Play School
Details
Nursery rhymes are traditional short poems and songs that have been passed down through the generations, such as "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" and "Jack and Jill". They are familiar to adults and children alike and are a way of sharing childhood traditions and social and oral history. Singing, saying and acting out nursery rhymes improves early literacy skills and encourages visualisation, imagination and play. The simple songs and rhymes included this week in Play School can be sung or said in traditional ways or modified to accompany play and the daily routines of eating, sleeping and washing. Each day nursery rhymes are used as a spring board for moving, singing, baking, making and playing. This week the Play School calendar is a large quilt with panels reflecting different nursery rhymes.
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- Language: English
Cast & Crew
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Television
Putting on a Show
Join Abi, Teo, Leah, Karen, Andrew and Sofya as they enjoy the fun of putting on a show! See them create costumes and props, and set up a theatre as they act out some favourite nursery rhymes and song...
Food
This series is about the many foods that children enjoy eating. Over the week, we prepare and cook a range of dishes using both everyday and not-so-common ingredients. We also look at presentation and...
Dinosaurs
Transport
This week in Play School we look at different kinds of transport, from the everyday – such as cars, trains and bicycles – to more unusual forms of getting from a to b – such as animals carrying their...
Animals
Young children love watching, playing with and learning about animals – whether they are animals in the wild, animals at a farm or zoo or a family pet. Each day Play School concentrates on a different...
Sea
This week in Play School we explore the sea. We look at all the interesting and fun things that can be found on the beach, such as sand, seaweed, shells and rock pools, as well as what can be found in...
Doors and Windows
From an early age, children are fascinated by doors and windows, mainly because their curiosity is aroused. When a door or window is opened, the beginning of a new place or area is created; inside or...
Buses & Trains
Buses and trains are fascinating for the preschool child. Their size, colour and shape are full of interest and excitement. Buying a ticket and sitting up and watching the world go by is a wonderful e...
Eggs
This week on Play School we have fun with eggs! We look at some of the creatures that lay eggs, such as chickens and dinosaurs, as well as how eggs can be used in cooking and craft. Each day the Surpr...
Television
This week we show you how television programs like Play School are made! We go "behind the scenes" and take a look at pretend TV sets, cameras, microphones and lights. During the week we make a box te...
What’s Next?
Logical sequencing is part of everybody's day. Children like to think about what’s next, whether it is getting up in the morning, dressing, washing, eating breakfast, preparing to go out on an excursi...
Rabbits
Rabbits are quiet animals that capture the curiosity and imagination of young children. Generations of young children have enjoyed the mischievous rabbits portrayed in the famous Beatrix Potter stori...
Ducks
Young children love playing with and looking at animals and this week in Play School we feature one of the most popular amongst pre-schoolers - ducks! Ducks and ducklings have featured in children's...
Fingers & Toes
Fingers, toes, hands and feet are the first parts of the body recognised by young children. They are easily seen and enable children to move, explore, create and discover. This week in Play School we...
Going Out
Young children love the excitement of "going out"! We look at some of the places and people young children might "go out" to visit in their day-to-day lives, such as to see family or friends, to do th...
Colours
This week in Play School we learn about the three primary colours - red, blue and yellow - and what happens when they are mixed together. We also explore all the colours in the world around us. Each d...
Hip Hip Hooray
"Hip Hip Hooray" is a phrase used by young children to express their joy, excitement and enthusiasm for celebrations. Celebrations can be big or small and young children enjoy them all. There are tra...
Wheels
This week in Play School we explore wheels and the many ways they help us in our daily lives. Children are given the opportunity to explore how wheels help us move, work and play through activities, f...
Hair
Pre-school children are continually growing and changing. They are fascinated with how they look and enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror. Caring for hair is part of a young child's routine. Brus...
Holes
This week in Play School we look at holes! Natural holes, man-made holes, holes dug by animals, holes used for play and holes of all different shapes and sizes! We also use holes in our arts & craft a...
Collections
We all like to make collections of things that interest us. Collections can be simple, involving things in our everyday lives – such as collections of books, toys, plants or teapots - or they may be v...
Faces
A young baby first learns to recognise the familiar faces of parents, family and friends. As the child develops self awareness, they are very aware of how they look, and how they differ from those aro...
Puppets
Puppets have been found in all cultures throughout history and are still enjoyed by many today. They can be used to tell stories, to entertain, to develop self confidence and expression and to explore...
Horses
This week in Play School we explore the appearance of different types of horses, their living environments and how they help us. Young children are always fascinated by the size, sound and movements o...
