Currently Chess Mates teach through numerous schools and daycares throughout Brisbane and foster a love for learning through chess that helps children grow into well-rounded adults. Their games aren’t competitive and they’re all about learning, playing games, and making friends.

Chess Classes for School Kids

Chess Classes are currently available throughout Brisbane and on weekends in Bulimba, Sunnybank and Kenmore though all schools are welcome to register their interest. This is an ideal activity to incorporate into your school or after school care program. For schools, they teach chess classes with a focus on teamwork and co-operation. They provide individual reviews which are sent out to parents on a term basis with the aim of involving parents in their child’s journey and progress. If you are wanting to know more about how to make this happen just contact Chess Mates directly using the link at the bottom of this page.

Chess Classes for 3 to 5 Year Olds

Improving spatial awareness, promoting critical thinking and advancing problem solving skills are just some of the wonderful benefits achieved in learning to play chess. As children absorb information far more readily in their early years, teaching chess to toddlers can have the greatest lasting effect. It has also been documented that academic performance at school by children who have played chess from as young as 3 years of age can be improved by as much as 20% over non-chess playing children.

An intelligent game

Essential developmental skills are heightened through the playing of chess from a young age. Importantly, chess has been shown to improve memory, creativity, concentration and reading skills. The development of planning skills, high-order thinking skills and independent decision making are advanced. Chess has also been shown to assist in academic performance in maths and science at school.

Weekly educational programs with Chess Mates

Weekly classes with Chess Mates focus on teaching chess tactics and piece movement and are always a fun experience for the kids. Following a class, parents will receive an email reviewing the content and documenting their child’s progression. Parents are even invited to attend weekly sessions to see just how enjoyable classes with Chess Mates can be. Weekly educational sessions are held throughout south-east Queensland every week. All teachers hold a current blue card and child care classes run for 30 minutes. Just visit the Chess Mates to find one close to you and to register for a FREE trial class.

You can find out more about Chess Mates’ wonderful classes in this video –

Parent Testimonials

This is what Emma had to say about Chess Mates chess classes for her daughter Sofia –

“Hi Ash – I just wanted to let you know that I’m consistently receiving positive feedback from Sofia (and often joyous excitement) about what’s she’s learnt in her Monday chess class. My husband and I are very impressed with how much Sofia has learnt, retained and applied to playing chess at home – what pieces are called and how they can move on the board – as a result of her lessons with you.”

Doing well in tests like NAPLAN is also important because many schools use these exams to decide whether or not to offer your child a sought-after scholarship, entry into a special class or even entry into a school. There is a lot of worry and stress, because parents, on the one hand, are desperate to help their children, but on the other, have no idea where to even start with test preparation.

Why not start by trying out Exam Success’ teaching test bank for yourself? Get access to 40 free sample questions suitable for selective school and scholarship tests here.

Exam Success has experience in helping thousands of parents prepare their children for important exams since 2011. They create test preparation resources such as online courses and practice questions to help your child ace their exams.

Here is a video review from one of Exam Success’ parents – Sonny, whose child, Jaze, was successful in obtaining both a selective school offer and a scholarship offer.  They used Exam Success’s online courses:

Here’s one of their most popular videos – 7 Must-Know Tactics to Ace Scholarships and Selective School Tests – that have helped thousands of students and parents prepare for selective school and scholarship tests:

Tests and exams – A part of life

Test preparation is crucial when your child will likely sit an exam more than once in their lifetime.

Over 1 million students sit a NAPLAN test whether it is in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 and many schools are transitioning your child to do NAPLAN Online.

The top public schools in Queensland – arguably Brisbane State High School and Queensland Academies, offer selective entry. A way to gain entry into these schools is to do a competitive selective entrance exam.

Finally, if your child wishes to get a private school scholarship (the savings usually run to more than $24,000 over 6 years), it’s virtually certain that they will need to sit an ACER, Edutest or Academic Assessment Services scholarship test.

