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Wellbeing & Resiliance

Emanuel Woollahra Preschool is the first preschool in Sydney to introduce and embed into daily practice an exciting new program called The Resilience Project (TRP).

TRP was founded by primary school teacher – Hugh van Cuylenburg. Its curriculum delivers emotionally engaging programs to Early Learning centres, providing practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness. TRP focuses on three main elements – Gratitude Empathy Mindfulness (GEM).

This program goes hand in hand with Emanuel Woollahra Preschool’s philosophy of developing the whole child. We practice strategies regularly to improve children’s mental health and overall wellbeing

Developing skills of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM) helps children become mindful of those around them and develop a strong sense of wellbeing themselves. Wellbeing is correlated with resilience, providing children with the ability to cope with day-to-day stress and challenges

Our wellbeing program is enriched by weekly yoga sessions with an experienced yoga teacher, meditation and creative expression through drama and the arts.

In this way we offer a wellbeing program that provides children with confidence and optimism which maximise their learning potential.

Bush & Beach Kinder nature program

There is growing recognition of the benefits of children spending frequent uninterrupted amounts of time in nature when supported by enthusiastic and knowledgeable professionals. Bringing nature into the hearts and minds of our preschool children is deeply embedded into our program

Bush & Beach Kinder is a hands-on experiential learning program based on regular visits to the same local bush or beach for an extended period of time. This will build up an awareness of nature and the changes that occur in that space over a period of time e.g. seasonal changes and animal life. “Outdoor spaces with plants, trees, rocks, mud, ocean and water invite open ended interactions, spontaneity, risk taking and a connection with nature.” (NQF)

What are the objectives of a Bush and Beach Kinder?

  • To develop creative, independent and resilient children
  • To develop a sense of place and belonging with the bush, which is part of our Australian heritage.
  • It provides open-ended natural resources that inspire problem solving, creativity and a sense of wonder
  • Physicality – to provide more opportunities for the children to be active as well as physically being in wide-open spaces.
  • What will the children be doing?
  • The children will lead their own play and activity.

Types of play that the children will be involved in will include:

  • Physical play
  • Imaginative play
  • Sensory exploration
  • Elemental play (earth, air, wind, campfire)
  • Flora and Fauna – we will be observing, identifying, and classifying
  • Problem solving, investigation and exploration

Expectations

Expect your children to come home happy, muddy, dirty and smelling of nature.

The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to ‘really’ walk on the earth.

Chinese Proverb

Playball

A foundation sports skills program that uses physical education to inspire and motivate children to be the best they can. Playball introduces young children to enjoyable sport participation through various age-appropriate programs. The sports sessions are designed to create confident and involved learners.

Drama

Drama gives children the opportunity to explore and the freedom to imagine. It builds confidences, encourages language skills and cooperation and allows children to express themselves freely. All ideas are encouraged so that children develop a sense of positivity which builds self-confidence and self-worth.

Funastics

Funastics is a fun, high energy movement program which helps develop fine and large motor development in children. Through creative movement, music and dramatization children can express themselves freely. Funastics stimulates the imagination and is a wonderful confidence builder.

Yoga

Yoga increases confidence in children, builds concentration and strengthens their growing bodies. It teaches children to become aware of their breathing, to be calm and develop awareness of their bodies to enable them to regulate their emotions. It increases confidence and strengthens growing bodies of children. This is achieved through yoga storytelling, incorporating a variety of poses in a fun and calm manner.

Get Reading Literacy Program

Literacy is integrated into all that we do in the preschool. To support our children transitioning to Primary School, we offer the “Get Reading Literacy Program’ which is introduced by 2 experienced speech therapists, Linda Traub & Lauren Borowsky. Get Reading includes language activities, which highlight sequencing of ideas and vocabulary development.

As speech pathologists working in the field of language and literacy, we know that reading does not begin when a child enters school. It is of benefit to have a solid foundation of adequate language together with phonological awareness (Linda & Loren).

The Program has a focus on the following 4 aspects of phonological awareness:

  1. Concepts about Print
  2. Syllable
  3. Rhyming
  4. Sounds

Art From The Heart

We are fortunate to offer a social emotional skills program run by registered Art Therapist, Mandi Hill. This program offers the opportunity for children to enrich and develop their social and emotional wellbeing through facilitated creative art experiences before transitioning to Primary School.