New lesson programs for little learners at Sesame Lane Care and Kindergarten centres

Different initiatives are preparing children for primary school and teaching them life skills at this child care centre. Would you fancy a gardening, cooking or yoga spot? These children do.

PREPARING little learners for primary school requires far more than teaching them the alphabet — they will need skills that will last a lifetime.

Increasingly, children's care centres and kindergartens across the region offer programs that meet this need and add variety to a child's day.

For the last few years, Sesame Lane Care and Kindergarten has offered a Japanese language program but this year has incorporated lessons in gardening, yoga, cooking and swimming. Marketing manager Beth Oxley says staff have responded to a need to give children skills in these areas.

A desire to teach children where their food comes from has prompted the gardening and cooking programs. Each centre now has a garden which children and educators tend to; planting, watering and caring for plants as well as a worm farm, compost bin and lady beetle house.

What is grown varies, depending on topics they are learning about or food they are making in their cooking classes. When we visited the Kippa-Ring centre, the kids were growing vegetables that could be used to put on a pizza.

Beth says yoga has also been introduced to help develop co-ordination and balance, but also to teach children about deep breathing and achieving a sense of calm.

These are skills they can use on the yoga mat, in the classroom and at home.