Learning & Playing in Kindy

A Day in Kindy: Joy, Discovery and Growing Together

As a teacher, my day in Kindy begins quietly, in prayer. It’s a moment to pause and remember that what we do here matters deeply, and to reflect on how much God loves each of the children who are right at that moment, feeling excited and happy, or perhaps tired or nervous, about coming to Kindy for the day. I truly believe that we, the teaching team, together with God, are about to make the most of the day’s opportunities.

As the children arrive, every morning looks a little different, just like each child. Some children need a gentle, quiet hello as they settle in. Others burst through the door, ready to be celebrated, eager to share their energy and excitement. Welcoming each child in the way they need sets the tone for the day and helps them feel safe, known, and valued.

Soon the room fills with purposeful play. The children begin their day by choosing their favourite activities—building, creating, imagining, and exploring. I join them in these moments, sitting alongside them, listening and connecting. It’s here that I begin to understand how each child is feeling and the best ways to support them as their learning unfolds through play.

We come together for our first group time - one of the highlights of the day. Through stories about Jesus, joyful singing, dancing, praising, and praying, we begin our day as a connected community. Listening as children talk to their friend Jesus in their own words is always a special and memorable moment.

Learning unfolds through play as children choose activities that spark their curiosity. Alongside them, we listen, guide, and support, often following their big questions: Could there be a crocodile in our river? What happens if we add marbles to the slime? Or if a leaf floats in a puddle, what will happen if we put a rock on top? A big rock? A small rock? Or what about a feather? These moments become rich opportunities for exploration and discovery.

There is always laughter. Whether we are exploring numbers (and guessing my ever-changing age!), sharing stories, or tumbling and climbing, joy is woven throughout the day. Story time brings a quiet kind of magic, as children listen intently—especially when Patrick the Possum appears to add a little fun and mischief while modelling important social skills. These light-hearted moments capture the beautifully imaginative minds of children.

The rhythm of our day continues both indoors and outdoors - it’s ‘gumboots on, gumboots off’ or ‘shoes on, shoes off’ as we move between spaces and embrace all kinds of learning whatever the weather. Outside there are calls of ‘Look at me!’ and ‘Look at this!’, as children climb a tree to view the world from a new perspective, explore a world of millipedes and crickets that live under the rocks, build fantastic castles and forts, and discover the amazing things their body can do, surrounded by nature and open-ended opportunities.

Back inside, Show and Tell gives children the chance to share what is important to them. Their pride and excitement shine as they speak, and we learn more about each other as a community.

Something everyone looks forward to is working together on real jobs with real responsibilities, Together, we become an “environmental super-team”. We care for our mice, chickens, and fish, sweep, rake, garden, and even farm the worms. Through these shared responsibilities, children develop a sense of care, respect, and belonging.

Some days, when a child has been missing mummy, daddy, or even their pet cockroach that they found behind the shed yesterday, home time seems to take a long time; but for many, home time comes too soon – Can I just go across the monkey bars one more time? Can I have just one more story, Can I float my boat down the river before I go? But I haven’t finished building my …. That’s when we say, “It’s OK, there’s going to be another Kindy day, and it’s only 2 sleeps away.”

Every day in Kindy is full of curiosity, faith, laughter, and connection. And at the heart of it all are the children: capable, inquisitive, and full of wonder. It is a privilege to walk alongside them as they learn, grow, and begin to understand the world and their place in it.