Test preparation is absolutely necessary

Parents are often concerned whether or not to do test preparation, and if so, how?

Test preparation is absolutely necessary. You wouldn’t run a marathon without preparation, so why let your child do an exam that decides their crucial next 1-6 future years without preparation?

There are reports that companies that write tests e.g. ACER, Edutest and Academic Assessment Services, discourage coaching, however, preparation works.

The Department of Education’s report on the NSW selective schools test (ACER write this test, the same writers of Brisbane State High School’s test), found in a review of 10 years’ worth of test papers that “high scores can be achieved by correctly answering moderately difficult questions with great consistency – which can result from preparation and practice.”

Furthermore, the same report stated:

“Students who discussed their coaching experiences expressed confidence in their test taking skills and could identify strategies to manage time and interpret questions. They also reported that they were rarely surprised by test questions. By contrast, students who hadn’t engaged in coaching or had other test preparation assistance reported that they were often surprised by questions and the test format, ran out of time, and struggled to understand questions.”

Test preparation often gets a bad rap because of negative media reports of children cramming and putting in endless hours of work to only become stressed out.

However, good test preparation doesn’t require endless hours of cramming or huge stress.

Good test preparation is supposed to reduce stress because your child feels more prepared.

Smart test preparation helps your child learn strategies to deal with time limits and to do problem solving better.

Good and smart test preparation is absolutely necessary. Not being prepared means starting an exam at a disadvantage.

Learn how you can do good test preparation with Exam Success below.

Learn directly from experts & do your best test preparation ever

Exam Success creates study materials designed for your child’s success.

They have helped children aged 9 through to 17 and can help your child prepare for exams like:

• NAPLAN Online Grade 3, 5, 7 & 9
• Brisbane State High School selective entry
• Queensland Academies Selective Entry and other programs such as Brilliant Futures
• Private school scholarships – grammar, Anglican, boarding and various other schools.

Exam Success can help your child can get prepared for their very important test through expert created teaching test banks, online courses and writing programs that help your child ace their test.

Teaching test banks

Exam Success’ test bank questions give your child real exam practice.

Their questions have been reported by parents to be similar to the difficulty level that children have experienced when they have sat an ACER, Academic Assessment Services or Edutest prepared test.

The teaching test bank is Exam Success’ newest service that helps your child:

• Get practice on 600 sample test questions.
• Understand how an expert would answers the question in under 60 seconds, and
• Learn how to answer questions in 5 steps of less in a dedicated solutions video.

Here’s an example of one of Exam Success’ abstract reasoning questions available under the Teaching Test Bank designed for students that are about to sit a Brisbane State High School exam (sitting in Year 6):

Online courses

If you don’t know where to start preparing for a test, Exam Success’ selection of online courses provides comprehensive test preparation from start to finish at a fraction of the price you would pay compared to getting a private tutor or going to an in-person tutoring centre.

The courses, like all their test preparation resources, are prepared by experts. They are like an online interactive text book that provides your child with video explanation, test questions and solutions videos.

Exam success have deferred their holiday programs to Feb 2021.

Writing programs

Exam Success’ writing programs use an in-house developed scoring system that evaluates your child’s writing in 52-points and provides a 350+ word feedback report to help your child improve their writing. There are a number of practice writing packages that allow your child to:

• Practice with various types of prompts (narrative and persuasive)
• View writing pieces from students that were successful in gaining high scores, and
• Get personalised feedback and insight into what’s holding back their writing from getting top scores.

Past student success & reviews

Exam Success is grateful for the opportunity to be able to assist and support thousands of students over the years, including Nathan, Brisbane resident and the winner of Child Genius 2018 on SBS over the years.

Past students Exam Success have helped have gained entrance or scholarships into:

• Brisbane State High School (entrance when sitting exam in Year 5 & entrance when sitting the exam in Year 6).
• Queensland Academies Selective Entry (Year 7).
• Queensland Academies Brilliant Futures.
• Queensland Academies
• The Lakes College
• Other private schools in Queensland.

