The Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care program has been lovingly and carefully crafted to purposely deliver on the basis of our curriculum Our curriculumThe Formative Year Learning Curriculum(FYLC)for Playschool &childcare. Our practices and program connect directly to the foundation stages of the School Curriculum, from which students will be taught when they enter the formal schooling system.
Our curriculum The Formative Year Learning Curriculum(FYLC)is our very own inspirational guide for excellence, drawing from world-leading research to ensure the highest quality of teaching and practice.
We don’t just do this preparation work in the final year before formal schooling starts. In fact, we’re homing in on these innate skills from the very moment your child joins us; from as young as six weeks of age!
We want to spark a child’s natural curiosity, inspire them to ask questions and show them that knowledge can be gained in all sorts of wonderful ways. Through play, we encourage children to:
Children are always watching, listening and absorbing information. Daily experiences are how they learn about the world around them – how to communicate, problem-solve and work with others.
The importance of play is central to the Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., early learning philosophy as it works with the strengths of children to develop their social, physical, emotional and cognitive development in a positive way.
By listening to and observing children of all ages, we encourage their natural ability to wonder and inquire. In the schools of Reggio Emilia, it’s referred to as the ‘hundred languages of children’. We focus on the child, creating rich learning experiences, in unique learning environments, through genuine relationships. Key to this is a partnership with families so that our Teachers and teams can inspire a love of learning in all children, in the Centre and at home.
Day-to-day, all of these factors combine to give children a level of control over the direction of their learning. Our Teachers and teams guide them through a range of experiences that include touching, moving, listening and observing while encouraging relationships with other children and with open-ended resources.
When a child is using open-ended resources, they are free to use their creativity and imagination. There is no right or wrong way, and no set endpoint to the play. A set of wooden blocks is a good example: One moment it’s a pirate ship sailing the high seas; the next moment a maze or puzzle to be solved. Open-ended resources inspire curiosity and support discovery – the building blocks for successful lifelong learning.
childcare providers talk about ‘play-based learning’. But what does it actually mean?
In its simplest form, learning through play encourages children to build their knowledge, develop confidence and embrace curiosity. Along the way they naturally refine practical life skills as they explore, experiment, discover and solve problems through play. And importantly, they build their confidence and come to understand that learning is fun and can take many forms.
At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., children are guided by their natural interests and curiosities, while being supported to make meaningful connections to the real-world. We don’t believe in learning through repetition or the isolated recognition of numbers and letters. We teach in real-world contexts to set your child up for success.
Our practices and programs, while based in play, prepare your child for formal schooling and beyond. We’re not just about preparing them for school, but for life – because learning is a journey that never ends. And the world is changing before their very eyes so, we make them GLOBAL CITIZENS.
The Play-Baseed Learning Methods essentially child-oriented and caters to individual needs, interests and abilities. Play is second nature to a child. It serves as a natural way for them to explore, express and involve with the world around them. Therefore, this approach supports the all-round development of a child. The experiences in this approach also make the child an active participant and not a passive recipient in the learning process.
Our effective programme is based on the provision of concrete firsthand experiences to the child. We understand that at this age, they can perceive things more effectively on a sensory level. A verbal or written description may not make much sense to the children which is why we plan our activities in such a way that they can learn by touching, seeing and hearing things. By play, we encourage them to classify and handle a variety of objects.
In a real life scenario To learn about the fruit apple, they first see, touch and taste it. Then understand it through a 3D picture of it and finally move on to learning the world ‘Apple’ or reciting a story about it.
The childhood of every child should be no less than a carnival of good memories, love and enjoyment and we, at Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution they get ample opportunities to run, play and simply be themselves! Natural growth occurs best when children have lots of fun. And, all that fun happens at our splash pool, rain dance, doll house and the most colourful play area.
Key areas in Physical & Motor Development:
To make them stronger & sharper, a balanced diet is a must. Our in-house kitchen helps provide hygienic and nutritious baby friendly food which is tasted by the educators first, then served to the little ones.
Gross motor skills mean developing control over the movements of the large muscles of the body. Activities like walking, running, swinging dancing, etc ensure that the students can get a good control over their body. children also love their energetic taekwondo sessions wherein they learn perseverance with their kicks and punches. While they enhance their flexibility during the peaceful yoga time. We also organise an annual Sports Day wherein our budding sportsmen participate in different competitions which include racing, rabbit jump, etc.
