Are you looking for the right childcare or kindy provider in Queensland for your little one? If so, you’re faced with one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child’s early years, and we’re here to help! It’s all about giving every child the best possible start in their learning journey. That’s why we embed teaching and learning strategies, such as the Australian Abecedarian Approach (3a), into our daily curriculum. What is it and how does it support your child’s development?
What is the Australian Abecedarian Approach (3a)?
The Australian Abecedarian Approach (3a) is a research-based early childhood framework designed to strengthen:
- Language and early literacy development
- Thinking and problem-solving skills
- Emotional resilience and social competence
3a stands for a set of intentional teaching strategies delivered through one-on-one educator-child interactions. The overarching goal is to prioritise language in every moment of the day, not just during “learning time”. It makes the approach especially impactful for babies and young children.
The 3 Core Australian Abecedarian Strategies We Use
At Amaze Early Education, every moment of your child’s day is a learning opportunity. Our educators apply the three core strategies of the Abecedarian Approach to support your child’s curiosity, language, and thinking skills during routines, play, and everyday interactions:
1. Conversational Reading
We don’t read in a traditional “sit and listen” way. Instead, we follow the child’s lead and use a see, show, say strategy. Books become a “choose your own adventure,” where children turn pages freely and focus on pictures that interest them.
For example, an educator might point to a picture and say, “I can see a crocodile.” They then ask the child to show the crocodile and, if able, say the word. This helps build comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence while making reading interactive and meaningful. We leave formal literacy concepts, like recognising words and titles, for older children.
2. Enriched Caregiving
Everyday moments like nappy changes, meals, and rest times become opportunities for conversation, connection, and language growth. Expect our educators and teachers to talk with children, name emotions, and describe what’s happening to support communication and emotional development.
3. Learning Games
These are simple but intentional, playful interactions designed to build thinking, language, and problem-solving skills in a way that feels natural and enjoyable for children.
For example, an educator might help your child to match two same-coloured objects in a group of three. Drawing your child’s attention to colours helps them learn the names of each one, match and group items of identical colour, and notice the differences between colours. Your child may find it easier to understand and remember an object if she can place it in a category, such as colour.
You Can Use the Australian Abecedarian Approach (3a) at Home, Too
Learning doesn’t stop when your child leaves our care. Using the Australian Abecedarian Approach at home helps maintain continuity in their development, reinforcing language, thinking, and problem-solving skills every day.
Families, including those from English as a Second Language (ESL) backgrounds, are encouraged to read and talk with their children in their home language, supporting both strong language foundations and cultural connections.
For example: During breakfast, you might point to a fruit and say, “I see a banana! Can you show me the banana? What colour is it?” This simple interaction turns everyday moments into playful, language-rich learning experiences that build on what your child practices at childcare.
Choosing the Childcare Provider with the Right Approach Matters for Your Little One’s Future
When choosing a childcare or kindy, one of the most important questions
- Amaze Early Education
to ask is “What educational approaches do you use?” At Amaze Early Education, we’ve chosen the Australian Abecedarian Approach (3a) as one of our early learning strategies because we understand the critical role of developing language and communication skills from an early age.
Children who build strong language foundations gain confidence, better social skills, and improved thinking and problem-solving abilities, which are skills that set them up for lifelong learning and success. Starting early ensures your little one has the best possible start to thrive, both now and in the future.
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