At Grow Early Education, we understand that every child is unique, and their dietary requirements, food preferences, and allergy needs are no exception. Ensuring mealtimes are safe, enjoyable, and nutritious is one of our highest priorities - that’s why our centres go above and beyond to provide fresh, chef-prepared meals that cater to children’s allergies, intolerances, cultural preferences, and individual needs.

From Halal-friendly and vegetarian options to managing allergies and intolerances, our dedicated team works closely with families to make sure every child feels included and cared for at the table.

Food plays such an important role in children’s growth and development, and we believe every child deserves the same positive mealtime experience. Our approach includes:

To keep meals fresh, balanced, and enjoyable, our chefs work on seasonal menus that run on a 4-week cycle. Seasonal menus mean children benefit from:

Menus are carefully reviewed each season to ensure they meet nutritional standards and provide the variety children need for growth and wellbeing.

At Grow Early Education, our menus are developed in line with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and each state government’s nutrition guidelines for early childhood education and care. This ensures that every meal not only meets children’s individual dietary needs but also supports their long-term health, development, and wellbeing. Families can feel confident knowing that our chef-prepared meals reflect the latest best-practice recommendations in children’s nutrition.

Meet Georgie Manzelmann – Our Chef Support Manager

We’re proud to have an expert leading our food and nutrition program across all Grow Early Education centres: Chef Support Manager, Georgie Manzelmann.

Georgie is a fully qualified chef with over 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry before transitioning to childcare. Georgie supports centre chefs with training, menu planning, and mealtime procedures. She personally reviews every seasonal menu before it is introduced, ensuring all meals are balanced, safe, and inclusive.

“Our chefs do a wonderful job of catering to each child’s needs. Whether it’s creating Halal-friendly meals, vegetarian alternatives, or managing allergies, I’m always here as a support person to help with ideas and adjustments,” Georgie explains.

Her dedication ensures Grow Early Education continues to provide the nutritious, chef-prepared meals that the children deserve while easing parents’ peace of mind when it comes to dietary requirements.

Mealtimes at Grow Early Education are more than just eating, they’re opportunities for children to fuel their growing bodies, connect with peers, and develop important independence skills. From self-serving their meals to learning how to clean up after themselves, children build confidence and responsibility in a joyful, supportive environment. With allergy-safe practices, inclusive menu planning, and guidance from our passionate chefs, families can feel confident that their child’s needs are always a priority.

Because every child deserves to enjoy healthy, delicious meals that nurture their growth, respect their background, and support their wellbeing.

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with each of our Grow Early Education centres:

At Grow Early Education, teaching hygiene and self-care skills is an essential part of our early childhood education program. These everyday routines may seem simple, but they play a big role in supporting children’s health, independence, and confidence.

Children aged 0–6 are still developing their immune systems and are more vulnerable to germs and illnesses. Teaching hygiene for children in these early years not only helps prevent the spread of disease, but also lays the foundation for lifelong habits.

In group settings such as childcare centres, hygiene practices like handwashing for children become even more important. With shared toys, meals, and learning spaces, it’s vital that children understand when and how to clean their hands and care for their bodies.

Handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. At Grow Early Education, we make handwashing fun and easy to understand for children through songs, stories, and visual cues.

Grow Early Education Tarneit children washing their hands and keeping up with good hygiene skills

We teach children to:

Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating, after using the toilet, after outdoor play, and any time they sneeze or cough. By turning handwashing into a routine part of their day, children quickly build healthy hygiene habits.

Download our handwashing poster to help your children nail their handwashing technique

Beyond hygiene, general self-care skills are an important part of every child’s development. These include:

Another important part of our daily routine is teaching children to be SunSmart. At Grow Early Education, children are encouraged to apply their own sunscreen each morning and before going outside to play. We set up Sun Safety Stations across our childcare centres to make this easy, fun, and accessible. Educators supervise and guide the process, helping children learn how to protect their skin while developing a sense of responsibility.

Children at Grow Early Education putting on their sunscreen before playing outside each day

We also introduce the children to self-care in the form of regular check-ups for healthy teeth and eyes. That’s why we’re proud to host regular Dental and Optics visits, offering families convenient access to professional dental and eye screenings at the centres.

By introducing children to dental and vision checks in a familiar environment, we reduce anxiety and normalise these important health habits from a young age. It’s just one more way we help support every aspect of your child’s wellbeing.

