There’s always a lot going on at kindy
So much happens at our Canterbury, West Coast and Central Otago kindergartens every day, and you can read about it on our kindergarten news pages. Our Kindergarten Daily section is a great place to see the day-to-day happens across out network.
Step inside the world of learning, our great big backyard and take a look at what our tamariki and kaiako have been getting up to.
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A cosy corner for calm moments
Sometimes the best learning happens in the quiet moments. Tamariki at Kidsfirst Selwyn Street have a special little corner of the kindy set aside for just that – a calm, cosy space to take themselves when they’re overwhelmed, need a breather, or just want to curl up with a good pukapuka. Spaces like these help tamariki feel safe and in tune with their feelings, building important self-regulation skills from a young age. Ka mau te wehi, Selwyn Street ❤️
High tea at Rutland Street
There’s nothing like a silver tea set to celebrate King’s Birthday. Kidsfirst Rutland Street tamariki enjoyed some special high tea pretend play in the lead up to the holiday weekend thanks to the generous koha of kindy whānau. Kia pai tō rā okioki – enjoy the long weekend 👑❤️
Chilling out in the Zen Zone
We can all do with a calm, quiet space from time to time, and kindy kids are no different. Our teaching teams work hard to make sure everybody’s needs for stimulation are met, and at Kidsfirst Nuffield, there’s even a Zen Zone for those looking for some breathing room. Tamariki worked with kaiako to create the systems for this safe, non-stimulating space, which is the perfect spot for a moment of calm and focus. From colour-coding to show when the space is in use, to using name cards to make a booking, tamariki brought a whole lot of thought, collaboration and literacy skills to the task. Ka pai, Kidsfirst Nuffield – what a perfect place to get away from it all 🧘😌
Tangaroa puzzle comes to life
Tangaroa – the God of the Sea – was the theme for a custom designed puzzle brought to life by Kidsfirst Greymouth tamariki. There was plenty of teamwork, problem-solving and kōrero as tamariki worked side-by-side to create, then build the puzzle. Koia kei a koutou – good on you, Kidsfirst Greymouth 🧩❤️
Mother’s Day aroha at Parklands
The countdown is on to Mother’s Day, and Kidsfirst Parklands spoiled their mums, māmā and mother figures this week with a special party and morning tea. The kindy was decorated with balloons, signs, cards, photos and even gifts ahead of the big day as tamariki shared their aroha and manaakitanga for the hard work these special people do all year round. Happy Mother’s Day to all as we recognise he whaea te takere o te waka – a mother is the heart of the canoe ❤️
Burnham’s ANZAC Day
The kindy week has been full of conversations about the significance of ANZAC Day. It’s a special time of year at Kidsfirst Burnham, where tamariki have prepared a wreath to lay on Monday. Their theme in the lead up has focused on service in its many forms, from that of local soldiers serving our country to other ways of serving through everyday acts. From whānau helping out at kindergarten to little moments of kindy manaakitanga it’s a great way to connect tamariki to the big picture. As they say at Kidsfirst Burnham – atawhai, haumaru, maruwahi – be kind, be safe, be respectful 🇳🇿❤️
All about Robots at Rutland
At kindy, tamariki learn at their own pace through their own interests, and every day brings something new. Kidsfirst Rutland Street explored the world of robots recently thanks to the inspiration provided by a child’s t-shirt. That simple visual cue led to robots being built from boxes and artwork created from all things shiny, including tin cans and magnets. The outputs were the source of much pride, but as Kaiako Matua Jo explains, tamariki went away with so much more. “They showed curiosity, intrigue, imagination, and were able to articulate their ideas through their creativity. We researched robots online and were able to extend children’s ideas and thoughts about what robots could achieve. Over time and with guidance and encouragement, tamariki became increasingly capable of making sense of their world by generating and refining their own working theories.” So much happens at te ao kindy every day – ka pai, Rutland Street, we can’t wait to see what you come up with next 🤖❤️
Air Force Museum adventures
Aviation is full of opportunities to turn wonder into learning and our Kidsfirst Hawthornden tamariki had a blast exploring the Air Force Museum of New Zealand this week. They jumped out of a stationary helicopter, climbed inside a life raft, and set off on a treasure hunt full of surprises. Ngā mihi to our awesome kindy whānau helpers — your kotahitanga made this adventure take flight. We really are so much better together 💙✈️
It’s the Year of the Horse
There were a whole lot of busy little hands at Kidsfirst Hawthornden’s Lunar New Year celebrations. Tamariki created Yuanbao (元宝) – gold ingots that symbolise prosperity and good luck in Chinese culture. The zodiac animals sparked plenty of curiosity too, with tamariki learning about each one and practising some Chinese language and calligraphy along the way. What a wonderful way to bring cultural traditions to life and celebrate together 🧧❤️
Tamariki mark the holiday season
As term four drew to a close last week, tamariki across our regions marked the holiday season in true kindy style. There was creativity, kai and plenty of shared celebration – as well as musical favourites like this gem from Kidsfirst Cromwell.
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