We are already offering Spanish lessons in some of our centres, with language lessons implemented as well, as part of our Community & Culture key learning area.
Our Educators use the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program, which is digital, play-based and designed for pre-schoolers. It is an Australian Government initiative aimed at inspiring children to cultivate a genuine interest in new languages and cultures. The program uses play-based apps called The Polyglots and there are nine languages on offer. Each centre sends out a survey to parents who can provide feedback on preferences for their child’s participation.
Learning a language is not just about the vocabulary, it also entails learning about a new culture. In our multicultural society, it is important to learn about different cultures, communities and understand differences. This can aid children to develop friendships with many different people when they go to school.
Early childhood activities you can do at home
Whether your child attends childcare 1 day a week or 5 days a week, there are early learning activities you can introduce at home to complement their early childhood learning.
Be active
Taking your child out for walks is a great way to maintain an active lifestyle and introduce the outside world to your growing toddler or preschooler. By going out for neighbourhood walks, your child can explore what goes on in their local world and you can help develop their vocabulary by introducing and naming the different things you spot on your walk.
Have a fun family dance
Just as our Educators at Kids Club introduce music and dance to our little ones, implementing a fun family dance at home is a great way to connect and have fun with your little one. Set aside the same time each day for a 10 minute dance with your favourite song or your child’s favourite song to help release emotions and encourage self-expression.
Set aside quiet time
Just as an energetic release is important for your little ones, setting aside quiet time to help them regulate their emotions and give their brains a rest is just as important. Create a quiet corner at home they can retreat to for some downtime. Maybe a little teepee space filled with books and their favourite toys or building a fort to retreat to will help their use of imagination in a calm setting.
Imaginative role play
A lot of households can speak a language other than English. If this is your household, then what a perfect way to incorporate speech and language development by encouraging the use of a second language at home. However, many families only speak English at home and imaginative role play can be a great way to build your child’s language and vocabulary by creating a game without restrictions and introducing characters that your child can pretend to be. By engaging in role play, you can introduce new words and concepts to build your child’s language skills.
Find out more about Kids Club!
Kids Club truly believes in teaching a holistic program to our children and all these extracurricular activities are offered in our established centres without any extra cost.
At Kids Club, we strive to be an innovative provider of high-quality long day care. This means we are constantly looking at ways to provide a safe but stimulating physical environment for your child.
We also believe that your child’s learning is a partnership between the educators and the families we service so that we can truly foster a sense of belonging for all our children and their families, which provides a solid foundation for their learning and development.
If you want to learn more, call Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centres or book a tour now of your closest Kids Club Early Learning Centre, click here to view your closest Centre.
References
- Barrett MS, & Welch GF, Music early learning programs: Enduring outcomes for children and their families, Psychology of Music, 2021.
- Rizki A, Benefits of early second language acquisiton, Indonesian Journal of Integrated English Language Teaching, June 2016.
- Stagnitti K, Unsworth C, The importance of pretend play in child development: an occupational therapy perspective, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, March 2000.