Paper
Paper is an accessible and versatile material with endless possibilities for imaginative play and creativity. Young children enjoy paper art and craft activities such as collage, painting, drawing, fo...
Frogs
Childhood is a period of enormous physical, mental and emotional development. Young children are very aware of the changes they are experiencing and can gain understanding of these changes by watching...
Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhymes are traditional short poems and songs that have been passed down through the generations, such as "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" an...
Here to There
Children love to move about from here to there, so this week in Play School we explore the different ways people and animals move through stories, play, music and games. We look at different modes of...
Changes
Early childhood is characterised by change as enormous growth and development occurs within a short period of time - limbs lengthen, body shape changes, baby teeth disappear and new teeth come through...
Our Home
The home plays a vital role in the life of every child. Families live in a diverse range of environments; however integral to each home is a sense of belonging, a sense of being loved and a sense of s...
Beginnings
Nonsense
Children enjoy the absurdity and fun in nonsense rhymes and songs, so this week in Play School we explore the fun in being silly and crazy with mixed-up songs, animals and activities. To start the we...
Big and Little
This series of Play School explores the concept of opposites using one clear example - big and little. Throughout the week we look at lots of big and little things through craft, games, stories and mu...
What to Wear
Choosing "what to wear" is a dilemma faced by children (and their parents) every day! Children often have very strong opinions about what they want to wear and like to choose clothes that reflect the...
Water
Water is essential to life on earth and this week in Play School we explore its importance through stories, songs, imaginative play and learning activities. We look at different bodies of water - such...
Building
Building is one way that young children begin to make sense of the world around them. It helps them understand the qualities of different materials and how these materials can be joined together to cr...
Communication
This week in Play School we explore and explain the many different ways we communicate with each other! We look at body language, speech, sound, music, letters, books and signs as well as modern forms...
Under
Young children are generally eager explorers, keen to investigate the world around them. They use their senses and their bodies as they encounter and play with new objects and explore familiar and unf...
Tails
Waggy tails, swishy tails, curly tails! Tails of all different shapes, colours and sizes appear in Play School this week. We take a look at how different animals use their tails to fly, climb, balance...
Fruit and Vegetables
Current research suggests that a growing number of children are overweight and spending less time in active play and exercise. As a result, there is increasing community awareness of the need to esta...
Five Senses
A young child's world is filled with new and exciting things to see, hear, smell, taste and touch! The five senses allow children to experience and explore the world around them and help them to devel...
Adventure
Early childhood is a period of new discoveries as children explore the world around them and the opportunities it brings. An adventure can be as simple as finding new possibilities, from playing with...
Seasons
This week in Play School we explore the seasons! Summer, autumn, winter and spring each have a dedicated day. The essence and characteristics of each season are explored through songs, games, stories...
Again and Again
Repetition is the key to learning and mastering new skills. This week in Play School we endeavour to provide young children with the opportunity to enjoy and learn through the repetition of activities...
Music
Young children are naturally musical. From first vocalisations to singing songs in tune and time with others, from tapping on household objects to producing carefully controlled instrumental accompan...
Once Upon A Time
This week in Play School we have fun retelling traditional fairy tales. A fairy tale is a story told to children concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, unicorns, mermaids, g...
Up
The opposites "up" and "down" are first learnt by babies as they are picked up and cuddled by care givers and put down to sleep. As they grow older, many things in young children's world are "up", sim...
Farms
This week Play School is filled with barns, windmills and tractors as we visit the farm and give children a sense of the farming lifestyle! We look at the different kinds of work that needs to be done...
Go
This week we explore things that 'go'! This includes human, animal and mechanical movement. Each day a 'go' obstacle course has been developed with a different theme to encourage creativity as well a...
Whats Inside?
The early years are a period of rapid growth and intense learning as children discover aspects of themselves and the world around them. Young children are naturally curious. They are explorers and inv...
Shapes
Join the Play School presenters and your favourite toys in creative play with squares, circles, triangles and rectangles. Explore the shapes we find all around us in our homes and gardens, our own sh...
Pets
Pets play an important role in the lives of many young children. Learning to care for pets, whether they are small animals such as goldfish, or larger animals such as cats or dogs, helps children deve...
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Most young children enjoy digging in the dirt whether it be in a garden or in a pot of soil. Being involved in gardening can help young children develop many new skills. These include understanding, c...
Arts and Crafts
Paint and paste, pour, squish and squeeze with Justine, Andrew, Jonny, Teo, Leah and Emma as they have fun exploring all sorts of ways to create pictures and sculptures. In this series Play School vis...
