Kinderclub Early Learning Centre in St Kilda, Victoria | Nursery

Kinderclub Early Learning Centre

Locality: St Kilda, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 9510 3833

Address: 35 Crimea street 3182 St Kilda, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.kinderclub.com.au

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• Childcare service
• Nursery

25.01.2022 From all of us at Kinderclub, we hope you all are well and that you have adapted to the current conditions set upon us by covid-19. We trust the extended Easter long weekend has given a much-needed break, spending quality time with family at home. Apologies for not posting for a long time. At Kinderclub we have been busy working behind the scenes to prepare for the uncertain future covid-19 has brought upon everyone. We are aware everyone is going through a difficult period ...and where possible we extend a helping hand to our community who needs it. While our sector is classed as essential business, we remain open to support essential workers and families currently enrolled with us. Our amazing dedicated and caring team of educators are on deck to support your children’s learning. Thank you to all the families who have provided and expressed their support. We really have an amazing group of families at Kinderclub. Thank you.

25.01.2022 We are a community of learners with shared understandings that children are capable and confident learners. Our strength is working in partnership with the children and their families to build a sense of security and belonging.

24.01.2022 We believe working in partnership with the children and their families will build a sense of security and belonging. At the beginning of 2017, a box was setup for our Kinderclub families and Educators to donate pre-loved items they no longer need. These items are donated to the St Kilda Mums organisation. We like to take this opportunity to thank all Families and Educators for their generous donations and time.

24.01.2022 Every year, we provide and organise free in-house appointments for the Maternal and Child Health Outreach service to attend Kinderclub. Working close with the Maternal Health Nurse provides effective information about child development and latest information on how we can further assist families. Visits are generally available every 3 months with our first visit for 2018 held on Thursday 1st March. Kinderclub Families, thank you to those who have already made appointments. ...Don’t forget to bring your child’s Maternal and Child Health booklet to your appointment. The next 3 sessions will be held on the following days. Thursday 7th June, Monday 3rd September and Thursday 6th December. These dates may change, but as always, we will notify and or confirm closer to the relevant dates.

24.01.2022 Cooking experiences are a part of our ongoing curriculum across all age groups at Kinderclub Cooking provides a variety of opportunities and experiences for children to explore the properties of food and investigate from a scientific perspective, as well as a chance to introduce the idea of the need to eat and the importance of healthy eating. As children make discoveries, both creatively and scientifically, they might be working alone or in a group, thus encouraging both independence and socialisation. Language and conversation are stimulated through the sensory exploration. Through the encouragement of following simple recipes, mathematical understanding is supported as children think about quantity, counting and measuring.

23.01.2022 We provide health, fresh, nutritious food cooked daily.

22.01.2022 Room 1. Loose Parts on the Pallet Last month Anna and Mary-Ann were able to visit Reverse Art Truck to collect rejects, seconds and factory offcuts, from this non-for-profit organisation. Among other things, we were able to collect some loose parts for the children to explore. We in Room 1 love loose parts as they allow the children to be curious, creative and direct their own play. From our loose parts play space this month we observed many different types of learning and ex...ploration, including: Supporting the acquisition of mathematical and scientific concepts, as the children use their perpetual-motor development skills through stacking. Exploring sound - we observed many children holing the cardboard cylinders to their mouths. We know that placing an item to one’s mouth is one of the ways in which young children learn about the objects around them, as they identify them by familiarising textures. This, however, was not just about familiarising, we noticed that many of the Room 1 children held these objects up to their mouths and made sounds into them. The children’s verbal sounds were amplified through the cylinders, which lead to exciting exploration and learning. The children also explored sound through the banging and tapping of items. Balance and kinesthesis - One of the great things about setting up open-ended play spaces is discovering how the children will use them. It was not our intention for this play space to be use to climb, sit or crawl on, however, a couple of children saw this pallet as a perfect climbing apparatus, or a seat. Crawlers including Hunter and Walter enjoyed climbing up onto the pallet and either sitting and engaging with the materials, or using their hands to knock objects over. By using the pallet in this way they are learning to manoeuvre themselves around obstacles, and successfully reach out for their desired object. They are learning about the positioning and movement of their bodies, and gaining an understanding of how to use their bodies in the space they’re in.

