Kindergarten (Preschool)

Register now for 2026

Kindergarten

It’s time to register to enrol in a kindergarten program for next year.

All children can attend kindergarten from 3 years old. This gives them 2 years of kindergarten before they start school.

Kindergarten is free and supports every Victorian child to get the best start in life.

Find a kinder program

Contact your local kindergarten or long day care centre for more information about their 2026 programs. You can also visit the 'Sending your child to kinder' website for more information, including a starting age calculator.

Benefits of kindergarten  

Let your child learn through play!

Studies show that play-based learning is a great way for kids to grow and develop. The benefits of this approach last through their whole life. Kindergarten is an important step for young children. Research has shown that:

  • early education helps set children up for a bright future
  • attending 2 years of quality kindergarten has even greater benefits
  • at kindergarten children learn skills that they will take with them throughout their life.

What your child learns

Kindergarten programs are delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher. They're designed to improve your child’s development in:

  • social skills, like how to play with other children in a calm, sharing and rewarding way
  • self-awareness and respect for others
  • emotional skills, for example understanding their feelings
  • language, literacy and numeracy skills, such as reading stories and counting objects
  • joy of learning and group activities, such as talking, drawing and making things together with other children their own age
  • ability to make new friends
  • exposure to new ideas and concepts.

Kindergarten also gives families

  • opportunities to meet other families and make community connections
  • access to support for children with special needs
  • access to other community services.

Find a kindergarten program

To find services offering free and government-approved kinder programs with play-based learning, visit the find a kinder program website.

Kindergartens (from our community directory)

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