Three year olds starting kindergarten will receive a kit full of books, toys and stationery from the state government.
The government said the kinder kits would help children get their best start in life.
Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said about 70,000 children starting three-year-old kinder this year will receive the kits.
““Victorian families are feeling the pinch, and every little bit helps. That’s why we’re supporting kids of get the best start to life with these free kinder kits and saving families up to $2600 a year with free kinder,” she said.
““With the cost of living rising, many parents are forced to make tough choices about where their money goes. The kinder kits ensure that every child, no matter their background, has access to fun, engaging, and educational tools that support their development.”
When children and families open their kits, they can get creative with playdough, draw with crayons, play with stacking blocks, plant alfalfa seeds and practice reading with stories from Australian authors, the government said.
This year’s kits double as a backpack which can be opened into a felt playing surface for imaginative play.
Other fun, educational items for kids include timber story rollers, a colouring book, a jumping frog game, a card game exploring maths concepts, and felt stickers that can be used to create stories on the backpack’s lining.
Every item in the kits is recommended by education experts to support learning through play. More than 50 Victorian businesses have contributed to the kits since 2022 – with products made, designed or printed in Victoria, written by a Victorian author, or produced by a Victorian business.
