldivis-east/) - [Banksia Grove](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/banksia-grove/) - [Bassendean](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/bassendean/) - [Beeliar Village](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/beeliar-village/) - [Belmont](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/belmont/) - [Byford](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/byford/) - [Canning Vale](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/canning-vale/) - [Carlisle](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/carlisle/) - [Caversham](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/caversham/) - [Craigie](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/craigie/) - [Greenwood](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/greenwood/) - [Hammond Park](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/hammond-park/) - [Hillarys](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/hillarys/) - [Hocking](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/hocking/) - [Iluka](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/iluka/) - [Kingsway](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/kingsway/) - [Lakelands](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/lakelands/) - [Padbury](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/padbury/) - [Perth (QV1)](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/perth/) - [Southern River](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/southern-river/) - [Treeby](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/treeby/) - [Wembley](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/wembley/) - [Willetton](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/willetton/) ## LearningHub - [What is Childcare? A Complete Guide for New Parents](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/preparing-for-daycare-or-preschool/what-is-childcare-a-complete-guide-for-new-parents/): You're due back at work in a few months with parental leave nearly over, and suddenly you're staring at a list of local childcare options with no clear sense of how to compare them. The names all sound warm and reassuring, the websites all show smiling children, and yet the decisions feel enormous. What type of care does your child need? What does quality look like? And how do you know a centre is safe and the right fit for your child? - [What Are the Benefits of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood?](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/child-education/what-are-the-benefits-of-imaginative-play-in-early-childhood/): Imaginative play is one of the most important parts of early childhood development. It may look like simple fun when children dress up as doctors or pretend their blocks are spaceships, but these activities have a profound impact on how children grow, learn, and understand the world around them. At Nido Early School, inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we see imaginative play as an essential foundation for lifelong learning, creativity, and emotional growth. - [BodyTalk](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/bodytalk/): Children take it in turns to impersonate and bring life to different nouns (things) and adjectives (actions) without using any words. Other children (e.g., siblings/friends) and adults try to guess what the child is acting out. - [Excursion Nature Jars](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/excursion-nature-jars/): Families to take their children on a series of excursions in a variety of different nature settings, for example bush, forest, city and beach. During each excursion, children will collect items from this natural environment and place them inside a large glass jar. These jars can then be displayed at home and used for a range of purposes, including drawing items inside the jar, drawing the nature setting from which the items came from, studying and discussing the items in the jar, using the items for art or craft activities or simply displaying the jars as a snapshot of a family outing. Families could even print and display a photograph of themselves in the nature setting on the front of the jar to capture a meaningful family moment spent together. Families can take their child back to the nature setting at a later date to empty the jar, returning the items to their original place. - [Blueberry Muffins](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/nutrition-feeding/blueberry-muffins/): Enjoy a special experience baking with your child, whilst simultaneously engaging with literacy, numeracy, and science concepts... and ultimately eating a yummy, but healthy treat! A Blueberry Muffins... - [Sensory bottles](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/how-to-create-sensory-bottles/): You can create some amazing sensory bottles utilising any cleaned and emptied plastic bottles or jars, filling them with a variety of different objects from around the home. As your child turns the bottles over in their hands to see the items moving around they are learning about how their actions cause a reaction inside and how to grasp objects and transfer them from one hand to another. These are important foundational skills that your child will need so they can do things such as feed themselves later on. - [Sandwich-Bag Smoothies](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reggio-emilia/sandwich-bag-smoothies/): It is never too early to introduce children to cooking experiences. Exposing children to a variety of tastes and textures in their early years is significant for their sensory development and positive registration of healthy food. (Read this article to find out more) One way to promote this is through the introduction of healthy food in experiences. One experience can be to invite children to blend their own smoothies. Using a zip-lock bag with pieces of fruit - babies can press, squeeze, and blend the fruit – resulting in a freshly prepared smoothie for them