Programs
Edge Kids Life offers a wide range of developmentally appropriate programs. Our Daily activities include:
Group Time
This is a structured time involving all children, either in their related age group or across the Centre. It may be outside, with other family members, meals times, story and song time, beginning or end of day.
Puzzles and Games
These are provided to extend cognitive development - reason and thinking. Social skills, fine motor skills and solitary play are also benefits of this experience.
Books
Through books we can understand the bigger world in which we live. They can lead into other activities and be part of solitary or group involvement. They offer repetition and predictability, and can also provide means for relaxation and time to unwind.
Blocks
Blocks allow for co-operative and negotiating skills to be developed amongst the children and staff, whilst planning, building and discussing the construction. We encourage both genders to be actively involved, and recognise the rights of others' opinions. Blocks offer gross motor, fine motor, language, solitary and group play.
Artwork
Sensory experience, fine motor, solitary, creative skills and expression of emotions can be displayed through artwork. Children are encouraged to express themselves by using different mediums with a focus on process rather than the end product.
Music
Some children may be quite reserved with music and others may love it, depending on its volume, activeness and their mood for the day. Highly active children can often drift off to sleep more easily when listening to a lullaby or even more rhythmic music like jazz, or classical. Some may happily bop around the room in time to music and many fall in love with nursery rhymes, action songs and musical instruments.
Music is so versatile it can be presented outside, be used to accompany a story, give children an opportunity to talk about how it makes them feel and what they would do to show this (e.g. jump, skip, float, tip toe), as well as provide opportunity to stimulate and release stored energy. It develops body control and co-ordination, aural perception and attentive listening habits. Movement, vocalisation, imitation and experimentation with sounds is encouraged.
Dramatic Play
This provides the child with opportunities of re-creating the world in which they live. They can express their emotions, retell events, and make up things that may not have happened before.
Outdoor Play
The outdoor play areas are designed for developing the children's gross motor skills such as running, jumping, climbing and throwing. The large outdoor areas allow children to have plenty of space to use and strengthen their large muscle groups while having lots of fun.
Sand and Water Play
Children enjoy the tactile sensations while playing in sand and water. While playing they are learning a range of developmental areas.
Pre Reading and Pre Numeracy Programs
We incorporate pre reading and numeracy skills into our programs. Our language program is based on Iggly Wig, a value based program designed to develop within children a desire for reading. Children learn to make correlations between letters and sounds through enjoyable and meaningful text. The program is designed to teach children valuable literacy skills while also helping them develop positive attitudes towards life and living.
The pre numeracy program is linked to the language program and teaches children shapes, sorting, matching and many more basic pre numeracy skills.
Christian Values
At Edge Kids Life we include bible stories, songs, say grace and prayers as part of our program. Christian activities are included in every area of our Centres.