I recently observed a group of children engaged in sustained play for an extended period of time (several hours) with only a hill and three gym mats. The play (completely child-initiated) involved placing the gym mats length-wise down a hill...
Block play is one of the most important areas of focus when we do a centre fit-out for toddlers and preschool areas. It supports learning across all strands of Te Whāriki for example: Mathematics: Children learn about gravity, stability, balance,...
When you think about the learning needs of a 2 year old compared to the needs of a 4 or 5 year old, you would agree that this can be challenging for teachers especially if all the children share the...
It’s a given that young children are naturally curious about the world they live in. They’ll look, touch, taste, drop, pick up and explore whatever you put in their path. So, how can we create a learning environment that encourages...
Taking care of our Mental Health means that we have to explore experiences, actions, relationships and surroundings that make us feel good and uplift our wellbeing. Just like adults, some children need a little help to regulate their emotions. Engaging...
During my experience as an early childhood teacher and parent, I have often been fascinated by the way children play. During my observations, I have noticed different stages of play as well as universal “themes” or patterns to the way...
(Excerpt from Dr Chip Donohue’s contribution to Take Another Look) Get your book here. In the early childhood years, technology is a tool for learning, exploration, discovery, communicating, telling a story, documenting, sharing, saving, revisiting and reflecting. In the earliest...
Messy Play is fun, relaxing, and allows rhythmic movements of the whole body – great for relieving tension and frustration. Messy Play allows children to express their feelings in a creative way. There is no right or wrong way, we...
