Early Years Edit | October 2025

Welcome to the October 2025 edition of the Early Years Edit. In this Edit we cover:

• Children’s Week 18 – 26 October
• Royal Life Saving Society WA Heart Beat Club grants
• Physical Literacy Week 3 – 7 November
• Rainbow Families of WA 
• World Nursery Rhyme Week 10 – 14 November
• Spring into outdoor play and learning
• Perinatal Mental Health Week 23 – 29 November
• Smart Steps early years road safety program

Children's Week 18 - 26 October

Children’s Week 2025 is just around the corner, from 18 to 26 October, and is a powerful opportunity for all of us—educators, families, community groups and early years advocates—to come together and celebrate the rights, voices, and potential of children.

This year’s theme was drawn from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 42: ‘Everyone should know about Children’s Rights’. It’s a timely reminder that children’s rights are not just ideals– they’re actionable, teachable, and worth celebrating. You can explore more about the theme, its significance, and access resources on the Children’s Week Council of Australia’s website.

The National Association for Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) also offers valuable resources and learning activities, including activity downloads and posters, to support your Children’s Week celebrations.

Across the State, Meerilinga’s Children’s Week grants, resources and promotion empower local organisations to host free, inclusive events for families, designed to spark joy, connection and learning. From expos to nature play days and storytelling sessions, these events promote children’s rights, wellbeing and development. While grant applications have now closed, we encourage families and services to engage and attend to support these wonderful community-led activities. You can find events in our community by visiting Meerilinga Children’s Week website, checking in with your local government, and connecting with early years groups.

Whether you’re involved in a playgroup, early years network, educating and caring for children, or are simply passionate about supporting children’s wellbeing, Children’s Week is a chance to highlight the importance of play, safety, belonging, and rights. Let’s make Children’s Week 2025 a vibrant, inclusive celebration that uplifts every child’s right to be heard, and feel safe and supported.

Royal Life Saving Society WA Heart Beat Club grants 

The Royal Life Saving Society WA Heart Beat Club grants are now open. The Heart Beat Club is a three-hour CPR and basic first aid course designed specifically for parents and carers of children under five.

These grants, which are part of the Keep Watch toddler drowning prevention program, aim to empower parents to respond in emergencies by increasing access to this vital training.

Community organisations across Western Australia are invited to apply to host free Heart Beat Club sessions. Priority will be given to organisations supporting high-risk families and/or parents facing barriers to accessing first aid training, including:

• Low socio-economic status
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• Culturally and linguistically diverse
• Adolescent/young parents.

Eligibility criteria apply. Course delivery in regional areas is subject to local trainer availability.

Learn more and apply via the Royal Life Saving WA website. 

Royal Life Saving WA also offers a range of first aid and resuscitation courses for all Western Australians, available both online and in person. You can view and book all courses on the Royal Life Saving WA website.

Physical Literacy Week 3 – 7 November

Physical Literacy Week is launching from 3 to 7 November 2025 as Australia’s first nationwide celebration of movement, play and physical development in the early years. Led by KIDDO, the week invites Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services to take part in daily activity challenges, supported by free resources for children, educators, families and community groups.

ECEC services can register at no cost to access a wide range of resources. The first 100 services to sign up will receive a physical event kit containing activity cards, posters, beanbags and materials for creating obstacle courses. All registered services also gain access to downloadable tools, including flyers for families and educator resources to support the delivery of the ‘Move, Play & Explore’ challenges and integrate physical movement into daily practice.

Physical Literacy Week is an opportunity for everyone, whether you’re an educator, parent, grandparent or community group member, to nurture a love of physical activity in children that will benefit them for years to come. Through playful movement like hopping, balancing, running and throwing, children develop essential physical skills that build coordination, strength and control. These experiences support health and wellbeing, social skills, brain development, and improve motor competence through fun activities – setting the stage for confident participation in physical activity throughout life.

Explore the KIDDO At-Home website to learn more and access activities, skills and ideas to make physical activity fun.

