Our centre offers the QLD Government-approved ‘Free Kindy’ Program.

At Mermaid Waters, your child will benefit from the QLD ‘Free Kindy’ Government-approved program as part of our enhanced learning program. Our Kindergarten program will support your child’s learning, development, and well-being for now, at school and beyond. We tailor our Kindergarten program across:

• Numeracy
• Literacy
• Emotional and Social Development
• Self regulation
• Healthy minds and bodies
  

The added benefits of our Kindergarten program include:

• QLD ‘Free Kindy’ Government-approved program
• Extended opening hours
• Open all year round (excl public holidays)
• Programs developed and delivered by our Early Childhood Teachers
• Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, director and the actor in their own play” - Magda Gerber

Nursery Space: 6 weeks – 2 years

Learning starts from before birth, and our Educators have created a welcoming and nurturing nursery environment where each baby feels safe to explore and discover new things - through their senses, their communication and cues (body language, facial expression and sounds) and through experimentation. On any given day you can see the nursery children engaging in all types of play including sensory play, music time, story time and more. Every day provides a brand new, exciting adventure for our babies to support their development, learning and wellbeing.

Toddler Space: 2 - 3 years

Our teachers and educators encourage the children to learn through play to help enhance their sensory-motor development. This happens through carefully planned music, dance, games, role playing and reading experiences.

On any given day the Toddlers can be seen developing their numeracy by building a tower, sorting objects, pointing and identifying shapes and patterns and participating in counting songs and games.

Children in our toddler space are encouraged to participate in group play. Group play is important as it helps our toddlers develop important social skills such as, turn-taking, developing self-confidence and emotional self-regulation. Our skilled team helps children through talking, planning and role modelling.

Kindergarten Space: 3 – 6 years

Kindergarten is a unique time for learning with peers and developing skills for later learning including confidence and curiosity, important skills for starting school. Our play-based program has school readiness at its core, encouraging active engagement in learning and supporting a range of positive developmental outcomes including resilience, independence, critical thinking and creativity.

The oral language supports literacy learning and a child’s oral language ability is the best predictor for later success in learning to read and write. Hearing the sounds within a language is the first critical step for all literacy learning. Our team supports our Kindergarten children's literacy development by engaging in rich discussions, reading, storytelling, dramatic play and experimentation all of which introduce new vocabulary as part of everyday conversations.

Throughout the Kindergarten year, children use their language to share ideas, ask questions, express themselves, and connect with peers and adults in social settings.

Social-emotional skills, including the ability to self-regulate emotions, are supported through group learning experiences. Our team supports each child’s social and emotional development by labelling and talking about emotions and supporting appropriate responses as together, they engage in new and challenging situations. Our goal in the Kindergarten year is to prepare children and families for a smooth transition to primary school.

Our centre chef prepares and cooks nutritious meals daily, catering to the unique dietary requirements of every child. We believe that by encouraging active participation (such as growing their own fruit and vegetables, preparing, and finally cooking!) children learn to appreciate and understand the importance of healthy eating across a wide variety of food.

Our centre offers seasonal whole food-based menus – created to delight the fussiest eaters.

I love to follow the children’s interests, using their natural curiosity to guide their learning.

I’ve been a part of Kool Kids Mermaid Waters since 2015, where I started my early childhood journey as a student. I’ve always had a passion for working with children, which was sparked by being a kinship carer for my younger sister. Watching children learn, grow, and thrive is something that I absolutely love.

Each child is unique, and that understanding shapes my teaching style. I love to follow the children’s interests, using their natural curiosity to guide their learning. Sustainability is another passion of mine, and I enjoy involving the children in hands-on, eco-friendly activities that teach them about the environment.

At Kool Kids Mermaid Waters, we provide so much more than just a learning space—we foster social skills, friendships, and lifelong lessons that go beyond what children can learn at home. Our team here is strong, with many educators having been here for years. We all bring something special to the table, creating an environment where every day is full of fun and learning.

I’ve been fortunate to build strong relationships with many families over the years, and I believe open communication is key to supporting them. I love that I’ve been able to grow with this community and look forward to continuing this journey with the children and their families.

We can’t wait to welcome your family to our Mermaid Waters early education centre.