MacKinnon Parade Children’s Centre
6:30am to 6pm Monday to Friday
Long day care 6 weeks - 5 years
Welcome
Here at MacKinnon Parade Children’s Centre, we always promote and advocate for the best interests of children, providing learning spaces that ignite awe and wonder. We have a passion and love for working with young children, with a well-supported and highly trained team of Educators and Early Childhood Teachers providing an exclusive program for your child to learn and grow.
Located in North Adelaide next to the Parklands, our quiet, leafy street provides us with one of the best locations in Adelaide for a children’s service. With the Adelaide Zoo in close proximity, we often hear the monkeys and lions talking to one another, and sometimes spot the giraffes.
Find out more about what makes us a unique Children’s Centre.
Why Choose Us?
Non-for-Profit
As a not-for-profit children’s centre, we reinvest directly into our Centre - supporting quality programs, professional educators, and continuous improvement. Our focus is on people, not profit.
Focus on Environment
Our approach fosters connection to place through exploration, nature play, and engagement with local community spaces.
Passionate Educators
Our dedicated team brings a wealth of knowledge, warmth, and professionalism. Many have been with us long-term and share a deep commitment to ongoing learning and excellence in Early Childhood Education.
North Adelaide Location
Nestled among the Parklands and cultural landmarks of North Adelaide, our Centre offers a unique setting that naturally extends children’s learning beyond the classroom.
Zoo Program
In partnership with Adelaide Zoo, our children participate in a unique Zoo Kindergarten program — exploring animals, conservation, and the natural world through guided, hands-on experiences.
Holistic Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to support the whole child. With a focus on seven key areas — including literacy, numeracy, creative expression, physical development, social skills, emotional wellbeing, and critical thinking — we create intentional learning experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence, and capability.
Community Feel
MacKinnon Parade Children’s Centre offers a warm, village-like atmosphere where families and educators know each other by name. Our smaller size fosters genuine relationships, a strong sense of belonging, and a calm, connected environment for children to grow and thrive.
Centre Structure
Caterpillars
Birth to 1.5 Years Old
Our primary focus in the Caterpillars room is to build positive relationships and establish secure attachments with all children and families, as this is often their first experiences connecting with others outside of the family unit. Following the lead and interests of our babies, we plan and provide a range of experiences, both indoors and outdoors, that fosters all children’s development and a warm and cozy environment to support children’s and family’s needs and sense of belonging.
Monkey's
1.5 - 2.5 Years Old
The Monkey's room is vibrant, fun and full of energy. Our program is based on children’s observed interests, knowledge and strengths, creating experiences that engage each child’s interests, curiosity and extend their skills. We create a fun, secure environment to learn and grow. Educators support the emotional needs of this age group as they begin to build social skills and form strong bonds outside of their family unit.
Giraffe's
2 - 3 Years Old
In the Giraffe's room our learning program and environment is created to reflect each child’s expressed interests, culture and strengths. We enjoy learning through play in natural and built environments where our Giraffe's can access and engage in a range of activities of their own choosing. We follow a child-lead emergent program that supports the inclusivity of all children and develops the relationships of the whole Giraffe's community.
Preschool
3 - 5 Years Old
Our Preschool Program aims to foster children’s social and emotional development while preparing them for life-long learning now and into their school years. Our emergent program is developed upon Early Childhood learning concepts, children's strengths and interests, family input and community involvement. Our educational environment reflects the current learning desires of our Preschool children and is warm, welcoming, and exciting, making it a great place for children to grow and learn together. Our Preschool is separated into 3-4 year old and 4-5 year old groups, allowing for age-appropriate care and experiences.
