Pooh’s Early Learning Centre & Kindergarten

Pooh’s Early Learning Centre & Kindergarten "Helping our little people, learn and grow to enjoy a rewarding and fulfilling life..." Together we can achieve the highest level of child care. Kim Russell

Pooh Bear’s House provides supreme quality child care by employing professional, highly trained staff within our amazing facilities, which reflects our commitment to caring for children. Our staff are trained to respect the self-esteem and individuality of each child, by catering for their interests, needs and abilities. Through play based learning experiences, children will confidently explore, i

nvestigate and be curious about the world around them, encouraging lifelong learning. We believe, families are the most important influence in a child’s life, and are the primary source of information. Therefore, we encourage parents to be actively involved in the centre, contribute ideas, and take an interest in their child’s development and growth.

“They have wings!” 🦋 We recently welcomed butteries into our Redgum classroom. They started as caterpillars and the chil...
07/04/2026

“They have wings!” 🦋

We recently welcomed butteries into our Redgum classroom. They started as caterpillars and the children watched as they grew.

As they formed their cocoons, the children began making connections beyond the table. This wasn’t just about caterpillars anymore.

“They need to be safe.”
“They need a house.”

And just like that, the building began.
Using recycled materials lids, containers, bits and pieces we had collected the children started designing spaces. Boats to carry them. Houses to protect them. Enclosures where “they can stay until they’re ready.” Each creation held intention.

“This one has a lid so they don’t fly out.”
“Couch for butterflies and bed, for them to rest”
“They can stay in here until they get their wings.”

There was care in every decision

POP OUT CAME OUR FIRST BUTTERFLY!

“Are they changing in there?”
“They’re making wings.”

This wasn’t just about watching a life cycle.

It was about growing ideas.
About learning to look closely.
About caring deeply for something small and fragile.
About making meaning, together.

“What we see changes what we know. What we know changes what we see.”
- Jean Piaget
Context: Piaget believed that our perceptions and understanding of the world are shaped by our prior knowledge and experiences. This quote highlights the reciprocal relationship between perception and knowledge, as each informs and influences the other.

*Please note: Our butterflies have been released back into nature.

Written by Ellie (Redgum Room Educator, Pooh’s Place)

“Teaching children—as early as possible—to identify their own feelings and understand the emotions of others is a great ...
25/03/2026

“Teaching children—as early as possible—to identify their own feelings and understand the emotions of others is a great way to foster empathy and other social-emotional skills.” — Shauna L. Tominey & Elisabeth C. O’Bryon.

In honour of Day (an annual, centre-wide initiative to raise awareness of mental health), we explored emotions through colour, drawing and stories.

Through painting and music the children explored the colour blue and purple, listening to instrumental music we explored how these colours make us feel.

During relaxation we came together to read:
My Family is a Team by .
Taking the time to talk about who makes us feel safe and supported when we are feeling sad, frustrated or angry.
Using our painting creation and the prompting question of Who is in my team? The children in the Meadow Room began to draw those who they feel support them through their day - from family, teachers, doctors, animals and so much more.

Together in the Meadow Room, we continue to explore with who and how we can feel supported, to create an inclusive and safe space, where we all feel welcomed and belonging.
Written by Rachael (3 Year Kindergarten/Meadow Educator at Pooh Bear’s House)

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” —O. Fred DonaldsonLast week the Re...
16/03/2026

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” —O. Fred Donaldson

Last week the Redgum children noticed something very interesting happening outside. Some workers were cutting down trees nearby, and the children quickly gathered to watch. They listened to the loud sounds and stood back to observed the branches falling down.

After watching for a while, some of the children decided they wanted to make drawings for the “cutting man” who was cutting down the trees. They carefully began drawing what they had seen.

Little R focused closely on their picture and shared, “I’m drawing the tree falling down.”

Little L continued the story through her play. She began building a big forest with the blocks, stacking them up to make lots of tall trees. Once the forest was ready, she added a big truck and explained that it was the truck cutting down the trees. She moved the truck through the forest as she played, recreating what the children had seen earlier.

It was wonderful to see how the children turned their real life observation into drawings, stories, and construction play. Through these experiences they shared ideas, remembered what they had seen, and expressed their thinking in creative ways.

