Goodstart news and advice

Offering children the best possible start in life

The Early Learning Fund ensures children throughout Australia are getting access to quality early learning. read more

How to talk to children about disability

To recognise International Day of People with Disabilities, Goodstart's national lead social inclusion Penny Markham shares some tips on talkin... read more

Goodstart acknowledged for going above and beyond

An initiative undertaken by 40 Goodstart Early Learning centres in Western Australia has been recognised in the AIM WA Pinnacle Awards. read more

Tapping on a journey of learning and discovery

Understanding their community’s need for greater inclusion support has earned the team at Tapping a National Goodie Award. read more

Fun opportunities promote emergent literacy

Goodstart’s social inclusion team is encouraging and supporting early literacy skills through a partnership with the Reading Writing Hotline. read more

Regulating emotions a big learning curve

Sometimes sending children to time out can seem like an effective way to discipline children, but is it really helpful? Or should parents support c... read more

Dealing with separation anxiety

Separation anxiety can be distressing for children and their parents but it is a normal part of childhood development and with a bit of knowledge, ... read more

Planning your return to work

Making the decision about when to return to work after having a baby can be one of the most difficult ones for a new mother. read more

Supporting families the aim of new concept

More than 40 Goodstart Early Learning centres in Western Australia will take part in simultaneous date nights on August 24 and 25 to encourage pare... read more

One, two, three....maths can become second nature

Teaching your child maths might seem like a daunting task, but children develop maths concepts from the moment they're born. read more

Clothes and toy swap gains momentum

A passion for sustainability and a desire to help families and children has led the team at Goodstart Kings Meadow to set up a clothes and toy swap... read more

Celebrity chef shares his tips

Local families took advantage of the opportunity to learn from the best and pick up some nutrition tips at a community cooking event hosted by cele... read more

Family benefits when parents dedicate time to themselves

Sometimes the very notion of time away from our children seems like an impossibility, but there are many benefits when parents dedicate time to the... read more

Simple tips to encourage your child to listen

Any parent will tell you that getting their three and a half year old to actually listen is one of the most frustrating issues they deal with. read more

Don’t try to teach during tantrums

Often our instinct is to use tantrums as an opportunity to help children learn about actions and consequences. But we’ve got it all wrong. read more

How to support children experiencing aggressive outbursts

Learn how can you help the child and keep others safe when everything seems out of control. read more

Three things I value in early learning: a dad’s perspective

Having raised three girls with a stay-at-home parent, I was a little apprehensive when it came to finding a centre for Indie. read more

Share a book with a child this Christmas

Make use of some downtime this Christmas and share a book with a child. read more

Brain science proves the value of early learning

Startling facts on the importance of nurturing and developing a child’s brain in the first five years of life. read more

Overcoming fussy eating

Goodstart Early Learning's Sally Fitzgerald and Tiffany Noble offer up some great tips on feeding fussy children. read more

New mothers group in Clayfield supports first-time parents

A new mothers group at Goodstart Clayfield is providing parents with a support group where they can mix with other first-time mums while their chil... read more

Sleep for children aged three to five years old

Every parent will agree that sleep is the most precious resource when children are small. Making the most of it, and ensuring there is enough, is k... read more

Safety tips for children aged three to five years old

Your preschooler is curious and wants to explore. This means it's now up to you to reduce the risks. read more

Play and learning for children under three years

Play is more than just fun for babies and toddlers. It’s how they learn. And they learn best when they have warm relationships with their main care... read more

Play and learning for children aged 3-5 years old

As children get older, they become more interested in playing and making up games with other children. And while they'll be better at sharing, ... read more

Helping hand for families at Claremont

Families at Goodstart Claremont received a welcome helping hand when they arrived at the centre yesterday. read more

Tips to make the Mother's Day glow last

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program's Professor Matt Sanders writes that parenting is not about perfection, it's about going easy on your... read more

Learning about money through real life experiences

Teaching children where money comes from is the aim of the educators at Goodstart Gawler South. read more

A special day for all to remember

Wearing special badges and carrying a sprig of rosemary, the children at Goodstart Mona Vale will remember their commemoration of Anzac Day for yea... read more

Street library opens world of books to children

Street libraries are popping up throughout the country in an effort to encourage people the chance to read new books, and to create new communities. read more

