early education - Grow Early Education

At Grow Early Education, we love sparking creativity in every season, and winter is no exception! With the cold weather well and truly upon us, it’s the perfect excuse to rug up indoors and enjoy some cosy craft time with your little ones. Arts and crafts support fine motor development, creativity, and imagination, and best of all, they’re loads of fun!

In this week's blog, we have compiled some of our favourite winter-themed craft ideas to try at home with your child.

Winter Sensory Snowflakes

Use cotton balls, wool, or tissue paper to create soft and textured snowflakes. Cut or outline snowflake shapes using cardboard or thick paper and let your child glue soft materials onto them for a sensory experience. This activity encourages sensory development and fine motor skills.

Puffy Paint Snow Scenes

Mix equal parts shaving cream and white glue to create your very own puffy paint. Use it to design a wintery scene, think snow-covered trees, mountains, or imaginary snow creatures! This is a great activity to develop creative expression and cause-and-effect learning.

DIY Pine Cone Creatures

During your next nature walk, collect pine cones and other natural elements to turn into little creatures! You can add googly eyes, felt, or even pipe cleaners to bring imaginations to life. This activity supports nature exploration and imaginative play.

Snowy Tree Collage

Create a winter tree by gluing twigs or tree cutouts to a sheet of paper, using cotton balls, white paint, or glitter, simulate how the snow would fall. You could also use a sponge to dab on “snowflakes.” Participating in this activity can foster skills around creativity and storytelling.

Arts and crafts are so much more than just fun for little ones, they’re a vital part of early childhood development. Craft activities help children build fine motor skills, develop hand-eye coordination, and express their emotions in a creative and meaningful way. Through simple materials and open-ended exploration, children learn to problem-solve, experiment, and share their ideas with confidence. Whether at home or in our centres, craft time is a wonderful way to nurture imagination, connection, and learning!

Stay up to date with our Grow Early Education centres and see how we incorporate art into our everyday curriculum.

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.

As the school holidays roll around and the winter chill sets in, many families find themselves wondering how to keep their school-aged children happy, active, and engaged. That’s where Grow Early Education's Winter Vacation Care Program comes in!

Our Vacation Care Programs are available at select Grow Early Education centres across Australia, offering a warm and welcoming space where children can enjoy fun-filled experiences, socialise with peers, and take part in exciting, educational activities.

Whether you’re a working parent looking for full holiday care or just want your child to enjoy a few days of adventure, our long daycare centre's Vacation Care options are here to support you and your family.

Winter Vacation Care at Grow Early Education is a school holiday program designed for primary school children aged 5 to 12 years. Run by qualified and caring Educators, the program features a thoughtfully curated schedule of seasonal fun; think winter crafts, themed dress-up days, sports, science experiments, cooking, and more!

Our programs are held at our purpose-built, long daycare centres, giving families the flexibility of longer opening hours, nutritious meals provided, and a safe environment that feels like a home away from home.

Why Choose Grow Early Education's Vacation Care?

✅ Flexible hours: Our centres are open extended hours to suit working families (most centres are open 6:30am to 6:30pm)
✅ All meals included: Nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks prepared fresh daily by our in-house chef
✅ Engaging activities: From winter STEM experiments to games, cooking, and art
✅ Experienced Educators: Children are supported by trained and caring professionals
✅ Safe, inclusive spaces: Designed to make every child feel welcome and valued
✅ Casual bookings available: You don't need to be enrolled in our centre prior to enjoy our Vacation Care Program

Participating Centres and What’s On These Holidays

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the exciting programs on offer at our participating centres this winter:

Grow Early Education Toowoomba:

Grow Early Education Toowoomba are offering children a variety of age-appropriate adventures, including Teddy Bear Picnics, Superhero Dress-Up Days, and Scavenger Hunts. The Program is designed to spark imagination, encourage social play, and keep children active and engaged throughout the whole school holidays. Find the whole list of adventures planned here!