Parents have said:

“Thanks a lot for your training for my son prudhvi. The writing club helped him a lot. He got into Brisbane State High and also into Queensland Academies. I have recommended couple of my friends and they have enrolled their kids into writing clubs. I will continue to use your resources. Thanks a lot.” – Uma, a mother.

Here are a selection of Google reviews of Exam Success:

Get prepared, reduce stress & ace that test

Exam Success creates study materials designed for your child’s success, all located conveniently online.

And, you can rest assured that your child is learning with experts.

Exam Success has been quoted on publications like the Herald Sun, Domain Review and Hume Leader for test preparation. Their test preparation material is overseen by a team directed by a former University of Melbourne scholar who attended a selective school. The University of Melbourne is the No. 1 ranked university in Australia.

It’s the easiest way to do test preparation in the comfort of your own home – learning directly from experts!

If your child has a test, whether it be NAPLAN, a selective school test or scholarship test, please visit Exam Success to see how they can support your child to do their best test preparation ever.

ABC Reading Eggs is the multi-award winning online reading program for kids aged 2–13 and helps ease into this transition in the most fun, engaging way. With hundreds of educational games, activities, songs, animations, and a highly motivating rewards system kids will love learning to read.

Literacy is the foundation to doing well in all subjects and is proven to lead to future academic success. Therefore, it’s so important to know if kids have dropped skills during breaks from school and give them a helping hand to get them up to speed.

Refresh Reading Skills to Build Back to School Confidence

Jumping on ABC Reading Eggs Placement Test takes the guesswork out, letting you know where your child is at and which areas of concern they need to get cracking on. Progress reports also help you stay in the know about your child’s progress.

 

With school on the horizon, now’s a great time to take advantage of ABC Reading Eggs free 30-day trial. Up to four kids will be able to access Reading Eggs Junior (ages 2–4) Reading Eggs (ages 3–7) Fast Phonics (5-10) and Reading Eggspress (ages 7–13). They’ll also be able to jump on the ABC Mathseeds program to brush up on essential numeracy skills (ages 3-9).

Scientifically Proven Reading Program to Learn to Read

ABC Reading Eggs covers all aspects of learning to read, focusing on a core curriculum of the five essential keys to reading success – phonics and phonemic awareness, sight words, vocabulary, comprehension, and reading for meaning.

The program is based on solid scientific research and created by expert Australian educators with over 30 years of experience. After a few short weeks, 91% of parents report a noticeable improvement.

Positive Screen Time to Build Independent Learning

Let’s face it, the future is online, and kids love device time, but parents don’t always feel the same. ABC Reading Eggs ensures both parents and kids are happy. Kids can have fun learning, while parents can feel comforted knowing their little ones are on a KidSafe certified and ad-free learning program.

The interactive program keeps kids on task and motivated. Parents can guide kids through the program or let them tackle it solo. This is a great way to build the independence and confidence needed once kids are back at school.

Access to 3500 amazing e-books!

Did you know your ABC Reading Eggs trial includes access to a library brimming with 3500 e-books? Whether your child is just starting on their reading journey or is a more experienced reader keen to explore facts about their favourite subject, there are books for all stages and interests to keep kids reading!

Homeschool

However your child goes back to school, whether at home or at a brick-and-mortar building, ABC Reading Eggs is there to support your family. Homeschooling parents and kids can access all the learning resources needed for home learning success from learning activities and games, certificates, printouts and supplementary worksheets.

Get the best start with ABC Reading Eggs, also knowing that the program is there to help support your child from the comfort of their home, through the entire school year! Get your Free ABC Reading Eggs Trial today!