School meet and greet for all families

Families in the Aspley area whose children will attend school in 2018 and beyond are invited to a school information night at Goodstart Aspley on M... read more

How to connect and communicate with your children

Helping your child develop social and emotional skills during their preschool years will help set them up for success and wellbeing in life. read more

Childcare relief for inner-city families in Brisbane

Families who live or work in Brisbane have welcomed a brand new 209-place early learning centre offering convenient access to long day care and kin... read more

Making connections with your baby or toddler

In part one of a two-part series, we talk about how hugging, smiling and chatting with your baby or toddler can help your child connect with the wo... read more

Encouraging good behaviour in your child

Helping your child learn to manage their behaviour comes down to using simple, positive strategies. In part two of a two-part series, we talk about... read more

Behaviour in children aged three to five years old

The key to helping your child learn to manage their behaviour is to use simple, positive strategies to encourage good behaviour. This is part one o... read more

Quality early education equals better long-term relationships

A new report has found children accessing high-quality education are more likely to be employed full-time and have better relationships with their ... read more

Kindergarten teacher inspiring children to be masters of curiosity

For Goodstart kindergarten teacher Asha Campbell, no day is ever same in her class of 22 children. read more

Tips for returning to work after having your baby

Returning to work can evoke a mix of emotions - from excitement to anxiety and guilt. Here we give you some tips on making your return a smooth tra... read more

Ensuring parents have support key to healthy children

Acknowledging that most parents love their children and want the best for them is essential in developing child welfare in Australia, according to ... read more

Teaching children to make the right choices

A health and wellbeing program at Goodstart Hobart West has been designed to teach children to make the right choices throughout their lives. read more

How to deal with toddlers and tantrums

In the third of a three-part series, we look at behaviour in children under the age of three years old read more

Babies and their body language

In the second of a three-part series, we look at behaviour in children under the age of three years old. read more

Expert holds talks on improving outcomes for children

Child development expert Dr Jack Shonkoff will meet with early childhood professionals to discuss the future of Western Australia's children. read more

Goodstart Morwell helping parents to teach at home

Teaching parents how to interact with their children by including play-based learning in their routine is the aim of a “Play Nights” program at Goo... read more

Chores for children can create a learning experience

Encouraging children to do household jobs can be a chore within itself but it has many benefits – for both children and parents. read more

The importance of taking time out

Providing children with all of the opportunities we may not have had as children is a priority for many parents in 2017. read more

Encouraging children to name their emotions

In the last part of our series, Goodstart Early Learning national manager professional practice Greg Antcliff shares tips on helping children recog... read more

How to give your child a headstart in life

In part three of a four-part series, Goodstart Early Learning national manager professional practice Greg Antcliff shares tips on extending your ch... read more

Childcare package needs fixing to protect families

Up to 100,000 low income families could be could be left worse off if the child care package passes the Senate without amendments to ensure all chi... read more

Is there such a thing as too much praise?

In part two of a four-part series, Goodstart Early Learning national manager professional practice Greg Antcliff shares some advice on praising chi... read more

Learning to play follow the leader

In the first of a four-part series, Goodstart Early Learning national manager professional practice Greg Antcliff shares some advice on following a... read more

Report shows Australia should be helping more families

The high cost of childcare is one reason Australia sits in the bottom third of developed countries for female employment. read more

Lifelong literacy skills the aim of community partnership

A program focused on promoting language development in babies is showing great benefits in the Mackay region. read more

Six tips for starting kindergarten or preschool

Starting kindergarten or preschool is an important milestone in the life of a young child. read more

What will my child learn in kindergarten or preschool?

Giving a child a good start on their learning journey is all about teaching them a wide range of essential skills. read more

New centre will tick all the boxes

A new early learning centre in Brisbane's Adelaide St will be a natural oasis within the heart of the city. read more

Call to do right thing for all Australian families

Thousands of families are being forced to pay the full cost of childcare having already hit the child care assistance rebate cap just weeks into 2017. read more

Home-made library bags are a hit at Goodstart Bowen

Making library bags, borrowing books from an in-centre library and storytelling are all new initiatives the children are enjoying at Goodstart Bowen. read more

New survey exposes doubts and desires of Queensland parents

Housing affordability, unemployment and drug use are the top three worries Queensland parents have for their children, according to the state’s big... read more

Child care reform set to give parents more options

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Education Minister Simon Birmingham visited Goodstart Early Learning Isaacs in Canberra, with child care reform... read more

Tips for cleaning your child's teeth

Learning how to brush teeth is an important lesson for children of all ages. read more

What do kindergarten children really need from grown-ups?

