Northern Beaches Council’s Belrose Children’s Centre is taking a lead in nurturing the minds of Australia’s next generation of little scientists and engineers!

The Centre has become an official Little Scientists House, by demonstrating its commitment to the Little Scientists inquiry-based learning program in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in its early childhood service.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said children are encouraged to have fun and explore different topics with their educators in a professional learning environment.

“Young children are naturally inquisitive and want to explore and understand the world around them and that’s why Belrose Children’s Centre has adopted the Little Scientists professional development program that taps into this curiosity and facilitates scientific discovery.

“Children attending a Little Scientists House participate in innovative activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” Mayor Regan said.

The educators are well versed in the program having participated in Little Scientists workshops on a variety of topics like Water (What sinks or floats?), Engineering (What is balance and how does it work?) and Optics (How do shadows form?).

“We want all of Australia’s children to grow into resilient, problem-solving individuals, capable of critical thinking, through inquiry-based learning and playful scientific exploration,” said Sibylle Seidler from Little Scientists Australia.

“We firmly believe that together with early childhood professionals we are changing the educational landscape of Australia.”

Mayor Regan said that by becoming a Little Scientists House, Belrose Children’s Centre’s demonstrates its long-term commitment to continuous professional development incorporating scientific research and STEM discovery into the children’s everyday life.

“To become a Little Scientists House, the Children’s Centre had to demonstrate that our educators engage in inquiry-based scientific research with the children every day, document their progress and commit to ongoing professional development through Little Scientists workshops,” said Mayor Regan.

Early STEM education is a priority and is supported through the Australian Government Department of Education and Training through the National Innovation and Science Agenda. And as Belrose Children’s Services is demonstrating – STEM is effective when it starts at an early age.