Let's Find Out
Children are naturally inquisitive and want to know about the world around them. Experiences that encourage children to question how or why things happen are a science experience. This week in Play S...
Putting on a Show
Many young children like to put on a show for an audience. This can be simply singing a song to a parent, or putting on a puppet show with friends. Audiences can be family, friends or even toys. This...
Fun and Games
Young children love to play and have fun as they explore the world around them. Playing games is a great way to learn new skills, build physical strength and coordination, practice new words and phras...
How Many?
Leaning to count is the first mathematical concept taught to young children. By seeing, hearing and writing numbers over and over, young children learn number recognition, number order and one-to-one...
In the Bush
In this series, Play School is filled with native flora and fauna as we explore the unique Australian bush! Each day this week we take our "gumnut people", Barney Banksia and Gabriella Gumnut, for a...
Put On Your Hat
This week in Play School we explore the theme of "Put on Your Hat" through music, stories, craft and play. Every day this week, we visit the Play School hat shop where a hat for every occasion can be...
My Favourite Things
Young children are curious about the world and enjoy exploring new objects and places. They also find security and pleasure through revisiting and reconnecting with familiar people, places and things....
Day and Night
In this series Play School explores the routines and patterns that children may participate in at different times of the day and night. On Monday we explore what happens at dawn. Take a journey and in...
Messy
This week in Play School, we explore sensory play and the theme of "messy". Sensory play utilises all five senses, but the sense of touch is the most frequent focus of "messy play". Sensory play enco...
Sand and Sea
In this series of Play School we explore an environment enjoyed by many young Australians - the beach! For those children familiar with the sand and sea, this series of programs provides many opportun...
Stomping with Dinosaurs
Young children enjoy learning about dinosaurs and using their imaginations to think about what their world might have been like in pre-historic times. Children also enjoy stomping about and roaring li...
In The Wild
The In the Wild series recognises that young children are curious investigators, who learn about the world around them as they play, discover and explore. In the Wild encourages a spirit of adventure...
Babies
The arrival of a baby is a new beginning for every family, bringing lots of joy and change to all. This week in Play School we learn about babies and their growing stages through songs, stories, film...
All Aboard
This week in our All Aboard! series we create many opportunities for children to extend their knowledge about trains as a form of transport. We achieve this through role play, painting, singing and...
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Young children are very responsive to sound and movement, particularly in the form of rhythm and music. They love to move their hands and feet and whole bodies in response to variations in pitch, te...
Mini Beasts
We see insects and other small creatures almost every day of our lives. These "mini beasts" are one of the first introductions young children have to the natural world. They come in countless varietie...
Machines
Young children are wide eyed and curious about the world around them. They are eager to understand how things work. Like scientists they observe, touch and manipulate objects. They formulate ideas and...
Yum!
In the series Yum! we enjoy the process of growing and eating nutritious, healthy foods. In each episode, our presenters pick an ingredient from the Play School garden and use it in a cooking activity...
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is about getting children up and active. It is a series which celebrates this special time in the life span when young children are finding out about what their bodies...
Let's Pretend
Let's Pretend aims to nurture the imagination, creativity and a sense of wonder. Imaginative play not only provides enjoyment to young children, but it also helps them understand the real world and t...
Patterns
This Play School series aims to develop a child's awareness of patterns in everyday life; visual patterns, patterns in sound and music and patterns in daily routines. Across the series, we find and c...
Opposites
Up and down, happy and sad, big and small, hot and cold - this week in Play School we look at opposites! Opposites are one of the simplest and most important concepts for pre-schoolers to understand....
Going Out
Young children are curious about new experiences and opportunities. During the first years of life even the simplest places offer new adventures for sensing, investigating, moving and playing. In this...
I Can Do This
During the first five years of life young children develop from total dependency on others to active and independent human beings. This is a time of wide-eyed looking, careful listening, lots of touch...
Colours
From a very early age, children are interested in colour in their world. Discovering, mixing and matching colours are exciting experiences that encourage imagination. We explore colour in nature, pai...
Hip Hip Hooray
In this Play School series we celebrate with a big "Hip Hip Hooray" as we have fun at Maurice's birthday, make party hats, play pass the parcel and welcome young kittens. "Hip Hip Hooray" expresses j...
Nursery Rhymes
Come and join us as we play with Nursery Rhymes, with fun characters, lots of music and movement, and new surprises every day on The Nursery Rhyme Peek-a-Boo board. The catchy rhythm and rhyming patt...
Knock, Knock!
