Play is often described as the language of childhood, and for good reason. During the early years, children learn best through hands-on experiences that let them explore, imagine, and interact with the world around them. A well-structured program for early childhood education uses play not only as entertainment but as the foundation for developing essential life skills.
At hey dee ho, we believe learning should be as joyful as it is meaningful. For over 35 years, our team has helped children grow through fun, creative, and educational activities that spark curiosity and confidence.
Why Play Isn’t Just Fun: It’s Foundational
Research consistently shows that children learn most effectively when they’re actively involved in the learning process. Through play, they experiment, problem-solve, and develop critical thinking skills in a stress-free environment.
When children sing, dance, or participate in storytelling activities, they are not just having fun; they’re strengthening their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Preliminary research, including work cited by Early Childhood Australia suggests that play strengthens brain pathways linked to memory, language, and literacy skills. These connections help children build the foundation for learning, problem-solving, and self-expression throughout their lives.
That’s why every early learning program we deliver is designed to promote holistic growth. During our hey dee ho music sessions, children and educators may initially be cautious of singing, dancing and finding their voice. But we know in early childhood settings that joy and laughter eventually fills the room, turning a moment that started as play into a moment of joyful connection, confidence, and play based learning. What starts as play becomes a moment of connection, confidence, and learning.
Our structured play-based sessions align with the National Quality Standard (NQS) and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), ensuring that children receive the highest quality early education while enjoying every moment.
How Play-Based Programs Support Holistic Development
Children are naturally curious learners. Our presenters often describe the joy of watching children collaborate during play, inventing stories, or learning to take turns, all while naturally developing essential life skills. Our early childhood education programs harness that curiosity through interactive activities that build a wide range of skills, including:
- Fine and gross motor skills: Developed through music, dance, yoga, and movement.
- Cognitive learning: Encouraged through pattern recognition, memory games, and creative problem-solving.
- Language and literacy: Strengthened through rhythm, rhyme, storytelling, and early years music education.
- Social and emotional intelligence: Fostered by group participation, sharing, and turn-taking.
- Confidence and self-esteem: Gained through performing, participating, and expressing creativity in a safe space.
Each session helps children understand the world in their own way, as they sing, sign songs, strike a yoga pose, or move to a rhythm.
Our Programs: Learning Through Fun and Movement
Our suite of programs has been thoughtfully developed to meet the diverse developmental needs of young learners:
- hey dee ho Music: A joyful introduction to rhythm, melody, and movement that forms the cornerstone of our early learning music program. It encourages self-expression, listening, and coordination skills vital for early literacy.
- Fun-Key Yoga: Animated and full of laughter, our yoga sessions teach mindfulness, flexibility, and balance in a way that’s exciting for children.
- Active 8: A multi-skill fitness program that supports physical strength, coordination, and resilience through fun, energetic activities.
- The Fiction Factory: A literacy-focused program where stories come to life through drama, movement, and imagination, cultivating a love for reading and storytelling from an early age.
- Sing and Sign: A unique blend of music, movement, and Auslan sign language that helps children develop communication, memory, and motor skills while celebrating inclusivity and expression.
These programs in early childhood education are not only engaging, they’re research-driven and developed by experts with decades of experience in early childhood development.
For educators, play-based learning is a powerful tool that aligns directly with the Early Years Learning Framework’s focus on belonging, being, and becoming. Our programs give educators practical ways to engage children through rhythm, movement, and storytelling, complementing the learning outcomes they already nurture in the classroom.
Meeting Quality and Safety Standards
We understand that trust is essential when it comes to your child’s education. That’s why our programs meet strict safety and quality guidelines, following all relevant child safety legislation and industry standards across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Our presenters are carefully selected through rigorous recruitment practices to ensure every session is safe, inclusive, and enriching. Our methodologies are continually reviewed to align with the latest research and best teaching practices, so families can have confidence that their children are in caring, capable hands.
Early Play-Based Learning to Lifelong Growth
When children learn through play, they’re not just preparing for school; they’re preparing for life. Play teaches children how to think creatively, solve problems, and interact with others. It builds the foundations for lifelong learning and emotional resilience.
Research from the Education Endowment Foundation finds that play-based learning approaches improve outcomes in language, literacy and early numeracy by about four additional months on average.
We’ve seen how a single joyful class can spark curiosity that lasts well beyond early childhood. Across music, movement, and storytelling, our early childhood education programs help children explore their creativity, build confidence, and develop in ways traditional learning can’t replicate. It’s in those shared smiles, spontaneous songs, and moments of discovery that play reveals its true magic, shaping children who are curious, confident, and ready to embrace the world.
Make Their Early Years Count with hey dee ho
Choosing the right program for early childhood education can make all the difference in your child’s early development. With our experienced presenters, diverse programs, and play-based approach, hey dee ho is here to nurture your child’s confidence, creativity, and love for learning.
Give your child the gift of joyful learning through the difference that play based education can make — ask your child’s centre if they offer hey dee ho programs.