What to bring

Information on your child will need to bring to their kindergarten sessions.

Please label all belongings with your child’s name so we can assist your child in placing items in their bags.

  • Bag:
    A bag that your child can manage independently and hold their belongings.
  • A change of clothes:
    Messy play is part of our daily program so we advise you always keep a spare set of labelled clothes in your child’s bag, including underwear.
  • Drink Bottle:
    Please provide a drink bottle with water only.
  • Lunch Box:
    The children may be required to bring their own morning tea and lunch to kindergarten (each service is slightly different, please check with your child’s service for their specific requirements). On arrival please encourage your child to place their lunch box in the designated area.
    We promote healthy eating. Food and drinks provided by families are requested to be nutritious, age appropriate and easily opened by your child.
    Please keep in mind, to support sustainability; wrapper free lunch boxes are preferred.
    Healthy lunchbox ideas can be found online.
  • Wet weather clothing:
    There are many learning opportunities in the outdoors all throughout the year. When it is cold, windy and wet we still venture outdoors to make the most of all learning opportunities.
    Gumboots, coats, beanies, and any other wet weather clothing help us to stay comfortable when outdoors on these days. Spending some time every day outside, in most weather conditions supports your child’s ongoing physical health, growth and development.
  • Shoes:
    Your child will need to wear shoes which support their feet well so they are not restricted in their running and climbing activities. Suitable shoes include: runners, shoes with buckles, laces or Velcro.
    Thongs, crocs or slip on sandals/shoes are better to be left at home.

Settling in

Beginning kindergarten is a very positive experience for families and children and can sometimes be quite overwhelming. The child and family have new educators to meet, a new environment to settle into and a new routine to become familiar with. For other children it can be the first time they have been away from their family and the first time in the kindergarten setting.

Families are more than welcome to stay at the start of the session to help settle your child in.

It helps to sit with your child, read with them, participate in an activity that is set up and speak with the educators and your child about how the child’s morning/ afternoon has been or an interest your child has. This helps them to build trust in where they are and the educators they will be with.

We do ask you to please make sure you say good-bye to your child when leaving, this reassures them that you are coming back to collect them and will see them at the end of the session.

Celebrations

We support children to develop an awareness of, and respect for diverse values and beliefs. Celebrations can be used to bring people together, to create a feeling of belonging and to develop a sense of community amongst families, educators and children.

Please share with us special events and celebrations which are important to your child and your family by discussing these with the service.

Toys

If your child would like to bring something from home, this is a great way to share with the other children a part of their home story.

Before bringing in their favourite toy, please encourage them to think about how they may feel if the other children would like to play with it, or if it became lost or damaged. Your child’s toy is very precious to them and we will do all we can to help your child look after it.

Please speak with an educator if you have bought in something from home and they will let you know the way this can be managed.