Goodstart Early Learning Heidelberg

26/08/2026

Ever had one of those "What should I be doing with my child?" moments? You might already have the answer at home.

Earlier this year, every Goodstart family received a What & When for Families guide for each child. If it's been tucked away in a drawer since then, now might be the perfect time to pull it back out.

The guide is packed with simple, play-based activities that support your child's learning and development at home. Best of all, it's written in your child's voice, with ideas tailored to their age and developmental stage.

From singing songs with babies and playing peek-a-boo, to "I Spy" games, storytelling and treasure hunts with older children, the activities are designed to fit naturally into everyday moments you already share together.

We know learning doesn't only happen in the classroom. Those small moments at home can help build big communication, language and literacy skills.

Take another look through your What & When for Families guide to explore age-appropriate activities and learning ideas you can try together.

💛 Sometimes the best learning resource is the one you already have at home.

12/08/2026

Strong relationships are the foundation for confident, curious learners 💛

Goodstart’s key educator approach ensures every child is known, supported and feels safe - through consistent, nurturing connections with educators and meaningful partnerships with families. These bonds help build wellbeing, resilience and a true sense of belonging from day one.

Discover how this approach supports your child’s learning journey: https://brnw.ch/2

11/08/2026

29/07/2026

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 💛

15/07/2026

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 👇

04/06/2026

Here at Goodstart Heidelberg, we play, learn, and grow on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.

Over the past week we have been filled with beautiful, meaningful moments as our children engaged with National Reconciliation Week.

Together, we explored our shared history and connection to Country through:

• Storytelling & Yarning Circles: Nurturing deep listening and thoughtful conversations during group times.
• Cooking Experiences: Getting hands-on in the kitchen to make delicious damper.
• Creative Art: Re-creating flags and building a beautiful centre Reconciliation Tree in our Toddler 3 classroom and creating our own yarning sticks in kindergarten.

These experiences are so much more than just activities—they help children develop a genuine sense of belonging, respect, inclusion, and diversity.

20/05/2026

Today our lovely educator Katie took part in The Big Freeze- Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for MND (Motor Neuron Disease). We are so proud of Katie for her courage in taking part in this challenge and are thankful for all of families and educators who dressed up in BLUE and donated to further support this cause.

12/05/2026

On Monday we celebrated one of our wonderful Toddler 2 educators Kate's birthday! On behalf of our children, families and team we hope you had a great day !

You are a kind, caring wonderful educator and we are grateful for all you do .

08/05/2026

What a special week we had celebrating all our amazing mums here at Goodstart Early Learning Heidelberg .

To all our incredible mums and mother figures in our community, we thank you for your love, patience, and support.

We hope you have a very Happy Mother’s Day

Enjoy your special day!