Testimonials

“A real turning point in my son’s reading development. The most beneficial tool I have encountered.” – Kevin

“This app is fantastic. I think I might even love it more than the kids because not only do I get to watch them enjoy doing it, I know it is actually benefiting and advancing their literacy! My 5-year-old is already recognising letters which is amazing. There is so much to offer in this app, it’s impossible for them to get bored of it. It offers everything. I’m happy for them to have iPad time now – game changer!” – Peta

“Love this program we use it for homeschool and found it great 5/5” – Karley

“Such an amazing resource. Level appropriate, right amount of sparkle and shine to keep the kids interested while learning. The achievements and tasks are a great help in keeping the kids motivated as well. Nicely done! 5/5” – Roy

Who is Teacup Coach?

Teacup Coach is founded by Jayme, who is an experienced International Coaching Federation trained Master Life Coach and Master Neurolinguistic Programming practitioner. Jayme is a mum, wife, sister, aunt, friend, farmer, and a small business owner. Following a corporate career based on supporting people in business, Jayme created Teacup Coach after hearing too many stories of kids, of all ages, who struggle with their mental health. She has lived experiences in supporting and empowering children and their parents that make her ideal to coach and uplift you and your family. Her passion lies with building a village approach through becoming a Standing Strong Club for kids and providing personal leadership coaching for parents. She is also a youth coach with mental health first aid, as well as a Performance and Leadership Consultant and Coach.

Standing Strong Club

Strength From Within – School Holiday Workshops

Boost your child’s wellbeing with captivating one-day Strength From Within school holiday workshops with Teacup Coach.

Strength From Within are one day workshops held in the Indooroopilly area and are designed to nurture growth and self-discovery in kids aged 7 to 12 years. Workshops help your child unlock the strength within them through interactive activities, fun games, and engaging discussions around the three pillars of Standing Strong – STRONG Body (movement), STRONG Mind (mindset) and STRONG Heart (mindfulness).

There are over 40 topics that make up the Standing Strong Club and hundreds of activities that change over each holiday period. That means your child will have a different experience every time they go to a Teacup Coach holiday workshop.

Strength From Within workshops are a beautiful experience that provide a supportive and inspiring environment where children can flourish, be curious, and build their confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.

April Holiday Workshop Details

The wellbeing topics for the Strength From Within school holiday workshops with Teacup Coach are:

• Working Through Anger
• What is Resilience?
• Choosing Happiness

There are two workshops on:

• Friday 5th April 2024
• Friday 12th April 2024

Don’t forget to get your discount voucher from the Brisbane Kids Autumn 2024 Holiday Guide!

Book online at https://teacupcoach.com/school-holiday-workshops/

Term Programs – Small Group Coaching

Teacup Coach has launched their STRONG small group coaching term programs in 2024. The STRONG small group coaching are supportive, interactive, and uplifting programs designed to help feel children face the world standing strong.

These coaching programs runs for an hour every week throughout the school term. There is a different topic each week for the children to explore and sessions include all three Standing Strong pillars – STRONG Body (movement), STRONG Mind (mindset) and STRONG Heart (mindfulness). Through the STRONG group coaching programs, kids learn how to:

• Adjust to changes in life including school, friends and family
• Understand thoughts and feelings by learning emotional intelligence
• Become more self-aware
• Discover their values, goals and boundaries
• Create a positive body image
• Deal with bullying, competition, failure and life pressure
• Foster a strong sense of self
• Live a happy, healthy, and inspired life
• Build confidence, resilience and self-esteem
• Practice gratitude and self-care
• Feel like they belong
• Develop and practice mindfulness and stress management skills.

You can join the following STRONG group coaching programs:

• STRONG Juniors – girls & boys 7-12 years
• STRONG Juniors Homeschool Program – girls & boys 7-12 years

Other STRONG group coaching programs Teacup Coach is looking to launch include:

• STRONG Little Ones – girls & boys 5-6/7 years
• STRONG Teens – girls & boys 13+

Small group coaching term programs are a proactive approach to supporting your child’s overall wellbeing that will help them develop life-long skills to deal with challenges and opportunities in their lives now, and into the future.

