We have created a list of four different extracurricular activities – offered in our centre at no extra cost – that complement academic learning to guide children to become well-rounded individuals.
Early Childhood Education is more than just child-minding or counting and recognising colours. We understand these skills are important, and with a holistic education means an investment in a more fruitful future with benefits that last a lifetime.
The four activities help children explore, be creative and confident and help in the growth of their mind and body to give them the best start to their future and a life-long love of learning.
Multi-sport classes
Sport classes help develop physical skills while children have a lot of fun.
At Little Genius Academy, we organise different sports programs tailored for little ones. The activities provide children the opportunity to develop their physical abilities and help in their growth, and their fitness. In turn, it provides them the knowledge and capability to be active and enjoy a larger variety of activities as they grow up.
Dance classes
Children who are confident while moving, dancing and playing games will have more fun and therefore they will continue to seek out movement. This will help them develop a healthy lifestyle and incorporate dance and fitness as a natural part of their lives. The concept seems simple, yet it’s so vital – especially as inactivity levels among children continues to increase.
Our classes give children the chance to learn skills such as coordination, balance, confidence, team work, leadership, memory and creativity.
Through the dance sessions, children develop a greater range of movement. They listen to the music, sing along and dance, which is important for self-expression. Children can’t always communicate their feelings through words, so it’s useful for them to have a healthy outlet for their emotions.
Music classes
Incorporating music into early childhood education promotes social interaction and language growth. When done right, musical experiences teach children about emotion, language and impart abstract concepts in a simple manner – all important to help a child prepare for school.
Many studies have proven the power of music to enhance memory, improve confidence, strengthen learning capabilities and develop motor skills. Exposure to positive music experiences from early childhood helps children to speak more clearly, develop a larger vocabulary and strengthen the connection between the mind and body.
Music teaches children about the sounds and meanings of words. Songs that involve action and hand gestures that follow the music teach children to coordinate, as they move and sing at the same time. Music has a tempo and teaching young children songs that have rhythms and beats or learning to march in time to a tune can help students to learn the rhythm of speaking and improve their communication skills.
Language classes - including Chinese
As many schools in Australia recognise the importance of the Chinese language and start offering Chinese classes, we at Little Genius Academy is already one step ahead. We give children an early start and teach them Chinese mandarin on a weekly basis. As the most-widely spoken language in the world, it is something that will be useful in the future no matter what part of the world you live in.
A number of research studies have shown that children who have learned a second language at a young age demonstrate cognitive advantages, such as increased problem-solving skills and creativity. Studying another language also helps children deal with abstract concepts.
Apart from Chinese, our educators will also use the Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program, which is digital, play-based and designed for preschoolers. It is an Australian Government initiative aimed at inspiring children to cultivate a genuine interest in new languages and cultures. The program uses play-based apps called The Polyglots and there are nine languages on offer.
Learning a language is not just about the vocabulary, it also entails learning about a new culture. In our multicultural society, it is important to learn about different cultures, communities and understand differences. This can aid children to develop friendships with many different people when they go to school.
We want what is best for children and that is why all these extracurricular activities are offered without any extra cost.