19.01.2022 While Stage 4 restrictions strangle Melbourne metro, it is very important that we continue to provide crucial learning activities for this age group. Thank you, Room 2 educators, for sharing your project with us. We appreciate your continued efforts under tough times. With the arrival of Spring, Room 2 thought it would be a great way to introduce gardening to the group. The children will develop an understanding of where fresh food and herbs come from while having fun. Learni...ng occurs in: Responsibility - from caring for plants. Understanding - as they learn about cause and effect (eg. Plants die without water, weeds compete with plants). Self-confidence - from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown. Physical activity participating in an activity that is both fun and valuable. Taking turns and cooperation working as a group (part of school readiness). See more

19.01.2022 On the 21st of February and the 1st of March 2018, Room 2 decided to take their children for an excursion to the St Kilda Bontanical Gardens. The children were able to enjoy the indigenous and exotic plants the garden has to offer. They were able to observe and listen to the wildlife and exercise on the great lawn area. As part of Room 2’s Aboriginal program, the excursion allowed them to see the trail of flora of the Yalukit William landscape which is located at the southwest part of the garden. We were also able to link the excursion to our ongoing sustainability program as the pond is run by solar power and recycled water.

19.01.2022 At Kinderclub we celebrated the Luna New Year by providing a food experience for everyone. The children in all age groups were able to prepare and cook their meals before devouring them for lunch. The dishes prepared in Room 1 were called Kim-bab and Deok-gook. Kim-bab is similar to Japanese sushi, but the ingredients are slightly different. Deok-gook is a rice cake soup with beef mince in anchovy broth. Everything was devoured! Thank you Anna for teaching us about your c...ultural celebration. The rest of the children were joined by Molly’s mum, Jasmine, who guided the children on how to make traditional Chinese dumplings. This hands-on experience gave direct input for the children to be involved, working on their fine motor skills, coordination, manipulative skills and the use of their hands and arms as they created their very own dumplings. And yes, not one dumpling was left in the end. Cooking provides a variety of opportunities and experiences for children to explore the properties of food as well as a chance to introduce the idea of the need to eat and the importance of healthy eating. This will also help children to understand the origins of food.

18.01.2022 We apologise for the lack of updates. We have been focusing on preparing to switch Centre Management software. We be posting more activities very soon! Thank you

18.01.2022 Sorry for the lack of posts. We are currently renovating Kinderclub for a fresh new start to 2018! Please bear with us as we have been knee deep in dust and paint.

17.01.2022 Little Beasts On 28th October 2019 an incursion was organised for Room 2 to learn about little beasts and how it extends to our environment and sustainability. The program incorporates imagination, creativity and knowledge about the little beasts in our natural environment. Through clay and natural materials, the children exercised their freedom to create whatever beasts they can imagine.

17.01.2022 As we continue to support families in need of care, at Kinderclub our centre Chef has been busy preparing take home dinner packs for families to enjoy as an additional service. The meals provided not only taste great but carefully planned with nutrition and convenience in mind. Some of the meals can also be found in our children’s weekly menu. A great way to sample what they eat at Kinderclub.

17.01.2022 School Readiness The Australian government defines School readiness as children’s social and emotional skills, physical skills, communication skills and cognitive skills. However some parents may think that school readiness means being able to read, write and do basic math. The Australian government also highlights that children cannot thrive at school if they haven’t developed the skills to manage things like getting along with other children, following instructions, and c...ommunicating their needs. Early Life Foundations has provided a fact sheet on School Readiness which you may want to read. https://www.earlylife.com.au//fil/School%20Readiness_0.pdf At Kinderclub, School Readiness is embedded into daily learning experiences and routines such as Daily Projects, Morning Meeting, Story Time, as well as free and structured play. Our Kindergarten program aims to support children’s social skills, emotional maturity, language skills, cognitive skills, physical health and coordination, and independence.

16.01.2022 On October 2017, Jessica and her team intentionally took the leader role on their community street walk to visit somewhere new. They wanted the children to be a part of the whole process of growing Sunflowers, so they visited the Little Veggie Patch Co to purchase Sunflower seeds.

16.01.2022 Maths is an inherent part of being human. Framing the world maths help us make sense of what is happening and how it affect us. It can provide order and certainly as well as help to explain random event. For young children, maths is not just a cognitive process. Its also a social, emotional and physical experience. Thank you for the Great Resource! Seedlings Early Years Education for Sustainability

14.01.2022 Reggio Emilia Educational Approach and philosophy insists that children learn readily from their environment, and there for the environment is the ‘third’ teacher. Love to Share Our Learning Environment- Kinderclub Childcare Center St Kilda

13.01.2022 Painting.with Cars- by ARTISTS (0-2yrs)

13.01.2022 Developing a Sense of Belonging to the Local Community. Going back into time On many past excursions, the destinations were all decided by the educators. But in October 2017 the teachers felt that it was time to help bring children’s voices forward as they too are citizens with equal rights. Going forward, destinations for their weekly excursion will be decided by the children. ... Taking turns, they led their peers to various locations with many visiting their parents who either live or work close by. They even have time to stop off at a local café for some refreshments! Along the way they also picked up rubbish to help clean up their local community.

