#early-childhood-education

#early-childhood-education

A member of our research team handed a five-year-old a crayon and asked her to draw what makes her feel like she belongs at school. She drew herself surrounded by Lego blocks. "I feel like I belong to school when I am playing Lego," she wrote. This wasn't what we expected in our latest study. After analyzing drawings and conversations with 108 children in their first year of school across Melbourne, our research team discovered something important.

The preschoolers were fascinated, looking at their classroom through the lens of an iPad camera, watching animated images pop up as a cheerful voice told them: Feed apples to a pig behind a haystack. Select the carnival ride located between two sets of balloons. While the game delighted these 3- and 4-year-olds, they were actually participating in a serious research project that is developing an important foundation for their future in math - spatial thinking and its integrated vocabulary, a skill typically overlooked in early education.

From swim lessons to tutoring, today's most successful children's franchises are finding innovative ways to support kids' growth, learning and confidence - while also providing strong opportunities for entrepreneurs. Based on the 2025 Franchise 500, these brands represent the best in their categories, combining proven systems, trusted reputations and scalable business models. Whether it's early education, enrichment programs or adventure-filled activities, these companies are shaping the future for the next generation.

The preschool and community center-a $3 million renovation project which just held an opening celebration in early August and will begin operations in early September-fills a void in most homeless housing and service centers. Services for children and families remain very hard to come by, preventing many single parents and families that are unhoused from transitioning to a more stable and secure housing situation. The Betty Bazaar Center is the first state-licensed childcare center to open adjacent to homeless housing.

The city's Department of Education is opening an Early Childhood Learning center this fall at 1972 Broadway, catering to students with special needs such as autism, cognitive delays, and emotional disabilities.

Labour pledges to create an integrated network of family hubs that would be so popular and entrenched that no future government could dismantle it. This initiative will build on the legacy of Sure Start and aims to close the attainment gap between poorer and richer children.