Find Our Kindergarten
Why Choose Us
At Kidsfirst Avonhead, we create a welcoming, child-centred environment where tamariki discover the joy of learning through play. Day-to-day kindergarten life emphasises exploration, creativity, and kaitiakitanga, fostering a strong connection with the natural world.
Children deepen their connection to nature and community as they explore Stavely Reserve and their neighbourhood on daily adventures. Regular community experiences nurture a sense of whanaungatanga and an understanding of their place in the world.
Our registered, qualified kaiako practice manaakitanga, responding thoughtfully to each child’s interests, strengths and capabilities. We take time to know tamariki and their whānau well, creating strong partnerships that support each child’s learning journey.
We maintain strong relationships with local primary schools, supporting a smooth transition when your child is ready to take the next step in their education journey. Our commitment to sustainability weaves through all aspects of our programme, helping tamariki develop as kaitiaki of their environment.
In our spacious Big Backyard, children engage in hands-on experiences that nurture curiosity about the natural world. Inside, carefully chosen resources and activities provide opportunities for focused exploration and creative expression.
Nau mai, haere mai – make a time to visit us and remember, you’re always welcome at Kidsfirst.
Why Kidsfirst Kindergartens
With over 100 years of proud legacy, Kidsfirst Kindergartens is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and leads kindergartens across Canterbury, the West Coast and Central Otago. Generations of South Island tamariki and whānau have passed through our gates, and we have strong ties to local communities.
Our kindergartens are down to earth places with warm, nurturing teachers with a rich range of resources and environments to explore.
One of the hallmarks of our kindys is that you’re always welcome here – whānau are encouraged to visit and stay, and take part in kindergarten life. We love it when families share their skills, and culture too – our kindergartens are some of the most diverse learning environments around, and children learn best when teachers and whānau work together.
Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Curriculum, guides our teaching and learning programmes, while the kindergarten philosophy underpins all we do. Tamariki learn through play in their own time, through their own interests, guided by trained teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council of New Zealand. You’ll often find our kindergartens located on, or near, local primary schools. Preparation for school and a smooth transition are a key part of the work for our kaiako.
Our kaiako are overseen by Professional Leaders with a focus on quality and ensuring the highest educational standards. Formerly known as the Canterbury Westland Free Kindergarten Association, Kidsfirst – and its kindergartens – consistently receive strong reports from the Education Review Office. You can read more about their assessment of our governing organisation here.
What Families Say
Latest News
High flying learners
A for Apple at Avonhead
Kindergarten is all about learning in ways that are fun and engaging as tamariki get ready for school in their own way, in their own time. At Kidsfirst Avonhead, a Letter of the Week celebration brings language to life as tamariki get creative with rhymes, draw letters in the air to connect sound, shape, and movement, and look for objects relating to the sound of the letter to add to the Literacy Table. Kaiako have developed this special programme in partnership with local kura to make sure everybody is on the same page when it comes to school readiness. It’s a great way to bring whakamanamana to the learning 📚❤️
Avonhead sweet treats and disco
There were big smiles all round at Kidsfirst Avonhead when the One Scoop or Two ice cream truck rolled up to kindy for a special end-of-term treat. The generous koha was part of a celebration of kindy whānau, and was complete with a disco filled with whakamanamana that had everyone on their feet. Ngā mihi nui to One Scoop or Two for sharing the manaakitanga — moments like these are what make te ao kindy so special 🍦🪩
Celebrating Māori Language Week
With Te Wiki o te Reo Māori happening across Aotearoa, Kidsfirst Avonhead invited Loopy Tunes Preschool Music to come and share waiata with tamariki. There was lots of whakamanamana and learning along the way. In all of our kindergartens, te reo Māori is alive every day but this special week gives us all an opportunity to learn some kupu. Ka pai Kidsfirst Avonhead, what a great way to get into the spirit of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori ❤️
Fairy dust & wonder at Avonhead
New ideas, creativity and wonder make te ao kindy special. At Kidsfirst Avonhead, a visit from Snowdrop the Fairy brought all of those things, along with some fairy dust kaitiakitanga for the Big Backyard. Tamariki took home a special trinket from Fairyland, too. Ka rawe, Avonhead – what an awesome and special day 🧚❤️
Tamariki host Mother’s Day events
It’s a big weekend ahead, but our kindergartens have started the Mother’s Day celebrations early with special events, crafts and cards. Arohai mai, aroha atu – Love given, love received was the theme that greeted whānau who came along to a morning tea at Kidsfirst Parklands and breakfast at Kidsfirst Avonhead. Tamariki proudly shared freshly baked cheese scones and waffles, and loved showing their whanaungatanga to their special guests. Hari Rā Māmā to all the special mothers and mother figures in the Kidsfirst whānau, hope you get a sleep in on Sunday 💖😊
Bright Holi fun at Avonhead
Every year, Holi, the Festival of Colour, just gets brighter at kindy, and this year was no exception. Kidsfirst Avonhead tamariki enjoyed a fun-filled time in their Big Backyard, with colourful Holi powder and traditional music. There’s so much to learn about cultural traditions and the world around us at kindy 🌏❤️ ka pai, Kidsfirst Avonhead.
