Why Risky Play Matters – Building Physical Confidence and School Readiness Through Outdoor Challenge
Climbing, running, tumbling, balancing, digging, negotiating the rules of a complex physical game with a group of peers – these might look like simple outdoor fun. But for children in the early years, they are also some of the most important developmental work happening anywhere in the day. Risky play, play that involves a genuine degree of physical challenge and managed uncertainty, builds the physical confidence, cognitive capacity, and social skills that children need not just for childcare, but for school and beyond. Here’s what the research says, and how we structure outdoor play at Kids Academy to make the most of it.
Storytime Skills: Kids Academy Joins National Simultaneous Storytime 2026
On Wednesday 27 May 2026, children across Kids Academy joined millions of young Australians in one of the country’s most beloved literacy events. National Simultaneous Storytime isn’t just a fun shared moment, it’s a powerful demonstration of what regular, engaged reading can do for children’s development and their readiness for school.
National Reconciliation Week 2026 – How Children Learn From Country, Culture, and Shared History
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June each year, marking two landmark dates in Australia’s reconciliation history – the 1967 referendum and the 1992 Mabo decision. The 2026 theme is All In: a clear, direct call for every Australian to take an active role in reconciliation, not just during this week, but as an ongoing commitment. At Kids Academy, that commitment is built into how we approach learning every day, through our curriculum, our environments, and our partnership with Wandana Aboriginal Education.
What Learning Really Looks Like for Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers
When parents ask whether childcare is educational, the honest answer is: it depends entirely on what’s happening inside the room.
In a high-quality early learning environment, every part of the day – the morning routine, the sensory table, the outdoor time, even the lunch conversation – is structured with developmental outcomes in mind. But it rarely looks like formal education. It looks like play. And for children under five, that’s exactly what it should look like.
Exploring the Nawi: Building Knowledge, Story and School Readiness Through Culture
Strong learners aren’t just children who can count and write their name. They are children who can think, communicate, ask questions, and make connections, and that kind of learning starts early.
This month at Kids Academy Early Learning, children have been exploring the concept of the Nawi, a traditional Aboriginal canoe from the Sydney language region, as part of our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, supported by resources from Wandana Aboriginal Education.
Big Feelings Explained: What’s Normal for Toddlers and Preschoolers?
If you’re raising a toddler or preschooler, big feelings can feel like part of the daily routine. One minute your child is happily playing, the next they’re overwhelmed – frustrated, upset, or completely melting down over something unexpected.
Summer Is Coming: Making Sun Safety Easy for Busy Families
Australian summers are full of fun – beach days, backyard play, park visits and long afternoons outdoors. As the warmer months approach, sun safety becomes an important part of everyday life, especially for young children whose skin needs extra care.
Screens & Under-5s: Finding the Right Balance in a Digital World
From video calls with grandparents to story apps and family photos on your phone, screens are woven into everyday life. For parents of young children, the real challenge isn’t avoiding screens altogether, it’s learning how to use them wisely.
Why Two Years of Kindergarten Could Give Your Child the Best Start to School
The early years of education shape how children learn, think, and see themselves as capable learners. That’s why more families are now embracing two years of kindergarten or preschool, giving children more time to develop the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they need for a confident start to school.
Together We Shine: Celebrating the People Who Help Your Child Flourish This Early Childhood Educator Day
At Kids Academy Early Learning, we believe that every child’s learning journey is brighter when we walk it together. As a parent, you want to know your child is in the care of educators who not only teach, but also nurture, guide, and celebrate them as much as you do.
This Early Childhood Educator Day (3 September), we’re celebrating the incredible partnership between our educators, families, and children, because together, we shine.