Grow Early Education Heathmont in Melbourne:

At Grow Early Education Heathmont, children are stepping into the world of science with a range of exciting STEM-based activities during these school holidays. From kitchen science to explosive experiments, little learners will explore messy, sensory-rich, and thought-provoking experiences that ignite curiosity and creativity. Find the full list of vacation care activities for Heathmont here!

Grow Early Education Tarneit in Melbourne:

Grow Early Education Tarneit are turning up the energy this winter with a special visit from Little Sports Heroes! The team are gearing up for fun sports and active play days designed to keep children staying warm and cozy through the chilly winter. Check out the full list of children's activities here!

Grow Early Education Narre Warren North in Melbourne:

Step into a magical Winter Wonderland at Narre Warren North as the centre celebrates Christmas in July! Children will be busy crafting festive decorations by building snowmen, creating snowflakes, and making their very own cheeky elf. It’s a joyful, creative experience that captures the magic of the season and keeps little hands busy with holiday cheer. See the full list of Winter cheer here!

Our Vacation Care Programs are built around fun, safety, and nurturing relationships between Educators and fellow peers. Whether your child loves getting messy with arts and crafts or playing together in team games, our upcoming winter vacation care program has something for every child!

Give our Enrolments Team a call today on 1300 934 769 to secure your child's place. Casual bookings and full-time bookings are now available.

Learn more about our Vacation Care Program here.

Choosing the right Kindergarten or Preschool Program for your child is an important decision, especially when balancing work; family life; and preparing your child for formalised schooling; all need to be considered. That’s why our Kindergarten and Preschool Programs are thoughtfully designed and led by Bachelor degree-qualified Teachers, to deliver educational excellence and a school readiness program - all with the convenience of long day care hours.

Led by university-qualified Early Childhood Teachers and guided by the approved Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), our programs provide children with strong foundations for school and lifelong learning, all within a nurturing early education environment.

Why Choose Grow Early Education's Kindergarten or Preschool Program?

At Grow Early Education, our Kindergarten and Preschool Programs are designed to support busy families while still delivering a high-quality, government-approved early learning curriculum.

Here’s how Grow Early Education's Kindergarten or Preschool Program can be the perfect fit for your family:

Long hours for working families: Enjoy extended care from early mornings to late afternoon, perfect for working parents or those with full schedules.

'Free' kindergarten or fee relief for Preschool for eligible children: Take advantage of Government funding, which means eligible children can attend 'Free' Kindergarten in Victoria and Queensland or receive fee relief for our Preschool Programs in New South Wales.

Approved curriculum and added flexibility: Our program meets all of the educational requirements in a flexible, long day care environment. That means:
✅ flexibility for the number of hours and days you want your child to attend
✅ All-inclusive daily fees (meals, nappies, excursions, extra-curriculars, and access to our family communication app all in one fee)
✅ Year-round care, including school holidays

A focus on key learning goals: We have been in consultation with local schools and they have guided us on the learning goals for children, that will assist them in their transition to formal school:
- Toileting – I can use the toilet and wash my hands by myself.
- Independence – I can open up my lunch box and fill up my own water bottle. I can dress and undress myself such as putting on my own shoes and hat.
- Emotional Skills – I can communicate my wants and needs.
- Name Writing & Recognition – I can recognise my name and attempt to write it.
- Cognitive Abilities – I can retell a story or event. I can solve problems on my own.
- Literacy & Numeracy Skills – I can recognise some letters and sounds. I can recognise some numbers. I can recognise some shapes.
-‍‍ Social Skills Awareness – I can take turns with others. I can wait in line and follow instructions. I can ask and answer questions to take part in conversations.
- Fine Motor Skills – I can hold a pencil and crayon. I can cut and use scissors safely.
- Whole Body Listening – I can sit on the mat to participate in group time with my friends and teacher. I can actively take part in group learning.

Formal discussions and transition statements: A formal discussion between parents and the teacher is held at the end of the year to support each child’s transition to school by collaboratively creating a transition statement. This strengths-based statement provides a snapshot of the child’s knowledge, skills, and dispositions across the five learning and development areas.

