Everyday support for families through Long Day Care
Majella Long Day Care and Kindergarten is a nurturing early learning centre surrounded by bushland, where every child is supported to grow, explore and thrive.
Through the garden program at Our Lady of the Rosary Kindergarten, children’s curiosity grows into care, connection and a deep respect for the natural world.
Wednesday mornings bring a special kind of excitement at Our Lady of the Rosary Kindergarten in Kenmore. Children gather around garden beds, eyes wide with wonder, as they check on seedlings, search for insects and tend to the plants they’ve come to know and care for.
Earlier this year the kindergarten invited Robyn from Eco Learnings to introduce a gardening program. Her weekly visits have helped grow the project into a vibrant, hands-on exploration of the natural world.
Kindergarten Director Gillian said the gardening program began as a response to children’s deepening interest in nature, sustainability and where food comes from. “Children use creativity and curiosity as tools to explore their world,” said Gillian. “Our goal was to harness this curiosity to foster environmental awareness while enhancing their connection to the natural world.”
Robyn from Eco Learnings shares her love for nature with curious minds during a garden session.
The children gather to learn from Robyn, whose visits bring nature-based learning to life.
Robyn introduces the group to Australian bush tucker, sparking conversation about native plants and culture.
Children nurture new seedlings with “plant medicine” (banana water) learning how small actions help plants grow strong.
A simple wooden spoon becomes a thoughtful plant label — part of the kindy’s sustainable gardening approach.
Robyn gently supports a child as they learn to care for the garden with love and responsibility.
Kindergarten Director Gillian joins the children in the garden, sharing moments of connection and discovery.
With guidance from a trusted educator, a child plants with purpose, building a sense of agency and care.
Hands-on learning in action — Robyn helps the children care for their growing garden community.
What makes the program unique is Robyn’s collaborative approach. Rather than leading the sessions entirely herself, Robyn supports and empowers educators to take the lead.
“Robyn’s collaborative model empowers our educators to build on children’s interests while integrating meaningful sustainability practices into daily routines,” said Gillian.
Beyond Robyn’s sessions, gardening-related experiences are thoughtfully embedded across the curriculum. Children take part in watering, harvesting and observing the garden’s changing seasons. They incorporate flowers and herbs into art, dramatic play and sensory experiences. These everyday moments support a wide range of learning outcomes—from scientific inquiry and problem-solving to physical wellbeing and emotional regulation.
“Our garden is a living, evolving part of the curriculum,” said Gillian. “From active learning to wellbeing, even literacy and numeracy are included through documentation, signs and counting tasks in the garden,” Gillian said.
A recent highlight for the children has been their growing fascination with pollinators and the captivating arrival of a Monarch butterfly chrysalis. “They’ve affectionately referred to it as their class pet,” said Gillian. “The children engage in scientific inquiry, make predictions and share their observations with peers and educators.”
Through experiences like these, children are gently taught to respect their physical surrounds. They are also gaining a deeper understanding of food systems and sustainable practices through composting, conserving water and (hopefully soon) harvesting their own vegetables. These meaningful experiences help nurture respect for living things and empower children to be thoughtful creators.
Everything the children do in the garden — whether it’s planting, exploring, or just quietly observing — helps them develop a sense of agency and responsibility as they begin to understand that they can care for the world around them.
For both educators and children, Robyn’s involvement continues to be a source of inspiration and connection. She brings deep knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, while modelling ways to embed sustainability into daily practice.
“For children, Robyn has become a valued part of their learning community,” Gillian shared. “Her presence supports ongoing professional development, enhancing the educators’ capacity to deliver high-quality, responsive and intentional teaching.”
At Our Lady of the Rosary Kindergarten, the garden is more than just a place to grow plants — it’s a space where children grow in understanding, care and connection, learning how to tend not just to the earth, but to one another.
