Establish a learning environment.

Your environment will be your home, your balcony or backyard, your local park, the beach, or some bushland. In each of these environments there will be an abundance of opportunities to learn and engage. 

Start with a learning environment audit.

Observe the potential in each area and make some decisions to change a few things around. Many of these will be very obvious, but it’s always valuable to look at your home with different eyes.

0-6 year olds

For each area in and around your home determine:

• Spaces for independent work/ play
• Spaces for active movement, running and climbing
• Space for quiet reading
• Opportunities for meaningful practical life tasks
• Areas that children need to avoid during their independent time (eg, laundry, parent work area, check for any chemicals or hazards stored where children can reach.)
• Is the kitchen a place children can independently get their own snack, glass of water?
• Are there too many distractions in the learning spaces (excessive amount of toys, books, etc)

6-12 year olds

Involve your child in the learning environment audit. 

• Where would you like your work space to be?
• Where would you like to rest, read?
• Where and how would you like to be active (play, run around, climb)?
• Ask them to organise a shelf where their school related work can be kept
• Check that you have the essentials with stationery tools
• Is there a computer available for your child (9-12 year olds especially, but we may also ask 6-9 year olds to use)
• Check your internet speed (5Mps download, upload and faster is good)
• Check your internet filters so inappropriate websites are blocked Is the kitchen set up for your child to independently access food and water
• Check distractions in the environments
• Know your neighbourhood and seek out all the learning opportunities that abound within a short distance from where you live