Get Ready! Programs

As your growing child prepares to take on or transition in their school life, it’s essential to foster their health and wellbeing, providing them with a solid foundation for a successful future. The Get Ready! programs at Teacup Coach are exclusive and specially designed to nurture kids mental and emotional readiness for their school adventures. Teacup Coach recognises that this stepping stone in our kids’ lives is not just about the logistical aspects. It involves a mix of excitement, curiosity, uncertainty, and anxiety. It’s also about creating an environment where children feel heard, understood, and empowered in their school adventure. This is why the evidence-based and non-clinical Get Ready! Programs by Teacup Coach take a holistic and proactive approach to the health and wellbeing of your child in the lead up to this transition. In a safe and fun environment, this program provides a range of tools and strategies to equip your child to embrace and Get Ready! with confidence.

Embodying the three pillars of Standing Strong – STRONG Body (movement), STRONG Mind (mindset) and STRONG Heart (mindfulness) – the Get Ready! programs explore concept of change in your kids’ lives, the emotions that may arise, how these can be challenging, and what your child can do to understand, and embrace these experiences.

The Get Ready! For Prep program is tailored to your little ones starting school. The Get Ready! For High School program is for your maturing tweens. Both programs cover similar topics from the Standing Strong Club and are delivered to engage the children in line with their development and age.

Get Ready! For Prep

The Get Ready! For Prep program focuses on activities and discussion around moving from kindy or home to school life. In addition to dealing with change, the program explores making friends, kindness, and self-care with the children. Engagement with the little ones will be gentle and full of fun and enthusiasm.

This program will return in Term 4 of 2024.

Get Ready! For High School

The Get Ready! For High School program emphasises the significant shift from primary to high school recognizing the multitude of challenges that can accompany this transition. In delivery of the program, Teacup Coach takes into account the cognitive and developmental maturation of your tweens as they navigate this change. In addition to dealing with change, this valuable program dives into the valuable topics of friendship changes and self-care. Engagement with your tweens will encourage them to be inclusive, curious, respectful, and optimistic to adopt a growth and positive mindset as they approach the shift to high school.

This program will return in Term 4 of 2024.

Youth Coaching

Being founded by an accredited trained Master Life Coach, the personal nature of youth coaching is something that Jayme at Teacup Coach holds dear. Youth Coaching is a gift of allowing someone to become your child’s personal cheerleader, sounding board and shoulder to lean on.

At Teacup Coach, the essence of youth coaching lies in fostering the growth of young people and offering them guidance to empower them to flourish now, and into the future.

Teacup Coach youth coaching takes a child-centered approach, assisting children to navigate tricky times in their lives with an emphasis on:

• Cultivating considered decision-making skills
• Setting meaningful goals
• Fostering positive attitudes
• Nurturing personal leadership qualities
• Promoting accountability
• Providing encouragement
• Valuing connections
• Ensuring non-judgement.

Youth Coaching is part of the village approach to supporting children, while easing the pressure and giving comfort to parents. A youth coach is a trusted person who can give your child the opportunity to talk freely and confidentially about any aspect of their lives.

Testimonials

“I really liked it. It was very fun and you are very kind. It was great exercise. You did a great job. Thanks for making learning fun. It was a really good time with you. I think it is a great way to learn how to stand strong and learn about our comfort and growth zone’s. My favourite was the bubbles!” – Miss 9

“Thank you. Miss 8 really enjoyed it and said she learnt some new things. She proudly shared her gratitude dice and folder with us all and said she wants to go back. A success in my view. Well done, what an excellent initiative.” – Mum of Miss 8

“The Standing Strong workshop with Teacup Coach helped me improve my confidence and self-love. 5 STARS!” – Mr 7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Standing Strong about? Standing Strong is a multi-award winning health and wellbeing organisation providing uplifting and empowering wellbeing programs for young people aged 5-18yrs. An Australian based organisation, Standing Strong programs are designed to help young people feel connected, supported, valued, and heard. Through the three core components of Strong Body (movement), Strong Mind (mindset) and Strong Heart (mindfulness), Standing Strong Clubs take a holistic approach to building confidence, self-esteem, and resilience in young people. While programs are non-clinical, they are developed by clinicians, are child-centred, and are evidenced-based. This combination supports children now and into the future by developing strategies and providing tools to help realise opportunities and navigate challenges when they inevitably arise.