School readiness initiatives to ease nerves: To help your child feel confident and excited about formalised school structures, we introduce regular school readiness initiatives. These could include fun and practical activities such as:
- Lunchbox days where children practice opening their own containers and eating from a packed lunch
- Uniform days where children wear their school uniforms, helping them prepare for daily routines and independence
- Visits to local schools across the year as part of your child’s transition to school process
- School-like routines such as sitting in group time, following simple instructions, and increasing independence with toileting and self-care

Education-Focused: Children learn through play and structured learning activities in line with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers.

Reduced transition stress: If your little one already attends one of our centres, our Kindergarten and Preschool Programs are delivered within the same nurturing environment your child already knows and loves. With consistent Educators, familiar routines, and strong peer relationships, children experience a smooth and secure learning journey. This continuity supports emotional well-being, builds confidence, and allows your child to fully engage in their day, without the added stress of adapting to multiple environments.

Planning ahead? We are now taking enquiries for our 2026 Kindergarten or Preschool Program. Register your interest today to secure your child’s place and give them a strong educational foundation.

At Grow Early Education, Reconciliation Week is a time to come together to listen, learn, and reflect. In 2025, we embraced the powerful theme, Bridging Now to Next, with meaningful learning experiences that honoured Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture. Across our centres, Educators thoughtfully created opportunities for children to explore, connect, and celebrate through art, music, storytelling, and sensory play.

Here’s a look at how our Grow Early Education centres brought Reconciliation Week to life:

Celebrating Culture and Community at Grow Early Education Hervey Bay

At Hervey Bay, children celebrated Reconciliation Week through a vibrant mix of storytelling, art, and music. They painted the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on their hands, created dot paintings, and watched videos of the didgeridoo to deepen their cultural understanding. These engaging experiences fostered a sense of community and connection to Country.

Sensory Play with Purpose at Grow Early Education Dalby

Children at Grow Early Education Dalby explored a unique sensory tray inspired by the Aboriginal flag. With colours and textures designed to spark curiosity, children squished and poked their way through the tray while being introduced to traditional Indigenous markings. Flashcards helped guide the children as they replicated the symbols, promoting conversation and cultural exploration through play.

Natural Connections with the Toddlers at Grow Early Education Toowoomba

In the Toddler Classroom at Grow Early Education Toowoomba, children engaged in hands-on learning experiences that celebrated Indigenous culture. They practised stamping the Aboriginal flag using their hands and explored colour, patterns, and meaning, while drawing traditional cultural symbols in the sand. These experiences sparked rich, age-appropriate conversations about Reconciliation Week, helping children begin to understand the importance of connection to land, culture, and people.

First Steps in Learning at Grow Early Education Toowoomba's Nursery Classroom

Even our littlest learners in the Nursery were invited to participate in age-appropriate ways. Educators introduced thoughtful books and resources to gently guide conversations around family, land, and connection to Country, laying the foundations for empathy and cultural awareness from the earliest years.

Reconciliation Week at Grow Early Education was a reminder that cultural understanding starts with open hearts and curious minds. Through age-appropriate and meaningful experiences, our Educators continue to embed First Nations perspectives into daily learning, ensuring every child grows up in an environment that values diversity, respect, and unity.

Together—now more than ever—we walk hand in hand toward a future built on truth, connection, and care for all cultures.

Follow us on Facebook to see how our Grow Early Education centres incorporate National Reconciliation Week into their curriculums.

As the cooler months approach, it’s the perfect time to focus on keeping little ones feeling their best through healthy habits and seasonal care. At our Grow Early Education centres, we prioritise winter wellness by focusing on three key areas: sleep (or rest), nutrition, and immune support. These pillars help ensure your child stays happy, healthy, and thriving throughout the season.

In today’s blog, we are digging into these three key elements to best assist you in navigating the upcoming cold and flu season.