Fine motor skills mean developing control over the movements of finer muscles, particularly finger muscles and hand-eye coordination. Activities like art & craft which include drawing, colouring, pasting as well as paper folding, thumb printing, pattern making, clay moulding and beading ensure a control over their fingers and also attain a perfect hand-eye coordination in a fun way.
The IQ of a child just doesn't depend on the genes alone, but the opportunities he/she gets to use his mind. Children between the age of 2.5 to 5 years are at a stage of cognitive development when their thinking is governed by their perception and they learn through first hand experience of the environment. Children at Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution given opportunities to learn how to be analytical so that they can successfully deal with life situations.
The development of the five senses, i.e, seeing, hearing, touch, smell and taste is basic to the process of knowing and understanding. The more varied and extensive the sensory experiences, the broader will be the child’s base for forming ideas. Our sound boxes, touch & sniff boxes, audio-visual aids, smell tray and tasting kits help the Children get a grip on all five senses with ease.
Who doesn’t love puzzles and block towers? At our intellectual development centre, the children learn through an integrated approach with our self designed teaching tools. They are encouraged to find solutions to diverse challenges such as solving picture puzzles, building a seriation tower using their own logic, learning tens and units of mathematics through a basics of Mathematics using techniques like ABACUS & others.
For holistic development, it is crucial that different concepts are clear to the students. They should be able to observe, discriminate and categorise different objects in their environment and progress from ‘perception bound reasoning’ to ‘logical reasoning’. To achieve this, we host specials days that introduce a particular concept to the students, such as, ‘Colour Blue Day’, ‘My Favourite Cartoon Day’, ‘Introduction to shape Triangle day’ or ‘Introduction to numbers’ as a part of development of prenumber concept. Different activities are conducted on these days to help them match, identify, name, compare and classify the objects. We also follow a monthly theme which are an amalgamation of all these concepts.
What good is knowledge that cannot be expressed! Language learning provides the foundation for all later learning. By the time children enter pre-school, they are already using a language at home. Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution them the right experiences and environment to increase their vocabulary steadily and rapidly.
We organise a circle time as a part of our daily schedule as well as conduct story-telling sessions and show the students, cartoon movies to develop their listening skills. During these sessions they also learn sound discrimination such as ‘voices of different animals’ or the sound of clapping, etc. To help them develop an ear for phonics, we conduct many activities using our our phonic card box.
The children are indulged in fun conversations and action rhymes to introduce them with the vocabulary related to their body, home and environment. Picture reading cards, role play and dramatization are also used as a medium to enhance their vocabulary when it comes to the socio-emotional scenario.
Free conversation is the first activity after welcome and arrival activities. Children have a lot to express about what happened at their homes after they left school the day before. They are given absolute freedom to share their experiences and talk about anything they want. This way they learn to create sentences and use correct grammar. Show and tell is yet another activity which enhances their oral expression.
Here is when our specially designed curriculum books come into picture. Through the visuals in the books, the children learn to identify objects as well as situations. Special introduction to letters activities are also conducted so that they can gradually identify letters and words mentioned in the book.
Before children write, they need experience in handling crayons and pencils. Thus, initially, they are indulged in drawing and colouring activities wherein they develop the skills of making controlled visual motor movements. Later on, they move on to joining dots, tracing, copying forms and making patterns similar to the letters of the alphabet.
Each child has his/her own unique ‘Personality’ which is the outcome of inheritance, social/cultural groups, different sorts of interactions, regular appreciation and exposure. Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution. the right kind of peer group which forms the learning ground for the child about right behaviour, friendship, sharing.
This is achieved by creating a sense of individuality in them through name cards or even celebrating birthdays in school. Qualities of leadership are gained when they are given responsibilities such as maintaining a straight line. In group activities, they also take on the lead role of reciting a story or while playing a game.
We regularly conduct story-telling sessions and puppet play that carry relevant messages of good habits. Picture cards of good and bad habits are also used to educate the children. As a part of the routine, they are asked to wash their hands before meals, visit the toilet during breaks, organise play material back in the racks after playing, etc.
As a part of the confidence building process, we organise many activities and events such as recitation competitions, fancy dress, fashion show, role play, class presentations and appreciation day. When they get an opportunity to perform in front of an audience, it automatically increases their confidence level.
During the circle time, the students are indulge in interactions with their peers and Educators. They get a chance to freely express themselves, listen to others and exchange opinions. Their inquisitive minds are also addressed as the Educators are always willing to provide them with all answers and listen to their queries patiently. Lunch time is also a great way to encourage bonding between the peers as they learn to share their meals. We also believe that children’s curiosity and interests are stimulated when they interact with people, places, communities and the environment around us. To achieve this, we take them for picnics and excursions.
