By Eleanor Wilson
Three to four year-olds were having the time of their young lives on Tuesday, recommencing pre-kinder activities at Oakgrove Community Centre.
The pre-kinder runs at the centre in accordance with Victorian school terms, providing a caring and nurturing environment for the children to socialise and learn in.
Recent research from the UK indicates that children who have attended two years of a quality kindergarten program will, on average, have better cognitive and social skills when they start school.
They are also recorded to have higher exam scores and more developed social and emotional outcomes at age 16 and be more likely to take final year exams and go on to higher academic study.
Oakgrove Community Centre manager Mary Amalraj said the centre’s kinder program is based around the notion that every child should be encouraged to develop at their own pace.
“[The kinder provides] activities set up for the children and group sessions for snack and mat time,” she said.
“We incorporate music, relaxation time, children’s yoga, exercise time, craft as well as free play.”
Oakgrove Community Centre’s kinder program currently runs on Monday and Wednesday from 9:30am to 2:30pm and Tuesday from 9am to 12pm.