At Fit Kidz Learning Centres, our philosophy identifies our commitment to providing the highest quality care and learning. This is reflected in our exclusive school readiness program: Smart Start™, which was devised by qualified teachers in consultation with our local schools. Smart Start™ is offered throughout the year to ensure that your child is given maximum opportunity to learn new skills, as well as refining existing abilities. Every child at Fit Kidz Learning Centre will engage in this comprehensive program in their final year before school.
Smart Start™ operates on the philosophy that constant exposure in a stimulating environment is the best way pre-school children learn. With this in mind we offer a comprehensive program that covers all areas of development with adequate time and support for each child to learn.
Smart Start™ is presented in a stage appropriate way that promotes interest and assists your child in becoming an active learner. This assists your child to develop to their full potential. Your child will have fun and learn at the same time, ensuring that together we have given them a solid foundation from which to begin their schooling life.
School, ready or not?
At Fit Kidz we are aware that children grow, develop and learn on an individual basis. With this in mind we aim to provide a comprehensive and balanced program that will enrich each individual child’s learning abilities. Our program is presented in a number of different ways to ensure all children have the optimum opportunity to increase their skills and succeed. The Smart start curriculum is implemented across the whole day, whilst the Smart Start work book will be explored with each child using 1:1 teacher guidance, once per week.
We provide various experiences that children elect to participate in. These include the opportunity to engage in both small and large groups activities; individual learning experiences, project work, child directed learning and teacher facilitated learning experiences. The opportunities are varied and initiated with children’s interest and strengths in mind to stimulate individual children’s involvement and their sense of self belief.
Learning is a positive experience with focus on each individual child’s abilities and enhancement of these to ensure that a positive attitude towards learning develops.
What we offer:
- Comprehensive pre-school readiness curriculum. This is introduced early in the year and continually built on until the child graduates to big school. Children learn a variety of Maths, English, Science and Social Science concepts through hands on experiences, group discussions and open ended play.
- Work books specifically designed by qualified teachers to increase attention span and general skills.
- Close liaison with local schools to ensure a smooth transition.
- Social skills program: this teaches children behaviours and basic conflict resolution.
- Comprehensive computer program: the children sit with a teacher and continue to expand upon their basic conceptual knowledge through a variety of educational games. This also increases fine motor development, problem solving skills and the ability to follow directions.
- Daily music program: this consists of music and movement, multi-cultural songs, musical instruments, dance sport games and songs that incorporate sign language.
- Daily exercise program: this consists of an age appropriate mix of aerobics, sports, yoga, Pilates, tai chi and meditation.
- Cooking experiences: the children make an array of different foods and learn about heath and nutrition.
- Daily art and craft program: the children are encouraged to express their creativity through painting, collages, drawing and modelling.
- Lunchbox Trials: for the month of November we ask that parents send their child at Fit Kidz with the lunchbox and drink bottle your child will use for school (empty of course!). Our chef will then fill them with a variety of items that will assist children in learning how to unwrap and open packets, and allow each child to practise the skills they will need to feed themselves at big school.
Click here to download a fun alphabet workbook to print at home
Things to encourage at home:
While Smart Start™ will offer a great deal of opportunity it is suggested that continuity is maintained at home where possible. Here are some ideas you may like to encourage. Please remember not to force anything, learning should be fun!
- Recognition of your child’s name.
- Self help skills.
- How to say their name clearly.
- How to look after their possessions.
- How to dress themselves.
- How to put on shoes, tie laces and use velcro straps.
- Facilitate your child’s learning through discussions, reading books, counting and writing.
- Personal hygiene: when to use a tissue and to cover mouth when coughing.
- Show your child how to use and flush the toilet. Your child needs to be responsible for wiping their own bottom.
- Boys should be shown how to use a urinal.
- Writing your child’s name in lowercase letters.
- Reading and discussing books.
- Independence: allow your child to begin packing their pre-school bag in preparation for packing their belongings for school.