to drink. - [Kissed by the Moon](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/kissed-by-the-moon/): This beautifully Illustrated book has limericks that will delight and inspire. Each page has beautiful illustrations of a parent and their child embarking on some different activities. The words in this book are strung into short sentences but are simple to keep your child engaged. Reading stories to your child will not only build on your child’s vocabulary and understanding of words but will also build on your relationship with them. There is nothing like sitting down and having a snuggly warm cuddle with mum or dad reading a story before bed. As you read the story you may find your child pointing to the pictures or babbling. Encourage these interactions as this is your child showing interest. - [Comparing Volume](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/comparing-volume/): Children will be introduced to the concept of volume by pouring water between a range of various sized containers. An equal amount of water will be poured into one container, and children will then pour this from container to container to investigate how the same volume of water can appear to look less/more depending on the size of the container. - [Wombat Stew story – Marcia K. Vaughan](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/wombat-stew-story-marcia-k-vaughan/): Read or listen to the story Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan with your child. - [Wildlife Wonderers](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/wildlife-wonderers/): One of the most significant and easy starts to spark children's intrigue of the environment is through the topic of animals and real-life interactions. (Read this article to find out why animals can be a significant part of children’s learning and development.) A way we can promote this, is by going on regular walks amongst wildlife and role-modelling a respectful relationship between humans and animals. By doing so we cultivate respect and appreciation for nature. The benefits are endless – these interactions help young people develop their senses through exploration and discovery and fosters creativity and imagination allowing children to practice and develop their language and social skills. - [Sustainable Seedlings](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/sustainable-seedlings/): Children will use empty tins from the kitchen and seeds from fruit and vegetable scraps to prepare individual planters for seedlings to grow. - [Sustainable Rainbow Collage](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/sustainable-rainbow-collage/): Rainbows are a great way to teach children colour recognition, providing opportunities to learn more about primary and secondary colours and the colours of a rainbow. This activity helps to support hand eye coordination, fine motor skills, imagination, and creativity. It also helps to recognise and name colours, sorting and matching and working together. - [Spring confetti](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/spring-confetti/): Springtime is the perfect time of year to get out in the garden and see what beautiful flowers are popping up. This experience helps to support the development of fine and gross motor skills, hand eye coordination and resourcing your child’s own learning through processed and natural materials. Communication and social skills are developed through ongoing discussions and learning about the environment. - [Sleeping outside](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/sleeping-outside/): To learn more about the benefits of outdoor sleeping, visit the links below; - [Salt dough decorations](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reggio-emilia/salt-dough-decorations/): Place all ingredients in a medium pot on the stove top. - [Recipe in a Jar](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/recipe-in-a-jar/): Children will use and build on their measurement skills to create a ‘Recipe in a Jar’ to give as gifts. These jars will contain the dry ingredients to make a recipe (such as cookies or a slice) and recipients of the jars will only need to add wet ingredients. Children will demonstrate precise measuring skills when adding the dry ingredients to the jars and will employ their creativity to decorate the jars. - [Ramps and Rolling](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/exploring-ramps-and-rolling/): Babies are fascinated by movement and often enjoy watching objects roll, slide, bounce, fall, and stop suddenly. To encourage your baby to explore how things move, set up a variety of ramps using cardboard boxes, pieces of wood or an alternative material, and encourage them to place different objects at the top of each ramp to see what happens when they let go. How do the objects move? - [Rainbow Travelling Water](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/rainbow-travelling-water/): Can you make water travel into a rainbow? Let’s have a try! - [Pete the Cat – I Love my White Shoes experience](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/pete-the-cat-i-love-my-white-shoes-experience/): Read the Pete the Cat story, ‘I love my White Shoes’ by James Dean with your child. There is an online version of the story available on YouTubeTM which you can access using the URL. - [Oobleck sensory play](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reggio-emilia/oobleck-sensory-play/): Oobleck is a mixture of corn flour and water. These are two ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen! You can also add some food colour to it and make it a little more exciting. If your kids love to play with slime then they will also love Oobleck. This is a calming sensory experience that your child may engage in for long periods of time. - [Nature Weaving](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/nature-weaving/): Weaving promotes fine motor and hand eye coordination. This experience is a great opportunity to extend on literacy and