Our aim at Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution. to create responsible global citizens. To become so, they need to be environmentally conscious as well. We believe that building a connect with nature at this age will go a long way in ensuring a sustainable environment. Thus, they often go for nature walks where they learn about the nature and also participate in tree plantation drives.
Each child has inborn creativity. All we need to do is give them encouragement and opportunities for free play, particularly dramatic and constructive play which will foster creativity in them. We provide children with a stimulating environment where they can discover their talents like dancing, art and craft, music, clay moulding etc. Aesthetic Appreciation is a form of development wherein children are encouraged to appreciate their surroundings and also verbalise their appreciation about whatever they like around them. This way a positive energy can be channelised in them, which can help them in their future endeavours.
‘In every work of art, the artist himself is present’. Art is one of the best ways to explore the inborn creativity of the little minds. We organise many art and craft activities for the students wherein they bring out their most creative sides. A few of them include: Drawing, Colouring, Paper Folding and Clay Moulding
To let the children feel free to express through body movements and expressions, they are indulged in dance & music sessions. Rhythmic movement such as foot stamping, finger clicking, etc, also help the children loosen up and become more free with their movements.
Every child is a dreamer with his/her own world full of imaginations and wonder. We know the value of these imaginations as it is one of the best ways to enhance creative development. During free play, in the Doll house, the little ones create their own stories as to how they want their life to be or how to address a particular situation they are put in. They effectively learning about the 5Ws and 1H through diverse fun activities.
“Why do the leaves go brown after they fall off the tree?”
Garden settings allow for observation, research and communicating ideas with Educators and peers, which has outstanding educational benefits. Children think critically, learn social skills, collaborate, have fun, and develop self-confidence by spending time in nature, tending plants and growing their own food.
“Why does a cake go into the oven wet, but come out dry?”
Educating children about the importance of healthy eating and good nutrition is an important part of early childhood development. But more than that, cooking can be a great teaching opportunity for mathematical concepts like measuring, mixing and pouring. It encourages teamwork, sharing, critical thinking and creativity.
“Why do the wet sand stick and the dry sand fall?”
Outdoor play encourages children to learn, explore, discover, exercise and enjoy themselves in the fresh air and connect with nature. Sandpit play encourages critical thinking when experimenting with the structural properties of sand; teamwork in digging, carrying and moving sand; and communication through mark-making.
At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., our spacious outdoor environments provide yet another sensory-rich space for children to learn, explore, and discover.
Many of our centres include natural play areas that allow for climbing, engaging, and creating—each with exciting features for children at any developmental stage. Things like river beds, a water pump, and large undercover sandpits are all examples of features we purposefully create at each of our childcare centres so that we can inspire children to learn through play.
And while these intentionally-designed outdoor spaces certainly encourage the children in our centres to exercise and exert themselves in the fresh air—which are both very important to their health and well-being—they also help them connect with nature. Plus, they support each child in drawing connections to the importance of sustainable practices and taking care of our environment.
To help you learn more about the benefits of outdoor play—particularly sandpit play—and how Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution, provides plenty of outdoor play opportunities at each of our childcare centres, we’ve put together this helpful guide.
Sandpit activity is any type of play that children engage in while using sand as an artistic medium. With sandpit play, children can do things like dig, scoop, pour, or push sand as well as lift, rake, pat, or shape it.
When given a variety of sand play materials, the options for creating with sand become endless. And there are plenty of sand play materials that children enjoy playing with at our centres such as:
Plus, there are all kinds of objects around our centres that make a great addition to sandpit play, providing new sand play materials the children will love. Anything from woodblocks in our classrooms to shells and cardboard tubes can instantly become a new and fascinating sand play material for the children to play with.
And the sand play areas at Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., centres are built intentionally large so that children have plenty of space to create their own sandpit masterpieces—anything from castles to moats, driveways to highways, trenches to holes, and houses to towers. At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., each child’s own creativity guides them.
So when can kids use the sandpit? Well, the good news is that children can start playing with sand at a pretty early age. With the supervision and support given by our amazing team members at Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., children can let their imaginations soar and use sand as an artistic medium to express themselves while they’re here during the day.
At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., we don’t have an established sand play activity plan developed for all children. Instead, we place each child at the centre of their own learning journey, providing them with high-quality resources to learn through play and create meaning on their own.