Teacup Coach is licenced to deliver these amazing programs using trained instructors who have additional aspirations and qualifications around supporting children and families. Through the Standing Strong Club, Teacup Coach is taking a village approach to supporting the community.

How can Standing Strong support my child? All the programs at Teacup Coach are crafted to foster essential wellbeing skills, confidence, and emotional awareness. Each program incorporates the Standing Strong core components of STRONG Body (movement), STRONG Mind (mindset) and STRONG Heart (mindfulness). This provides a holistic and proactive approach to your child’s wellbeing to help them through challenges and realise opportunities in their lives not only now, but into the future.

My child is confident and doesn’t have any issues with wellbeing. Why would I send them to one of these programs? Teacup Coach as a Standing Strong Club takes a proactive approach to building mental, emotional, social, and physical wellbeing life skills in children. The specially designed programs equip young people with tools, strategies, and resources to deal with tricky and challenging times in their lives when they arise.

What qualifications and experience to the instructors have? Most sessions will be run by Teacup Coach’s Founder, Jayme Harrison, who has a passion for nurturing young minds and empowering families to embrace wellbeing. Jayme is a mum herself who has been working with kids for over 2 years. Jayme holds a Blue Card, First Aid certificate, and mental health for first aid certificate. She is also a youth coach and International Coaching Federation-trained Master Life Coach and Master Neurolinguistic Programming practitioner. Jayme has the ability to connect with kids of all ages and has a knack for creating positive, fun, and empowering learning environments.

Will my child need any specific materials or supplies for the program? All necessary materials and supplies will be provided by Teacup Coach. Further information is provided when you book your child into a program.

What if my child feels uncomfortable and doesn’t want to participate? Teacup Coach understands that every child is unique, and they are skilled at creating a
supportive and encouraging environment where kids feel motivated and excited about each session. The program is designed to be interactive, engaging and lots of fun. There will be a variety of activities to cater to different learning styles. If your child feels uncomfortable, they’ll support them to adjust and feel at ease as much as possible.

Do I stay with my child during the program? The programs are designed for independent participation; however Teacup Coach understands that leaving your child is a big step, and they want you to feel comfortable and assured. During any of their programs, you’re more than welcome to be nearby while your child participates. The venue has a covered space just outside where you are welcome to sit, and Teacup Coach will ensure chairs are provided. Alternatively, there is a park across the road and a coffee shop only a short walk away.

How will Teacup Coach handle any medical or other special requirements my child has? Teacup Coach takes your child’s health and/or special requirements seriously. Jayme has experience with neurodiverse children including those who are ADHD, ASD, and experience anxiety. If your child has any medical or special requirements, please ensure they are included in the registration form or reach out to Teacup Coach separately, and they will discuss appropriate arrangements.

Are there any follow up resources? Yes. Teacup Coach encourages continuing the learnings your child receives in the session at home. At the end of each session, they email parents’ home resources for continuing the learning adventure. These resources help foster the skills and concepts covered during the program.

Is there any flexibility in the program schedule if something comes up? Teacup Coach understands that life can be unpredictable. While regular attendance is
encouraged for a consistent experience, they can discuss options if unexpected situations arise.

To find out more, please visit the Teacup Coach website.

Clever Little Kids is run by Katherine Anderson, a highly experienced early intervention teacher who has over 23 years of experience in Education. She is passionate about preparing 3-6 year olds to walk confidently into the Prep classroom. Her programs are centred around developing the child’s love of learning by providing fun and engaging activities that focus on skills they will need at school.