numeracy through questions asked whilst your child is engaging in the experience. - [Letter recognition](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/literacy/letter-recognition/): Children will use the found gum nuts to form the first letter of their name. - [Highlighting Letters](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/literacy/highlighting-letters/): To build an understanding of letter names and letter recognition, children will use highlighters to find and highlight the individual letters of their name within the text of a newspaper. - [Farm Fun](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/farm-fun/): Add the natural materials to a different section of the tray each and add farm animals. Invite your child to play and engage in discussions about the animals. - [Exploring numeracy concepts with trains](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/numeracy/exploring-numeracy-concepts-with-trains/): Playing with trains and constructing train tracks is a fabulous way of developing language that will support children’s early numeracy understandings. For toddler-aged children, this includes understanding positional/directional language (e.g. over, under, around), size (e.g. small/big, short/long), distance (e.g. close/far) and order (e.g. first, second, now, next, after) - [Counting songs](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/numeracy/counting-songs/): There are a wide range of songs that promote children’s understanding of numbers and counting skills. The following list of songs expose children to the process of counting forwards and counting backwards from five or ten. - [Colour explosion](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/colour-explosion/): This simple science experiment explores density using oil and water. It also explores the concept of light and colour travelling at different speeds. - [Learning how to Belly Breathe](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/learning-how-to-belly-breathe/): Promoting wellbeing in young children has many important benefits for all aspects of a child’s health. It is essential to a child’s overall physical and mental health. Wellbeing supports a child’s ability to overcome difficulties, gives confidence and builds self-esteem, assists children to build positive relationships with others and supports positive behaviour. - [Beach Clean Up](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/beach-clean-up/): Children will actively participate with their families in a Beach Clean Up event. Promoting sustainable practices as well as integrating aspects of healthy minds and bodies, this experience will directly help to save the lives of ocean and coastal wildlife as well as vegetation in the area. - [Print making using recycled materials](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/print-making-using-recycled-materials/): Printmaking for children is a great process art experience, it gives children a chance to explore different textures, colours, and patterns. - [Nature’s palette](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/natures-palette/): “Colours are the smiles of nature” - Leigh Hunt. - [Shaking and moving](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/shaking-and-moving/): Self-regulation skills allow children to manage their energy, emotions, and attention. When children have effective self-regulation skills, they are better able to focus and engage in deep learning. It also helps them to control their response to stress in ways that are positive for our wellbeing and those around us. - [Creating Herb & Spice Mixes](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/nutrition-feeding/creating-herb-spice-mixes/): Using a mortar and pestle, children will work with their families to create personalised herb and spice mixes to then be used in future cooking experiences. Children will measure and select herbs and spices, place these in the mortar and use the pestle to then grind and mix the ingredients to create the desired blend. These spice mixes can be used for future cooking experiences or could be given as gifts to loved ones for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasions. - [Plant a Rosemary Bush](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/plant-a-rosemary-bush/): Rosemary is associated with ANZAC day as it grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula.  Sprigs are work as a symbol of remembrance on ANZAC day. Children can help plant a Rosemary bush or propagate a clipping from an existing bush to plant in a special place to commemorate ANZAC day. - [How many planets do we need: Calculate your carbon footprint](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/how-many-planets-do-we-need-calculate-your-carbon-footprint/): Working with your child to calculate your carbon footprint is a great way to start a conversation with children about understanding the resources which they use and their impact on the world. This website is easy to use and uses estimates rather than exact figures. - [NatGeo@Home](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/natgeohome/): A free website from National Geographic which supports families to support learning at home. Ask children to hypothesise or predict what they think will happen before starting. - [Growing Vegetables From Cuttings (from Our Team at Nido QV1)](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/growing-vegetables-from-cuttings-from-our-team-at-nido-qv1/): Have you have ever thought about the scraps of vegetables that you throw away while prepping food? - [Sing it Bag!](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/sing-it-bag/): Choosing some of your child’s favourite songs, encourage you to child find objects around the home that represent that song to them.  Collect all of these objects in a “Sing it Bag.”  