Looking for the best childcare centre for holistic learning? Here’s what really matters.

We see many parents wondering to themselves, “Am I doing enough?” or “Is my child hitting all the milestones as they should be?”

Sometimes it’s triggered by a chat with another parent at pick-up, hearing what a friend’s child can already do or scrolling through social media. But it leaves you wondering if your child should know more letters, be talking more, sit still for longer or show more interest in numbers.

We want to remind you that children aren’t all meant to learn the same things at the same time. It’s why Edge takes a holistic approach to early learning. Of course, learning letters and numbers is important, but building confidence, making friends, learning to solve problems, becoming independent and staying curious are just as important.

At Edge Early Learning, we see every child as an individual. We get to know what they are interested in, what builds their confidence and how they learn best, then support them to keep growing from there.

Does every child learn differently?

Yes, absolutely! Think about your own child. Maybe they’re happiest outside collecting sticks and leaves. Maybe they’ll spend half an hour building a train track, but lose interest after five minutes of colouring in. Maybe they’re the child who wants to know how absolutely everything works.

None of those children are “ahead” or “behind”. They’re just learning in ways that make sense to them.

It’s one of the things our educators love most about teaching children during these early years. Every child brings their own beautiful personality, interests and way of exploring the world, and that’s something we believe is worth celebrating.

“Every child brings their own little spark into the learning space, their unique traits, their giggles, their gentle moments, their bold ideas, their cultural stories, their ways of exploring the world… When we really slow down and notice them, we can feel how different each child’s rhythm is. Some dive in headfirst, some take their time, some watch quietly before joining, and all of it is perfectly okay. That’s why there just isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all approach to development,” says Edge Early Learning’s Program and Practice Lead for the Gold Coast and Logan childcare centres, Daniele Oliveira.

“Children grow in their own beautiful, messy, magical ways, and when we honour who they are, not who we expect them to be. We create a place where they feel safe, loved, and free to become themselves.”

So… what does holistic education actually mean?

‘Holistic learning’ is one of those phrases you hear all the time, but no one really explains. We like to keep it simple as it means we don’t just focus on one part of your child’s development.

It’s also the direction early childhood education is taking nationally. The Australian Government’s new Preschool Outcomes Measure recognises that children’s development is about much more than academic skills alone. Instead of comparing children against each other, it supports educators to understand each child’s individual learning, including areas like the self-regulation, oral language and overall development.

Of course, we want children to build early literacy and numeracy skills, but we also want them to be able to problem solve, make friends, bounce back after disappointment, ask questions, and feel independent and confident enough to always have a go. These are the skills they’ll use every day, long after they’ve left childcare!

Learn more about our Teach A Rainbow education program and our holistic approach.

What does this mean for your family?

It means your child doesn’t need to be exactly like anyone else, and we value their individuality. They don’t need to love painting if they love climbing. They don’t need to be the loudest child in the room if they’re quietly taking everything in. Tthey don’t need to reach every milestone in exactly the same way as their friends.

We think it’s so incredibly important that they’re supported, encouraged and given opportunities to keep growing in the way that feels right for them. That’s what holistic education really is.

The best way to understand our approach is to see it for yourself. Find your nearest Edge Early Learning centre and discover how we support every child’s unique way of learning.