After all, research shows that children learn best through hands-on exploration. So, the sand play activities for preschoolers you’ll see taking place at many of our centres can be anything from building and smashing to looking closely at the grains of sand and feeling their texture.
At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., we don’t tell kids what to learn nor do we place limits on their ability to learn and that includes the learning that is taking place in our sandpits. Here, children have endless opportunities to think, explore, and grow—helping them develop skills that easily translate from the sandpit into a lifetime of learning.
There are so many reasons why sandpit play is important for children. Sandboxes are good for kids because they’re just plain fun, but they also provide learning opportunities children just can’t get anywhere else. Plus, sandpit actually helps them reach those 21st-century learning outcomes that will follow them throughout their lifetime.
What do children learn when they play with sand? Plenty of things!
First, sand is a very textured medium, and it feels noticeably different against a child’s skin when they cup it in their hand, dig through it, or even rub it between their fingers. From burying their toes in the sand to pouring a bucket of water over it, children are thinking and reaching conclusions through each hands-on sand activity they participate in. And those conclusions inspire them to think deeply about other everyday items they encounter each day.
That’s why sandpit play is such an important part of sensory play. Children learn a lot more about the properties of sand by smoothing it, scooping it, patting it, and moulding it themselves than they would ever learn from just hearing or reading about it alone. Just think about the critical thinking that takes place as children experiment with the structural properties of wet sand versus dry sand and how wet sand is easier to mould into shapes while dry sand is easier to pour from a bucket.
Plus, sand play helps children build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they use various tools in order to manipulate the sand. Activities like using a stick to draw their name in the sand or using a digger to move sand around from one area of the sandbox to another both require a lot of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination that young children are still developing.
Sand play helps with emotional development and socialization in children as well. In the sandpit, kids learn collaboration skills as they dig, carry, and move sand with other children and educators. They learn to wait patiently and take turns with the sand play materials we have on hand. And they develop team-building skills as each child becomes responsible for completing certain tasks within the sandbox.
Furthermore, sandpit play helps children develop physically as well.
As children play in the sand, they build both their small muscles—like their triceps, biceps, and calves—as well as their large muscles like those in their legs, back, and chest. A shovel or bucket full of sand is heavy to carry for young children and pushing a rake through sand creates a lot of resistance as well. So, both of these activities, and others like it, ensure that your child is using different muscle groups and getting stronger every day.
Lastly, sandpit play helps children build communication skills as they share their ideas for sand play with others and complete mark-making activities in the sand by drawing shapes, numbers, and letters. Communication is an important skill to develop and playing in the sand can actually help them get there.
The wonderful thing about the experiences children have at each of our centres is that their learning outcomes overlap, and they vary depending on the child, educator, and each particular experience they encounter.
So, whether your child is playing in the sandpit or using the water pump, they’re developing important skills that will carry over into other areas in their life and will benefit them long into their formal education and adulthood.
At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., we understand just how important play-based learning is to the development of a child. So, we are passionate about creating sensory-rich indoor and outdoor spaces that inspire children to be creative, brave, and curious about the world around them.
And the outdoor covered sandpits we have at many of our childcare centres throughout Australia are just one of the many ways we provide high-quality resources to help your child think and grow.
Note: While we have listed some outcomes, the wonderful thing about experiences at our centres is that learning outcomes overlap and vary depending on the child, educator and particular experience.
Excursions allow children to interact with the world around them, learn road safety, gives them the chance to interact with their local community and strengthen their friendships. Excursions promote great social and emotional development by expanding a child’s horizons beyond the Centre and their home.
Our children of today will face a different world, requiring more of them than ABCs and 123s. They must learn to be innovative and adaptable – to think creatively and critically. They are entering a fast-paced, rapidly changing world, where technology rules and the traditional methods of teaching are no longer as effective.
And that’s why our approach is focused on the latest research and insights into how children learn best, focusing in on the specific skills they will need to thrive in the 21st Century.
We don’t promote a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Instead, we focus on the individual child and their unique approach to learning through open-ended resources and play-based experiences.
When a child is using open-ended resources, they are free to use their creativity and imagination. There is no right or wrong way, and no set end point to the play. A set of wooden blocks is a good example: One moment it’s a pirate ship sailing the high seas; the next moment a maze or puzzle to be solved. Open-ended resources inspire curiosity and support discovery – the building blocks for successful lifelong learning.
At Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution., we work to develop skills that will help your child thrive in a rapidly changing world, through encouraging:
Our learning programs help to develop these skills in a variety of ways, and that’s why, at Ladyfinger Playschool & Day-care institution,