Grow Early Education Gunnedah getting their 6-monthly dental checkup

These everyday moments support independence, fine motor skills, and healthy habits that will last a lifetime. At Grow Early Education, Educators support children through gentle guidance, role-modelling, and age-appropriate encouragement. We provide opportunities throughout the day for children to practise and master these self-help skills at their own pace.

Teaching children to care for themselves helps them develop independence and confidence, build fine motor and cognitive skills, understand routines and responsibility, and feel a sense of pride in their achievements.

When children are empowered to take care of themselves, they begin to feel more in control of their world, a key part of emotional development in early childhood education.

At Grow Early Education, our goal is to create a safe, nurturing environment where children thrive. By embedding hygiene routines and self-care practices into our daily program, we support children in becoming capable, confident, and healthy individuals.

We partner with families to ensure these habits are reinforced at home, creating consistency and routine between the childcare centre and home life.

Follow us on Facebook to see how our Grow Early Education centres incorporate self-care and hygiene to their daily curriculums.

Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet, especially for young, growing children, but convincing little ones to eat them can be a daily challenge for many families. At Grow Early Education, we’re always looking for fun, creative ways to support healthy eating habits, and hidden vegetables are one of our favourites!

Children can be very selective eaters, especially when it comes to unfamiliar textures, colours, or flavours. By incorporating vegetables into meals in a sneaky yet nutritious way, children still receive the benefits of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, often without even realising they’re eating something “green.”

Hidden vegetables are also a great stepping stone towards helping fussy eaters become more familiar with the flavours of vegetables, while reducing the stress of mealtimes.

Moroccan Beef and rice with plenty of hidden nutrients at Grow Early Education Toowoomba

Moroccan Beef and rice with plenty of hidden nutrients at Grow Early Education Toowoomba

At Grow Early Education, our Centre Chefs and Educators know how to turn fussy mealtimes into vegetable victories. Here are some of our favourite ways we include hidden veggies in everyday meals:

Veggie-packed brownies – Grated carrot, zucchini, pumpkin, and even spinach are blended into brownie mixture.

Muffins with a twist – Carrot and zucchini muffins are a big hit with little tastebuds and a smart way to add extra fibre.

Homemade pizza with blended vegetable bases – We love using vegetable-rich tomato sauces on pizza. Children typically also have the option to add mushrooms, pineapple, capsicum, and other colourful fruits and vegetables to their toppings as well.

At Grow Early Education, our approach to healthy eating isn’t just about what's on the plate, it’s also about how children feel about food. We create a positive mealtime environment where children are encouraged to try new things without pressure. Through hands-on gardening activities, children plant seedlings, nurture them as they grow into herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and then help harvest and cook with them. When children are involved in the process from garden to plate, they feel proud of their contribution and are far more likely to taste and enjoy the final dish.

Moroccan Beef and rice with plenty of hidden nutrients at Grow Early Education Toowoomba

Children at Grow Early Education Tarneit making apple and cinnamon muffins for afternoon tea

We also use every opportunity to talk about food in fun and engaging ways such as discussing colours, shapes, and even where veggies come from. Through play-based learning, gardening activities, and sensory experiences, children build positive associations with healthy food.

Moroccan Beef and rice with plenty of hidden nutrients at Grow Early Education Toowoomba

Creating rainbow pizzas with a range of fruits and vegetables at Grow Early Education Frankston

Hidden vegetables are a great place to start, but the ultimate goal is helping children appreciate vegetables in all their crunchy, colourful glory. By combining creative cooking with positive food experiences, Grow Early Education supports children in building a healthy relationship with food that lasts a lifetime.

Follow us on Facebook to see other ways our Grow Early Education centres incorporate healthy eating habits into everyday curriculums.

In an exciting initiative aimed at supporting families, Grow Early Education has partnered with ‘Brisbane Paediatric Nurse’ to offer free expert advice to parents and caregivers.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of children, providing families with the resources they need to navigate the often-overwhelming world of parenting.

About Brisbane Paediatric Nurse

Both Rebekah and Jodie are registered nurses and worked with Queensland Health before setting up their own practice to concentrate on supporting new parents. Their journey started 5 years ago when they began helping parents with newborns across the many areas to navigate as a new parent. Now they provide much needed support around sleeping, nursing, toilet training and child health to parents. Together they bring over 35 years of paediatric nursing experience to the partnership with Grow Early Education centres.