Sleep: The Foundation of Good Health

Quality sleep is essential for the development and immune function of young children. During winter, shorter days and colder mornings can disrupt sleep routines. Here’s how we help support better sleep:

Consistent nap times: We follow a predictable daily routine, helping children feel secure and ready to rest.
Cosy nap environments: Warm, quiet spaces with soft lighting encourage restful naps during chilly days.
Wind-down routines: Gentle music and story time before naps help children transition calmly to sleep.

We also work closely with families to support consistent sleep patterns at home, especially during the winter when routines can shift.

Nutrition: Fuelling Little Bodies

Good nutrition plays a huge role in keeping children well during winter. At our centre, we focus on:

Warm, nourishing meals: Think veggie-packed soups, casseroles, and pastas—perfect for chilly days.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables: We use fresh, seasonal produce such as mandarins, kiwifruit, broccoli, and sweet potatoes to boost vitamin intake.
Hydration reminders: Even in cooler weather, we encourage regular water intake to support overall health.

We also promote hands-on experiences through cooking and food-based learning activities to help children build positive associations with healthy eating. Our centre Chefs ensure that all children are enjoying over 50% of their daily nutritional intake while at our centres, regardless of children’s dietary requirements.

Immune Support: Boosting Resilience Naturally

While winter often brings an increase in colds and sniffles, there are gentle ways to strengthen children’s immune systems:

Outdoor play: Even in winter, fresh air and movement are essential for wellbeing, so we rug up and head outside whenever possible!
Handwashing habits: We practice and teach proper handwashing to reduce the spread of germs.
Rest and recovery: We work with families to encourage children to stay home when unwell, helping prevent the spread of illness and support healing.

We also stay up to date with local health advice and communicate proactively with families during peak illness periods.

Winter is a wonderful time for cosiness, connection, and growth. By focusing on sleep, nutrition, and immunity, we help your child enjoy a season of wellness and fun. If you have questions or need support with winter routines at home, our Educators are here to help.

Follow us on Facebook to see how our Grow Early Education centres incorporate and support winter wellness into their curriculums and daily routines.

Whether it be muddy, gloopy, or messy, we LOVE sensory play at our long daycare centres.

Sensory play is a fundamental part of early childhood development and at our childcare centres, we embrace the mess and magic of sensory trays to create hands-on, engaging experiences for children of all ages.

From the squish of jelly to the crunch of leaves, sensory trays offer children the opportunity to explore textures, sounds, smells, and even tastes in a safe and fun environment.

In this week's blog, we are showcasing how these engaging provocations can support brain development, fine motor skills, and creativity in young children while encouraging holistic development.

The Benefits of Sensory Trays:

Brain Development: Sensory input helps build nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, enhancing memory, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
Fine Motor Skills: Scooping, pouring, pinching, and grasping all help children strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers.
Language Growth: Descriptive words fly around the room as children talk about what they feel, see, and smell.
Emotional Regulation: Sensory play can be calming and therapeutic, helping children self-regulate and manage big emotions.
Imaginative Play: With each new tray setup, children create stories, pretend scenarios, and explore their creativity.

At our Grow Early Education centres, our Educators use sensory trays to reflect seasonal themes, cultural learning, and educational topics. Here are just a few we’ve loved recently:

Grow Early Education Dalby:

The children at Grow Early Education Dalby recently enjoyed a bright and colourful Easter-themed “scoop and pour” tray. This tray was part of the centre’s Easter celebrations and provided a fantastic opportunity for children to practice pouring, sorting, and scooping.

Grow Early Education Darling Heights:

The Toddler Classroom were further introduced to literacy concepts as Educators set up an ocean-themed alphabet sensory tray. Children were able to create sandcastle letters as they explored a number of colours and textures, and ocean animals.

Grow Early Education Narre Warren North:

Educators were observing children's play habits within their child-initiated classroom time and discovered that the children were spending a lot of time in the home corner. To further extend on their interests, Educators set up a baking-themed sensory tray that allowed the children to experience utensils and ingredients through their senses.

