Jul 31, 2025 | Common
Blocks are often called the perfect open-ended toy because they offer endless possibilities for play, support all areas of development, and grow with the child. Here’s why they’re so powerful:
No Right or Wrong Way to Play
Blocks don’t come with instructions. Kids can stack, line up, build, knock down, or pretend they’re something completely different.
Boosts Cognitive Development
Playing with blocks builds foundational skills in:
Math: counting, sorting, shapes, size, symmetry, balance
Science: gravity, cause and effect, stability
Spatial awareness: visualising how things fit together
Strengthens Fine & Gross Motor Skills
From the precise grip of placing small blocks to the big motions of building tall towers, block play supports coordination and dexterity.
Supports Language & Social Skills
When children play together, they negotiate, share, and explain their ideas:
“Let’s build a zoo!”
This kind of collaborative play is rich with communication and early storytelling.
Inspires Imagination
Today’s blocks might be a castle, tomorrow a rocket ship. The same pieces transform based on the child’s ideas, emotions, and interests — making play deeply personal and engaging.
Adaptable Across Ages
Blocks are timeless. A toddler might enjoy simply stacking and knocking down, while older children explore engineering, architecture, or fantasy worlds. They scale with the child’s growing abilities.
Some different types of block play include;
Wooden Blocks
Great for open-ended building, balance, and spatial play
Often used in Montessori and Waldorf environments
Interlocking Blocks (e.g., LEGO®, DUPLO®)
Ideal for following instructions or creative design
Foam Blocks
Great for indoor obstacle courses and soft building fun
Magnetic Blocks
Encourage STEM learning: polarity, geometry, engineering
We include all of these variants in our Play Room Program! Visit to find out more at www.hivekids.com.au
Jul 21, 2025 | Common
Young children are naturally curious and capable — and with the right guidance, they can begin developing real artistic skills from an early age. That’s why our Bee-School Art Program for ages 3–5 is designed to do more than just spark creativity. It’s a carefully structured program that helps children develop real artistic skills, fine motor control, and confidence in their abilities.
Rather than freeform art or unstructured play, Bee-School offers a guided, technique-based curriculum that introduces children to the tools, techniques, and styles of real artists. Each lesson is intentionally designed to teach specific skills — from how to hold and control a pencil or brush, to how to mix colours, follow step-by-step processes, and complete a structured artwork.
Our students explore a wide range of mediums, including oil pastels, pen, acrylic, watercolour, colour pencils, polymer clay, paper clay and more. They also learn to work with different surfaces and tools — each one carefully selected to help strengthen fine motor coordination and hand control. These are the same foundational skills children will later use in handwriting and classroom tasks.
Throughout the term, children are introduced to inspiring Artists and art styles — from the magic realism of Frida Kahlo, Fauvism of Henri Matisse, and conceptual art of Yayoi Kusama to the bold designs of Ken Done and more. With guided instruction, they learn how to interpret these styles and apply techniques to create their own finished pieces. Every project is designed to build not just a stunning gallery of art, but a growing set of abilities — like observation, focus, planning, sequencing, and problem-solving.
When children complete a Bee-School project, they don’t just leave with something beautiful — they leave with a stronger understanding of how to use materials effectively and how to work with care, patience, and attention to detail. These are skills that support their success across all areas of early learning.
If you’re looking for a creative program that offers more than just play — one that builds real skills in a fun, age-appropriate way — Bee-School is the perfect place to start.
Jul 9, 2025 | Common
PATTERNS, PATTERNS, PATTERNS!
Developing auditory skills helps the brain recognise patterns and group information efficiently. This ability to detect patterns makes it easier for children to process information quickly and with less mental effort, freeing up brainpower for other tasks. The earlier this skill is developed, the more easily children will grasp mathematical reasoning as they progress through school.
In the primary school years, maths education places a strong focus on patterns because recognising and working with patterns lays the foundation for understanding more complex mathematical concepts later on.
Why Are Patterns Important?
- Foundation for Algebra
Spotting patterns helps children learn to generalise—a key skill in algebra. For example, seeing how a rule works for many cases prepares them to write and use formulas later on.
- Supports Problem Solving
Recognising patterns improves logical thinking. Students begin to make predictions, identify relationships, and solve problems more efficiently.
- Builds Number Sense
When children understand patterns in numbers (like odd/even, skip counting, or times tables), they develop a deeper understanding of how numbers work.
How Patterns Appear Across Primary Years
- Early Years (K–2): Repeating patterns with colours, shapes, movements, sounds. Sorting, grouping and classifying. Skip counting (2s, 5s, 10s).
- Middle Years (Years 3–4): Number sequences, growing patterns, beginning to describe patterns using words.
- Upper Years (Years 5–6): More complex patterns, including rules and algebraic thinking—e.g., using variables to describe a pattern rule (like n × 3 + 1).
So how can we give our kids the best kick start into the world of math?
Music lessons in the early years! Here is how it works according to Diana Cameron, a certified sound practitioner.