13.01.2022 In Room 1 the focus has been working on Children’s fine motor skills. One of the popular activities was the Fruit Market. It allowed children to extend their vocabularies and enhance their fine and gross motor skills (gross motor skills are only applied to babies who can’t walk yet). An educator is always on hand to ask them questions based on the items representing the fruit they picked up. Fine motor skills come into play when they use their hand eye coordination to pick up the item and by returning it to their original hole as illustrated by the pictures.

11.01.2022 Children are naturally motivated to play. By using their motivation, we can build play as a context for learning. Children can discover, experiment, explore and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways. Our teachers will encourage learning through interactions to stretch their thinking to higher levels. When playing with blocks a teacher can pose questions that encourage problem solving, prediction and hypothesising. The teacher can also bring awareness towards mathematics, science and literacy concepts, allowing them to engage through hands-on learning.

11.01.2022 Explore somewhere new and develop skills!

11.01.2022 In celebration of NAIDOC 2018, the Kindergarten children headed out on an excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens to participate in the activities that celebrate, educate and actively engage us in cultural activities. After a long tram ride and walk to the Oak Lawn, they just made the Tanderrum smoking ceremony. Smoking ceremonies are an ancient custom among Aboriginal Australians in which native plants are burnt to produce smoke to ward off bad spirits, acknowledge ancestors ...and pay respect to the land and sea of country. The children confidently immersed themselves in this experience, connecting with the people and place. Afterwards the children sat down with Uncle Ron Murray for an Aboriginal Dreamtime story of creation, about how the animals arrived on Australia via a row boat! They enjoyed painting message sticks, painting with Ochre and even tasted bushfeed in biscuits. They all participated with energy, enthusiasm, confidence, commitment and with respect.

10.01.2022 Room 2 Gross Motor and Body Movement. On Monday the 7th a group of children from Room 2 went on an excursion to the Ben Hall Carlson Gracie Academy in Windsor. Ben is a Carlson Gracie 3rd degree Black Belt and is a qualified Fitness and Health consultant who holds dual diplomas in Sports Coaching and Sports Development. He had organised a range of activities focussing on Gross Motor skills and Body Movement for the children. Learning to have fun while moving is very importan...t at a young age to develop a connection between exercise and fun so a child grows up into a healthy adult. Even though the activities are run out of a Martial Arts Facility (The Carlson Gracie Academy) there is no focus on combat or self Defense. All the focus is on body movement awareness. It’s never too early to plant a seed of good health practices so by the time a child heads to School they already have great self confidence learnt through body movement. See more

10.01.2022 Room 1 (0-2yrs) In the month of May we decided to recognise Mother’s Day by creating gifts for our mums. These gifts were product focussed, but we ensured there was plenty of fun and learning to be had along the way. We produced open-ended paintings made by the children, which were turned into cards. These paintings allowed the children to make choices such as what colour paint they would like to use, if they would like to use a paint brush or their hands, and what they would... paint. We allowed the children to use their senses and their creativity to produce something special and unique for mum. We attached a photo of the child painting the card to provide proof of its authenticity, and for our mums to see their child creating their gift. This experience led to some confusion from our younger babies who thought the paint was for eating, and that the paint brush was simply a utensil for eating paint, and who could blame them when we set them up in high chairs and smocks just as we do for meals. With some explaining and demonstrating, we were able to guide the babies into realising the paint was for painting, and not for eating. As well as card making, we also baked some cookies for our mums. The experience of baking promoted many forms of learning including: social-emotional development as the children learn to take turns, participate as part of a group, and take pride and confidence in their skills and abilities; gross and fine motor development as the children poured, mixed, stirred, transferred, and more; cognitive development as the children engaged in thinking, problem solving, and curiosity, we involved mathematical concepts as we counted and measured, and scientific concepts as we discussed the butter before and after it had been melted in the microwave; and language development as the children heard educators vocalise new words and concepts such as 3/4 cup, nutmeg, whisk, etc. We baked over two days, ensuring that just about everyone could get involved. Both experiences of baking were very successful in that the children expressed a lot of interest, patience, excitement and curiosity. We will definitely be offering more opportunities for the children to engage in baking in the future.