Whether you're working in early years education or supporting children in your community, Physical Literacy Week is a chance to celebrate the power of movement. Let’s inspire children to move, play, and grow.

Rainbow Families of WA

Rainbow Families of WA is a collaborative initiative that brings together Gay Dads WA, Playgroups with Pride WA, and Rainbow Families Australia in supporting LGBTIQA+ parents and their children. United by a shared purpose, Rainbow Families of WA's aim is to create safe, welcoming, and joyful spaces where families can connect, belong, and celebrate who they are.

The Rainbow Families of WA community is built on the belief that every child deserves to grow up in a world where they feel proud of their family and confident in their own identity. When families feel supported, children and parents thrive. That’s why their focus is on building strong connections, sharing lived experiences, and working with others to ensure that rainbow families are recognised, included, and celebrated.

Rainbow Families of WA were proud to contribute to the WA Government’s LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Strategy (currently under development) by making a formal submission. In partnership with the Department of Communities (Communities), they helped create and shape the survey that captured the voices of families across the State, including 10% from regional WA. The final report was very well received, with Communities acknowledging the importance of family recognition, visibility, and safe spaces for children and parents alike.

In recent years, Rainbow Families of WA has brought people together through playgroups, family picnics, and community activities where children can laugh and play, and parents and carers can find friendship and support. They have partnered with local councils, health networks, and community organisations to make services more inclusive and welcoming for families. You can learn more about their work and upcoming opportunities on the Rainbow Families website.

Most inspiring for Rainbow Families of WA has been seeing how these spaces and initiatives create a sense of belonging. Families who once felt isolated now know they are not alone. Children meet others who have families just like theirs, and parents find reassurance in the company of people who understand their journey.

Rainbow Families of WA warmly invite community groups, service providers, and organisations – particularly in the Perth metro area – to connect with them about being part of future community activities. For those in regional or remote WA, they are also very happy to provide input into inclusive event planning and to share resources that can help create safe and welcoming environments for rainbow families in your communities.

There are many resources available to support rainbow families, including a free guide to Supporting and Celebrating Family Diversity in Early Learning Environments Handbook.

If you would like to partner with Rainbow Families of WA, invite them to be part of your community activity, or simply learn more about the support they offer, please get in touch at PaulH@rainbowfamilies.com.au. Everyone can contribute to building stronger, more inclusive communities where every child and every family feels seen, valued, and supported.

World Nursery Rhyme Week 10 – 14 November 

World Nursery Rhyme Week 2025 runs from 10 to 14 November, inviting educators, families, and early years professionals to celebrate the rich tradition of nursery rhymes and their enduring impact on children’s development. Founded by Music Bugs and supported by other early childhood champions, this global initiative provides opportunities to help children engage with language, rhythm and storytelling through rhyme.

This year’s ‘Rhyme a Day’ challenge features five rhymes—Sing a Song of Sixpence, Humpty Dumpty, When I Was One, I Hear Thunder, and Two Little Dickie Birds—each paired with song recordings and engaging activities that spark imagination and support foundational learning. Whether you're a parent singing at bedtime, an educator leading rhymes with actions, or a community group hosting rhyme-themed play, your participation helps nurture children’s language, literacy and social-emotional skills.

The value of engaging with literacy through rhyme to help children hear patterns, predict language, and develop an awareness of sounds in words, is also reflected in their inclusion in the Western Australian school teaching curriculum for kindergarten and pre-primary.

Nursery rhymes are an easy, fun and accessible way to engage children in early literacy learning; sing and recite them during daily routines, make-up actions, or plan activities in classrooms, libraries, or community groups. Register on the World Nursery Rhyme Week website and access further resources on Twinkl.

Spring into outdoor play and learning

As spring unfolds, it brings fresh opportunities to embrace outdoor play and nature-based learning. For playgroups, educators, community services, and families, this season is an ideal time to support children’s development through hands-on exploration and connection with the natural world.

