Oakhurst Preschool

It's Fri-Yay! 😀😀😀
What happened at Oakhurst Preschool this week!

Teddies:
The children helped make jelly for a sensory experience. 🫱🫲
They eagerly poured, mixed, and observed the jelly crystals dissolve in water, remaining calm, focused, and engaged throughout the activity.
Based on our observations, many children enjoy sensory and messy play experiences. These opportunities foster curiosity, problem-solving skills, and exploration through the senses.

Dolphins:
Children enthusiastically engaged in salon role play using dolls, combs, hair accessories and scissors. 💇‍♀️💈💇‍♂️ As they created different hairstyles, they strengthened fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and control. 👀This imaginative experience encouraged communication, cooperation, creativity, self-expression and independence. 👍🏽

Wallabies:
Children matched and connected animal puzzle cards to complete each picture. 🧩🦤🦒 🦁🐵 🧩This experience strengthened observation, visual discrimination and problem-solving skills while encouraging concentration, persistence and critical thinking. 💭🤔
The Wallabies continued celebrating Crazy Hair and Silly Socks Week, proudly sharing their colourful hairstyles and fun socks with friends and educators. The children enjoyed discussing their creative looks and celebrating each other's individuality in a positive and inclusive environment.

Just for fun! 👷🔨🛠

Today, the children took part in a cutting activity using reused Woolworths paper bags. ✂✂✂. Educators drew clear lines for the children to follow. This guided them to cut with purpose using child-safe scissors.
This activity built key early learning skills:

Fine motor control and hand strength for writing ✍

Bilateral coordination through using both hands together 👐

Hand-eye coordination by following lines with accuracy ✋👁

Many children stayed focused and kept trying, even when they needed to adjust their cutting. This showed strong concentration and persistence.
The experience also supported early pre-writing skills. Children practiced direction, control, and spatial awareness in a hands-on way.
Using recycled paper bags introduced sustainability. ♻ It showed how everyday materials can be reused for learning and creativity.

Today, the children took part in learning all about 🌹ANZAC Day🌹.

In the morning, the children baked fresh ANZAC cookies. 🍪
The 👼children also participated in a sensory rice experience. This activity encouraged exploration, curiosity, and early awareness of ANZAC Day symbols.

The experience started with the children shaking and mixing rice 🍚 with red dye. They watched the colour change and showed strong interest in the process. 👀Educators guided simple conversations about poppies, focusing on their bright red colour 🚗 and their role as a symbol of remembrance.

Once the rice was ready, it was added to a sensory tub 🛁. The children explored it through scooping, pouring, and touching. This supported sensory development and strengthened fine motor skills.

The experience then expanded with the addition of small resources such as toy soldiers🎖, horses, and flowers 🌹💐. These materials encouraged imaginative play and helped children make connections to the 🌹ANZAC Day🌹theme.

Little Carers Water Play 💧🛁

Today the children had a lovely time washing their baby dolls 👼in a small bath. They gently washed, rinsed, and dried their babies while taking on caring roles through play 👨‍👩‍👧.

This activity helped build fine motor skills 👐🏾as children squeezed sponges , poured water, and used cloths. It also supported empathy and communication as they talked 📣, shared ideas, and cared for their dolls.

Educators guided the children through safe hygiene practices, including keeping clean and washing hands before and after play. The setup was carefully planned to keep the experience safe 🐥 and comfortable for everyone.

A simple and fun experience 🙂 that helps children build confidence, independence, and everyday life skills through play.

Today, the children had a lovely time washing their baby dolls in a small bath. They gently washed, rinsed, and dried their babies while taking on caring roles through play.🥰

🌿 From Garden to Play to Sustainability 🌿

Today the children engaged in a h🙌🏼ands-on cutting and chopping experience using cauliflower leaves 🍂🍀 and offcuts. With guidance, they practised their cutting skills on chopping boards, building confidence as they carefully explored how to handle tools safely⛑.

This experience supported a range of developmental areas, including:he children took their freshly cut “greens” to the play kitchen. They enjoyed 👨‍🍳cooking on the stove, creating their own recipes, and engaging in rich pretend play with peers.
To complete the cycle, the children then contributed their leftover greens to our worm bin🗑, learning about sustainability and how food scraps can be reused to support our environment🌴🌳🌲.

This experience supported a range of developmental areas including:
• Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through cutting 💪
• Social skills and communication during shared play 👭👬
• Imagination and creativity in dramatic play 🧐
• Understanding of sustainability and environmental responsibility 👼
• Confidence and independence when using tools safely 🔨

EYLF Learning Outcomes:
1.2, 2.4, 3.2, 4.1, 4.4, 5.1

A meaningful and engaging experience that connected practical life skills, creativity, and care for our environment 🌱