Look at your finds at the end. Do we remember what objects we found during which song? Why did we choose that object? We can see the songs evolve and come to life. - [Zoos Victoria](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/zoos-victoria/): Zoos Victoria are live streaming their zoos so that families can enjoy watching animals from home. Watching the animals is a great way to engage in learning in a variety of ways! - [Nature scavenger hunt](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/nature-scavenger-hunt/): Create a scavenger checklist for children (or they can create their own if they are able to) and go on a scavenger hunt around your garden - [Water Play](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/water-play/): Set up a tub of water with everyday containers from your home for children to explore. - [Maambakoort STEM Story Time](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/maambakoort-stem-story-time/): Watch and listen to this STEM story time. Beccy Gartlett, a Whadjak, Balladong, Yamitji woman born in Perth, Western Australia shares some stories in Noongar language as part of the Better Beginnings early literacy program. - [Read ANZAC Ted by Belinda Landsberry](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/read-anzac-ted-by-belinda-landsberry/): This beautifully illustrated story is about ANZAC Ted, a teddy who was passed down to a boy from his grandfather. Ted has a story to share about going to war which is written in a gentle way for young readers. - [Mopoke](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/book-name-mopoke/): Winner of the Picture Book of the Year 2018 Honours, Mopoke is a visually stunning book which is a joy to read to children. The books tells the story of a little owl’s search to find peace and uses as little words as possible which will allow your child’s imagination run wild! - [Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/book-name-dont-let-the-pigeon-drive-the-bus/): AUTHOR: Mo Williams - [The Day the Crayons Came Home](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/book-name-the-day-the-crayons-came-home/): Author: Drew Daywait - [Loose parts play](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/loose-parts-play/): Loose parts play is a type of play which promotes problem solving, critical thinking, experimentation, imagination and creativity. Many materials around the home can be used in loose parts play making it easy to implement at home. - [Ball Pit](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/ball-pit/): This activity is suitable for any baby or small toddler that can sit on their own. - [This Little Piggy](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/this-little-piggy/): This little piggy went to market (wiggle baby’s big toe) - [Round and Round the Garden](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/round-and-round-the-garden/): Round and round the garden (trace circles around your baby’s palm) - [Who is that in the mirror?](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reggio-emilia/who-is-that-in-the-mirror/): Sit next to your baby in front of a mirror. You can also do this during tummy time. Draw your baby’s attention to her reflection in the mirror. Make eye contact in the mirror. Then, call your baby’s name to draw her attention to you where you are sitting next to her. Repeat this a few times and watch the amazement on baby’s face while she is trying to work out who that person in the mirror is! - [Supporting independence skills at home](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/supporting-independence-skills-at-home/): Learning to become increasingly independent starts from a very young age. You may notice this as your baby attempts to feed themselves, or as toddlers insist on doing things independently. Providing your child with the opportunity to make simply choices supports their development of independence and understanding that their opinion matters. Although it may take a little longer, allowing your child to do things themselves helps to support their learning and development. - [Goodnight Moon](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sleep/book-name-goodnight-moon/): Author: Margaret Wise Brown - [Spray Bottle Painting Outdoors](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/spray-bottle-painting-outdoors/): This activity has been recommended by our Nido Early School Dandenong South Curriculum Leader, Kesley Kustreba. - [Potion Making](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/potion-making/): Create your very own potion making station at home! Allow your child to delve into their imagination and investigate using a range of different tools to create their own potions. - [Nature Puzzles](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/nature-puzzles/): Give your child the opportunity to work on spatial awareness with these nature puzzles. Children will love manipulating the pieces of nature to make them fit inside the shape. Exploring puzzles helps build spatial awareness skills; a child is required to determine which piece goes where and then manipulate the piece to get into the shape. You can use a marker to draw a range of different shapes or images and have your child challenge themselves to complete the puzzle using different natural materials. - [Colour Lab](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/colour-lab/): Create your very own colour lab at home! Discover how to create colours and unique shades. Fill a few different bowls or containers with water to varying levels and add a few drops of food dye into the containers. Using a range of open-ended household items such as jugs, jars or measuring cups your child can investigate colour mixing. - [Paying it Forward](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/paying-it-forward/): Recommended by our Nido Early School Templestowe Curriculum Leader, Marjone Zeeman; - [Let’s construct](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/lets-construct/): Nido Early School Baldivis Curriculum Leader Claire Galbraith shares a great construction activity which will engage and delight children using shaving foam and