The tamariki have been enjoying revisiting familiar books at preschool, building early literacy skills as they recognise characters, retell stories, predict what happens next, and explore new vocabulary.

Our Transition to School group has been exploring different ways to represent numbers through games, group discussions, writing, and hands-on learning experiences. The tamariki are building confidence with early maths concepts while developing the skills they need to have a successful start to their school journey.

Milo the mischievous monkey came to visit preschool this week and made quite a mess of our toys and learning spaces! Milo Monkey is one of the fun teaching tools we use to help children learn important skills and values through playful experiences. The tamariki worked together to tidy up, showing manaakitanga and rangatiratanga as they cared for their environment and took responsibility for their preschool space.

One of the exciting weekly events at preschool is the arrival of the groceries! The tamariki are always eager to help carry, unpack, and sort the food, building teamwork, responsibility, and practical life skills through these everyday experiences.

The children loved watching the arborist at work this week! After he finished trimming the trees, the tamariki helped gather up the leaves and branches, proudly working together to help tidy the playground. This was a wonderful opportunity to show manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga as the children cared for their environment and worked together as a team.

A small group of our older tamariki enjoyed a trip to a local coffee shop and bookshop. It was a delight to see such rangatiratanga as they explored the bookshop respectfully and made thoughtful and colloborative thinking, chosing a wonderful book to bring back and share with everyone at preschool. We enjoyed some morning tea together and played on the grass before returning to preschool.

Our tamariki have been enjoying simple carpentry experiences, using real tools to hammer nails and create their own designs. This hands-on learning supports confidence, coordination, and problem-solving, while encouraging creativity and a strong sense of mana and achievement.

The children have been noticing walnuts falling from the trees and were excited to collect them up to take home. This sparked lots of curiosity and conversation, as tamariki explored the changing season and enjoyed gathering their own little treasures from the outdoors.

Through this experience, children were showing kaitiakitanga, caring for and respecting the natural environment as they collected and shared what they found.

Our tamariki have been making the most of our outdoor environment, enjoying fresh air, movement, and hands-on exploration. Through creative loose parts play and exploring the space, children are using their imagination to build, role play and create, and problem-solve in meaningful ways.

Our pool noodle game is a high-energy favourite for children who need to move.

With shortened pool noodles in hand, tamariki are challenged to gently tap and try to knock their friend’s noodle out of their hands — all within clear boundaries and agreed rules. It’s fast, fun, and full of laughter.

This game supports self-regulation, body control, coordination, and learning to manage excitement in a safe way. Children practise stopping and starting on cue, controlling their strength, and respecting personal space — turning big energy into positive, purposeful play.

We had a special visitor hop into the centre this week — the Easter Bunny! The children were delighted to discover Easter treats left behind, sparking excitement and moments of kindness as our older children looked out for our wee ones and shared their easter treats.

Our toddlers love gathering at the little window in the fence — especially when the rubbish trucks roll by.

The rumble, the lifting bins, the loud crash — it’s instant excitement. As tamariki point, wave, and talk about what they see, they build language and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

These moments strengthen whanaungatanga (connection) as children see themselves as part of their wider community.

Slime isn’t just fun — it can also be a powerful tool for emotional regulation.

When children feel overwhelmed or unsettled, the slow stretching and squeezing slime provides calming sensory input. The repetitive movement helps settle busy bodies and gives tamariki something tangible to focus on as they breathe and reset.

Using sensory play as a regulation strategy supports children to recognise their feelings, develop self-control, and build healthy coping skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Slime play is always a favourite in our preschool. As tamariki stretch it, squeeze it, roll it, and watch it slowly drip through their fingers, they explore texture, resistance, and cause and effect. They even smell it — noticing its scent and sharing what it reminds them of.

It is a language-rich experience, as children describe the slime as “sticky,” “stretchy,” “gooey,” or “cold,” building vocabulary and expressive communication skills. This rich sensory play also strengthens fine motor development and supports early scientific thinking. Slime may look simple, but it sparks curiosity, creativity, and meaningful learning through play.

Tuākana–teina is an important part of our preschool culture. Older or more experienced tamariki naturally guide and support younger peers, whether helping with routines or encouraging them in play.

Through these relationships, children build leadership, confidence, and empathy, while strengthening whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and the mana of both the tuākana and the teina.

We took time to talk about the meaning of St Patrick’s Day, learning why it is celebrated and exploring its traditions. The children had lots of fun trying to copy Irish dancing, sharing plenty of smiles and laughter along the way.

Throughout the day, cheeky leprechauns created mischief, sparking curiosity and imagination for our tamariki.

We also celebrated our wonderful kaiako with special St Patrick’s Day treats, helping to build a strong sense of belonging in our Christchurch preschool community.

Four-year-olds need movement and challenge. Today the tyres became the perfect opportunity, with tamariki jumping in, on, and over them — testing distance, balance, and control.

These active moments strengthen tinana (bodies) while also building confidence, resilience, and risk assessment skills. As tamariki challenge themselves and succeed, their mana and belief in their own capabilities continue to grow.

Visiting the new entrant classroom is an exciting step for our tamariki. It gives them the chance to reconnect with old preschool friends and see familiar faces in their new kura environment.

During the visit, children learn about school routines — where to put their bags, how mat time works, and what happens during learning blocks. These experiences strengthen their mana, build confidence, and support a smooth transition from preschool to kura, helping them feel ready and capable for this next step in their learning journey.

Counting and number recognition are woven naturally into our daily play. Whether children are building with blocks, setting the table for kai, measuring in the sandpit, or counting friends at mat time, early maths learning happens in meaningful, hands-on ways.

Through play-based learning, children develop number recognition, one-to-one counting, understanding of quantity, and early problem-solving skills. By making numeracy fun and purposeful, we build strong foundations for school readiness and lifelong learning.

Holi ki hardik shubhkamnayein — Happy Holi!

Our preschool came alive with colour as we celebrated Holi, the festival of colour, joy, and togetherness. Tamariki enjoyed music, dancing, crafts, and sharing delicious food.

The highlight was celebrating with gulal, the traditional coloured powder used during Holi. Some children jumped into the colour fun, while others watched from the outside and others helped capture the moment in photos.

Celebrating cultural festivals helps our tamariki appreciate differences, spark curiosity, and welcome diversity.