School Readiness: The Importance of the Lunchbox Starting Kindergarten is a big milestone for children and their families. There is often lots of focus on learning letters, numbers, recognising names and developing social skills, but one important part of school readiness can sometimes be overlooked: the humble lunchbox! At Tillys Play & Development Centres, feedback…
Preparing for School Readiness (And What It Really Means) When families hear the term “school readiness,” it’s easy to think about learning the alphabet, counting to ten or writing a name. While these skills can certainly be helpful, school readiness is about so much more than academic knowledge. At Tillys Play & Development Centres, we…
Why Sleep Matters: Understanding Children’s Sleep Needs from Birth to Five Sleep is one of the most important building blocks for a child’s health, growth and development. Just like nutritious food, active play and loving relationships, quality sleep helps children thrive during the early years. From birth to five years of age, children’s brains and…
What Is Pedagogy and Practice? If you’ve ever read information about early childhood education, you may have come across the word “pedagogy.” While it may sound like a complex educational term, the meaning is actually quite simple. Pedagogy is the way educators teach, support and nurture children’s learning and development. It includes everything educators do,…
Creative Arts in Early Childhood: The Benefits of Music, Art & Sensory Play When we think of children painting a picture, singing a favourite song or exploring a sensory tray, it can be easy to see these as simply fun activities. But in early childhood, these experiences are so much more than play—they are powerful…
Transitioning Through Our Rooms: From Nursery to Toddler to Preschool One of the most exciting parts of your child’s early learning journey is watching them grow, develop and move through each stage of our centre. At Tillys Play & Development Centres, transitioning from the Nursery to the Toddler Room and then into Preschool is a…
Promoting Cultural Confidence and Appreciation for Multiculturalism Australia is a diverse and multicultural country, and early childhood is a wonderful time for children to begin understanding, respecting and celebrating this diversity. At Tillys, we believe that fostering cultural confidence and an appreciation for multiculturalism helps children develop a strong sense of identity, belonging and respect…
Fuelling growing bodies and bright minds, our talented cooks at Rutherford craft vibrant, nutrient-packed fruit and vegetable platters designed specifically for children. Bursting with delicious flavours, fun, and colourful arrangements, these healthy snacks make getting their daily vitamins an exciting and eagerly anticipated part of the day!
The Environment as the Third Teacher In early childhood education, you may hear the phrase “the environment is the third teacher.” While it might sound unfamiliar at first, the idea is simple — children learn not only from educators and families, but also from the spaces around them. At Tillys Play & Development Centres, we…
What Is a QIP? (Quality Improvement Plan) You may have heard your centre mention a QIP, or Quality Improvement Plan — but what does that actually mean? In early childhood education and care, a QIP is an important document that helps services reflect, grow and continuously improve the quality of care and education they provide.…