Supporting your child to thrive
Every child is born with their own potential. 100 billion brain cells, waiting for connections to be formed, pathways to be explored, futures to be discovered.
By delivering universal 3-year-old preschool, we aim to improve the quality of early education across the sector, increase access to early learning services statewide and deliver increased hours of preschool to those children who need it most.
We know that learning and development starts at home and by working together, we can help all children get a flying start to life.
Activities that can support a flying start
- Talking, reading, singing and playing with your child - visit Words Grow Minds for helpful ideas.
- Tracking your child’s development, with help from CaFHS, your GP, and the Early Years SA App or Healthdirect for more general health information.
- Enrolling your child in early education - visit Starting Blocks to find your closest provider.
- Seeking support when you need it - organisations like Adults Supporting Kids can help you through day-to-day challenges of parenting young children.
Why the early years matter
More than 90% of a child’s brain development occurs before the age of 5. That’s why the early years are the perfect time to build a child’s confidence, curiosity and important life skills.
Early education helps us do that.
Families are a child’s first and most important teachers. Quality early childhood education gives families another tool in their parenting toolkit. It’s about recognising the care, love and learning that already happens at home, and providing an extra layer of support at a crucial stage in a child’s life.
In a quality early childhood education and care service, like a long day care, you will find children:
- playing, getting messy, and being involved in moments of wonder
- laughing and engaging with each other and their teachers and educators, which helps them to make friends and build social skills
- expressing their feelings in a safe and secure environment, which builds their capacity to understand and manage their emotions;
- learning through well-designed play-based experiences, including mastering new words and ideas, becoming more physically confident, learning about nature and cultures, and sharing and creating great stories.
Quality early learning services are inclusive of children and families with a diverse range of needs and abilities. They are welcoming and culturally safe for all families and support Aboriginal children to have a strong sense of identify and culture.
Checking in on your child’s health and development
The best way to keep track of your child’s health and development is to book them in for check at the following ages:
- 1 to 4 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 6 to 9 months
- 12 months
- 18 to 24 months
- 3 years
- 4 to 5 years.
A child health and development check (CHDC) looks at both your child’s health and how they are developing across a range of areas, including:
- listening and talking skills
- social skills and behaviour
- motor skills (both large movements and small movements)
- learning, thinking and problem-solving skills; and
- growth (such as their height, weight, and teeth).
You can book a free CHDC through the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS). For more information, visit the CaFHS website or call 1300 733 606 to book an appointment. Checks may also be available at your long day care or preschool, so be sure to check with your provider. Interpreters and translators can be made available. You can also book a check through your GP or local health care provider (fees may apply). Aboriginal families may wish to book a check with an Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation (ACCHO).