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Preschoolers

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During the preschool years, your child is developing socially, emotionally and physically. They are at the beginning of learning how to get on with others, and better control their feelings and emotions. It’s exciting to see more and more of the person they will become!

Behaviour

  1. Preschoolers' behaviours and emotions

    Setting limits for your preschooler, managing feelings and thinking about others.

  2. Behaviour management and young children

    Tips on how to support your toddler or preschooler to control their behaviour

  3. How to handle tantrums

    Why toddlers have tantrums, how to manage them, if you have concerns.

  4. If you have concerns about your preschooler's behaviour

    Where to seek help if you have concerns, talking to your child.

Child care and kindergarten

  1. Types of child care

    There are a number of different types of child care for different situations.

  2. How to choose the best child care

    Every family is different, so it’s important to think about your own family needs and the quality of the childcare when choosing child care for your child

  3. How to enrol in child care

    How to enrol your child in childcare

  4. How much child care costs

    How much does child care cost?

  5. When to start kindergarten

    Usual ages to start kindergarten, when to start early or finish late.

  6. Types of kindergarten programs

    Four-year-old kindergarten programs, Early Start Kindergarten, three-year-old kindergarten programs

  7. How to choose a kindergarten

    How kindergarten quality is measured, what to look for when you visit, questions to ask.

  8. How much kindergarten costs

    Kindergarten fees, contributions from the government and subsidies.

  9. How to enrol in kindergarten

    Enrolling in a kindergarten program and finding out if your child eligible for free or low cost kindergarten.

  10. Tips for starting kindergarten

    Starting kinder tips, what to do on the first day.

  11. Kindergarten for Aboriginal children: Koorie Kids Shine

    Kindergarten for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

  12. Kindergarten for culturally and linguistically diverse children

    Kindergarten for culturally and linguistically diverse children, including information in Chinese, Somali and Vietnamese.

  13. Going to kindergarten if your child is six years old

    What to do if your child is school age but still attending kindergarten.

  14. Does my child need a second year of kindergarten?

    Does my child need a second year of kindergarten?

  15. Regulation of child care and kindergarten

    Early childhood services regulated under the National Quality Framework and under state law.

  16. How to choose a quality early childhood service

    Quality childcare is important to your child's development, and you can use quality ratings to choose the best child care centre for your child.

Child development

  1. You are your child's first educator

    You can make a big difference to your child's life just by finding easy and fun things you can do with your child when they're very young.

  2. What your child might be doing at different stages

    Your child is cable of thinking and acting differently at each stage of their development

  3. Speech and language development for preschoolers

    Find out how preschoolers' speech and language develops and what you can do to support your child.

  4. Social and emotional development for preschoolers

    What to expect from preschooler emotions, how to help your preschooler with self-regulation, and play, friendships and social skills.

  5. If you have concerns about your child's development

    What to do if you're worried about how your child is developing

  6. Growth charts

    Growth charts for baby and child development

Children with additional needs

Find out more about inclusive education

  1. Inclusive education

    Information and services for families of children living with disability and additional needs.

Feeding and nutrition

  1. Good nutrition for preschoolers

    How to plan healthy food and drink for your preschooler.

  2. How much should a preschooler eat?

    Gudie to how much a preschooler should eat, planning meals and the right snacks.

  3. What your preschooler should and shouldn't eat

    What preschoolers should eat, snacks, drinks and kindergarten meals.

  4. Food safety tips

    How to prepare food safely so it's safe for your child to eat.

Health

  1. Personal hygiene for toddlers and preschoolers

    Teaching your toddler about washing their hands and teeth, and bathing.

  2. Brushing teeth and oral health

    How to take care of your toddler's teeth, oral checkups and going to the dentist.

  3. Movement and physical activity for preschoolers

    Preschoolers need to play actively every day, because it helps them grow and develop, improves focus, and boosts their confidence and self-esteem.

  4. Immunisation

    Immunisation requirements, Vax on time app, vaccination records for child care, kindergarten and school.

Learning and play

  1. Encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills

    How to build science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in your child.

  2. Play-based learning for preschoolers

    Preschoolers learn by playing and there are things you can do to support them.

  3. Moving from kindergarten to school

    Information on transition statements for children moving from kindergarten to school

  4. Speak to your child in the language you know best

    Why it's important to speak in the language you know best. Tips for speaking, reading and writing in your language.

  5. How to build your child's literacy skills from birth to year 2

    How to give your child a good start with reading and language.

  6. How to build your child's numeracy skills from birth to year 2

    Tips on how to build your child's skills in maths, measurement and patterns.

  7. Find a language program

    The different services that offer language programs to children and young people.


Family health

  1. Look after yourself after you have a baby

    Parents' health and wellbeing is often impacted by the arrival of a new baby or any major change to your life.

  2. Parents' anxiety

    Becoming and being a parent can be stressful. How to tell if you have anxiety and how to get help.

  3. Making healthy decisions

    Where to go for health advice, online resources and working out if it's an emergency.

  4. Family violence

    How to get help, behaviours, how family violence can happen.

Safety

  1. Safety in the home and outdoors

    How to make sure your home and backyard are safe for children.

  2. Bushfires 2020: Information for parents and carers

    Information on schools, child care and kindergartens affected by the 2020 bushfires. Where parents and carers can get help, counselling and support.

  3. Car safety

    Restraints and seats, never leave babies and children unattended in cars.

  4. Sun safety

    It’s important to protect babies and children protected from the strong Australian sun.

  5. Water safety for babies and young children

    How to keep babies safe around water

  6. Insect bites

    What to do if your child gets an insect bite.

  7. Preventing dog bites

    How to have your child and your dog interacting safely.

  8. Preventing poisoning

    How to keep baby safe from being poisoned - call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

  9. Preventing falls

    Check your home and baby equipment for hazards that could cause your baby or young child to fall.

  10. Preventing choking

    Tip for preventing your baby or child from choking.

  11. Preventing burns and scalds

    Tips to prevent your child accidentally getting a burn.

  12. Child protection

    What to do if you think a child is being abused, mandatory reporting.

Services

  1. Maternal and Child Health Service

    All about the Maternal and Child Health Service in Victoria

  2. Services for carers

    Services, advice and financial support for non-parent carers.

  3. Community playgroups

    Information about community playgroups in Victoria

  4. Supported playgroups

    Supported Playgroups is to improve the learning, development, and wellbeing outcomes of children from birth until they start primary school.

  5. Services for parents in regional areas

    Services for parents of babies and young children in regional areas of Victoria

  6. Family intervention services

    Family intervention Services offer consultation, counselling, skill development and education services including individual and group interventions.

  7. Child FIRST and family services

    Child FIRST (Child and family information, referral and support teams) are the entry point into family services located across Victoria.

  8. Telephone services for parents

    Telephone services for parents of young children and babies in Victoria

  9. Parentline

    Phone counselling for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old

  10. Financial help for parents

    Outline of types of financial assistance available to parents who want to enrol their child in childcare or kindergarten programs

Sleep

  1. Good sleeping for preschoolers

    How much sleep a preschooler needs and how to establish a sleeping routine.

  2. Nightmares

    Coping with children's nightmares and how to reduce bad dreams.

  3. Bedwetting

    Why preschoolers wet the bed and what to do.

Reviewed 21 December 2021

Department of Education and Training

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