The Infants' Home

The Infants' Home We have 3 beautiful childcare centres in Ashfield, with spaces available now! Our aim is to provide each child every opportunity.

Our learning and support programs help young children and their families meet life’s challenges, embrace opportunities, and reach their unique potential – whatever their background or circumstance. Since 1874 we have challenged conventional wisdom to protect children at risk and strengthen families in vulnerable situations so they can break the cycle of hardship, fear or hopelessness.

There is a moment in every rainy day where the afternoon stretches out and you are not sure what to do next.This is that...
07/08/2026

There is a moment in every rainy day where the afternoon stretches out and you are not sure what to do next.

This is that moment's answer.

Get on the floor with your child. Choose an animal. Bear walk down the hallway together, crab walk across the living room, race each other as cheetahs until someone dissolves into laughter. Add a secret mission and watch your child's whole world light up.

Animal Walks builds gross motor strength, coordination, and body awareness without either of you realising it is happening. But what it really builds is something even more important — the memory of a parent who stopped, got down, and played.

That is the kind of support our Allied Health team believes every family deserves to have on hand. Practical, simple, and full of heart.

Save this post for the next rainy day and follow us for more tips from our Allied Health team.

For more information and tips for families, visit our Information Hub https://theinfantshome.org.au/posts

Your child will not remember the rainy days. They will remember that you got on the floor with them.The activities that ...
06/08/2026

Your child will not remember the rainy days. They will remember that you got on the floor with them.

The activities that stay with children longest are rarely the ones that cost the most or take the most planning. They are the ones where a parent or carer chose to be fully present, to be silly, and to play alongside them without distraction.

Animal Walks is exactly that kind of activity. Simple enough to start in seconds, joyful enough to fill an entire afternoon, and meaningful enough to become one of those memories that stays.

Our Occupational Therapist Julia Foundouradakis explains why this activity is so valuable for children and how families can make the most of it on a rainy day at home.

Swipe through to see the full breakdown.

Save this post and share it with a family who needs a reminder that the best moments are often the simplest ones.

For more information and tips for families, visit our Information Hub https://theinfantshome.org.au/posts

In 1917 electric lights were installed at The Infants’ Home. ‘It was... considered advisable to install electric light t...
06/08/2026

In 1917 electric lights were installed at The Infants’ Home. ‘It was... considered advisable to install electric light throughout the buildings, and though the initial outlay was considerable, there will be a great saving in the current expenditure.’ (1917 Annual Report).

A retiring committee member, Mrs Marks, ‘wished it to be recorded that she was opposed’ to the installation of electric lighting.

Thankfully, electricity was not a ‘fad’ as Mrs Marks had feared, and The Infants' Home went on to reap subsequent savings by moving away from the use of kerosene lanterns.

05/08/2026

Some of the best parenting moments and connections with your children come through simple shared play.

Our Occupational Therapist Julia Foundouradakis shares one of her favourite rainy-day activities for families—one that children will often remember and want to revisit long after the rain has stopped.

Animal Walks. Choose an animal, get down on the floor together, and move! Try bear-walking down the hallway, crab-walking across the living room, or racing each other as cheetahs from one end of the room to the other. Watch your child's imagination come alive.

This simple game supports gross motor development, coordination, and body strength, as well as creating time for you to be fully present with your child and to connect with them.

Save this post and follow us for more practical tips from our Allied Health team.

For more information and tips for families, visit our Information Hub https://theinfantshome.org.au/posts

Every child has the right to feel safe, and to be safe. 🌈 As a Child Safe Organisation, we're committed to protecting a...
04/08/2026

Every child has the right to feel safe, and to be safe. 🌈

As a Child Safe Organisation, we're committed to protecting all children from harm across every one of our services, from early education and care to family day care, our Wellbeing Hub, and community programs.

Because inclusion and safety go hand in hand, we promote cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children with disabilities and additional needs.

💛 Today marks National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day. It is a day to celebrate the strengths, cu...
03/08/2026

💛 Today marks National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.

It is a day to celebrate the strengths, cultures, and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and to honour the importance of community, culture, and family in their lives.

At The Infants’ Home, we embed First Nations perspectives into our programs through storytelling, art, connection to Country, and culturally meaningful activities, ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated.

The theme for 2026 Children's Day, ‘Living Our Truth ', celebrates the voices, stories and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.

Not all indoor activities are created equal.On rainy days when children cannot access outdoor play, the type of movement...
31/07/2026

Not all indoor activities are created equal.

On rainy days when children cannot access outdoor play, the type of movement they engage in matters more than most parents realise. Activities that provide deep muscle and joint feedback, what Occupational Therapists call "heavy work", are among the most effective tools for helping children regulate their energy, focus, and behaviour indoors.

Laundry Sled Pull is one of those activities. A laundry basket, an old towel, and a little floor space is all it takes to deliver the kind of whole body input that genuinely settles children down and helps them feel calm and regulated.

Our Occupational Therapist Julia Foundouradakis recommends it because it works. Not just as a rainy day distraction, but as a purposeful, evidence-based way to support children's sensory and emotional needs at home.

Save this post and follow us for more practical tips from our Allied Health team.

For more information and tips for families, visit our Information Hub https://theinfantshome.org.au/posts

There is a reason our Occupational Therapist Julia recommends Laundry Sled Pull to families.It is not just a fun way to ...
30/07/2026

There is a reason our Occupational Therapist Julia recommends Laundry Sled Pull to families.

It is not just a fun way to pass the time on a rainy day. It is a purposeful, evidence-based activity that supports children's physical development, emotional regulation, and sensory processing in ways that most parents would never expect from a laundry basket and an old towel.

Swipe through to see the full breakdown and find out what makes this simple household activity so powerful for children.

Save this post and share it with a family who could use a practical rainy day idea today.

For more information and tips for families, visit our Information Hub https://theinfantshome.org.au/posts

Child safety starts with listening. 💙 At The Infants' Home, we empower children to have a voice in the decisions that af...
28/07/2026

Child safety starts with listening. 💙 At The Infants' Home, we empower children to have a voice in the decisions that affect them.

In everyday moments, children are supported to express their rights, whether that's choosing not to play with someone, asking for space, or saying "no" when something doesn't feel right.

Our educators model respectful boundaries and help children feel safe, valued and heard.

We encourage every child to speak up to a trusted adult if they ever feel unsafe. Because when children are listened to, they thrive.

In 1935 we established our first nursery school for resident children aged over two. providing them with structured play...
23/07/2026

In 1935 we established our first nursery school for resident children aged over two. providing them with structured play and learning experiences. Our 1936 Annual Report reported: ‘All children above the age of 2 years attend the Nursery School every day, where, in addition to tidiness, quiet behavior and cleanliness, they learn through gay and amusing play material to develop themselves mentally and socially.’

In 1936 the nursery school was officially opened by Dame Enid Lyons (pictured c. 1936), the first woman elected to the Australian House of Representatives.

Address

17 Henry Street
Ashfield, NSW
2131

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm

Telephone

+61297994844

Website

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