Forbes Children's Centre

By age three, a child's brain has built most of the language pathways it will ever use. The raw material for that construction is words. Heard words. Spoken words. Repeated words.

And not all words count equally.

Research on the "word gap" found that children in language rich homes hear 30 million more words by age three than children in language poor homes. That gap predicts vocabulary size, reading readiness, and even IQ. The difference is not intelligence. It is exposure.

Here is what does not count. Television playing in the background. Arguments. Chaotic noise. The brain filters out sounds that are not directed at the child. What counts is face to face interaction. Narration of daily life. And most efficiently, reading aloud.

Five minutes of reading a day exposes a child to vocabulary they rarely hear in conversation. "Curious." "Enormous." "Whispered." Words that build the architecture for later reading comprehension.

You do not need hours. You need consistency. One board book at bedtime. One silly rhyming book in the morning. That is it.

The catch up window is real. Early intervention is more effective than later remediation. But it is never too late to start. Read to your baby tomorrow. Their brain is listening.

When do you start toileting your child?? Check this free workshop out!

⭐️⭐️We still have a few spots available, so if you have been thinking of booking in, please give us a call ⭐️⭐️

🚽Not sure how to encourage your little one to use the toilet?
🚽 Were things progressing well but aren't anymore?
Jemima is running a FREE information session for parents/carers
📆 Wednesday 24th June
⌚️ 10am-12noon
Free creche provided, limited spaces so bookings are essential 📱8352 5346

**FREE** Toilet Learning info session for parents! Learn how to help your child learn how to use the toilet at Cowandilla Children's Centre. Free crèche for your child. Wednesday 24th June. Call 8352 5346 to book in.

🚽 Not sure how to encourage your little one to use the toilet?
🚽 Were things progressing well but aren't anymore?

Jemima is running a FREE information session for parents/carers
📆 Wednesday 24th June
⌚️ 10am-12noon
Free creche provided, limited spaces so bookings are essential 📱8352 5346

Reminder: our Thursday morning All Ages Playgroup and Thursday afternoon Baby Playgroup are NOT on this week (14 May2026). Both playgroups resume as normal next week.

Hi Families,
This is a reminder that due to staff training the following playgroups are not on this week-

Tuesday 12th May-
Christie Downs
Darlington
Victor Harbor

Wednesday 13th May-
Yankalilla
Meadows
O’Sullivan Beach

Thursday 14th May-
Forbes

Perhaps you can go to the park or beach for a Nature Scavenger Hunt instead of playgroup this week!

Playgroups not listed above are on as usual this week.
All playgroups will run as normal next week. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Parents and carers are invited to a new FREE road safety session presented by SAPOL Road Safety Educators at the SA Police Road Safety Centre.

This session focuses on the everyday choices that help keep children safe on our roads, covering:

- Child restraints
- Pedestrian safety
- School crossings
- Bike safety

Attendees will also hear from SAPOL Road Safety Advocate Lyndal, who will share her deeply personal story about how the right choice of bike helmet saved the life of her fouryearold son, Lincoln, after he was struck by a van. Her experience is a powerful reminder that the right safety choices really can mean the difference between life and death.

📅 18 May
⏰ 10:00am
📍 Road Safety Centre, West Beach

👉 Tickets are now live: https://brnw.ch/21x29Sy

Free course for parents at Darlington Children’s Centre. Learn how you can help your child develop skills for learning! Free crèche available for your child (care for your child by qualified educators in a nearby room) limited places available.

Would you like to know more about how to support your child's development? Come along to our free parenting course "My child and me". Please see the flyer about how to book- a free creche is provided but spaces are limited.