First Years Early Learning Elanora

With two buckets, a wooden beam, and a great ambition, these little learners are discovering the wonders of weight, balance, and problem-solving in action! As they pour water and adjust their buckets, they’re experimenting with cause and effect, critical thinking, and early STEM concepts—all through hands-on play.

The best part? They’re working together, sharing ideas, and making predictions just like real scientists! 🧠💡 What do you think happens when one bucket gets heavier? Let’s explore together!

🏖️💦 Scoop, Pour, Explore! 🌊✨

With sand, water, and a few sea creature toys, our curious explorers are diving into sensory play, creativity, and early science exploration! As they scoop and pour, they’re discovering concepts like volume, cause and effect, and the way materials change when mixed.Every splash and scoop builds fine motor skills, problem-solving, and imaginative thinking. What’s your child’s favourite way to play with sand and water? Let’s bring the beach to playtime! 🏝️

Our little learners aren’t the only ones being nurtured! Our dedicated educators are guiding tiny hands (and tiny feathers!) through this exciting journey of hatching and growing. Watching the children gently care for the newly hatched chicks teaches them empathy, responsibility, and the wonders of new life.
These small moments of kindness today help shape our big hearts. 💛🐣

OPEN 12PM-3PM TODAY 📲⚡️🔋💡

Good morning FYEL community

I want to check in on everyone and advise we got power back at the centre about 3am this morning.

We consider it safe to open so will do so from 12pm to 3pm today if anyone wants to drop in and charge their phones or use the bathrooms/shower. We also have plenty of nappies and wipes if anyone needs.

We expect to open the centre as normal tomorrow but ask families to only come in if their phones have reliable reception and safe travel to and from.

Stay safe everyone 🫶🏼

📖✨ Sharing Stories, Building Friendships! 💛
Reading is about building connections, sparking imagination, and developing a lifelong love for books. Of course developing language skills and vocabulary is a great part of reading, but it is also very social! As our young readers explore new worlds side by side, they’re also gaining confidence, practicing patience, and inspiring each other to learn. What was your favourite book to read with a friend or adult as a child? 📚💭

🌧️ Supporting Little Ones Through Stormy Weather 🌧️

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been helping our First Years community and we hope everyone is doing great!
Big storms can feel overwhelming for young minds, but with calm conversations and simple preparations, we can help children feel safe and reassured.

💬 Talk about what’s happening
🛠️ Involve them in getting ready
🏠 Create a sense of safety and routine
💛 Remind them that grown-ups are here to protect them

By approaching cyclones with confidence and care, we can turn uncertainty into a learning experience. 🌿✨

Regardless of age, all of us love laughing, chatting, and enjoying delicious bites together. Beyond the tasty food, these moments help all of us build social skills, practice independence, and develop healthy eating habits.

From passing the snacks to trying new flavours, every mealtime is an opportunity for connection, kindness, and learning. What is your favourite food to share with friends? 🍉💛

A little rain won’t stop the fun! 🌟 Playing toss ball in the courtyard isn’t just exciting, it’s a fantastic way for our first years friends to develop important skills while embracing the outdoors.

✅ Gross Motor Skills – Throwing, catching, and running build strength, balance, and coordination.
✅ Hand-Eye Coordination – Tracking the ball helps refine focus and reaction time.
✅ Social & Emotional Development – Teamwork, turn-taking, and perseverance all come into play!
✅ Sensory Exploration – Feeling the raindrops and paddle surfaces add a unique sensory experience, encouraging adaptability and resilience.

Rain or shine, learning never stops! 🌧️💪 Who else loves outdoor play in the rain? ☔👇

🌟 This week, we commenced our nutritionally based food program!
On Monday, many children tried couscous for the first time! 🥄😋, On Tuesday, it was pasta! 🍝.

Children need nutritious foods for strong bodies 💪 and growing brains 🧠, and of course, different foods provide different nutrients! That’s why offering a variety of food is so important. Young children are ‘eaters in learning’! 👶🍴 Trying different foods introduces them to new shapes, colours, textures, and flavours. Our menu will offer opportunities for children to try cuisines they may not experience at home. 🏡
Research (and experience!) shows that repeated exposure to different foods helps children become more accepting of new flavours. Early childhood settings are a great place for this to happen! 🏫👦👧

Plus, we know that children learn by watching others! When they see their friends enjoying vegetables 🥦🥕 they usually refuse at home, they’re much more likely to give them a try!