What is the Difference Between a Midwife & Paediatric Nurse?

Many people wonder what the difference between a Midwife and a Paediatric Nurse is? Midwives focus on providing healthcare services to mothers, babies and families throughout pregnancy, labour and the initial postnatal period. Paediatric Nurses are licensed registered nurses with a focus on treating children from infancy to puberty.

The Need for Expert Advice

Parenting can be both rewarding and challenging, with many questions arising about child development, health, and safety. From sleep patterns and nutrition to managing common illnesses, families often seek guidance to ensure they are making informed decisions. Recognising this need, Grow Early Education and Brisbane Paediatric Nurse have come together to provide a valuable and free resource for families.

What the Partnership Offers

The collaboration will include a series of free informational sessions and workshops led by qualified Paediatric Nurses, which will concentrate on key areas to help parents with infants.

Online Information Sessions

The first two dates for these free information sessions have just been released!

Baby Sleep Information Session

Wednesday 6th November, 9:30am

Google Meeting Link: https://meet.google.com/xsx-zbki-tdf

Covering the following topics:

Baby Feeding & Nutrition Information Session

Wednesday 20th November, 9:30am

Google Meeting Link: https://meet.google.com/ajc-wepa-fmn

Covering the following topics:

Workshops & Private Consultations

This initiative not only provides practical information but also fosters a sense of community among parents. It encourages open conversations about parenting challenges and helps reduce the stigma around seeking help. By bringing together experienced professionals and local families, and Brisbane Paediatric Nurse are creating a supportive environment where parents can feel empowered and informed.

Grow Early Education is dedicated to not just caring for children but also supporting the entire family unit. By collaborating with Brisbane Paediatric Nurse, they are reinforcing their mission to create a holistic approach to child development and wellbeing. This partnership also highlights the importance of community involvement in childcare, where parents, caregivers, and professionals can work together for the benefit of children.

Join Us

Families are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Whether you’re a new parent seeking advice or a seasoned caregiver looking for tips on specific issues, the free online information sessions will provide invaluable insights.

Stay tuned for upcoming dates and details about the sessions, and don’t miss the chance to connect with experts who are dedicated to making a positive impact on your family’s life.

The partnership between Grow Early Education and Brisbane Paediatric Nurse is a remarkable step toward empowering families with knowledge and resources. By offering free expert advice, they are not only addressing immediate concerns but also laying the foundation for healthier, happier futures for children in the community. Embrace this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together—because every family deserves the best support on their parenting journey.

 

If you are looking for quality early education and childcare in 2025, our long daycare centres are currently accepting enrolments.  Secure your child's place now for 2025!

We have childcare centres in Bridgeman Downs, Bundaberg, Bushland Beach, Dalby, Darling Heights, Hervey Bay, Maroochydore, Park Ridge, Riverton, Toowoomba, Rochedale Central (Rochedale South), Gunnedah, Kelso, Nowra, Frankston, Heathmont, Narre Warren North and Tarneit.

The 2024 theme for International Yoga Day is “Yoga for Self and Society.” Providing a holistic approach to health and well-being, yoga has been proven to assist in restoring balance in our busy lives.

International Yoga Day was officially adopted by the United Nations in December 2014 after the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, gave a speech proposing that the day fall on June 21st to align with the Northern Hemispheres summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

While yoga has been known in the past for bringing improved posture, flexibility, and balance to adults, it has grown increasingly popular for children over recent years with benefits proven to encourage physical health, build on emotional regulation, improve concentration, boost confidence, and increase social skills.

 

 

Unsurprisingly, children’s yoga is very different to any kind of yoga session you would attend as an adult. Most children’s yoga sessions incorporate games, storytelling, and singing to assist with their shorter attention span. Children’s yoga sessions often are a mix of practicing yoga poses suitable for younger children and song and dance.

At Grow Early Education, we believe so strongly in the benefits we have seen through children’s yoga that we have yoga as a weekly extracurricular at 15 of our centres located across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria – and it is included in our daily fee.

Grow Early Education Tarneit have weekly sessions run by Yoga Bears where they start their week on a Monday with a yoga class ending in guided meditation. Guided meditation reduces stress, improves sleep, encourages resilience, and boosts emotional regulation.

