Goodstart Early Learning Golden Square

Join us tomorrow as we proudly take part in Jeans for Genes Day! 💙👖

Our team will be wearing our jeans and taking on the 100 Skips a Day Challenge to help raise awareness and support vital genetic research for children and families affected by genetic conditions.

If you see us skipping throughout the day, give us a wave or cheer us on! Every conversation helps spread awareness for this important cause.

Together, we can make a difference—one skip at a time. 💙

Please help us raise funds by donating here;
https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/fundraisers/GoodstartEarlyLearningGoldenSquare/my-own-idea-2026

Please Support My Jeans for Genes Fundraiser 💙 I’m raising money for Jeans for Genes to help fund cures for the 1 in 20 kids born with a genetic disease. Please support me by making a donation today – thank you! 💙

Did you know we invested $65.5M into our social purpose last year, a 14% increase on the year before? 👏 At Goodstart, we're proud of the impact we have on children, families and communities. As a not‑for‑profit, every dollar we earn is reinvested to improve outcomes – from high‑quality learning and educator development to extra support for children who need it most.
Because when we put children first, the impact goes further 💛

Tiny hands, big discoveries! 🍃💚

Today our toddlers had so much fun exploring leaves—touching, collecting, crunching, and discovering all the different shapes, colours, and textures. Nature is the perfect playground for curious little learners! 🌿✨

The research is clear 📚 reading aloud is one of the most powerful things we can do for our children.

When we read with a child, we’re doing far more than sharing a story. We’re building the foundations for language, confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Decades of research shows that children who are read to regularly:

💛 Build stronger language skills
Hearing rich varied language in books exposes children to far more words than everyday conversation alone. This growing vocabulary helps them understand, communicate and make sense of the world.

💛 Develop early literacy skills long before they learn to read
Through stories, children learn how books work – that print carries meaning, that pages turn left to right, and that stories have a beginning, middle and end. These early understandings make learning to read feel familiar and exciting.

💛 Strengthen phonological awareness
Rhymes, rhythms and playful sounds help children hear the building blocks of language.

💛 Grow their comprehension and thinking skills
Talking together about a story, predicting what might happen, wondering how a character feels, and connecting events to real life helps children develop memory, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking.

💛 Experience connection, comfort and joy
Shared reading fosters calmness, closeness, and moments of joint attention. These warm interactions support a child's sense of security and belonging.

Most importantly, children who experience positive, engaging reading moments from a young age are more likely to develop a genuine love of books - something that matters even more than early literacy skills alone.

Reading is simple, joyful, and sets children up for success in school and life.

Here is a list of some of our favourites below 👇

🖤💛❤️ NAIDOC Week 2026 – 50 Years of Deadly ❤️💛🖤

This week our nursery children celebrated NAIDOC Week through meaningful cultural experiences that encouraged curiosity, creativity, and connection.

The children explored sensory trays with sand, playdough, and native Australian animals, creating footprints and learning about Australia's unique wildlife. They also enjoyed listening to the Inanay lullaby and exploring rhythm and sound using traditional clap sticks and wooden instruments.

These experiences help foster a sense of belonging and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, while celebrating the strength, stories, and traditions honoured in this year's NAIDOC Week theme, 50 Years of Deadly.

We look forward to continuing to embed meaningful First Nations perspectives into our learning throughout the year.

☔️🌧️ Rain, rain... and we're loving every minute of it! 💙

Who says rainy days have to keep us indoors? Our kinder children embraced the wet weather with their big umbrellas, plenty of giggles, wonder and lots of puddle jumping fun! ☂️💦

There's something magical about exploring nature in the rain, listening to the raindrops, splashing in puddles, and discovering that every kind of weather brings new opportunities to learn, play, and create wonderful memories.

Here's a little glimpse of our rainy day adventures! 📸❤️

Why Bush Kinder? 🌿

At Bush Kinder, children have the freedom to explore, discover, and learn through nature. Every stick becomes a tool, every puddle an adventure, and every season brings new opportunities to grow.

Time outdoors helps children:
🌱 Build confidence and resilience through managed risk-taking.
🍃 Develop creativity and problem-solving skills with open-ended play.
🐞 Foster curiosity about the natural world.
🤝 Strengthen social skills through teamwork and shared exploration.
💚 Support physical wellbeing, mental health, and emotional regulation.
🌏 Develop a lifelong appreciation and respect for nature.

Bush Kinder isn't just about playing outside it's about creating meaningful experiences that nurture capable, confident, and connected learners.

Every adventure is an opportunity to learn. Every moment in nature helps children grow. 🌿✨

🤸‍♂️ We’ve been on the move! 🚌✨

​Our kinder children had an absolute blast on our recent excursion to Palmer's Gym!

From tumbling on the mats to balancing on the beams, it was a day filled with giggles, energy, and so much growth.

​Excursions like this are so much more than just a fun day out. Active trips to the gym help our little ones develop:

​Gross Motor Skills: Climbing, jumping, and balancing build core strength and coordination.

​Confidence & Resilience: Trying new physical challenges teaches them to trust their bodies and keep trying.

​Social Connections: Navigating new spaces together builds teamwork and creates wonderful shared memories.

​We also love any opportunity to get out into our fantastic local community. Connecting with local spaces helps our children build a sense of belonging, understand the world around them, and realise they are an active, valued part of the bigger picture outside the classroom walls.

​A massive thank you to the team at Palmer's Gym for hosting us!

👏👏👏

Congratulations to all our centre-based teams who will receive a 4.75% wage increase as Award rates change from 1 July as a result of the National Wage Case decision earlier this month.

Visit our website to explore what makes Goodstart the leader in early learning: www.goodstart.org.au/careers

🌟 We are incredibly grateful to have received another 5-star Google review! 🌟

Feedback like this means so much to our team, as it reflects the relationships, trust, and memories we build together with our families each day.

Being part of a child's early learning journey is a privilege that we never take for granted. We are honoured to share in so many special milestones, achievements, and moments that help shape their growth and development.

While it fills us with pride to see our children move on to their next adventures, there is always a touch of sadness when it's time to say goodbye. Our families become part of our centre community, and they leave lasting memories with us long after they have moved on.

To all of our families, past and present, thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives. Your support, trust, and kind words mean the world to us. ❤️