Kangaroo Early-Prep (3 to 4 Years)

Cognitive milestones significant to 3 to 4 year olds include greater organisational skills such as gathering the toys they wish to play with before starting to play. Furthermore, basic drawings of people should appear with a head and one or two other features. They should be able to follow two or three step instructions whilst also beginning to understand the concept of counting.

Our program aims to foster the achievement of such milestones through using Mathseeds to improve counting skills, teaching our early learners shapes and colours, implementing group discussions to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills and also build concentration. All of these are done through educational play which ignites an enthusiasm for learning in our little ones.

As children develop, by 3 to 4 years they should begin to demonstrate some independence when selecting and carrying out different forms of play and activities. Moreover, they will begin to demonstrate emotional independence as well, providing concern and affection for others without prompting whilst also following the actions of those around them. For example, running if other children are running around.  

At Oz Education, we encourage the socio-emotional development of our children by providing high quality centres that promote the exploration of childrens’ individual social and emotional needs in safe and nurturing spaces. Moreover, daily activities guided by our educators help to promote confidence, sharing, empathy and friendship building skills which progress our early learners towards achieving such milestones.

Physical milestones significant in the development of 3 to 4 year olds include being able to pass and catch a large ball and demonstrating independence with handwashing and other relevant tasks. Moreover running and jumping should begin to be quite natural and toddlers should demonstrate the physical control to stack around 10 blocks.

At Oz Education we seek to develop the physical confidence of children through the strengthening of running, jumping and fine motor skills built through the MultiSports & Dance programs we offer. Furthermore, simple outdoor play also encourages active movement of our early learners. 

By 3  to 4 years old, most children should be eager to listen to short stories and will be able to talk about particular parts of them and request favourites over and over again. Moreover their communication skills should also include the use of a range of tenses. For example “play,” “playing” and “played.”

At Oz Education we aim to help your child develop their language and communication skills through our educational programs that prioritise growth in vocabulary and linguistic understanding. Literacy skills of learning letters in the alphabet and phonics to develop pronunciation and clear communication skills help foster growth towards such milestones.

For 3 to 4 year olds at Oz Education, creativity begins to take on more complex forms as children engage in detailed imaginative play. They create elaborate scenarios, often taking on different roles and acting out stories, which helps them develop social and emotional skills. At this age, children also start experimenting with different art forms, like drawing, painting, and crafting. Their fine motor skills improve as they manipulate materials like scissors, glue, and paintbrushes to bring their ideas to life.

Our curriculum encourages these creative explorations by offering a variety of hands-on activities that stimulate imagination and self-expression, allowing children to think outside the box and discover new ways of creating. Through these experiences, children not only build their artistic abilities but also enhance their problem-solving and communication skills as they share their creations and ideas with others.

As children approach the age of 3 to 4 years, their understanding of STEM concepts begins to expand, with a focus on problem-solving, exploration, and experimentation. At Oz Education, we provide opportunities for children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through interactive activities that spark their curiosity.

At this stage, children start to grasp more advanced concepts such as patterns, measurement, and spatial relationships. They engage in activities like building structures with blocks, sorting objects by size or color, and conducting simple science experiments to explore cause and effect. Whether they’re discovering how things move, experimenting with water and materials, or recognizing basic shapes and numbers, these hands-on experiences help children develop foundational STEM skills that will support their future learning.

Our approach encourages them to think critically, ask questions, and explore the world around them in a fun and engaging way, setting the stage for a lifelong love of STEM.