Some childcare centres close a while before New Year's Eve on 31st December, while others operate into the evening when the celebrations have already started. The New Year is a special time for Australians. Children will notice the vibrant atmosphere and may attend a fireworks display with their family.
New Year celebrations align with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). They inspire curiosity, imagination and creativity (4.1). They help children develop a strong sense of identity (1), a sense of belonging (2.1), and connect with people and place (4.4).
Learning experiences
- Tell stories about new beginnings and fresh starts.
- Discuss the future and what the children hope to achieve in the new year. Create a vision board to represent their goals and aspirations.
- Create a new year's time capsule with items from the current year. Bury it in your playground and dig it up in twelve months.
- Make a new year's memory book with pictures, stories, and mementos from the past year.
- Make a new year's timeline that shows events and highlights of the past year.
- Make new year's decorations such as streamers, confetti, and banners. Have a party!
Discussions
- What made you proud this year?
- What was the best thing that happened this year?
- What have you learned this year?
- What happened this year?
- Who was a good friend to you this year?
- What do you want to happen next year?