Darlo Play Centre Programming

In line with our Philosophy, the Darlo Play Centre’s program is based on the My Time, Our Place Framework for School Aged Children and input from families, children, educators and the local community.

Open ended experiences allow children to explore, investigate and make decisions about their own activities and play experiences at the Centre.

Darlo Play Centre acknowledges and aims to create a program to meet the five learning outcomes for children in the My Time, Our Place Framework which are:

Outcome 1

Children have a strong sense of identity

Outcome 2

Children are connected with and contribute to their world 

Outcome 3

Children have a strong sense of wellbeing 

Outcome 4

Children are confident and involved learners 

Outcome 5

Children are effective communicators 

Play Based & Environmental Learning

At Darlo Play Centre we aim to provide play based environment adopting holisitic approaches, and educators are responsive to all children’s strengths, abilities and interests. Programs are designed in consultation with the children and based on each child’s social, physical, emotional, recreational, intellectual and creative developmental needs. Children are free to choose their own activities or to participate in planned activities.

The program aims to provide activities to suit all ages and interest, both indoors and outdoors. Educators make use of spontaneous “teachable moments” to scaffold children’s development. Craft and art activities are a normal part of the children’s leisure activities and are offered every day at Darlo Play Centre

Our Focus on “Free Play”

At Darlo Play Centre we are committed to Article 31 of the UN Convention on the rights of the child-the child’s right to play and leisure oppourtunities. Free play and leisure activities provide opportunities for children to learn as they discover, create, improvise and imagine. We give children the choice and freedom to play within a safe and supportive environment.

By giving children unstructured play time to engage in discovery, physical, creative, imaginative and manipulative play we are allowing children to develop socially, emotionally and cognitively. We strive to create an environment with plenty of options for the children to choose from. When children choose what and how to play, they learn important skills and life lessons that are different to those they learn when playing adult-directed games and activities. At Play Centre, educators allow time and create spaces that encourage children to explore, build relationships, solve problems and create meaning.