Unstructured, child-led play in nature is widely accessible and provides endless adventures, whether it be the local park, backyard or at the beach among dunes and rocks. Nature Play WA highlights its benefits for building physical strength, emotional resilience, risk assessment, creativity, and social skills. From climbing over logs, collecting leaves, or observing insects, children engage deeply with their surroundings and develop a sense of belonging and agency. The Nature Play WA website provides lots of ideas and resources for children of all ages.

Spring also invites us into the garden, where children can plant seeds, water plants, compost, and observe growth –activities that build confidence, curiosity, and connection to the world around them. Gardening also fosters patience, responsibility, and environmental awareness, while strengthening fine motor skills. Little Green Steps WA provides planting and composting guides for early years settings, along with instructions for making seed bombs, seedling pots and plant juice! They also offer a fact sheet on allergens, poisonous plants and waterwise planting suggestions.

With increased outdoor activity this spring, sun safety is essential. UV levels can rise quickly, even on mild and cloudy days. Check the daily UV rating, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, and encourage protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats. These habits not only protect children’s skin but also model lifelong sun-safe behaviours. Visit the Cancer Council website for tips on being sun-smart, including how to set up a sunscreen station, plus stories, posters and activities.  

Embrace the outdoors this Spring, as a rich environment for play, discovery, and growth. By fostering playful connections with nature, we help raise resilient, curious learners who feel confident in their world.

Perinatal Mental Health Week 23 – 29 November

Perinatal Mental Health Week, founded by PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia), is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness and promoting support for the mental health of new and expectant parents. Held annually in late November, it shines a light on the emotional wellbeing of parents during pregnancy and early parenthood. This year, Perinatal Mental Health Week is running from 23 to 29 November.

The journey into parenting is transformative and often complex. While many experience joy and connection, others face challenges such as anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm. These experiences are more common than many realise – affecting over 100,000 families across Australia each year. Stigma and lack of awareness can make it harder to seek help.

This week offers an opportunity for early childhood services, playgroups, educators, and communities to engage in conversations, share resources, and encourage help-seeking. PANDA’s national helpline (1300 726 306) provides confidential support and online tools, and ForWhen by Ngala provides connects parents with local mental health and parenting support options across Australia.

The Perinatal Mental Health Week website, developed in collaboration with a wide range of partner organisations, features daily themes, downloadable resources, and practical guides to support meaningful participation that fosters understanding, reduces stigma, and supports parents.

Smart Steps early years road safety program

Have you ever wondered how to support young children in safely navigating roads and traffic environments?

Teaching road safety in early childhood is critically important due to the unique vulnerabilities children face as passengers, pedestrians, and users of wheeled devices like bikes, trikes, and scooters. Land transport accidents are the leading cause of injury-related death among children aged 1to14 (AIHW, 2025).

To address this, the WA Department of Education, with funding from the Road Safety Commission, delivers the Smart Steps program. This initiative equips early childhood educators and teachers with the knowledge and resources to teach road safety to children under six, helping them become safe and independent road users.

Free workshops are available to early childhood teachers and educators online or customised in-person sessions (1-2hrs) can be arranged across WA. By attending a Smart Steps workshop, you'll gain access to FREE hard copy resources, including storybooks, traffic mats, traffic signs, stickers, and even the opportunity to loan Izzy – the Road Safety Mascot!

Smart Steps for Parents also offers a wide range of freely accessible resources to support children and carers to learn about road safety, including a car restraint guide, buckle up brochures in different languages, videos, stories and games.

To register your interest in a Smart Steps workshop, request further information, or support in delivering road safety education, contact rsde.rfa@education.wa.edu.au.

Early Years Edit archive

Did you know that previous versions of the Early Years Edit can be found on our website?

Visit Early Years Edit (www.wa.gov.au) to find previous versions of the newsletter and Connecting Early Years Networks (www.wa.gov.au) for general information about the Early Years Networks.

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