Healthy Harold tackles increase in vulnerability in the early years
Wednesday, 4 Nov 2026
Nearly 1 in 4 Australian children are considered developmentally vulnerable when they start primary school1 – this is the highest level since the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) began in 2009.
It reveals the critical need for earlier education to support the declining health and wellbeing of Aussie kids, with Healthy Harold rising to this challenge through Life Ed’s early learning program and launch of new module, Harold’s Big School.
“When you dig deeper, the AEDC numbers show a clear decline in the Social Competence and Emotional Maturity domains. This explains the increase in vulnerability in children transitioning to primary school because Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills play a major part in a child’s development. These skills help them to make new friends, follow instructions and work through conflict. Children who find these aspects more challenging have more difficulty navigating periods of change, including school transitions,” said Karen Robertson, CEO at Life Ed Australia.
“Strong SEL skills help children feel connected, confident and that they belong. In today’s increasingly complex and connected world, nurturing these skills has never been more important. That’s why our new module, Harold’s Big School, places a strong emphasis on building children’s sense of belonging, emotional safety and confidence as they transition to school.”
Harold’s Big School empowers little learners to practice their SEL skills by elevating the voices of Aussie kids in the same stage of life. The unique interactive learning experience features Aussie kids in their final year of preschool and early learning. They share what they feel excited and concerned about and they are met with advice and reassurance from children who are in primary school, encouraging connection, curiosity, independence, help-seeking and resilience.
Bringing learning to life in SA
SA Senator Charlotte Walker joined the Life Ed SA team to launch the new module at Littlehampton Early Learning Centre on Tuesday, 3 November.
“Who doesn’t remember learning from Healthy Harold? He’s been a core part of children’s education in Australia for generations, helping young people build the skills and confidence to make safe and healthy choices at a time when those lessons can have the greatest impact,” said SA Senator Charlotte Walker.
Harold’s Big School is the final chapter of Life Ed’s comprehensive Early Years program, bringing together the knowledge and skills children have developed across six prior learning experiences. It can be delivered as a standalone experience or as the culmination of the full program.
Starting school is a big milestone, and readiness is about more than knowing letters and numbers. Harold’s Big School gives children across South Australia the opportunity to practice everyday skills like making friends, asking for help and managing big feelings - all through the fun, interactive and engaging approach Life Ed is known for - as they prepare for the big step into school.
Harold’s Big School is evidence-informed, curriculum-aligned and strengths-based. It is grounded in research from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) and aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standards (NQS).
