Aimed at celebrating the value of learning through play, Kinder Kits are custom-made backpacks that fold out to a flat play surface to allow for creative, play-based learning.
The kits are filled with books, educational toys and activities made especially for 3-year-olds to enjoy at home.
We have 2 new videos featuring the 2025 makers of educational toys included in the Kinder Kits, which you can now watch online. Through these videos, we learn more about the people behind the collection of resources that is having such a big impact in kindergarten programs across the state. We encourage you to share these stories with families.
Sparking imagination
Among the creators featured in the videos is Naomi Green (pictured above), co-founder and director of Tiger Tribe, maker of the Felt Stories Garden stickers and the backpack.
‘At Tiger Tribe, through all our products, we really want to spark imagination,’ Naomi said.
‘We want kids to learn to think creatively. So, imagination is a very strong part of product design.’
When designing the 2025 Kinder Kit backpack, Tiger Tribe’s aim was to make it more than a bag. ‘We wanted it to be something you could play in and around,’ she said.
Naomi and her team also created the Felt Stories Garden stickers. The stickers were designed to be used on the felt board interior of the backpack. The garden-themed pieces were inspired by how children explore the world during outdoor play.
‘Felt Stories Garden is a fun set where you can create little stories about gardens. Because flowers, vegetables and bugs are some of the first things that kids explore in the world around them,’ Naomi said.
This activity improves hand-eye coordination and encourages imaginative play and storytelling.
Fostering creativity
Everything inside the Kinder Kits encourages creativity and learning through play.
The kits come with various educational items, including stackable animals that are also featured in the video series.
My Creative Box was founded in 2016 with a mission to inspire little minds to explore, learn and create. Founder and chief executive officer Leanne Papadopoulos said the main aim is to spread joy and encourage kids to be their best selves.
‘We really want to empower parents to be involved in their children’s learning and development at home,’ Leanne said.
The Australian Stackable Animals included in the Kinder Kits encourage children to explore imaginative play, create stories, and learn about Australian animals and plants. Stacking and playing with the animals develops fine motor skills.
Help using the kits
For help guiding their child’s early learning and development at home, share these resources with parents and caregivers:
- a Guide for Families with tips and suggestions, available as a:
- printed guide available in each kit
- translated guide available in 29 languages online
- video guide.
- video readings of the books, with Auslan translations. Heads and tails: insects by John Canty is currently available. More Auslan readings will be available in the coming months.
Find out more
Read our February edition for more information about the 2025 Kinder Kits.
For further enquiries, contact the department by email: kinder.kits@education.vic.gov.au
Updated