LillyPillies Montessori FDC

LillyPillies Montessori FDC Calm nature-led Family Day Care on the Sunshine Coast. Ages 2–4 | Small group of 4 children. Limited 2 day availability, message to arrange a visit.

Montessori-inspired environment with outdoor learning, practical life and creativity. After teaching in Montessori and primary schools, kindergartens in child care centres over the last 30 years I have brought together this experience and knowledge to my own in home Montessori inspired pre school. My service provides a natural indoor/outdoor space for children to grow, learn and develop in confide

nce for transitioning to school. It is a privilege to share this journey with such young children and their families, as the first five years are the most important as it is when personalities are being formed for life. Feel free to make an enquiry or come for a visit to see what we do.

Seeing as the tide swallowed up our few rockpools this week, we made a plan B! The sand was perfect for sculpting sandca...
02/09/2026

Seeing as the tide swallowed up our few rockpools this week, we made a plan B! The sand was perfect for sculpting sandcastles, which soon became a small world town for the diggers and dogs.
The children explored some scientific questions, could they make a sandcastle using a collider, or will the sand go through? They found not if it’s wet. This encouraged their curiosity to make different shapes and sizes and naturally extend their own play.

This is our favourite excursion this term.

We have an ice cream parlour going off here, today. Strawberry 🍓 or blueberry?
01/09/2026

We have an ice cream parlour going off here, today. Strawberry 🍓 or blueberry?

You could say that there’s been a real animal obsession happening here lately! Across playgroups, small-world play and o...
26/08/2026

You could say that there’s been a real animal obsession happening here lately!

Across playgroups, small-world play and our own little investigations, the children have been immersing themselves in animal worlds - creating habitats in the tuff trays, using rocks, leaves, fabric and loose parts to feed them or to make rivers, caves and hiding places, and bringing their own ideas and knowledge into the play.

What I especially love is listening to the children share what they already know with each other. One child explained how elephants, hippos and crocodiles use water to keep cool all day, or fascinated by how turtles lay their eggs.

A simple animal invitation can become imaginative play, collaboration, storytelling, problem-solving and genuine investigations into the natural world.

We enjoyed our new fishing net which I’ve been suggesting I buy for the past few visits 🙈 but it was well worth the wait...
25/08/2026

We enjoyed our new fishing net which I’ve been suggesting I buy for the past few visits 🙈 but it was well worth the wait as their little faces lit up when we caught a few!

Building sandcastles together, mark making in the sand, collecting shells, climbing rocks - what a full curriculum- and all spontaneous.

I’m not sure who convinced me to do this job, as you can see it’s terrible work conditions in a place like this 🤣 🤭

Days like this are the best - and the fact they suggested we should go every week!

Winning!

When the most anticipated moment is about tucking into their own freshly baked gingerbread biscuits on the train ride! A...
19/08/2026

When the most anticipated moment is about tucking into their own freshly baked gingerbread biscuits on the train ride!

Along the way we were lucky enough to spot the beehive ginger (Zingiber spectabile) those incredible cone-like flower spikes are always a wonder to see up close, and a perfect little nature moment.

It started with a tuff tray full of animals, then dinosaurs, then both!
18/08/2026

It started with a tuff tray full of animals, then dinosaurs, then both!

Once again, our little explorers have been busy extending their beach learning today. After sharing a shell, we continue...
12/08/2026

Once again, our little explorers have been busy extending their beach learning today. After sharing a shell, we continued creating our rock pools, painting and arranging little sea creatures and imagining what we might discover among the rocks.

Then at playgroup, the delight continued with fishing activities. Nets, patience, persistence and plenty of excitement as the children tried to hook and catch their fish! 🎣

So many wonderful opportunities for curiosity, creativity, problem-solving and hands-on learning, all through play. 🌿🐚🌊

🌊 From rock pools to our own little beach! 🐚Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been exploring rock pools, collecting s...
11/08/2026

🌊 From rock pools to our own little beach! 🐚

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been exploring rock pools, collecting shells and investigating what happens when we throw different objects into the water. We discovered that small toys sink, while ping pong balls float!

Today, we brought our beach experience home to the tuff tray, creating our own little rock pool and discovering some of the sea creatures that might live there. After reading Sharing a Shell, the children used shells and sea creatures to bring the story to life.

Then, in true child-led fashion, the play took a wonderfully unexpected turn… “Can we wash them?” 🧽

Washing is a firm favourite, so we set up a simple system: wash, scrub, rinse and place in the clean bowl. The children quickly worked out the sequence and happily got to work.

What began as exploring the natural world turned into opportunities for science, sensory play, imaginative storytelling, problem-solving, sequencing and developing independence.

Another wonderful morning at playgroup! 🌿The children embraced a morning full of play, creativity and connection. We had...
05/08/2026

Another wonderful morning at playgroup! 🌿

The children embraced a morning full of play, creativity and connection. We had fun "T-Rex breathing", helping us practise calming our bodies before exploring together.

Outdoor play offered endless opportunities for climbing, balancing, mud kitchen discoveries and construction play, while our colour-mixing investigation sparked curiosity as the children experimented with the primary colours and discovered how adding white created new shades.

We also enjoyed making chocolate-covered strawberry sticks with delicious toppings.

The children's ideas are already inspiring next week's adventures, with plans for shell collages (from our beach visits), more storytelling and another cooking experience!

It was a joyful morning filled with curiosity, imagination and teamwork 💛

Today was all about collecting, digging, climbing, building, investigating what sinks and what floats, solving problems,...
04/08/2026

Today was all about collecting, digging, climbing, building, investigating what sinks and what floats, solving problems, chatting with friends and plenty of wonder.

Address

Sunshine Coast, QLD

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 3pm

Telephone

0423058543

Website

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