Learning Curves Childcare Centre Blockhouse Bay

Today, the tamariki enthusiastically joined in with 'Playball.' Activities involved were stretching, jumping and naming the colours of the hula hoops and of course ball skills. This helps with hand-eye co-ordination, balance and gross motor skills. You all listen carefully and followed the instructions. It is wonderful to see all of your persistence and enjoyment, as you challenge yourselves and celebrate your amazing achievements.
One more Playball to go and then it's holidays for the Coaches. Some of these children will move up to a Thursday afternoon and then there will be a new lot of tamariki joining in ☺️

'Watching the crane'
Today, the tamariki were fascinated, as you all watched a large crane working nearby. You all stood excitedly, observing the crane's movement with great interest, pointing and talking about what you all could see. Tamariki watched, showing curiosity and sustained attention. This experience encouraged and supported language, thinking, discussing the movements of the crane.

Today, our tamariki enjoyed an exciting open-ended collage experience using PVA glue, wooden sticks, foam shapes, and glitter. With a variety of resources to choose from, the tamariki were free to explore, create, and bring their unique ideas to life.

As they selected, arranged, and attached different materials, the tamariki strengthened their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities while expressing their creativity and imagination. 🌟

It was wonderful to see the confidence and individuality of each tamaiti shine through as they made independent choices and proudly shared their masterpieces with others.

Open-ended experiences like these encourage creativity, self-expression, and a love of learning through play. 💖✨

CreativityInAction

🌈✨ Colour, Creativity & Discovery! ✨🌈

Today our tamariki explored colour and creativity through a fun drop-painting experience using colourful dye and paper towels.

Using droppers, the children carefully placed droplets of dye onto the paper towels and watched with excitement as the colours spread, blended, and transformed into beautiful patterns. This hands-on activity encouraged curiosity, creativity, and experimentation while strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

There were lots of smiles, wonder, and proud moments as the tamariki explored the magic of colour mixing and created their own unique masterpieces.

Learning through play has never looked so colourful! 🎨💧🌟

🌿Leaf painting is a fantastic, open-ended activity that supports tamariki development through hands-on sensory exploration. As children use leaves as painting tools, they strengthen fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and practice creative problem-solving. The activity also fosters an appreciation for nature by encouraging children to observe different leaf shapes, sizes, and textures. By experimenting with colours, patterns, and unique printing techniques, tamariki build confidence in their artistic abilities while expressing their imagination in a fun and engaging way.

🌿Supports sensory exploration through hands-on learning experiences.

🌿Strengthens fine motor skills by grasping, holding, and manipulating leaves.

🌿Develops hand-eye coordination while painting and printing.

🌿Encourages creativity and imagination through open-ended art experiences.

🌿Promotes problem-solving as tamariki experiment with different techniques and materials.

🌿Builds confidence and self-expression through creating unique artworks.

🌿Fosters curiosity about the natural environment.

This week we carried out a science experiment with the tamariki by creating our own lava lamps. We explored how different materials behave when mixed together, learning that some substances can mix while others do not. We also talked about chemical reactions and what happens when certain materials interact.

The tamariki were fascinated as they watched the colourful bubbles move up and down inside the bottles. They were amazed by the reaction and eagerly shared their observations and predictions about what would happen next. This hands-on experience encouraged curiosity, scientific thinking, and problem-solving as the children explored cause and effect through play.

The experiment provided a fun and engaging way for the tamariki to learn about science concepts while developing their observation and communication skills.

Rainy days won’t stop us. ☔️🎾 When the weather doesn’t cooperate, we take the game inside and keep the fun going.

🌱 Our little gardeners have been busy! The beans we planted are starting to grow strong in their individual pots. The tamariki are enjoying watching the changes each day and learning how to care for living things. 💚

Our Jack and the Beanstalk planting project has officially started 🌱. The children have been excited to begin planting thier beans. The children have enjoyed planting thier beans and we can't wait to watch our beanstalks grow over the coming weeks and continue extending our learning through gardening, storytelling,and hands on learning.

Playball Time! Our tamariki listen to our beloved Playball coaches, complete exciting tasks, and have lots of fun on Thursdays and Fridays.

What can Playball sessions bring to our young learners?
• confidence to participate in sports
• improved focus on positioning and timing
• competence in a variety of popular sports
• social integration and teamwork skills
• development of coordination and gross motor skills
• opportunities to build resilience and perseverance through active play