Grow Early Education Bushland Beach:

As part of the Grow Early Education curriculum exploring dinosaurs, our Educators created an exciting, age-appropriate sensory experience for the Tiny Tots Classroom. The children used paintbrushes to gently dust away sand and uncover hidden dinosaur fossils, just like real palaeontologists! This hands-on activity sparked curiosity, encouraged fine motor skills, and brought the prehistoric world to life.

Grow Early Education Gunnedah:

At Grow Early Education Gunnedah, our Educators thoughtfully build sensory-themed trays based on the children’s interests. Recently, they created a vibrant, ocean-themed sensory tray filled with a variety of textures and shades of blue. This immersive experience allowed the children to explore and learn about the fascinating underwater world through sensory play that stimulates curiosity and imagination.

Sensory play isn’t just fun, it’s foundational. Our Educators love designing trays that are not only exciting for children, but meaningful too. Whether it's a celebration of culture, a holiday event, or an everyday exploration of science and nature, there’s always something new to discover with a sensory tray.

Interested in trying your own tray setup at home? Here are some simple sensory tray ideas to try:

Ocean Adventure: Blue jelly, shells, toy sea creatures, and seaweed (green spaghetti).
Construction Site: Crushed Weet-Bix or Coco Pops as “dirt,” trucks, pebbles, and cones.
Rainbow Rice Art: Layered colourful rice with scoops, funnels, and paintbrushes for mixing and creating.
Fruit Exploration Tray: Citrus slices, spoons, and bowls of water for squishing and squeezing.

Stay up to date with our centres on Facebook to see what sensory play trays they create next!

At Grow Early Education, each day is a journey of discovery, growth, and fun. Our centres are thoughtfully designed to provide a nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to learn.

In today's blog, we are unpacking the routines at Grow Early Education, including child-initiated play, curriculum-led activities, and mealtimes.

Mealtime

At Grow Early Education, we offer fresh, healthy meals and snacks as part of our all-inclusive fee structure. Mealtimes are a valuable part of our educational program, and all meals are prepared fresh daily by our in-house chefs, with seasonal menus designed to provide over 50% of each child’s recommended daily intake of essential nutrients.

As children grow, they are encouraged to practice self-help skills, including serving themselves and cleaning up afterwards, building confidence, fine motor skills, and independence in a supportive environment.

For our youngest children in the nursery, we follow their home feeding routines as closely as possible. This helps create consistency between home and care, supporting both the child’s wellbeing and family routines.

Mealtimes at Grow Early Education are calm, social experiences where children learn about food, practice manners, and connect with others—all while enjoying healthy, delicious meals made with love.

Child-Initiated Play & Exploration

Children choose from a variety of inviting learning experiences, both indoors and outdoors. This time supports independence, creativity, and social interaction. Our environments are thoughtfully curated with open-ended materials that encourage exploration.

Group Time and Curriculum-Led Learning

Educators introduce intentional, curriculum-led experiences based on children’s interests and developmental needs. This might include:

Language and literacy activities
Numeracy games
Science and nature exploration
Group discussions or stories

Children collaborate with their peers and continue working on their learning experiences based on the Early Years Learning Framework and curriculum. Educators use a play-based approach and exploration through art and creativity, STEM provocations, and social-emotional group discussions.

Extra-curricular Programs

We offer extra-curricular activities included in our daily fee. This could include specialist sessions such as music and movement, children’s yoga, physical activity and sports, language lessons, cooking classes, or gardening lessons. Each of these lessons sparks the children’s curiosities in a new and exciting way and allows them to further explore new experiences and work to complement our curriculum and support the development of young learners, whether it be intellectually, emotionally, physically, or socially.

Outdoor Discovery & Free Play

Outdoor play is a vital part of our day at Grow Early Education. Our large, spacious yards are the ideal environment for children to collaborate and explore open-ended play. Whether they are building in the sandpits, exploring the vegetable patch, playing games with peers or practising risk-play, children are constantly learning through movement and discovery.