Katherine builds her program around the needs of the child and if relevant, incorporates recommendations from speech and occupational therapists. She is passionate about children feeling prepared and ready for their transition to school.

Clever Little Kids understand the Prep classroom is much more demanding than it used to be and she wants children to feel confident and capable right from their very first day in Prep.

Pre Kindergarten Classes

Pre Kindy classes are generally for younger children who are attending Kindergarten in 2025.

Pre Kindy classes are brimming with games and play-based fun! Your little one will absolutely adore attending the classes and partaking in all the exciting activities they have to offer. Katherine’s program is designed to nurture the “whole child” and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the group.

At Clever Little Kids, children eagerly anticipate the opportunity to have a blast with their friends! They understand that some children may feel overwhelmed in larger class settings and/or separating from loved ones, which is why their classes provide the perfect environment for them to feel comfortable and enhance their social skills. You will notice your child’s self-esteem and confidence grow after attending classes at Clever Little Kids!

Clever Little Kids’ Pre Kindy program is dedicated to fostering the development of your child’s fine motor skills. It offers a wide range of activities, including painting, drawing, beading,
writing, sculpting, building blocks, solving puzzles, threading, cutting, pasting, colouring, and even using tweezers! With so many enjoyable activities to choose from, your child will have a blast while enhancing their fine motor skills.

Kindergarten Classes

School readiness sessions run once a week during term time for 60 or 90 mins. They are perfect for children who are going to school in 2025. The sessions are designed to complement your child’s kindergarten program.

The groups are small and child led, which ensures the children have individualised attention that they may not be receiving in their kindergarten setting. Lessons aim to develop the child’s fine motor skills, confidence, speech and language, social emotional readiness, independence, literacy and numeracy knowledge. The children will engage in practical learning activities that introduce them to letters and phonological awareness, as well as number and letter formation. They will also be introduced to simple mathematical concepts and language, such as counting, addition, problem solving and patterns. During the class, children will have the opportunity to engage with stories and participate in literacy activities, including prediction, retelling and story mapping.

Often, children are interested and ready to learn about functional academics before they start school. These sessions are the perfect way to gently encourage their curiosity and offer them the opportunity to learn.

A child who is a confident learner, will enjoy their start to school. Sessions are designed to be fun and engaging. Katherine prioritises a safe, nurturing environment where children continue to develop their love of learning.

Art Classes

Does your child love art?

Introducing Clever Little Kids Art Class, specially designed for 3 – 6 year olds, where creativity knows no bounds! As a parent herself, Katherine understands the importance of fostering
imagination and self-expression in our little ones, which is why she has crafted a program that combines fun and learning in the most captivating way possible.

Clever Little Kids’ professional Art Class offers a nurturing environment where your child’s artistic abilities will flourish. With a curriculum tailored to suit the unique needs of kindergarten children, these classes aim to unleash their creativity while enhancing their fine motor skills, cognitive development, and emotional expression.

Through a variety of engaging activities, your child will explore various art techniques, including drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture. They will learn to experiment with different mediums, colours, and textures, allowing their imagination to soar and their artistic voice to be heard. Katherine will encourage them to think outside the box, fostering a sense of originality and innovation in their artwork.

In addition to honing their artistic skills, Art Class also nurtures important social and emotional growth. Your child will have the opportunity to collaborate with their peers, fostering teamwork and communication skills. They will learn to appreciate and respect different artistic styles and perspectives, creating a supportive and inclusive environment. All the necessary art supplies will be provided, ensuring that your child has everything they need to unleash their creativity.

Art fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and enhances self-esteem, all of which are essential skills for your child’s overall development.

Classes run for 45 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the classes held? The learning centre is warm and welcoming. It is based at Katherine’s home in beautiful, leafy Bardon.

