It is said that when a child learns early, he will most likely follow the learning throughout his life. Early learning has a major impact on a child’s development. Beyond all the developmental needs, early literacy is a much-needed skill that helps a child understand reading and writing even before their brain is ready to actually read or write.

As early education lays the foundation to learn in school, many providers of childcare in North Sydney today use it as part of their curriculum. If you are a parent or a guardian, understanding why enrolling your child in a childcare promoting early literacy skills is essential. In this blog, we will learn the role of childcare and their strategies in instilling pre-education to young minds.

What are Early Literacy Skills in Childcare Centres?

A childcare provider in North Sydney and Mascot believes that a confident and curious child can transform their identities. Apart from providing a space for children to learn and develop love for educational games and nature, childcare introduces children to early education.

Early education in childcare makes a child from 6 weeks to 5 years of age learn fundamental concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The providers and educators of childcare are capable, qualified, and experienced to teach age-appropriate concepts in fun and learning ways.

What Makes Early Education at Childcare Centres Different?

Gone are the days when working parents enrol their babies and toddlers to a childcare facility to keep their child safe and engaged. Many childcare facilities today are also functioning as a preschool. Many childcare in North Sydney encourages new ways that are far from traditional teaching styles. Here are some reasons that make learning early literacy skills different and effective in childcare facilities.

●    Promotes Inquiry-based Learning

An inquiry-based learning is a new approach where children participate in their own learning process. Meaning, instead of listening to information from teachers, children are exposed to practical experiences. They ask questions, experiment, discover the new skills, and wait for the results.

●    Adheres to Early Years Learning Framework

Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is the Australian government’s set of standards and regulations for all the childcare and preschool centres in Australia. It conveys that every childcare facility should meet the following requirements:

• Make a child learn their own identity, who they are, and where they belong.
• Make a child connect and contribute to the community and the world around them.
• Make a child confident and understand different cultures.
• Make a child realise their emotional, social, and mental well being.
• Make a child safe around educators and an effective communicator.

A childcare centre encourages early education while following the guidelines and expectations set by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standard (NQS). This assures parents that their child is learning essential skills that are beyond the educational scope.

●    Involves Family

While teaching and learning is a one-to-one interaction between a child and educator, a preschool in Mascot involves family at every stage. Educators first ask parents or guardians about the child’s interests and activities that will make their learning less stressful. The family inputs are taken seriously so that kids develop a love for learning and remain motivated to perform better.

Strategies Childcare and Preschool Facilities Use in North Sydney and Mascot

Now that you have understood why learning early educational concepts from childcare is helpful for your child, let’s learn their strategies. Childcare centres use play-based activities to teach young children practical concepts.

1. Science:

• Childcare educators teach the meaning of natural phenomena.
• Encourage activities like observing plants, experimenting with water, and exploring textures.
• Conduct activities like mixing colours or watching seeds growing.

These activities build a child’s curiosity and scientific thinking. A preschool in Mascot with hands-on scientific experiences encourages a child to feel connected to nature and observe natural surroundings closely. All of these activities are built according to the child’s age so that they can remember the skills even when they step into school.

2. Technology:

• Give access to tablets and computers with educational apps to promote digital literacy.
• Engage children in digital storytelling.
• Encourage using tools for drawing, music, and for assembling video projects.
• Make them understand the use of technology in an appropriate and healthy way.

Technology is a part and parcel of everyday life. Teaching young kids about the use of technology for educational and interactive purposes is only going to help them adapt to new technologies in future.

3. Engineering:

• Teach kids about building blocks, how to construct towers, or create any structure with different materials.
• Challenge children to think creatively and build bridges or make them familiar with different car parts.
• Use age-appropriate techniques to ensure a child is building confidence, learning problem-solving skills, and developing reasoning capabilities.

It is important for you as a parent to read engineering books that can make them understand the very core of the structures. Ask questions and help them discover the meaning of construction to make them learn faster.

4. Mathematics:

• Educators include activities like counting objects and learning the sequence of numbers.
• Get a child to sort the objects on the basis of their colour and size.
• Teach kids about recognising shapes and patterns.
• Conduct play-based activities to teach kids about relationships between numbers.

Early maths skills can make a child familiar with numbers and their importance in daily life. It is important to find a preschool in Mascot who have trained educators and can use various ways to teach a child at their own pace.

Other Activities That Promote Early Literacy

Apart from educational learning, many childcare facilities in Sydney and Mascot organise child-fed reading and writing activities. Let’s understand all the activities that educators consider when teaching.

1. Reading Aloud:

• Read age-friendly books to children.
• Consistent reading in different expressive tones.
• Ask questions to encourage children to listen actively.

2. Storytelling:

• Ask children to act out different characters in the story.
• Help them understand the narrative.
• Teach them the moral values and challenge their ability to take part in storytelling activities.

3. Alphabet Games:

• Play puzzles, alphabets, and games to make children learn letters and draw them well.
• Call out names and ask kids to write their own name.

4. Writing:

• Provides opportunities to make a child scribble, draw, or make any pattern.
• Make them understand the scope of writing through essays and paragraphs according to their age.

5. Environment Print:

• Educators help a child learn about various signs, symbols, logos, and familiar words in the environment.
• Understand them the difference between bad and good touch at an initial stage.

Final Words

We hope you liked reading this blog. We outlined how a childcare in North Sydney can transform a kid into a confident individual who can think on their own feet. Early literacy is a skill that does not require any learning if the child is in touch with the learning environement and new experiences.

As a parent, it is imporatnt that you understand the scope of a childcare and their role in nurturing a child’s learning foundation. If you are heading to a childcare and preschool, trust ToyBox Early Learning in North Sydney and Mascot for their early literacy programs aligning with Early Years Learning Framework.

Read Previous Article: Essential Preparation Tips for Commercial Gutter Cleaning and Building Washing Services