- Allow your child to carry their own bag and walk into Fit Kidz so that they are already used to this when starting school.
What you can do to ensure a smooth transition to school:
- Ensure you enrol your child early so that your child knows exactly which school they are attending.
- Talk to your child about “big school”. Make sure it is discussed in a positive light.
- Visit the school prior to your child’s enrolment date and show them where the toilets, canteen and office are.
- Ensure uniforms, shoes, bags, hats, lunchboxes, drink bottles and all other necessary equipment is purchased early and labelled clearly. Go through these items with your child so they become aware of their possessions.
- Drive past the school and mention, “That is your big school”. This gives some sense of ownership and sense of belonging. Ensure you speak about how exciting it is going to be and how grown up your child is becoming.
- Nurture friendships with other children who will be attending the same school. Even if the children don’t become firm friends they will still have a familiar face in the crowd.
- Try to arrange to walk past the school together with your child during lunch times so that he/she can see the children enjoying themselves.
- Attend orientation days and parent information nights. This gives both yourself and your child an insight into how the school is run.
- Listen to your child and answer any questions that they may have truthfully.
- Let them eat lunch out of a lunchbox a few weeks prior to starting school. This allows them to get used to opening containers and unwrapping plastic wrap.
- Get your child into a suitable sleeping routine a few weeks prior to the start of school. Put them to bed at the same time each night and wake them at the same time each morning.
On the first day:
Be organised:
- Make sure there is plenty of time for waking up, having breakfast, getting dressed and packing bags.
- Ensure your child is actively involved in the process for big school.
- Ensure your child knows what to eat at morning tea and what to save for lunch.
- On the way be positive and review the day’s sequence of events.
Be punctual:
- Most schools stagger kindergarten enrolments. Arrive a few minutes earlier than necessary so your child is not waiting too long to go to class.
- Ensure you are on time to pick up you child after school so they do not become stressed that you have forgotten them.
Be confident and SMILE!
- Introduce yourself and your child to the teacher.
- If you have concerns speak to the teacher when your child is out of listening range.
- Assist your child to put away their belongings.
- Settle your child.
- Be clear that you will come back and their teacher is there to look after them and always say goodbye.
Plan your own day:
- Leave a contact number with the teacher if you won’t be at home.
- Ensure you arrive to pick up your child prior to pick up time.
Expect your child to be tired:
- Our school year begins in our hottest month of the year and school can be exhausting.
- Bring a cool drink for the ride home.
Focus on your child upon collection:
- Listen to what your child has to say.
- Ask open ended questions.
- Be enthusiastic about any work your child brings home.
- Try to instil a love of learning. Remember you are far more influential on your child than any teacher.
At home:
- Have a healthy dinner and let your child have some time to wind down.
- Have your child pack their bag for the following day.
- Get uniforms ready.
- Have an early night.
Lunchbox ideas:
- Use a frozen popper or drink to keep your child’s lunch fresh.
- Use easy to open containers.
- Pack a separate box for morning tea and lunch to save confusion.
- Label your child’s lunchbox and drink bottle.
- Pre-cut fruit if needed or begin to unpeel fruit (eg mandarins and oranges).
- Place in a spoon for yoghurts and tinned fruit.
- Pack food your child is used to and enjoys.
- Do not over pack as your child may feel pressured to eat it all and miss out on playing.
- Packing guidelines: a piece of fruit or a tin, a sandwich, some crackers and a drink.
Foods to pack: | Foods to avoid: | ||
| – small pieces or cut-up in-season fruit. – Rice crackers, Jatz, Sao biscuits – Small tins of fruit – Sandwiches cut in half – Small yoghurt | – Vegetable sticks – Cheese sticks – Muesli bars – Home made muffins – Popcorn | – Chips – Lollies – Sugar laden snacks – Chocolates
| – Cakes – Flavoured dairy snacks – Chocolate biscuits |
NOTE: you should check your child’s school policy on acceptable foods and foods that aren’t recommended
(for example, some schools are nut-free due to children having allergies).