Spreading aroha this Kirihimete
During the last week of kindy, Kidsfirst Avonhead tamariki, kaiako and whānau visited their local rest home, Elms Court. Singing Christmas songs and giving out fresh bunches of flowers was such a great way to share whanaungatanga and aroha at this time of year – koia kei a koutou, Kidsfirst Avonhead, that’s some awesome mahi 🎄💐❤️
Kindy yard grows from local love
We’re always grateful to those in our kindy communities who give back to us, and it’s a great example of kotahitanga for tamariki. Kidsfirst Avonhead recently renovated their Big Backyard with an upgrade to the sandpit and the addition of a new water feature. This was fundraised by the kindergarten, along with generous contributions from their community. The team wants to give a shout-out to Natureflow, Air Rescue, Christchurch City Council and Pub Charity Limited. Ka rawe, Kidsfirst Avonhead ☀️❤️
Getting stuck into sensory play
So much happens in our brains when we feel, hear, smell, taste and look at the world around us. Kidsfirst Avonhead tamariki made their very own sensory playground last week when they got stuck into a great big pile of gloop, a sea of bubbles and some collaborative ‘ball painting’. It looks like fun, and it is – but these sorts of activities are also a fantastic way to encourage creativity, problem solving, and curiosity while keeping those language and motor skills moving along. Best of all, what happens at kindy, stays at kindy, so the cloths, buckets and mops can wait for another day 🧼❤️🧽
Mini-elections at kindy
They’re slugging it out in Wellington, but there was no need for coalition negotiations when Kidsfirst Avonhead tamariki ran their own elections last month. It was a great way to learn about the election process, how it worked, and why it was very important for tamariki to think very carefully about who they voted for. The three candidates were Mrs Wishy Washy (who likes to clean), Eeny (who loves cuddles), and Rainbow Pony (who likes to have her hair done). Even kaiako had a vote, and the new Prime Minister of Kidsfirst Avonhead was named as… EENY! Ka pai, team, what a great way to show how it’s done 😊
Tākarokaro, katakata & music
There was much excitement at Kidsfirst Avonhead, when musical sister duo Leah and Siu from LOOPY TUNES Preschool Music paid a visit. The YouTube stars’ videos are popular with tamariki, who loved being part of a real-life musical session with them. Thanks for stopping by, Leah and Siu 🎵🎤❤️
Royal fun and fancy treats at kindy
At our kindergartens we like to connect our learning to what’s happening in the world. With the coronation on everyone’s minds, Kidsfirst Avonhead held a special day on Friday, with tamariki dressing up in paper crowns and enjoying high tea featuring fairy bread, and scones with jam and cream – and even some of the King’s Coronation Quiche. Yum! 👑🎈
All cozied up for pyjama day
Tamariki were excited to hold a pyjama day at Kidsfirst Avonhead, sharing breakfast with whānau ahead of a busy programme. Kaiako Sarah Donald said that the event was about celebrating the kindergarten’s whanaungatanga, and keeping whānau “at the foundation of our beliefs and practices.” Tau kē, Kidsfirst Avonhead, what an awesome way to spend your morning ❤️🥞
Splashing into Summer!
Kidsfirst Avonhead have been beating the Summer heat with water fun under the sprinkler in their big backyard. Wearing rash suits to stay sun safe, older and younger tamariki had a great time cooling off together. Kei runga noa atu, what a great way to spend the day. Have a great weekend from the Kidsfirst whānau ☀️💧❤️
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A proudly New Zealand owned and operated not-for-profit kindergarten association with over 110 years of kiwi heritage