Written by Shelby L (Pooh’s Place Educator) 🌳

Knowledge is built through experience, exposure, and learning. Understanding is built through questioning, awareness, an...
03/03/2026

Knowledge is built through experience, exposure, and learning. Understanding is built through questioning, awareness, and a commitment to compassion.

New ideas, new rituals, new songs, foods, activities, and stories are all avenues which we have been exposing ourselves to, experiencing, and learning through in the Meadow Room, to build our knowledge and understanding of Celebrations within the context of our classroom.

Over the past two weeks, we have been celebrating Lunar New Year. This celebration is very important to some members of our classroom - children, families, and educators alike. We have been doing this through the arts, multimedia, food, language, music, and movement. We have also been learning through engaging in conversation and collaboration with our educator, Zayna, who celebrates Lunar New Year with her family at home. Zayna shared about some of the important rituals that occurred during the festival and why they occur, including the three symbolic colours (red, gold, and purple), phrases that are spoken and written (good luck and fortune). She also suggested making pork and chive dumplings together and shared an easy recipe to use!

Through the book ‘The Lucky Red Envelope’ by Vikki Zhang, which shares the perspective of a young girl called Yue who is teaching her baby brother Ru all about what happens during Lunar New Year, as it is his first one - synonymous to how it was some of the children’s first time hearing about and learning about this celebration that occurs in many parts of the world including our own.

A collaborative art piece was created over the course of two days - firstly, we immersed ourselves in mark making with red, gold, and purple paint. The next day, we used black markers to create pictures of things that we have been learning about, while using ‘The Lucky Red Envelope’ as a provocation as well.

The children and educators of the Meadow Room are proud to have been able to explore this Community Celebration so meaningfully in our classroom.
Written by Fiona V (Meadow/ 3 Year Kindergarten Diploma Educator).

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – Winnie the Pooh 💛During our morning group times t...
24/02/2026

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – Winnie the Pooh 💛

During our morning group times this week, we have been talking about how we can be kind at kinder. The children shared many thoughtful ideas about what kindness looks like in our classroom and playground. Together, we created our very own Agreement Book, which is like a pinky promise to our teachers and our friends about how we will care for one another. The children loved drawing their ideas and confidently sharing them with the group.

These conversations are helping the children build empathy, confidence and respectful communication skills. We are learning that being kind also means using our words, listening to others and understanding that it is okay to say “no thank you” in a respectful way.

This week we continued our learning journey from straight lines to curved lines. The children have been noticing curved and straight lines in our environment and recognising that these lines form our letters and numbers. Through daily games and playful activities, we are becoming more familiar with our own names and our friends’ names, building strong foundations for early literacy. The children are also challenging themselves with more complex puzzles, strengthening their problem-solving skills and perseverance.

Our garden continues to be a place of wonder. The children have been documenting what they observe through drawings and sharing their discoveries with their peers. We are excited to share that we now have 13 sunflowers growing! Observing changes in the garden encourages curiosity, scientific thinking and a sense of responsibility as we care for our plants together 💛.

Written by Tia V (4 Year Kindergarten Teacher at Pooh Bear’s House ELC).

“Curious eyes and open hearts” - Tia VOur week began with a walk to Bush Kinder, where we explored the natural environme...
17/02/2026

“Curious eyes and open hearts” - Tia V

Our week began with a walk to Bush Kinder, where we explored the natural environment with curious eyes and open hearts. Before heading off, we read Neighbourhood Nest by Sarah Jane Lightfoot, which encouraged us to look closely at the plants, animals and habitats around us. The children were excited to spot a flowering gum just like in the story, along with magpies, cockatoos, silver gum trees, nests and even a small broken egg. We wondered together where the egg may have come from and noticed tree hollows that “could be wombat homes”.

Although the frog pond was dry, the children shared their hopes that “the rain will fill it up again so the frogs can come back.” After lunch the children balanced along fallen logs, built pretend campfires and created small homes for bush creatures. The natural treasures we collected, leaves, sticks and bark were later transformed into wonderful creations back at kinder.
Written by Tia V (4 Year Kindergarten ECT at Pooh Bear’s House).

