The start of a new year is a great time to reconnect with children and families on Educa.
This guide shares optional story ideas and message starters you can adapt to your own voice, curriculum and community. Use what fits, change the wording, or just use them as a spark for your own ideas.
1. Story ideas for your first weeks back
You might like to create stories such as:
Holiday memories and stories from home
Invite children to share something special from their break – a person, place or moment. Capture photos and quotes, and link to belonging, language, and children bringing their funds of knowledge into the setting.
Getting to know our 2026 group
Show how children are settling into the room or group: small-group play, early friendships, favourite areas of the environment. Reflect on wellbeing, relationships and routines.
Our goals and hopes for this year
Ask children what they’d like to learn, try or get better at. Document their ideas and connect them to your learning outcomes or curriculum strands.
Exploring our environment
Notice how children are using indoor and outdoor spaces – problem solving, risk-taking, independence, curiosity. This can be a nice way to share your philosophy in action with families.
Family voices and hopes
Invite families to add a quick family story or comment sharing their hopes for the year, or something important they’d like you to know about their child. You can then respond or build on this in your own stories.
2. Optional Message Board templates
You can copy, paste and adapt these for your Message Board, or turn them into learning stories if you prefer.
End-of-year / holiday thank you
Thank you for being part of our [room/centre] community this year.
We’ve loved sharing your child’s learning through Educa – both the big steps and the everyday moments.
We wish you a safe, restful break and look forward to more learning adventures together in 2026.
Welcome back / start-of-year
Welcome to 2026 in [room/class/centre name].
Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing updates on Educa to show how your child is settling in, forming relationships and exploring the environment.
If there’s anything you’d like us to know about your child’s interests, routines or hopes for the year, please add a family story or message – we’d love to hear from you.
Adjust language, curriculum links and tone to match your service.
3. Keeping it in your own voice
These ideas are starting points only. When you adapt them, you might like to:
Use the words and concepts that fit your curriculum and philosophy.
Add details that reflect your children, culture and local community.
Keep messages short and clear so busy families can read them easily, especially on mobile.