Music isn’t just a creative outlet—it’s a powerful tool for developing essential cognitive skills, especially in early maths learning. Through repeated exposure to rhythm, pitch, and musical structure, young children naturally build pattern recognition skills that support faster and more efficient processing of information. This early training lays the groundwork for key mathematical concepts like sequencing, categorising, and algebraic thinking. By nurturing auditory and pattern-processing skills through music, we’re giving children a head start—not just in maths, but in their overall learning journey. So when we sing, clap, or move to a beat with our little ones, we’re not just having fun—we’re helping build their mathematical minds.
References:
Cameron, D (ND). Is Playing Music Beneficial to the Brain?. Building Brain Connections.
https://buildingbrainconnections.com/building-brain-connections-through-music/
Aug 20, 2021 | Common
Bring a simple jar to life with this cute DIY. You can either use it as a vase or pop a tea light candle in it.
You will need:
• Different colours of oven-bake clay. We used a variety of 7 different colours
• Skewer
• Preserving Jar (so it can be set in oven)
STEP 1:
Begin with some greenery! Break small chunks of clay off the packs and warm them up by rubbing in your hands. This allows the clay to be easily moulded.
STEP 2:
Start with long green shapes and build up a small patch with different leaves, flowers and grass. Try not to leave too much space between each new element and press the clay firmly to the jar to hold. You can add simple imprints with the skewer, however the rest if the sculpting can simply be moulded with your fingers.
STEP 3:
Once you have completed a small patch, just replicate the shapes you have already made until the entire jar is covered.
STEP 4:
Preheat oven to 130 degrees celsius. Place the jar on a cookie baking tray lined with baking paper (waxed). Bake for approx 25 mins. This will set your design.
Aug 16, 2021 | Common
This project kept our kids amused for hours! First designing the town buildings and offering them an invitation to play with their very own creation.
First, just gather any bits of craft objects you can get your hands on. We used paint, oil pastels, glue, material pieces, pom poms, glitter shapes, glitter glue, cardboard pieces, straws, sequins and buttons. There are no limitations.
Next you can use either recycled cardboard or purchase some board from your local Officeworks. Cut them into basic building shapes of different heights. We painted the bases different colours and also loved creating windows with plain white paper so that the kids can get creative, thinking about what might be in these buildings.
Secure your windows and doors onto the bases and you are ready to decorate!
Ask your child to think about what all the buildings will be. We decided on a school, hospital, vet, candy factory and a house. Then think about what might be seen on the inside of those buildings and get drawing and gluing!
Once your creations are dry, have fun playing!!!
You can also add extra accessories to expand your town! We added a road and some cars.
Aug 13, 2021 | Common
LEGO has long been a fantastic resource to practice some creativity. Our Art Teacher ‘Lee’ shares an inspiring way to transform LEGO into a fun piece of room decor. Lee runs her own creative business ‘You Give Me Grace‘ when she isn’t teaching at the Hive. Check her out to see some more exciting DIY’s to do with your kids. Being the mother of a 5 year old girl herself, she knows just what little projects are suitable and achievable! Have fun!!
THE WINTER THEME CHALLENGE
- Collect all your ‘cooler’ colour LEGO pieces. This includes Blues, Whites, etc.
- Place a 6×4 photo (or whichever size you like) flat on the ground and build up the first layer of your frame to make sure there is enough of a ‘window’ to see the photo.
- Once you have the first layer complete. Build up with different sizes, shapes and colours.
Check out Lee’s example…
THE GARDEN THEME CHALLENGE
- Collect all your brighter ‘Spring’ colour LEGO pieces. This includes pinks, purples, yellows etc.
- Place a 6×4 photo (or whichever size you like) flat on the ground and build up the first layer of your frame to make sure there is enough of a ‘window’ to see the photo.
- Once you have the first layer complete. Build up with different sizes, shapes and colours. You can include flowers etc too!
Check out Lee’s example…
THE GRADIENT THEME CHALLENGE
- Collect 3 shades of 3 different colours of LEGO to build your gradient. Lee has used 3 shades of blue, 3 shades of pink/purple and 3 shades of orange/yellow .
- Place a 6×4 photo (or whichever size you like) flat on the ground and build up the first layer of your frame to make sure there is enough of a ‘window’ to see the photo.
- Once you have the first layer complete. Build up with different sizes, shapes and colours.
Check out Lee’s example…
There are so many LEGO colours and shapes you can build frames with and they make super cute accessories in your room!!
Don’f forget to check out more from Lee at ‘You Give Me Grace‘…
Feb 18, 2021 | Common
We couldn’t be happier with our Creative Play program which launched last year.
A programme created by Hive to engage babies, toddlers and their carers in cleverly crafted educational play. With a fun new theme each week, families can look forward to original and surprising learning opportunities.
Our highly trained and talented staff host a vibrant gathering time with a focus on language and literacy through books, rhymes and songs. They use instruments, group sensory play and movement to meet in joyful learning.
Afterwards, during your rotating playtime, you can make those essential connections with other parents over barista made coffee and hot drinks (yes the coffee is good and delivered straight to your classroom!). Creative sensory and messy play is offered alongside opportunities to climb, balance, swing and build, all in a beautiful, safe and accepting environment.
