Kinder kids starting their education journeys in Cardinia have inspired Roger Chao.
The new Kinders Together CEO visited the Garfield Kindergarten, Henry Family Children’s Centre in Pakenham and Avonsleigh Pre-school this month.
He said that watching kids from different circumstances, abilities and nationalities sharing and playing together in the giant sandpit at Henry Family Children’s Centre was uplifting.
“Seeing these kids play so amicably together, regardless of background gives me great hope for the next generation,” he said.
“It’s access to kindergarten which really instils these moral values early on.
“If only our politicians could see this.”
Kinders Together is a not-for-profit, community-based early years manager operating across Cardinia and Baw Baw shires.
There are 20 Kinders Together centres with more than 1300 children in their care, including a significant proportion of rurally isolated children, socio-economically disadvantaged families, newly-arrived migrants, indigenous families and children with additional needs.
He said kinder access was essential to all children.
“Early Childhood Education is the foundation of children’s education and sparks the love of life-long learning and education,” he said.
“Throughout the kindergarten year children develop essential pre-literacy and numeracy skills, social and emotional skills, gross and fine motor skills, problem-solving and resilience skills and a disposition for learning.”
Mr Chao will greet more children, families and educators over the next month.
