Natural Wonders Early Learning

We know finances are tight for many families but if anyone is able to donate to assist Zoe family get an accessible vehicle.
Zoe started with us at Natural Wonders Kilsyth when we opened in 2024.
It has been great to watch Zoey grown into the most bubbly smiley little ones at NW.

Thanks to anyone who can and others who might be able to support by sharing the post.

Donate to Help Zoe get a Wheelchair accessible vehicle, organized by Meagan Gaylor Myself (Meagan) and my partner Tim are reaching out to ask for help for our… Meagan Gaylor needs your support for Help Zoe get a Wheelchair accessible vehicle

Today our Bush Kinders went on an outing. We went down to the reserve and continued to explore the natural environment outside Natural Wonders. Autumn leaves, insects, seeds, fruit trees, gum nuts and different stages of banksia flowers and seed pods were all rich topic of discussion and investigation. This outing also helped us practice being safe outside Natural Wonders in preparation for our big trip to Ringwood for Reconcilation week next week.
We loved the exploration and moving our bodies in the open space.

So today was the last day that I entered NW Kilsyth as the owner.
Said my goodbyes to what we built over the last 4 years 😢
2 years in the build
2 years of building our NW community - educators, families and children.
Sadly saying goodbye 😔
Thankful leaving it with the best that we could - still gave 100% to the end.
All the best to the new owners
Hoping that they look after the NW community
All the best to my team who I’m sure will give their 🤎 💚 to everything new.
Love all that we have done and just because this part of the journey has finished - you will all still be part of NW, mine and Lyle’s ❤️.
Looking forward to being back at the OG at Mooroolbark tomorrow- 11 years exactly since we started.
Thanks to my family
And my NW family

News for all our wider community of past families - our friends and followers

Next week is the last week of operation for Natural Wonders Kilsyth
Friday 8th May will be the last day under our current ownership
Monday May 11th- the centre will be under the new ownership of Little Lane.

Sadly a hard decision for all but this was the decision that was best for Nicole and Lyle.
Nicole will move back to Mooroolbark and Lyle will then step down to focus on his health and well-being with family and friends

Congratulations to Carina who will take on the role of Centre Manager at Kilsyth under the new ownership

Thank you to all our families and educators who have been part of the NW Kilsyth community since we opened January 2024.

For any further information
Please feel free to contact us at Kilsyth
97270082
[email protected]

For all our families.
Take care .

📣 If you collect a child from daycare, preschool or OOSH at the end of the day, this may sound familiar.

Many children arrive at care around 7.30 or 8.00 in the morning and are not getting home until after 6.00 pm. By the time pickup arrives, they may have spent ten hours:

• listening carefully
• concentrating on learning
• navigating friendships
• following instructions
• coping with busy rooms and playgrounds

That is a very long day for a young nervous system.

Teachers and early educators often see how hard children are working all day. Many are doing an enormous amount of emotional and social self-management.

So, when a child bursts into tears in the carpark, refuses to walk to the car, or melts down the moment they see their parent, it can feel stressful - and sometimes a little embarrassing.

But very often, that moment is simply when the “trying hard” tank is empty.

They have held it together all day.

When they finally see the person they feel safest with, the effort releases.

It doesn’t usually mean they had a bad day.

It usually means they feel safe enough with you to let their guard down.

A few small things can help make pickup time easier.

🧸 Start with connection
Before heading straight to the car, take a moment for a cuddle, a calm hello or sitting together for a minute. That brief pause can help a tired child settle after a very long day.

🥚 Have a small snack ready
Even if dinner isn’t far away, many children benefit from something small straight away. Think of it as the 'starter', not spoiling dinner. Cheese, yoghurt, a boiled egg, a small sandwich or chicken strip can take the edge off hunger and help avoid the classic 6 pm crash.

🚶 Slow the transition to the car
Busy carparks, noise and lots of instructions can overwhelm tired children. Walking slowly and keeping things simple often helps their nervous system regulate.

🍽 Be flexible about the family meal
Of course, it’s wonderful when families can sit down together for dinner every night. But many working families don’t live in that ideal world - and that’s okay.

If weeknight dinners often end in tears and raised voices because everyone is exhausted, it may help to think differently about when your family connects around food.

Some families find that weekend dinners, Sunday lunches or even breakfast together are calmer and more enjoyable times to connect.

Children rarely remember what was on the plate.

They remember how it felt to be together.

📋 Use a simple evening routine your child can see
Late afternoons can become harder when children hear lots of instructions: take your shoes off, wash your hands, sit down, eat dinner, get ready for bath…

For many young children, a visual schedule can help enormously.

Pictures showing the “when we get home” routine - snack, play, dinner, bath, story, bed - give children something they can see and follow.

Children of this age learn best from what they can see, not from repeated verbal instructions.

A visual routine quietly shows them what comes next, which often lowers the stress level in the household after a busy day.

🌙 Lower expectations for the evening
After a ten-hour day, some evenings are simply about getting through dinner, bath and bedtime. That’s okay. The goal is not the perfect family evening. The goal is helping everyone land safely at the end of a big day.

🌆 If the late afternoon feels tricky at your place, hang in there.

Many children are simply running on empty by that point in the day.

And if you’ve just finished a long workday yourself, you might be too.

💛 Giving your child - and yourself - a little grace and space can make a real difference.

If you know a parent, teacher or educator who might find this helpful, feel free to share it with them.

Have placed some brand new Books already wrapped so a real surprise in our street library 📚
Please feel free to go and grab 1 or a few if needed for extra presents or you know anyone in need

Merry Christmas 🤶🎅 from Nicole and Lyle to our NW community
May you all have a fun happy and safe festive season
Ps - the photo may need updating -we have both aged !!!

Natural Wonders Early Learning Kilsyth and Mooroolbark are
seeking educators - casual and / or Part- time available all shifts( 630 to 630 )

Ideal candidate will be
*Experienced ( minimum cert 3 )
* Enthusiastic about creating a fun and educational environment for our children both indoors and outdoors
* Passionate about children’s well-being and building meaningful respectful relationships
* Motivated to be involved and participate in all aspects of the curriculum

Questions and applicants
Contact Nicole
9727 0082
[email protected]
Or Pm

Thank you to Cuddly Bear childcare in Heathmont who extended an invite to be part of this great initiative - keeping child safety at the top of the agenda. Thank you Amy who attended the meeting last week.

Child 👦👧 safety is truly valued and promoted by our local kindergartens and childcare centres 🩵 - this is just another example of our local early years specialists leading the way!

Ringwood Electorate's first ever, inaugural Kindergarten and Childcare Safety Meeting was organised by the amazing Chey from Cuddly Bear Heathmont and joined by Tahlia Marsh (Director, Grow Early Education Heathmont), Karen (Director, Knaith Road Childcare Centre and Kindergarten), Alyson Cayley (Director, Red Apple Early Learning Centre Vermont), Emma Di Falco (Director, Red Apple Early Learning Centre Balwyn), Stacey Cocking (Educational Leader Red Apple Early Learning Centre Vermont), Tracey Hayes (Director, Kids on Mullum Child Care) and Amy (Educational Leader Natural Wonders Early Learning)

Please do NOT read anything into an absence of a local Kinder or Childcare - they have many pressures and demands on their time and not all can make each meeting, but ALL are kept advised of shared learnings and best local practice.

Morning, please pop upstairs at Kilsyth this morning for a take away coffee and a quick hello!