Who will be knocking at the Play School door when some surprise guests come to visit? Will it be an artist, or a dragon, a magician or a new pet? Having visitors at home, visiting new places or visit...
Me & My Place
This week we explore life in all sorts of different places. Find out what it's like living on a farm, living in an apartment, living in a house, living on an island and even living in an underground d...
Make & Mould
In this series of Play School we make and mould with a range of different materials found in the home and outdoors. We discover how objects and materials can be used in creative and interesting ways a...
Changes Everywhere
Childhood is a time of change. It's a time of enormous growth and development - limbs lengthen, body shape changes, baby teeth disappear and new teeth come through. This week in Play School, we explo...
Putting It All Together
Like puzzles, many aspects of a child's life involves different pieces that are put together to make the whole. In this series of Play School we explore the idea of parts and whole and different ways...
Tip Tap Toe
In a very short time young children go from babies just learning to roll over, to toddlers walking and climbing, to children able to run and jump, start and stop and change direction. Young children...
Round and Round
This week in Play School we discover things that go round and round! Join us as we spin the Spinners are Grinners Wheel and learn about things that twist, turn and twirl in the home, on the farm, in...
Faces and Feelings
In this series of Play School we use a diverse range of stories, songs, craft and play to explore faces and feelings. The human face is a first and most significant focus for the new born infant. Fac...
Dig
Young children are both physical and sensory explorers and so love to dig. Digging in sand and soil, gravel and even sticky mud provides lots of opportunities for energetic action. It also offers enc...
Let's Experiment
In this series of Play School, children and their carers are invited to marvel at the amazing results of mixing ingredients as they experience the joy of discovering the wonders of science and the nat...
Splash
Water is everywhere in a preschooler's world. They drink it, wash in it, cook with it, paint with it and play in it during their day. Exploring properties of water provides children the opportunity t...
Imagine
Come along with us in this series of Play School, on our adventure into the wonderful world of possibilities as we imagine through making, story-telling, singing and dancing. As play moves beyond exp...
Carnival of the Animals
Come along now, come and see the finest animals on land, air and sea! In this series of Play School we introduce young children to the wonderful music of Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens. It i...
Collections
This series of Play School is all about collections. Encouraging young children to have their own collections enables them to develop many important skills. Children sharpen their literacy and numera...
My Family, Your Family
A family is those who love and care for you. Young children need love and care for their health, well-being, for play and for learning. Families are different and may include mums, dads, cousins, gra...
Moving Pictures
On Play School this week, we explore the creative use of technology through our exploration of moving pictures. In this series, we encourage children to create their own moving pictures by making up t...
Let's Explore
Early childhood is a time when children are curious about the world around them. Children are very keen to discover and invent new ideas as they play with familiar objects and toys at home. Let's Exp...
Come to the Party!
In this series, every day is a celebration. Each episode will focus on an event that is important and familiar in the pre-schoolers' world, with a strong focus on birthdays. Celebrations often involve...
Communication
Join the Play School presenters as they look at the many ways we communicate with each other. Sometimes we might speak to each other. Other times we might use our bodies by nodding our head 'yes', sh...
Helping Hands
This series of Play School is all about helping hands. The concept of helping is central to how children develop; both through the help that others give them and through the opportunities young childr...
What To Wear
Learn more about your favourite items of clothing with all new episodes of Play School.
Cubbies
This week on Play School we explore wonderful world of cubbies. Cubbies are special places at any age but for young children they have particular significance as places of belonging, security and imag...
Trees
This series of Play School is all about trees. Trees play a fundamental role in our lives - providing beauty, shelter, materials, and resources. They are also home to many animals and other plants. H...
Here To There
In this series of Play School, we explore the many ways of moving and modes of transport to get from here to there. We look at different types of transport including tricycles, road trains and rocket...
Tools
Tools are devices that help us to get jobs done. Young children are introduced to tools and what they are used for as they watch adults use tools in everyday experiences. They copy and pretend and enj...
Five Senses
A young child's world is filled with new and exciting things to see, hear, smell, taste and touch! The five senses allow children to experience and explore the world around them and help them to devel...
Up, Up and Away
This series of Play School is all about how things move and travel through air. We focus on a range of objects and movement to explore how things go up, up and away. This series introduces up, up and...
Create, Code, Go!
Rachael and Nicholas program a cleaning robot to help with housework, paint an underwater mural, experiment with oil and water and make fruity ice cubes. Through the windows we meet a marine biologist...
Where I Belong
In the heart-warming series 'Where I Belong', we learn about the value of intergenerational friendship and the importance of strengthening community connection. We meet a Banksia family and are introd...