10.01.2022 Hello! It has been too long since we last posted on Facebook. Now is a good time to start again!

09.01.2022 Carnevale di Venezia The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. The festival is world famous for its elaborate masks and costumes. At Kinderclub we were lucky to have Elisa and Elia prepare a special Venice event to share with everyone as part of family involvement. Elia dressed up as the Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of the city of Venice. Elia remarked that the Lion of St. Mark has a golden mane, two fairy wings and a sword to protect the people.... Elia’s mum Elisa, came dressed with a beautiful headpiece and spoke to us about the city of Venice. She brought in photos and stories to illustrate that the city is full of canals so no buses or cars. Instead vaporetto boats are used to get around. Elia confidently shared his understanding and ideas about his culture and was able to answer questions from his peers. He has demonstrated a strong sense of identity and belonging. Well done Elia!

08.01.2022 Learning an additional language has long term advantages of improved literacy and communication. Learning in languages other than English helps children to improve their overall literacy and understanding of how language in general works. Researchers conclude that the benefits of learning another language include: - Increased literacy - Cognitive flexibility - Bolstering self-esteem and wellbeing - And... - Strengthened cultural identity This year in February 2021, Kinderclub will officially launch a Mandarin bi-lingual program as part of the Kindergarten program. In past years we have already introduced some form of language and cultural activities, and now in 2021 we will officially have a dedicated bi-lingual program.

08.01.2022 Our team of educators are here to support and collaborate with you...

06.01.2022 We are often asked by parents, What is the difference between your Kindergarten and a sessional Kindergarten?. We have listed below a list of the most common differences and what Kinderclub offers in our integrated Kindergarten program. Not all integrated Kindergartens are the same so we can only comment on what we offer. Sessional Kindergarten only offers 15 hours maximum per child under their Kindergarten program. At Kinderclub we offer a minimum of 20 hours per week. F...or example, if our Kindergarten program runs for 5 hours/day in the morning, the learning program can continue throughout the rest of the day. Our Kindergarten teacher Jessica holds a Bachelor of Education which is qualified from early childhood education to primary school with 8 years’ experience. Our co-educator holds a Diploma of Children’s Service with 10 years’ experience. Jessica’s receives 10 hours planning time per week. Planning is an important integral part of any teaching requirement. It provides time needed to plan current and future Kindergarten programs, establish and or complete documentations as required, meeting with parents/guardians, research, provide tailorable programs to benefit all children’s individual needs, time needed for risk assessment for excursions, organise any incursions and be able to collaboratively work with other professionals (eg maternal health nurse, speech therapist, paediatrician, child psychologist etc). Providing long day care hours for children will also strengthen the bond between children and their educators as well as with their peers. It also provides many opportunities for teaching life skills such as cooking and baking from raw ingredients, excursions are not hurried or rushed due to time constraints and it is similar to school hours too. See more

06.01.2022 Providing high quality learning in a homely environment at Kinderclub!

06.01.2022 On 25th July 2018, the toddler’s in Room 2 embarked on a journey to learn more about sea creatures. They spent the morning at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium to extend their interests in sea creatures and to foster children’s love and care for the ocean. The toddlers did a terrific job listening to the guides talk about the sea life on display and navigating through different sections. They were all mesmerised by the large fishes and sting rays that swam above them as they walked through the tunnels. The crocodiles was also a hit as they were able to view them dangerously close behind safety glass.

05.01.2022 This month Room 1 has decided to utilise the ideal conditions that Spring time brings for growth and life, by plating some seeds in our veggie garden. The aim of this experience is for the children to be active, observe the natural world, investigate scientific concepts and be responsible for living things. We’re aiming to build the foundations of learning about where food comes from, and that growing food is both hard work and fun. Through this we are communicating the valu...e of living things, and are helping the children to distinguish between things that are safe to put in their mouth (herbs and vegetables) and things to experience in other ways (bugs, soil and stones). We are also aiming to promote healthy eating habits, as children who grow their own food are more likely to eat it. In order to extend on this experience inside, we have set up a ‘Spring Themed Table’ which includes soil, flowers, toy insects and a flower book for further learning and exploration. See more

05.01.2022 Happy New Year! We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and end of year break with family and friends. Kinderclub traditionally uses this time of the year to focus on maintenance while most families are away on holidays. As a family run centre my daughter came to help shovel sand and learnt how to install decking. Our staff member Julia and Yiveth came to help too! During Australia Day long weekend and after our back fence was replaced, it was time to change the old sandpit decking and refill the sandpit.