Why should my child attend CLK? Clever Little Kids acknowledges that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to Early Years Education. Different families have different preferences when it comes to their child’s Education. Some choose to send their child to a long day care centre, while others opt for a community-based kindergarten program. There are also families who prefer to keep their children at home until they start school, and some even choose to home school indefinitely. Clever Little Kids values and respects all of these options and strives to meet the unique needs of each child.

Throughout her time at Clever Little Kids, Katherine has noticed that parents bring their children to CLK for a variety of legitimate reasons. She acknowledges and values all of these reasons, and she ensures that her program is adaptable to cater for the needs of her students.

Do parents stay for the session? Parents usually stay with their child on the first lesson until the child is comfortable. After that, parents often take the opportunity to have a break at the coffee shop at the end of our street, catch up on some work or do some exercise in the park! There is also a playground opposite for younger siblings. For some children, Clever Little
Kids is the first time they have separated from Mum or Dad. Katherine understands the need to wait until your child is ready before asking them to stay by themselves.

Do you cater for children with special needs? Katherine possesses extensive experience in working with children who have special needs. Throughout her career, she has collaborated closely with therapists to create and execute personalised learning objectives with a particular emphasis on preparing children for their educational journey. Clever Little Kids provides class schedules that are specifically designed to cater to children with additional needs. We encourage you to get in touch with Katherine to discuss your child’s requirements.

Is my child ready for school? As a teacher and a mum, Katherine has had numerous discussions with parents regarding the dilemma of when to start school for their child. Nowadays, parents are well aware that the expectations in the Prep classroom have significantly increased compared to when they were in school. Consequently, it has become increasingly
common for parents to consider delaying their child’s entry into school, especially if they are younger than their peers. Often, children display proficiency in certain areas while lagging behind in others. Making the decision about when to start school is a monumental one, and naturally, parents want to make the right choice. Clever Little Kids’ classes provide an excellent opportunity to give your child an extra boost, ensuring they feel confident and well-prepared.

Can I use my NDIS funding? Yes. Some families use their NDIS funding to cover the cost of the program. Clever Little Kids can provide receipts for suitable NDIS plans. Please contact
your NDIS plan manager to see if your child is eligible.

Why isn’t Clever Little Kids on Facebook or Insta? Social media isn’t Katherine’s cup of tea. She’s all about sharing the awesome things her students do with you. Instead of posting online, she’d rather invite you for a free trial so she can personally connect and get to know you and your child. As a passionate teacher, she absolutely adores working with children (not computers!) Contact Katherine today for a face to face meet and greet during your free trial lesson!

Testimonials

“Cannot rate this service enough! In such a short period of time our little one has come on leaps and bounds and is so excited to visit Katherine for his ‘school lesson’ each week. He’s excited to learn and building his self-confidence.” – Sharmin

“A wholehearted thank you to Katherine for her kindness and understanding. Freddie thoroughly enjoyed coming to his class on Thursdays and I know he will miss it. We are so happy to have found Clever Little Kids! It has helped immensely in such a small amount of time. I feel Freddie is now fully prepared for Prep. He is confident and eager to learn, all thanks to the foundations you have helped to put in place.” – Louise

“My son Louis needed support with his fine motor skills during his kindy year. I was worried he would disengage in the Prep classroom because he tired so easily when drawing, cutting or writing. He loved going to Clever Little Kids and we really noticed a difference. Katherine was particularly skilled at incorporating activities into her program that interested Louis. We felt confident when sending him off to Prep the following year and he really thrived! We would highly recommend Clever Little Kids!” – Victoria

“Our daughter loved going to see Katherine every Tuesday. She loved to learn about letters and numbers and our daycare didn’t seem to offer this. We didn’t want to hold her back so Clever Little Kids seemed like the perfect solution! She thrived in the sessions and was so excited to start Prep the following year.” – Esther

“Katherine and her school readiness program are wonderful. Our 4 year old son attended Katherine’s program last term and we can see the difference it has made. Our son was excited to attend every week it was a real highlight for him.” – Carina

To find out more about the programs on offer, please visit the Clever Little Kids website.