All Star Early Learners

At All Star, fostering a Sense of Agency is a core part of our philosophy.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we view our environment as the 'third teacher' - a space designed to give children the freedom to lead their own learning.

Here is how our children embraced their independence this month:

The Preschoolers explored their autonomy by reflecting on how making choices makes them feel, capturing their voices beautifully in a collaborative "Sense of Agency" mural!

Freedom of choice is woven into every routine. Our toddlers are empowered to make decisions throughout the day, building immense confidence in their own abilities.

The Nursery is showing big independence! After meals, they confidently scrape their plates, tidy their water bottles, and love using their child-sized cleaning sets to sweep, wipe tables, and pack away chairs.

In the Nursery, we have been focusing on helping children develop emotional regulation skills 💛
Emotional regulation is all about helping children recognise, understand, and manage their feelings in a safe and positive way. Learning about emotions from an early age supports children’s confidence, wellbeing, friendships, and communication skills.

Through play and everyday interactions, we help the children explore different feelings and learn ways to express themselves in safe and supportive environments.
Some of the activities we’ve been enjoying include:
�😊 “How Are You Feeling?” emotion charts�🫧 Emotions sensory bottles�🎭 Find and match the emotions activity

These activities encourage children to talk about their feelings, recognise emotions in others, and discover calming strategies through fun and engaging play. We are so proud of how the children are learning to express themselves and support one another every day 💕

Message from the Public Health Unit - South Eastern Sydney Local Health District

Influenza (flu) is serious but isn’t as scary if you’re vaccinated. A flu vaccine offers children the best protection from serious illness.

The nasal spray vaccine is gentle, painless and effective and is now available for FREE for all young people from 2 to 17 years of age in NSW while stocks last.

Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness from influenza. Influenza vaccine is recommended annually for everyone aged six months and over.

Learn more www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfluvaccine

Children 2 years and over can get free nasal spray vaccine from most GPs and pharmacists – don’t delay! Vaccinate today!

Find a provider www.healthdirect.gov.au/nswfluvaccine

Claremont College Randwick is having an Open Evening on Thursday 28th May 2026

Last week the All Star team took part in a professional development session with Alina Dan Consultancy, as part of our ongoing commitment to quality improvement and reflective practice.

By engaging in research, connecting with others, and continually reflecting on our practices, we strengthen the experiences we provide for children every day — through our programs, interactions, and opportunities for creativity.

We believe these experiences help build confidence, resilience, and important foundations for the future. 💛

The Early Years team at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District is offering a FREE online course – Growing Healthy Eaters for parents of children aged 1–5 years who may be experiencing challenges with mealtimes or fussy eating

This month in the Toddler Room, we have been supporting children’s emotional regulation through calming daily rituals that engage the five senses 💛✨
The children explored emotions through stories and created their own colourful emotion monsters using recycled materials and googly eyes 😊
They also enjoyed sensory play with lavender flowers and orange peels, calming meal times with café music and flowers, and peaceful meditation experiences with lavender aromas and ocean projections 🌿🍊🌊
Our calm corner continues to be a favourite space, especially the family photo albums, where children enjoy sharing stories about their loved ones 📸💕
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This month at All Star, our preschool focus is centred around emotional wellbeing and helping children recognise, express, and regulate their feelings through meaningful and intentional experiences. 💛

Throughout last week, children began exploring emotions through a variety of activities :
✨ Reflecting on facial expressions through mirrors and emotion puzzles at our Reggio-inspired table
✨ Creating expressive faces with lavender playdough and natural loose parts, supporting creativity and calmness
✨ Sorting emotions at the maths and science table using emoji tubes and tongs to build emotional recognition and fine motor skills
✨ Participating in our daily “How am I feeling?” body scan, encouraging children to check in with and communicate their emotions
✨ Exploring the emotion sadness through the story When I’m Feeling Sad by Trace Moroney, group discussions, drawing, and sensory painting experiences
During our painting experience, children shared the colours they connected with sadness. Some children shared: “Blue, because it’s like water tears” and “Maybe grey, it’s a dark colour.”
Children chose to paint using their hands and fingers, using movement, colour, and sensory play as a safe and creative outlet for emotional expression. 🎨

Through these experiences, we continue to create a nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and empowered to understand and express their emotions. 🌿

The Jacaranda Women’s Hub is a local community centre supporting women of all ages. They have many upcoming events available for the community.