At DS's 3 yo kinder, the main focus is playing. They also learn sharing, waiting turns, hygeine (hand washing) and manners. At 3 there isnt much 'academic' focus as such. They do have incursions where the animal farm will visit but its all pretty low key. There are always activities set up like play dough, painting, pasting, puzzles, train sets etc. DS is never bored when he goes to kinder! When they get to 4 yo kinder they learn more to get them ready for school, but even then its nothing too scary!
HTH.
ETA- This term they are focusing on families where each child brings in a photo of their family and they have discussions on this.
Hi guccibabe, I'm an early childhood teacher, in Sydney, so I'm not sure if things are idifferent to qld, though I don't think it would be that different! At 3, the more important things for kids to be learning about are social skills, like making friends, being with groups of children, following directions and rules, listening to adults, making friends and things that ubba said above, hygiene, sharing and turn taking.
It is important that the programme is focussed on the children's interests though and that your child is having fun and is catered for in regards to their learning and interests. Yes they may learn things like counting and the alphabet, but they aren't really important things to know just yet. Those things can wait til the go to school. If they learn too much now, then they will be bored by the time they get to school, or even burnt out and sick of 'school' type learning.
Maybe talk to your child's teacher and get them to explain how they program to you, and to show you some documentation, or (if they have one) your child's portfolio/journal/records.
thanks all!
lilias thank you that makes sense.. he is still very young.. hahah i guess we all want our kids to be getting great education! but so true about social skills listening and following instructions (which he is terrible at!!!!) guess he just hasn't seemed as happy since recent staff turn over at beginning of year and i wondered if he is bored? it has actually made me so confused about whether to keep him at the center but i have looked everywhere and am even trialing him at another.. but i still feel very comfortable with the center.. just this situation iykwim..and his new GL isnt very open with conversation. it has been driving me mad for months!!!
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