AS children across the Redlands head back to school this week, a Capalaba childcare centre will open its doors to highlight the importance of early childhood education.
Bambini Early Childhood Development on Mount Cotton Road will hold an open day on Saturday, February 1 from 10am to 1pm, featuring activities for children up to five years of age, refreshments and demonstrations of its play-based early learning curriculum.
Centre manager Jennifer Thompson said early socialisation, developing emotional resilience, physical activities and exposure to reading and numbers were important for helping children become confident and capable learners.
"We're excited to welcome new parents into our community, and help them understand the value of quality, play-based early learning for their baby or child in their years before school."
Bambini in Capalaba is among almost 150 Lifelong Learning Centres set to open their doors on February 1.
Lesley Jones, Lifelong Learning Centres senior advisor of pedagogy and practice, said the first five years of a child's life was a critical time, with up to 90 per cent of brain development happening before a child started primary school.
"Quality early education and childcare can set your child up for success at school, preparing them emotionally, socially and physically, as well as providing academic foundations for future learning," Dr Jones said.
"The amount and nature of stimulation and nurturing children receive in these years makes all the difference, and that's why access to quality early learning is so important."
According to the latest Australian Early Development Census, nearly 22 per cent of children in year 1 were developmentally vulnerable.
Dr Jones said at a time when Australian children are falling behind in terms of literacy and numeracy, access to early learning had never been more important.
"The results speak for themselves with children who attend three or more years of quality early learning performing better in year 4 maths, science and reading," she said.
Bambini Australia in Capalaba offers early education experiences for children aged six weeks to school and beyond.
