Natural Elements Early Learning Merrimac

Why have we started an intergenerational program?

Intergenerational programs provide children with valuable opportunities to develop empathy, communication skills, and a sense of belonging within their community. Through meaningful interactions with older adults, children gain diverse perspectives, build respectful relationships, and strengthen their understanding of the world around them. These experiences support social and emotional wellbeing while fostering inclusion, identity, and lifelong learning. And that's not all... it also offers a multitude of benefits for our adult participants!

Our first visit from the Broncos Academy today; lots of smiles, energy and fun!

OUR SPECIAL GRANDFRIENDS VISIT!!
Today our young learners in our Junior studios were very lucky to be a part of the intergenerational connection we have with our local nursing home. Our Grandfriends visited the studio where our little ones sang some songs, did some drawing, and showed our new friends all the things they love.
The lovely Mildred shared how she used to be a kindergarten teacher, reading a story to the children. A A wonderful morning of developing new connections and relationships with our older generation.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SHADOWS.......
This week our little learners in our Junior studio began exploring the magic of light and shadows by creating their very own shadow puppet theatre. The children were fascinated as they used their imaginations to bring their stories to life.

🎵 Exploring the World of Music 🎵

Over the past two weeks, our studios have been immersed in exploring the many wonderful aspects of music. Our young learners have discovered different musical genres, experimented with beat and rhythm, and learned about a variety of instruments and the unique sounds they create.
We were fortunate to welcome two students from the Rock School Program at one of our local schools, who demonstrated the different sounds produced by electric and bass guitars and showed how these instruments differ from acoustic guitars.

To make the experience even more special, our very own Miss Jessie treated the children to her very first performance on an electric guitar! The children were captivated by the live demonstrations and thoroughly enjoyed this hands-on musical learning experience.

Mixing dirt and water provides children with a rich sensory experience that engages their sense of touch, sight and smell while supporting creativity, fine motor development and early scientific inquiry. As children explore the changing textures, temperatures and consistency of mud, they build sensory awareness, strengthen neural connections, develop problem-solving skills, and engage in imaginative play that fosters a deeper connection with the natural world.

Our children have been captivated by an exciting discovery...our fish have had babies! This unexpected event has sparked a rich learning inquiry as the children eagerly observe the tiny fry, ask questions, and share their theories about how fish grow and survive.

At Natural Elements Early Learning Merrimac, our commitment to sustainability is more than a promise, it's part of who we are. 🌿☀️

Many of our wonderful families may have noticed that our solar panels were temporarily removed while we gave our roof a fresh new look. We're excited to share that all 101 solar panels were reinstalled over the weekend and are now back to generating clean, renewable energy.

We think the freshly painted roof, reinstated solar system, and our new signage have given the centre a fantastic new look!

We're always keen to hear from our families and community. What do you think? We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments below. 💚

Pyjama Week!

Last week, we took part in Pyjama Week, with our team, children and families coming together to support children living in Out of Home Care.

Thanks to the generous donations from our wonderful community, we were able to put together 20 backpacks filled with essential items for children when they need them most.

With approximately 13,000 children currently living in Out of Home Care in Queensland, this is a cause that’s close to our hearts at Natural Elements. We believe every child deserves access to the essentials they need to feel safe, supported and cared for.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated and helped make a difference!

🧸🧺📚 Bring your favourite teddy and join us for our Teddy Bear's Picnic storytime!

Enjoy teddy-themed stories, a fun craft activity and be sure to complete the colouring-in for a chance to win a book to take home!

Robina: Sun 26 July, 10am
Runaway Bay and Upper Coomera: Tue 28 July, 10am
Broadbeach, Elanora and Nerang: Wed 29 July, 10am
Ormeau: Fri 31 July, 9:30am
Helensvale and Southport: Fri 31 July, 10am
Upper Coomera (BONUS!): Sat 1 Aug, 10am

Drop-in to be part of the picnic fun!