Scitech is inviting families to embrace the power of play, with Winter Toddlerfest transforming the Discovery Centre from 25 July to 2 August.
Scitech is inviting families with young children to embrace play, with Winter Toddlerfest transforming the Discovery Centre into a world designed especially for children aged 0 to 5.
Running from 25 July to 2 August, Winter Toddlerfest includes a program of hands-on sensory activities, imaginative play, special live shows and a toddler-friendly planetarium experience.
More than just a fun day out, Toddlerfest is built on growing evidence that play is essential to healthy child development.
Recent reports, The State of Play 2025 and Weaving Play into the National Fabric, identify play as a necessity that supports children’s physical and mental wellbeing, social and emotional development, creativity, resilience, problem-solving skills and future learning.
Scitech Centre Manager Jane Parker said Toddlerfest was designed to help little learners explore at their own pace through open-ended experiences, sensory play and hands-on discovery in an environment that encourages curiosity and confidence.
“The early years are when children develop many of the skills that will shape how they learn, communicate and engage with the world throughout their lives,” Ms Parker said.
“The Toddlerfest program encourages play-based learning and helps empower parents to continue their child’s learning and development beyond their visit.”
Author and parenting specialist Maggie Dent visited Summer Toddlerfest in February 2026, and encouraged parents to embrace play.
“Play – we’ve stolen it in so many ways with the busyness of life, but we know that play is actually what grows the whole child,” Ms Dent said.
“And what we want in those early years, is for them to have as much possible time playing.
“So, I love that what we’re doing here [at Scitech] is opening up that exploration, that curiosity.
“They are so much cleverer when we step back a little bit and allow play to be the number one priority.”
Scitech Centre Manager Jane Parker, Scitech Marketing and Brand Strategy Manager Lina Rudinskaite, and author and parenting specialist Maggie Dent at Summer Toddlerfest.
Winter Toddlerfest features collaborations with leading organisations, including sensory play with Nature Play WA, fun drop-in sessions with Playgroup WA and story time with St John Ambulance.
The Fathering Project’s Australian Community Father of the Year Shaun Chandran will also lead an informal chat about parent-child connection, and how simple everyday moments can support early development, on Saturday, 1 August.
The event is proudly supported by a $10,200 Local Activation Grant from the City of Perth.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.scitech.org.au/event/toddlerfest
Scitech is a not-for-profit organisation proudly supported by the Western Australian Government through the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification
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