“Play is the primary way children were designed to learn.”
— Kathy Hersh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff
Early education for lifelong success
At Gamumbi Early Childhood Education and Care Centre there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all learning. Children’s skills, interests and learning style play a big part in how we teach them.
At Gamumbi children are supported to:
Our 3 ingredients for children’s growth:
1.Play-based learning
Children learn best through play-based learning and care, so we support them to play for long blocks of time each day, to ask questions and learn using real-life, hands-on experiences.
Our children have control over their playtime, which helps them develop a sense of self-awareness and learn to manage their own feelings and actions. Our teaching team support this by being brilliant role models and leading by example. They ask thoughtful and intentional questions to help your child develop deeper thinking skills.
We love it when families join in on the fun! You’re welcome to come on excursions, take part in play and research projects, and even share your at-home hobbies with the children. Chances are, if you love it, they will love learning it from you.
Why is play so important in early childhood education?
There’s a reason children love playing so much – it helps them learn new skills, connect with others and make sense of the world. That’s why it’s really important for your child’s brain development and a major part of our teaching program.
At Gamumbi, your child will have plenty of uninterrupted play time, guided by educators who share in the play, answer questions, and encourage discussion about what’s going on.
Is there a routine at Gamumbi?
Yes! Although there’s lots of guided play each day, it’s part of a bigger picture. We stick to a familiar routine so that children know what to expect and what is expected of them. Consistency means your children move confidently through the day because they know what is coming next.
At Gamumbi, your child’s routine includes:
Quiet time for meditating, yoga, working on projects or napping. We’ll chat with you and your child about whether they should sleep during the day.
Meal and snack times. Food is included in your fees. It is prepared by a qualified chef and includes more than half of the nutrients your child needs each day.
Group activities such as singing, listening to music and stories, movement, time for questions, and work on projects.
Creative activities like drawing, painting, clay, music and dramatic play.
Long blocks of uninterrupted outdoor play with tools, spaces and risks that challenge and engage them.
2. Passionate early childhood educators
We get it. It’s not always easy leaving your child. When you do, you want to make sure they are in the best of hands.
You want to know that the people looking after them are:
Passionate and caring.
Highly-trained with diverse skills.
Longstanding and consistent.
Well, just between us, that’s our teaching team!
Gamumbi children become part of a caring community. You only need to spend a few minutes with our educators to see how much they care about each and every child. To see what a special connection they have.
We are proud of our teaching team. Not only do they make sure children are safe and happy, they set them up with skills for life. They are highly trained with either a Bachelor Degree, Certificate III or Diploma in Children’s Services.
3. Connecting with nature as a child
We love being outside and our children do too! By giving children plenty of time outside, they develop a sense of belonging to place and learn to love the natural world.
How do you teach children about sustainability?
In our outdoor play spaces, children can witness the seasons changing, see animals and insects, get their hands dirty and play in the sand. They love, respect and understand nature because they are immersed in it and talk about it with staff every day.
Aside from our amazing play spaces, we have a thriving veggie patch, worm farm, chickens and water tank. We even use our garden produce in the kitchen so children can see where food comes from and how to grow their own. Children get hands-on experience in cooking projects where they can see, touch and taste.
By looking after their own garden, children get a chance to dig in the soil, learn about insects and contribute to the compost. Being part of a natural cycle teaches them to live in harmony with the natural world. This is continued in our indoor spaces, where children learn about recycling and waste.
Why is sustainability so important to Gamumbi?
You’re never too young to learn about the world and how to care for it! By giving children plenty of time outside, they learn to love nature. And when we love something, we tend to treat it better.
We’re proud that our community of children feel empowered to look after their planet. Who knows, the next Jane Goodall or David Attenborough might be learning about nature at Gamumbi right now!