04.01.2022 This summer, our Kindergarten teacher Jessica has organised regular local excursions to provide the Kindergarten children at Kinderclub a better understanding about their local community. This is steered by the children’s ideas on where they would like to visit. Their individual inputs are shared with the group promoting conversations and compromises thus working together as a group to achieve their goals. To promote children’s rights and opinions, we need to provide them wit...h a platform form to which they can voice their opinions and ideas. With Port Phillip Council’s plans to upgrade Chipton Park playground (formerly Crimea Reserve), the kindergarten children have decided to draw up plans and designs with what equipment they would like at the park. On Thursday 12th October the children met with the project manager Julian, at the park and submitted their design and ideas with the opportunity to discuss in detail about their designs. See more

04.01.2022 To celebrate NAIDOC week on the front lawn of St Kilda Town Hall NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration of Australia’s First Peoples. The theme for this year is Our Languages Matter which aims to raise awareness of the transmission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, spirituality and rites, through story and song. The National NAIDOC Committee encourages all Australians to embrace the theme and explore the use of Indigenous language words. Observing and learning about these words will generate greater appreciation and respect for the significance of Indigenous languages among all Australians. The event will include welcome to country, a smoking ceremony, traditional dancers and didgeridoo players and rising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Flags.

02.01.2022 Kinder has been busy tendering the vegetable garden since December of last year. The compost bin was used to fill the vegetable garden and various planting boxes spread throughout the playground. The seeds were provided by families and educators, mostly sourced from off cuts of fresh produce from home. They planted carrots, lettuce, peas, tomatoes and pumpkin. The children showed great responsibility by looking after the vegetables. They watered, weeded and harvested anythin...g that was ready for consumption. The lettuce grew so fast it was their first vegetable to be harvested and consumed as part of Wednesday cooking program. As Educators, we need to create opportunities for children to develop a strong sense of belonging and to understand responsibilities. In addition, the vegetable garden provides opportunities for environmental awareness and healthy eating. The children are so proud of their hard work coming into fruition, just look at their expressions!

02.01.2022 Earlier this week, a group of children from the kindergarten room went on an excursion to ‘The Grain Emporium,’ a family owned factory bakery that produces a wide range of handcrafted stone baked breads and pastries. Not only is it one of Melbourne’s most loved bakeries but is also co-owned by Alessandro, Elias’ father. This learning experience could not have happened without you. Thank you and thank you to your business partners and staff for welcoming us into factory bakery.... The children had a wonderful time learning about the ovens that can fit a person inside! They also enjoyed touching, patting, squeezing, squashing, pinching, poking holes, breaking bits off and amassing pieces of dough on top of each other. The pizzas were a big hit! Not only was this excursion a break in our daily Monday routine of baking bread, it was also valuable for the children to feel part of a wider community that extends beyond the learning environment. As children grow and develop, connections to the outside world help them to find their place in the world, to develop understandings of how society works, and to recognise and understand the shared values that underpin our society.

01.01.2022 On 17th July, Kinderclub participated in National Pyjama Day. We raised a total of $115.00 with the help of Families and Staff. The Educators had planned many activities throughout the day with lots of fun and laughter. The Kinders whipped up some pancakes and hot chocolate too. Thank you everyone who donated. We look forward to the next one in 2021! With the announcement of compulsory face covering well underway, at Kinderclub we were already prepared. To make sure all our ...staff are in line with current directions from the authorities and of course their health and wellbeing, we had already organised free disposable and reusable/washable masks to all staff members. Our educators are the backbone of our profession and it is important to ensure that they are looked after under current environment. Thank you and stay safe everyone!

01.01.2022 On Monday 25th September Kinderclub’s educators were invited to engage in a learning experience to further our knowledge of native Australian flora. This was done in the form of a game in which each educator received the name and a description of a plant or tree and then had to guess the correct picture or plant that it belonged to. With the use of pictures and the plants/flowers themselves, we were able to look at and feel them in order to further our learning in a sensory ...way, to cater for different styles of learning. We also used Aniseed Myrtle (a native bush herb) to make tea for everyone to taste, as well as baking it, River Mint and Wattleseed into muffins. This way we were able to taste and smell some native herbs. This game really tested our knowledge, and also provided us with information about the way that Aboriginal people use/d these plants. From this learning we are now able to pass this information onto the children to further their knowledge, and to our families as well, which we have done in the form of a display in our foyer. This learning was provided to our educators in a fun and different way, with a commitment to continuous improvement and education.

01.01.2022 From the Department of Education and Training: The benefits of reading with children of all ages for their language (and general) development cannot be overstated. Reading with children allows for engaging, authentic and language-rich interactions. When they are read to by educators, children are supported to: learn new concepts and vocabulary learn new grammar in an authentic way ... hear clearly articulated sounds and words hear about new ideas, concepts, places, people, cultures and situations learn about how texts work, and how we use language to communicate in more sophisticated ways. Reading experiences allow for small group and individual interactions, supporting and strengthening relationships between educators and children, having fun, and enriching children’s learning and their lives. See more