We also embrace nature-based learning as part of our core philosophy where children engage in their natural surroundings through activities such as gardening, water play, or scavenger hunts. Some of our centres also include Bush Kindy as an extra-curricular whereby the children explore nature outside of the centre. These moments foster a deep sense of wonder and appreciation for their surroundings.

Sleep and Rest

At our centres, we recognise the importance of rest in a child’s development. While our Younger children transition into a restful nap in calm, cozy sleep spaces, the older children who don’t sleep are offered quiet activities such as puzzles, books, or mindfulness moments to relax. These experiences help children to reset, process their learning, and develop emotional regulation.

By respecting each child’s individual needs, we are ensuring that each and every child is feeling refreshed, supported, and ready for the afternoon ahead.

For our youngest children in the nursery, we follow their home sleeping routines as closely as possible. This helps create consistency between home and care, supporting both the child’s wellbeing and family routines.

Once the day begins to slow down with indoor play, quiet reading, and reflective conversations. Educators support conversations on the children’s days by encouraging reflection on what they learned or accomplished, helping to build a sense of pride and self-awareness.

At Grow Early Education, every moment is filled with purpose, whether it’s guided by our educational program or led by the child’s natural curiosity. Each moment at our centre is a chance to learn, connect, and develop.

Each of our Grow Early Education centres routines vary across age groups, locations, and days. Give our Enrolments Team a call today on 1300 934 769 to book a tour of your local Grow Early Education centre to learn more about their individual daily routines.

Find a Grow Early Education centre near you!

At Grow Early Education, we believe that learning goes far beyond the classroom, and one of the most powerful lessons begins right in the garden. As part of our all-inclusive childcare programs, gardening is a key component of our curriculum for children across all of our classrooms. Through our hands-on gardening lessons, children are learning valuable life lessons on curiosity, wellbeing, and healthy habits.

Gardening provides a wealth of benefits during the early learning years, from Toddlers exploring the textures in the soil to Kindergarten and Preschoolers nurturing growth from seeds through to harvest. This type of sensory-rich, outdoor activity supports holistic development across physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skillsets.

Here’s how gardening at our childcare centres helps young children thrive:

Physical Development

Digging, planting, watering, and harvesting help build fine and gross motor skills. Children develop strength, coordination, and dexterity while staying active and engaged outdoors.

Grow Early Education Dalby participated in Green Day where they utilised their collaborations with the community to create a learning experience in the garden

Cognitive Growth

Gardening teaches science in real-time. Children explore plant life cycles, weather patterns, and ecosystems, helping them understand the world around them. They also learn responsibility and patience as they care for their growing plants.

Grow Early Education Bundaberg harvest fresh herbs for their Centre Chef to use in their healthy meals

Emotional Wellbeing

Spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress and increase calmness in children. Gardening builds self-esteem and pride, as children see the results of their efforts bloom and grow.

Grow Early Education Gunnedah children are caring for their gardens ensuring their vegetables grow big and healthy so they can harvest them and use them in their weekly cooking classes — Grow Early Education Gunnedah children are caring for their gardens, ensuring their vegetables grow big and healthy so they can harvest them and use them in their weekly cooking classes

Social Skills

Whether they’re working in teams to tend to a veggie patch or taking turns with watering cans, gardening encourages cooperation, communication, and empathy.

Grow Early Education Tarneit are learning about composting and the benefits that can have on fueling the soil and their vegetables — Grow Early Education Tarneit are learning about composting and the benefits that can have on fuelling the soil and their vegetables

At Grow Early Education, we’re proud to offer gardening experiences at all of our daycare centres as part of our all-inclusive fee structure. That means families can enjoy the benefits of this enriching activity at no extra cost. Our outdoor learning environments are purposefully designed to include edible gardens, flower beds, and even worm farms, giving children a deeper connection to nature and sustainable living.

Our passionate Educators integrate gardening into our daily routines and learning programs, aligning with both the Early Years Learning Framework and the Abecedarian Approach Australia to nurture a love of the environment from an early age.

