First Five Years

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First Five Years Research shows us that children who start ahead tend to stay ahead with the early years providing the foundation for the rest of a child's life.

First Five Years is a collaborative community of parents and educators sharing information about the early years and meeting the challenges of raising young children. First Five Years acknowledges that a parent is a child’s primary teacher and empowers parents with information so that children can benefit from high quality, early learning extending into the home. Written in a collaboration between experienced journalists, leading academics and professional educators, First Five Years provides a source of reliable knowledge and a community to share information about the early years and meet the challenges of raising young children. Community Standards

Please be aware that we reserve the right to moderate this page and remove any posts or material that we deem inappropriate or not beneficial to this community. BE CONSIDERATE

Stick to discussing the ideas, not the people behind them. Please be respectful of others and their opinions. Please don't use this an opportunity to push commercial products or share things that are off-topic including spam or excessive use of external links. BE AWARE OF LEGAL RIGHTS

Don't post comments or content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination, advocates illegal activity, could be defamatory, infringes on copyright or trademarks or that may compromise any criminal or civil investigation. SHOW RESPECT

Don't use vulgar language. Don't attack people and don't respond to attacks. Report posts you think violate our community standards to [email protected]. We will moderate any reported posts and ban repeat offenders.

18/10/2026

Before you grab the meds, look at your child first.

Ask: how are they actually coping right now?
Can they make it through a full day at childcare or early learning?
If they’re unwell, sometimes the best move is rest and fluids

What’s your rule when they’re borderline sick?

Unsure what you should ask when you go on a tour of an Early Learning Service?! We've got you! We worked with families t...
15/10/2026

Unsure what you should ask when you go on a tour of an Early Learning Service?! We've got you! We worked with families to develop the top 5 things you should ask when on a centre tour. We're going to start sharing them here and you can also download the toolkit for FREE online: https://www.firstfiveyears.org.au/good-choices

14/10/2026

Penny from .happens chatting all things rashes and what to look out for!
Sickness when starting early learning is normal but this episode helpls you feel a little more prepared and reassured.

Would it surprise you to learn that encouraging your child’s imagination and creative thinking is likely to have a great...
13/10/2026

Would it surprise you to learn that encouraging your child’s imagination and creative thinking is likely to have a greater impact on their future learning than knowing letters and shapes before school? It is also great fun.

Young children tend to be curious, have great imagination and enormous creative capacity. These are valuable qualities that support learning in school and throughout life, and should be nurtured from an early age.

12/10/2026

Will my child ever be ready for Early Learning? Dr Billy Garvey gives us some reassurance.

12/10/2026

Teething can bring drool, a rash, runny poos and a miserable little one. But a fever of 38°C or higher? Treat it as illness, not teething, until proven otherwise.

11/10/2026

You've woken and perhaps your little one is showing signs of being under the weather! What do you do?

Before you grab the meds, look at your kid first.
Ask: how are they actually coping right now?
Can they make it through a full day at childcare or early learning?
If they’re unwell, sometimes the best move is rest, fluids, and less doing.

It’s not about being dramatic - it’s about reading the day honestly and making the call that helps your child, not just the schedule.

What’s your rule when they’re borderline sick?



08/10/2026

Episode 5 of What I Iwish I knew... The Early Learning guide is out NOW!

Illness is an inevitable part of childhood, but it can also be one of the most stressful parts of the early learning journey for families.

This episode will provide you with practical, reassuring information about navigating childhood illness during the early learning years, helping families understand what's common, what to look out for, how to make those difficult "are they well enough to go today?" decisions, and how parents and educators can work together when children are unwell.

The conversation isn't intended to make you fearful about illness or starting early learning. It's about giving you the knowledge and confidence to feel more prepared when sickness inevitably happens.

Listen to the full episode now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ULQaJjePibYRhTml4WO24?si=a657c21b2a984962
happens

06/10/2026

We know when you go on a tour of a early learning service (childcare) it can be daunting and feel overwhelming especially if you're unsure what you can ask.

We have created the Top 5 things to ask on a centre tour! It's free and you can download it now :)

https://www.firstfiveyears.org.au/good-choices

Quality educators play a vital role in easing the transition for children into childcare. They are often the first line ...
04/10/2026

Quality educators play a vital role in easing the transition for children into childcare. They are often the first line of support when children face emotional challenges. High-quality early childhood education settings prioritise understanding each child’s emotional needs, allowing educators to create an environment that is not only safe but also nurturing.

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Murarrie, QLD

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