The Play Room
The Play Room is where intentional play meets real developmental learning, for children 9 months to 3 years — and their grown-ups. From dancing and climbing to splashing and squishing, every activity is thoughtfully planned to build creativity, social skills, and motor development.
Each week brings a fresh theme and a mix of musical group time, sensory play, messy play, and gross motor activities. It’s also a space for the grown-ups — parents, grandparents, and carers alike — to connect with a warm, supportive community during these precious early years.
Crawlers & Early Walkers
9 – 18 months
Next, babies are free to explore our thoughtfully designed play zones, filled with sensory-rich activities that encourage curiosity and motor skill development. Soft climbing structures and tactile play experiences support your baby’s growth.
Little ones begin to socialise and explore their world, while parents and carers connect and share the journey.
Toddlers
1 year olds
After group time, toddlers are encouraged to explore a dynamic gross motor circuit and hands-on activity stations that encourage physical and cognitive development. Learning through play in a safe, stimulating environment naturally builds confidence and social skills.
Parents and carers enjoy the chance to connect with others during play time, building a sense of community while their children engage in meaningful, developmentally appropriate activities.
2 Year Olds
Busy little explorers love the Play Room. Movement, learning, and hands-on fun stimulate your energetic two-year-old. With a new theme each week, together you’ll experience an interactive group time filled with music, literacy, and movement.
A challenging gross motor circuit and engaging activity stations encourage problem-solving, coordination, and creative thinking. The program is thoughtfully crafted to support growing independence, curiosity, and emerging social skills—all through play.
Best of all, you’ll discover an abundance of fresh ideas for at home play.
Meet the teachers
Our Play Room programs are built on years of specialist early childhood development and music education – refined, tested, and continually improved by Hive’s team of qualified educators.
Leading our Play Room programs today are Emily Kingsmill, Shuna Mackay, Lauren Turner and Brianna Budden, all experienced Early Childhood Play teachers with backgrounds in professional music, acting and creativity.
Emily Kingsmill holds a Bachelor of Psychology in Education and trained as a Primary School teacher before qualifying as an Early Childhood Educator in Australia. A lifelong pianist and singer, Emily brings together her two passions – music and education – in every class, driven by a belief that children learn best through the joy of music.
Shuna Mackay holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Community Drama from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. After graduating, she taught performing arts in preschools across London before moving to Australia in 2014, where she worked with several schools and companies in Melbourne teaching drama and music in education. As a mother of two, Shuna brings a deep understanding of the positive impact performing arts can have on young minds and their development from an early age.
Lauren Turner brings a natural warmth and an intuitive understanding of how young children engage with creative play. She takes the lead in planning and organising the Play Room’s hands-on sensory and play-based activities, and is known for her friendly, easygoing manner with both children and parents. Lauren’s genuine connection with families in the classroom makes every session feel welcoming and relaxed.
What this means for your family: whether Emily, Shuna, Lauren or another qualified educator is teaching your class, the program itself – the structure, the research, the intentional learning design – stays consistent. You’re not just booking a class with a great teacher. You’re enrolling in a program built to last through every stage of your child’s creative development.
Enrol Now or Book a Trial
We know enrolling your child in a new program is a big decision – so if you’d like to experience the Play Room before committing, you’re welcome to book a trial class and see it for yourself.
ⓘ Trial classes run on a limited timetable in classes with 2 or more vacancies only. Availability isn’t guaranteed.
If you already feel confident, or have a limited schedule for class days we’d encourage you to enrol directly – full access, immediate placement, and backed by our Two-Week Satisfaction Guarantee.
Why Choose Hive Kids
🎓 Specialist, Talented Educators
Every class is led by qualified specialists — musicians, artists, performers, and early childhood educators — not general activity leaders.
✅ Two-Week Satisfaction Guarantee
Enrol with confidence, backed by our guarantee on every new term enrolment.
📍 Central, Convenient Location
Based in the heart of Charlestown, easy to reach and simple to fit into your family’s routine.
🤝 Long-Term, Familiar Staff
Our educators stay for years, so your child learns in a consistent, familiar environment with people who really get to know them.
💳 Flexible Billing
Choose term billing or flexible monthly billing — whatever suits your family best.
Class Info
Timetable: The Play Room runs on Mon – Tue – Thu – Fri mornings. Check our live timetable for class times & vacancies.
Fees & Billing:
Commit to a full term /remaining weeks in the term: $26 / class billed upfront at time of enrolment. If you enrol after the term begins, your fee will be pro rated from your start date.
Month to month flexi billing: $30 / class, billed on a recurring basis on the 20th of each month for the next calendar month until you cancel. Cancellations can be made at the end of any calendar month with no notice period required.
Missed Classes
Notify your absence through the Client Portal at least 2 hours before your class, and you’ll receive a makeup token after your missed class ends. Use the token to book into any other class in your child’s age group. Makeup tokens are valid for 4 months and can be used anytime while your enrolment is active.