Whether it’s tasting and smelling the herbs they’ve grown or spotting the first sprout from a seed they planted, children at Grow Early Education are constantly discovering, experimenting, and learning. And as any gardener knows, those early roots make all the difference.

Stay up to date with our Grow Early Education centres on Facebook to see how they use gardening in their everyday curriculums.

Easter is the perfect time to get creative with your little ones! From bright colours and fluffy bunnies to sparkly eggs and baskets full of joy, there’s so much fun to be had with Easter crafts. Not only do these activities encourage creativity and fine motor skills, but they also help children express themselves and enjoy the season in a meaningful way.

Here are some of our favourite Easter crafts that are perfect for early learners that you can try at home this long weekend!

1. Cotton Ball Bunny Faces

What you’ll need:

Paper plates
Cotton balls
Googly eyes
Coloured paper (for ears)
Pink pom poms (for noses)
Pipe cleaners (for whiskers)
Elastic (optional)
Glue and child-safe scissors

How to make it:
Let the children cover their paper plate with fluffy cotton balls to create the bunny’s face. Add googly eyes, a pink pom pom nose, and whiskers using pipe cleaners. Don’t forget some big bunny ears cut from coloured paper!

❗️TIP: Add elastic to the sides and remove the googly eyes to create an Easter mask.

2. Painted Easter Eggs (No Mess Version!)

What you’ll need:

White paper cut into egg shapes
Ziplock bags
Non-toxic paint

How to make it:
Place a paper egg and a few drops of paint into a ziplock bag. Seal it tight and let children squish and spread the paint around with their fingers from the outside. It’s sensory, mess-free, and so much fun! This activity is perfect for Babies and Toddlers as they work on their pincer grip and fine motor skills!

3. Chick in an Egg Card

What you’ll need:

Yellow and white construction paper
Orange paper (for the beak)
Markers, glue, and scissors

How to make it:
Cut a white egg shape and snip a zig-zag crack across the middle. Glue the bottom half onto yellow paper, then create a little chick by drawing or gluing on eyes and a beak. Add the top half of the egg so it looks like the chick is hatching!

4. Easter Basket Weaving

What you’ll need:

Construction paper in pastel colours
Scissors and glue

How to make it:
Help children cut slits in one piece of paper and weave strips of coloured paper through to create a basket look. Fold up the sides and glue a handle on top.

❗️ TIP: These make great Easter egg hunting baskets!

5. Fingerprint Bunny and Chick Art

What you’ll need:

Non-toxic paint
White paper
Markers

How to make it:
Let kids dip their fingers into paint and press them onto paper to create bunny and chick bodies. Once dry, add ears, beaks, eyes, and feet with markers. These make sweet keepsakes for Easter!

Crafts are more than just fun—they help children build hand-eye coordination, learn to follow instructions, and develop confidence in their abilities. Best of all, they get to take home something they made with love and pride!

Stay up to date with our Grow Early Education centres on Facebook to see what amazing Easter themed arts and crafts they got up to this week!

Don't forget! Our Grow Early Education centres are closed for the Good Friday (18th April) and Easter Monday (21st April) public holidays. Each of our centres will reopen on Tuesday, the 22nd of April as per their regular trading hours.

Locations

Gunnedah

Heathmont

Bridgeman Downs

Featured Articles

Why Choose Grow Early Education's Vacation Care?

Participating Centres and What’s On These Holidays

Grow Early Education Toowoomba:

Grow Early Education Heathmont in Melbourne:

Grow Early Education Tarneit in Melbourne:

Grow Early Education Narre Warren North in Melbourne:

Celebrating Culture and Community at Grow Early Education Hervey Bay

Sensory Play with Purpose at Grow Early Education Dalby

Natural Connections with the Toddlers at Grow Early Education Toowoomba

First Steps in Learning at Grow Early Education Toowoomba's Nursery Classroom

1. Cotton Ball Bunny Faces

2. Painted Easter Eggs (No Mess Version!)

3. Chick in an Egg Card

4. Easter Basket Weaving

5. Fingerprint Bunny and Chick Art

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