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Early Education

Annika Dean and her son, Miles 2, at home using an ipad to play reading games. Research which finds many of the supposedly educational reading apps don't actually help kids learn to read. Picture: Brett Hartwig 27th November 2025

Early Education

Formative or a flop? Best learn-to-read apps listed

New research shows many learn-to-read apps are not properly teaching children basic skills – but experts have named the best options. See the list.

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Angela Mollard , New Dinkus, Photo: Steven Chee/Stellar.

Yes, I’m judgmental about preschool beauty routines – and for good reason

Sitting next to a toddler wearing perfume on a plane reminded Angela Mollard of the dangers of ‘essential’ skincare and make-up products for babies and preschoolers.

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RCH has a kinder program. Hugo abed 4 in the Kinder space with his Dad Andrew DÃarcy. Picture by Wayne Taylor 30th October 2025

The hospital kinder bringing joy to Victoria’s sickest kids

Born with no immune system, four-year-old Hugo has spent three years of his life at hospital. But it’s the small room down the corridor of his ward that’s bringing immense joy to him and 280 other children each year.

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generic childcare

What toddlers should be taught about their bodies

It’s never too early to begin teaching children about body autonomy and consent, says this professor in criminology. But there’s one big thing many parents do wrong.

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UPDATEDSA Education

Paradise Primary School parent Richard Matthews was left alarmed at the communication from the Education Department about his son’s contact with the asbestos sand. Picture: Ben Clark

Dad’s alarm at school’s changing story on asbestos sand

A father has revealed parents have received conflicting information about the level of contact their children have had with asbestos sand as the number of schools affected hits 300+.

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South Australian schools affected by asbestos-linked play sand have more than doubled overnight, with closures across Australia and New Zealand.

Asbestos scare climbs to 300 schools

Schools affected by asbestos-linked play sand have more than doubled overnight, with closures across Australia and New Zealand.

Some of the common phrases that parenting 'experts' say mums and dads should never say to their kids.

Things the ‘experts’ reckon you should never say to your kids

Ever told your kids “be careful” or “let me help”? You’re failing at parenting – at least according to some progressive experts. Susie O’Brien says they’re dead wrong.

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22-month-old toddler Ebony Thompson passed away on September 2, 2023 following an incident at the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre.

Whistleblower’s shocking childcare claims after Ebony tragedy

After the hanging death of little Ebony at her childcare centre, an insider warns authorities’ soft approach to safety standards has left parents in the dark and put kids at risk.

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Early Education

Guardian childcare Chef Wendy Perez-Borg is doing food differently for the centre. Reyansh, Molly, Ella, Samuel love the choices that have been prepared for them to eat. The chef at this centre won chef of the year for Victoria in Guardian's recent national competition. Picture: Tony Gough

Childcare goes gourmet: Fancy food wins over picky little eaters

Parents are stunned as their formerly fussy kids eagerly devour everything from fish masala to mushroom fettuccine at this childcare centre.

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Generic images of children playing at C and K's Newmarket Childcare Centre.

NT childcare slapped with conditions for failing to meet quality standards

A Red Centre childcare centre has been slapped with a number of conditions after the regulator found it failed to meet quality standards for the second time in two years.

EXCLUSIVEEarly Education

Ebony Thompson was 22 months old when she died after suffering from a medical incident at the Humpty Doo Community and Child Care Centre on August 30, 2023. Picture: Supplied

Childcare workers charged over toddler’s hanging death

A childcare centre and three workers have been charged over the accidental hanging of an Aussie toddler who was left unsupervised in the playground for 10 minutes.

Early Education

Montessori Academy operations chief Rami Nassif. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

AI eyes ‘keeping kids safe’ in big childcare provider centres

A major childcare provider will rollout ‘proactive’ AI-powered CCTV across its centres as a state government mandates video surveillance in high-risk locations.

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Generic photo of an empty table at a daycare centre / childcare centre. Picture: iStock

Families blindsided as another Victorian kinder shuts its doors

Brighton families have been left reeling after a local kinder announced it would close next year, but educational insiders warn it’s the ‘canary in the coal mine’, as many services struggle to absorb the costs of future regulations.

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OpinionParenting

Psychologist Clare Rowe says research shows close connections with family is critically important for children, especially those under two.

No Minister, parents not politicians should decide how to raise kids

Health Minister Mark Butler said something very disturbing on TV that shows how families are being sidelined from the job of raising children, writes psychologist Clare Rowe.

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/education/schools-hub/early-education