The school holidays are a time of possibility — and at Kenmore Hills Early Learning, July is one of our favourite times of year. Our Winter Holiday Program is thoughtfully designed to give children a rich, joyful, and stimulating experience while families navigate the busy mid-year break.

Here’s a look at what made our July program so memorable this year.

Creating a Holiday That Feels Like an Adventure

At Kenmore Hills Early Learning, we approach the July holiday period as a chance to go deeper — to explore themes and experiences that extend beyond the everyday rhythm of term time. Our educators plan each week with intention, building a sense of excitement and anticipation for what each new day might bring.

This July, our program was built around exploration, creativity, and community — three values that sit at the heart of everything we do.

Highlights From Our July Winter Program

Winter Nature Walks and Sensory Exploration

We made the most of the crisp Queensland winter mornings by heading outdoors for nature walks in our local environment. Children collected leaves, observed insects, and noticed the subtle seasonal changes happening around them. These quiet moments of noticing are deeply valuable — they build observation skills, vocabulary, and a connection to the natural world.

Creative Arts Week

We devoted several sessions to large-scale collaborative artworks. Children worked together on giant canvas paintings, wove with natural materials, and experimented with printmaking using found objects. The results were stunning — and more importantly, the process was filled with negotiation, creativity, and shared pride.

Cooking and Food Exploration

Winter is the perfect time for warm, nourishing food experiences. Children helped prepare simple winter soups, made toast with toppings, and created fruit skewers. These cooking experiences weave together science, mathematics, fine motor development, and cultural learning in the most delicious way possible.

NAIDOC Week Integration

NAIDOC Week fell during our July program this year, giving us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. We explored Dreaming stories, created art inspired by Indigenous art traditions, and listened to music by First Nations artists. Our children approached these learning experiences with genuine curiosity and reverence.

Building and Construction Challenges

Children are natural engineers! We set up open-ended building challenges using blocks, recycled materials, and natural loose parts. Each day brought a new provocation — “Can you build a bridge that holds weight?” or “Can you create a shelter for this animal?” — sparking creative problem-solving and teamwork.

Winter Wellness Activities

We included daily movement and mindfulness sessions — stretching, yoga-inspired movement, breathing exercises, and dance. These activities supported children’s physical health, emotional regulation, and body awareness in a fun, accessible way.

A Note to Families

Our holiday program is designed not just to keep children engaged while families are at work, but to genuinely enrich their experience of childhood. We aim for each child to feel curious, capable, and deeply cared for every single day.

If you’d like to see more from our July program, check our family communication platform for photos and documentation from the week.

 

Keywords: Kenmore Hills early learning holidays, July holiday program early childhood, winter program preschool Brisbane, holiday care early learning, early childhood education Queensland, Kenmore Hills Early Learning, school holiday program children, winter activities preschoolers, July early learning program, creative holiday program children

 

Sources and Further Reading:

– Raising Children Network – www.raisingchildren.net.au

– Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) – www.acecqa.gov.au

– Early Childhood Australia – www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

– NAIDOC Committee – www.naidoc.org.au

– Kidspot Australia – www.kidspot.com.au