Families gathered at Goodstart Canning Vale on Batman Road as the centre switched on its Christmas Lights Display on Friday evening.
The exterior was decorated with lights and inflatables contributed by families and local businesses. Children also performed Christmas songs they selected themselves.
The event opened with the Noongar welcome song Wanjoo, which the children sing daily at the centre as part of its reconciliation focus.
Goodstart WA State Manager Todd Dawson said the display was one way the organisation connects with local families.
“Connection to community is an essential element of delivering high quality early childhood education and care,” he said. “Community is such an important part in the lives of children and families and engaging in the Christmas Lights Display is one of the many ways we can partner with children and families to achieve this.”
Goodstart partnered with the early literacy initiative Paint the Highway REaD for the event. Todd Dawson said this partnership supports literacy learning in a simple way for young children.
“In a fun and play-based way, children are engaged in reading and early literacy through Paint the Town REaD and this is embedded in everyday practices in Goodstart services,” he said.
The centre will also give away donated books throughout December. Dawson said activities like this support early reading habits at home.
“It is an engaging and fun way to connect the spirit of community in sharing together in ways that can make a real difference in the lives of children,” he said.
Paint the Highway REaD representative Maxine Wylie said the program works with centres across Canning, Gosnells and Armadale to promote daily literacy habits.
“Children do not realise they are learning when the learning is fun,” she said. “Families often do not realise the simple things they can be doing with their children can give them the best start in life.”
Wylie said the group’s Aboriginal English booklet supports local families.
“It is comforting for the Aboriginal families to see their culture valued and for the parents to be able to hear and share the same information that will help them give their children the best start in life,” she said.
Centre Director Kenneth Leong said the children were closely involved in the night.
“It was important that the children were the main decision-makers for their party,” he said. “Taking part means a lot to them as it gives them a sense of pride and happiness as they share something special with their loved ones.”
Leong said the Book Donation Drive has drawn support from the broader community, including a local author and young families who contributed books.
The Christmas display began as an idea to brighten the centre’s community garden. Families later contributed decorations, and Goodstart funded the full display. Local businesses also provided food for the event.
Leong said the project carries an early literacy message for families.
“We designed the Christmas Lights project to carry an important message which is encouraging families to read and sing with their children every day,” he said.
Parent Mya Wut Yee said her daughter enjoyed meeting the program’s mascots, which the children are familiar with from their learning activities.
“All the kids were thrilled because these possums are familiar to them,” she said.
She said the free book giveaways will support her daughter’s learning at home.
“Reading is how children learn and it is a wonderful way to support their development,” she said.
The book giveaways will continue each day throughout December.