“Let Nature be your teacher.” – William Wordsworth 🌿This week, we have been exploring what helps us feel safe and happy ...
06/02/2026

“Let Nature be your teacher.” – William Wordsworth 🌿

This week, we have been exploring what helps us feel safe and happy when we are in a new space. Children have shared their ideas through conversations, creative arts, and play. We have also been reading stories about kindness and what it means to be kind to others.

We have begun our garden research, where children take paper and pencils into the garden to draw what they notice and talk with educators about what they can see. Later, during mat time, children come to the front of the group to share their drawings and observations. We are especially keeping an eye on our garden as we hope to see the sunflowers arrive soon.

We have continued learning about the Biderap season, focusing on drawing and painting animals as we deepen our understanding. Alongside this, we are learning so much about our kindergarten friends by asking questions about their favourite things and what they would like to learn at kinder. We are getting to know our kindergarten cohort one story at a time.
Written by Tia (4 Year Kindergarten Teacher at Pooh Bear’s House)

December 🎓“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” - A.A. MilneDecember was a month full of...
14/01/2026

December 🎓
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” - A.A. Milne

December was a month full of beautiful celebrations; including our Bush Kindergarten Graduation for Pooh Bear’s House, and our Oak Tree Graduation for Pooh’s Place.

We recognised each kindergarten child with a diploma and individual award - which noticed the unique way they brightened our classroom.

Both graduations brought together our ‘community’ of parents, carers, siblings, grandparents, aunties’, uncles’, cousins, and friends.

It was a heartfelt way to farewell our children, before they take the next step into their chosen primary school. We are so incredibly grateful and proud to be part of their early years journey 🌿.

December 🌲 “Pour love and thoughtfulness into your interactions and embrace the awe and excitement that evolves around t...
13/01/2026

December 🌲
“Pour love and thoughtfulness into your interactions and embrace the awe and excitement that evolves around these special times.” ~ Lyon & Christie

Hands holding, big hugs, sharing memories, reconnecting to friends, gift giving, photo taking, singing together, playing and laughing, collaboratively creating, and celebrating as a community. This end-of-year whole centre celebration is usually a highlight on our calendar as an wonderful way to reflect on the year that has been, reconnect to new and old friends, and share our gratitude to all the people that make PBH a beautiful community to belong to.

A huge shout out to our incredible performers (Kids Pop) and artists (Balloon artists, face painters, and Bubbleologists) for making this evening so special. To our phenomenal teaching team who prepare meaningful experiences and supported everything behind the scenes for the evening. To Kim and Em, for amazing leadership, planning, and putting everything into community connection at PBH - you are truly the heart at PBH. And finally to our amazing families and childrrn who filled our celebration with joy, togetherness, and laughter.

Our amazing photographer, Brooke, collected some gorgeous photos from our celebration together - thank you for your amazing moments captured.

Written by Jessica V (Educational Leader, Service Mentor & Kindergarten Liaison Officer).

“Poppies are for Remembering” This week we came together to learn about Remembrance Day and why it’s such an important d...
15/11/2025

“Poppies are for Remembering”

This week we came together to learn about Remembrance Day and why it’s such an important day to remember and say thank you to those who have helped keep our country safe.

“Soldiers are people who keep us safe”
“Soldiers are really brave”

The children listened to the story Lest We Forget and shared their own thoughts about bravery, kindness, and remembering people who help others. This story brought forward some feelings of sadness and together we unpacked why the children might be feeling this.
We supported them by acknowledging that these emotions are normal and that it’s okay to feel sad when thinking about people who have been brave or are no longer with us.

Experiences like this help children to develop emotional literacy, empathy, and an understanding of remembrance in a gentle and age-appropriate way.

We then paused for a minute’s silence, showing respect in a calm and peaceful way while expressed our ideas through floor drawing and painting. The children worked in quiet conversation creating beautiful pictures of poppies, soldiers and even the families of the soldiers. This gave them a meaningful way to reflect back and share their ideas and understanding of Remembrance Day through creativity and play.

“Poppies are for remembering people”

Written by Hayley (3 Year Kindergarten Early Childhood Teacher).

Address

323 Maroondah Highway
Croydon North, VIC
3136

Opening Hours

Monday 6:30am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 6:30am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 6:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday 6:30am - 6:30pm
Friday 6:30am - 6:30pm

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