sand; - [Salt Art](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/salt-art/): Claire Galbraith, Curriculum Leader at shared this great art experience loved by the children at Nido Early School Baldivis; - [Eco-friendly watering cans](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/eco-friendly-watering-cans/): Upcycle a common household item into a watering can that your child will love! - [Building with Loose Parts & Recycled Materials](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/building-with-loose-parts-recycled-materials/): Is your child a little engineer and loves to read? - [Chalk Paint](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/literacy/chalk-paint/): Chalk paint is a quick and fun resource which children love! Combine 1 cup each of water and cornflour and stir well. The mixture will feel hard at first but will become liquid as you continue to stir. Pour into small containers and add food colouring with a toothpick or stick, stirring well until the colour is mixed through. - [What’s in your backyard?](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/whats-in-your-backyard/): This is a great learning experience which can be extended in many ways depending on your child’s interests. Encourage your child to create observational drawings of what they find in the garden, support your child to identify the correct names for native birds and plants, provide paper and a clipboard for your child to create a ‘list’ of what they find, or simply allow your child to ‘be’ and connect in with nature in your backyard. - [Watch Michael Rosen perform We’re Going on a Bear Hunt](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reading/watch-michael-rosen-perform-were-going-on-a-bear-hunt/): Celebrating 25 years in publication, watch one of the authors perform this wonderful story which has stood the test of time. - [Remembering ANZAC Day with Children](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/remembering-anzac-day-with-children/): The Australian Memorial Website has a dedicated section for remembering ANZAC day with children. The website is a great resource filled with activities, craft ideas, videos, stories and recipes to acknowledge ANZAC day in your home. - [Making a Poppy Wreath](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/making-a-poppy-wreath/): using materials around your home such as cardboard, egg cartons, cupcake patty pans, paint and glue, children can paint and create a poppy wreath to hang in your home to commemorate ANZAC Day. - [Sensory bottles](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reggio-emilia/sensory-bottles/): Sensory bottles are easily made with household items and provide a safe way for your baby to explore different materials. Fill each bottle with a different material and ensure that the cap is glued on to prevent opening. - [Treasure baskets](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/sustainability/treasure-baskets/): Place collections of materials in baskets for children to explore (e.g. different types of brushes, fabric, paper, etc.) - [Cardboard Box City](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/reggio-emilia/cardboard-box-city/): Empty cardboard boxes hold endless possibilities! Children will spend hours creating a cardboard box city with empty boxes (the bigger the better) using textas and child-friendly scissors. - [Self portraits](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/self-portraits/): Set up a table and chair with a mirror and ask your child to draw their reflection. - [Playdough](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/stem/playdough/): Playdough is a wonderful, open ended resource for children’s play which is easily made with ingredients from your pantry. Add items such as cookie cutters, rolling pins, bowls, cupcake pans etc. and allow children’s imaginations run wild - [Letter Writing](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/literacy/letter-writing/): Encouraging children to write or engage in mark making (an early stage of writing). - [Banana and Apple Muffins](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/banana-and-apple-muffins/): 1- Preheat oven to 180C - [Cooking delicious pizza at home with Nido Franklin Cook Max](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/cooking-delicious-pizza-at-home-with-nido-franklin-cook-max/): This is a simple yet fun recipe from the kitchen of our Nido Franklin cook Max for great tasting pizzas at home. - [Bake Healthy ANZAC Cookies](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/bake-healthy-anzac-cookies/): Allowing children to help mix, measure, roll and shape these quick and healthy ANZAC biscuits. Making ANZAC biscuits also provides a great opportunity to discuss the importance of this day with your child. - [Quick Beetroot Dip](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/nutrition-feeding/quick-beetroot-dip/): Another favourite afternoon tea recipe, children love this service with vegetable sticks and plain rice crackers. - [Zesty Orange Cake](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/nutrition-feeding/zesty-orange-cake/): This quick and easy afternoon tea not only tastes delicious but makes your kitchen small amazing too! Try serving with some natural Greek yoghurt and fresh berries. - [Beef Burrito Platters with Quinoa Rice](https://nido.edu.au/early-learning-hub/play-ideas/beef-burrito-platters-with-quinoa-rice/): This recipe gets a big tick from our children and is one of our most loved lunches at Nido. Helpful hint: our Nido cooks suggest replacing beef with lentils for Meat Free Mondays! ## Category - [Australian Capital Territory](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/act/) - [New South Wales](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/nsw/) - [South Australia](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/sa/) - [Victoria](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/vic/) - [Western Australia](https://nido.edu.au/early-schools/wa/)