Here’s to increasing healthy eating and decreasing family time spent making lunchboxes at First Years! 🎊👏

♻️✨ Superheroes of Sustainability at First Years Early Learning! ✨♻️

On Monday, our little learners had an exciting visit from Recycling Man! 🦸‍♂️ He taught us all about the differences between recycling, rubbish, and green waste, helping us understand how to take care of our planet. 🌏💚

The children had a blast wearing their special superhero eye masks and taking part in fun, hands-on activities like a class scavenger hunt to find recyclable materials! 🔎♻️ Learning about sustainability has never been so exciting!

A big thank you to Recycling Man for inspiring the next generation of eco-warriors! 🌱💪

🎶 Making Music, Making Memories! 🥁🎵

There’s nothing like the joy of making music with friends! 💛 As little hands shake maracas and tap the tongue drum, they’re not just having fun—they’re building rhythm, coordination, and social connections. 💃🎶

Music play helps develop listening skills, self-expression, and a love for creativity. Plus, making music together fosters teamwork and a sense of belonging! 💕✨

What is your child’s favorite instrument? Let us know below! 🎤👇

Our little riders are on the move! 🚲✨ As they zoom along the path, they are learning important road safety skills like stopping at signs, taking turns, and watching for others on the road. 👀⚠️

Bike riding requires a lot of gross motor coordination, and it is joyful to see how happy our children are when they master the balace and physics of riding by themselves! Such wonderful independence and resilience for many of them! 🌿☀️

Who else loves a good bike ride? 🚲💨 Drop a 🚦 in the comments if your child enjoys cycling!

👐✨ Sensory play at its finest! Our little learners love exploring with playdough and our recent experience with playdough noodles was so much fun! Squishing, rolling, and stretching playdough strengthens fine motor skills and is also an opportunity for creative expression! Of course playdough also acts like a kind of mindfulness activity sometmes. It is so calming and soothing to explore the texture with our fingers. 🌈🎨Playdough experiences combine hand strength development, coordination, creativity and problem-solving. Most importantly - playdough is great fun as the textures and colors make for an exciting multi-sensory experience!

What is your child’s favorite way to play with playdough? Let us know in the comments! 👇💭

Curious about how to develop your child’s self-confidence?

Self-confidence is essential for your child’s growth and success, and there are simple ways to help build it. Here’s how you can encourage your child’s self-confidence:

1. Praise Effort, Not Just Success – Focus on your child’s effort and persistence, not just the outcome, to help them understand that trying is just as important as succeeding.
2. Give Them Responsibilities – Assigning age-appropriate tasks, like tidying up or helping set the table, gives children a sense of accomplishment and responsibility.
3. Encourage Independent Choices – Allow your child to make decisions, whether it’s choosing what to wear or picking an activity, to help them feel in control and confident in their choices.
At First Years, we foster self-confidence by creating a supportive environment where children are encouraged to try new things and believe in their abilities!

Make those First Years truely Special! Book a tour today!
📞 07 55 33 95 88
✉ [email protected]

We love being at First Years Early Learning Elanora! 🧸💖 Our First Years' learners are growing, exploring, and making lasting friendships in every moment. Here's to the smiles, the laughter, and the endless adventures ahead! 🌟

Ever wondered how art helps kids develop creativity and fine motor skills?⁉️

Art is more than just fun—it’s a powerful tool for developing creativity and fine motor skills in young children! Here’s how:

1. Encourages Creativity – Through drawing, painting, and crafting, children explore new ways to express their ideas, fostering imagination and innovative thinking.
2. Improves Fine Motor Skills – Activities like colouring, cutting with scissors, and moulding clay help children strengthen hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
3. Boosts Problem-Solving – Art projects often involve decision-making, like choosing colours or figuring out how to structure a drawing, which builds critical thinking skills.

At Pandas, we integrate art into our daily routine to help children develop these essential skills while having fun and expressing themselves!

🐼Come experience the Pandas’ difference! Book a tour today!
📞 07 55 33 95 88 | ✉️ [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected] “‌”)

# ArtForKids

# EarlyEducation