At Grow Early Education Gunnedah, instructor Dee walks the children through their weekly session, working on their emotional and physical skills. By practising yoga regularly, we are promoting flexibility, coordination, strength, and posture.

Grow Early Education Maroochydore involves sound healing in their weekly children’s yoga sessions with Yoga Bears. Sound healing in combination with yoga promotes a sense of wellbeing in the children while further developing body awareness and mindfulness practices.

At Grow Early Education Dalby the children enjoy moving their bodies with Miss Linda, while they practice their mindfulness, strength, balance, and coordination.

Are you looking for ways to celebrate International Yoga Day with your family? Why not try out some of these common yoga poses and test your skills!

We are proud to provide children’s yoga as an extra-curricular included in our daily fee at the following centres:

By incorporating yoga into our weekly routine, we are providing children with invaluable tools to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience and guiding them towards a healthier, happier, and more balanced future. Namaste!

If you are interested in finding out more about our children’s yoga program and other extra-curriculars we offer as part of our early education program, please phone us on 1300 934 769.

 

 

The journey began with Simon Kerle, the visionary behind Yoga Bears Kids Yoga, pondering the benefits he reaped from his yoga practice. The question echoed in his mind: "Why not extend these advantages to children?"

Fast forward to 2023 and Grow Early Education to date has eight (8) of its long day care centres across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with children’s yoga provided as an extra-curricular activity - offered through Yoga Bears of course!

Simon speaks about the collaboration between Yoga Bears and Grow Early Education, “We believe that you’re never too young to benefit from and fall in love with yoga.   This is why we formed a strong partnership with Grow Early Education and their long day care centres across Australia.  We place our accredited children’s yoga teachers into their childcare centres to host yoga classes for 1 to 5-year-old children,” said Simon.

Children's yoga is gaining popularity as a holistic approach to fostering physical fitness and nurturing emotional and mental well-being in children. Simon thinks that providing children’s yoga as an extra-curricular activity in our centres is a great reason for parents to choose a Grow Early Education centre for their child to attend.

“If parents see the benefit of yoga for children and realise that they (Grow Early Education) are offering something unique in their childcare centres and that it will really help their kids, I think it would be an easy choice for them,” he said.

Children's yoga is more than a physical activity—it's a holistic approach to nurturing the mind, body, and soul of a child.

The Yoga Bear classes for children are of course, very different to an adult yoga class. They incorporate games, storytelling, singing, and other engaging activities tailored to captivate young minds with shorter attention spans.

Simon describes their Yoga Bear classes as “A mix of song, dance, yoga postures, stories and games, all designed to keep children engaged and aware. Relaxation time with breathing & meditation techniques brings about mindful behaviour at the end.”

Despite the difference between an adult’s and a child’s yoga session, the benefits are evident—higher engagement, a regulated nervous system, improved concentration to name a few…

The Benefits of Children's Yoga

Physical Health: Children's yoga poses are designed to enhance flexibility, balance, and strength. Through these gentle exercises, children develop better coordination and body awareness, laying a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

Emotional Regulation: Yoga encourages children to connect with their emotions and understand them better. Through breathing exercises and mindfulness, they learn how to manage stress, anxiety, and anger, promoting emotional resilience.

Improved Concentration: Yoga teaches children to focus on their breath and body, enhancing concentration and mindfulness. These skills can translate into improved behaviour.

Boosted Confidence: Mastering yoga poses boosts children's confidence and self-esteem. As they achieve physical milestones, they develop a sense of pride in their abilities, fostering a positive self-image.

Social Skills: Children's yoga classes often involve group activities, encouraging social interaction and cooperation. This collaborative environment helps children learn important social skills like communication, empathy, and teamwork.


Certified yoga instructors visit Grow Early Education centres weekly to deliver the yoga program as an extra-curricular activity. Best of all, this is included as part of our daily fee so there is no extra cost.

We are proud to provide children’s yoga as an extra-curricular activity at the following childcare centres:

By integrating yoga into the weekly routine, Grow Early Education equips children with invaluable tools to navigate life's challenges with grace and resilience, guiding them toward a healthier, happier, and more balanced future. Namaste!

If you are interested in finding out more about our children’s yoga program and other extra-curriculars we offer as part of our service, please phone us on 1300 934 769.

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