Parents have the chance to see the world through the eyes of their children when they play. read more

Call for dads to get reading

Fathers who make a practice of reading with their children actually become better parents over time, according to a new study by New York University. read more

Why a rest is just as beneficial as sleep

A rest can be just as beneficial for a child as sleep and according to Goodstart’s early learning expert Kylie Dawson it should be factored into a ... read more

Let your child explore, create and discover through messy play

Messy and sensory play can be an especially valuable learning experience for babies and children. read more

Ballarat community hopes to send family to Russia

The Ballarat community has rallied to help a family who have lost their husband and father. read more

Keeping parents in the loop is the aim of program

Children and their educators are working on a program which will send care packages to parents working away. read more

Mindfulness: should we pay attention?

Mindfulness is a practise that has gained in popularity over the past few years. But what is it? And should we be paying attention? read more

A Goodstart to giving this Christmas

More than 250 hampers laden with food, gifts and Christmas fare have been collected for St Vincent de Paul. read more

Easy tips for parents to stimulate learning

Parents are the most important influence on a child’s development in the early years, according to Goodstart’s early learning expert Lisa Palethorpe. read more

Parents from all walks of life benefit from positive parenting

Goodstart Caboolture's Tess Barry is leading the charge in spreading the word about the Triple P program. read more

Families invited to Garran open day

Face painting, a sausage sizzle and art and craft activities will all feature at Goodstart Garran's open day on December 9. read more

Childproofing your Christmas tree

Worried about putting up your Christmas tree with a toddler running around? Never fear, we have put together a list of top tips to childproof your ... read more

Learning natural consequences the key

Looking at natural versus logical consequences can help when dealing with challenging behaviours, according to Dr Becky Bailey. read more

Study shows helping around the house is beneficial

New research shows encouraging children to help around the house improves literacy and numeracy skills. read more

Helping your child cope with big emotions

Working with children to deal with challenging behaviour is a win-win situation for everyone. read more

Bond with dad key to well-adjusted kids

Researchers in the UK have found that children whose dads adjust well to parenthood are less likely to have issues later in life. read more

Building stronger connections with family and children

A program focused on supporting family relationships and building connections with community services is showing great benefits. read more

Tips for moving when your child attends Goodstart

Goodstart can help minimise the disruption to your lives, by helping you find a centre near your new home. read more

Why reading in early years counts

Reading to infants and toddlers produces more benefits that you would imagine. read more

Tips for working with children who bite

Biting is commonly seen in children aged between one and three years old but there are strategies to cope with it. read more

A how-to guide: toilet training

When you're on a busy schedule, toilet training can cause plenty of angst. Check out our tips for success. read more

Meet the voice of Australian parents for issues that matter

Shining the light: In part one of a series, we chat to Parenthood CEO Jo Briskey about the issues that matter. read more

Helpful tips for dealing with swearing

We all know children pick up bad habits from many avenues, but it's how we deal with it that's important. read more

Free Triple P parenting advice and support for Queensland families

Tens of thousands of busy Queensland parents will soon get free parenting advice and counselling at Goodstart Early Learning centres across the sta... read more

Goodstart and RACT team up to help keep children safe in cars

Goodstart Early Learning Hobart West teamed up with RACT to help parents protect their most precious cargo. read more

How to teach your child social skills while you're out running errands

A trip into the outside world with your child isn't just an exciting experience for them - it's also an opportunity to help them develop th... read more

Five ways to enrich your child's early learning

Learn five great ways you can enrich your child's early education - at home! read more

How To Deal With Separation Anxiety

It's only natural to worry about separation anxiety when taking your young one to childcare for the first time. Here are some tips to help you ... read more

Breastfeeding, toilet training and dealing with illness: Addressing your common concerns

As a parent, taking your child to a childcare centre can initially be quite daunting. Let’s look at three of the most common concerns parents... read more

A great start for babies: Helping your baby develop the foundations they need

Babies are born ready to learn. Each new experience or encounter helps lay the foundations for their development as they grow. read more