Children's Day 2012

Kia Ora whanau

This Sunday 4th March is Children’s Day! This year’s theme is ‘treasure our children' which fits perfectly within our roles of teachers and parents every day!

You are doing the most important job there is. It’s rewarding, but sometimes it’s tough. This Children’s Day we encourage families everywhere to treasure their children. When you’re a parent that might mean:

- Making sure your kids have the things they need.
- Look after yourself so you can be there for them. It’s good to take time out to be you.
- If you’re a dad, there’s so much you can do to make your child feel like a taonga. -
- Learn about positive discipline. This job never came with a manual and knowing some tricks of the trade can make life a whole lot easier.


There are planned events happening all over NZ to celebrate this special day. Some events happening within the napier area are:

Plunket's Teddy Bears Picnic
Where: Anderson Park, by the playground, Kennedy Road, Napier
When: Sunday 4th March, 11am - 2pm
Activities: Bring a picnic and your teddy's and come on down to support Plunket. There will be bouncy castles, face painting, sausage sizzle, mini Hot Rod ride on cars and more!

National Aquarium Children's Day
Where: National Aquarium, Marine Parade, Napier
When: Sunday 4 March, 9am - 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Activities: Free entry to the National Aquarium for children aged 14 years and under with a paying adult. Lots of childrens activities and prizes to celebrate Children's Day!

Visit http://www.childrensday.org.nz/ for more information!

I'll be back soon to post a blog about how KIDSPACE is celebrating this day next week (5-9th March).

Na, Ainslee

Cleo's passion for dancing

Everyday of last week Cleo would ask a teacher, "music, dance". Friday was my turn to be asked by Cleo. Cleo got a gleem in her eye when the music started, she twirled around. Jaz, Rionagh and Paige all joined in with the dancing they joined hands and walk around in circles, while we did this Cleo continued dancing by herself doing dancing moves that she wanted to create.
What a fun time had by all. Great opportunties to learn about moving in space, dancing in time to the beat and developing those gross-motor skills.

Tamara

Ra whanau ki a koe Ashleigh

On Friday the KIDSPACE whanau wished Ashleigh a happy birthday for Saturday. Ruby made Ashleigh a lovely, decorated playdough cake. We sang 'Happy birthday' and gave her 5 giant claps.

Rie

Making morning tea

Last Thursday morning I had lots of children wanting to help me with preparing morning tea, so into the art-room we went to make banana muffins. Morning tea was a bit late but this didn't matter as the children had the opportunity to engage in a valuable learning experience. Baking integrates a range of concepts. These include maths concepts such as numeracy, measurement, and volume; science concepts such as chemistry and physics. We talked about how substances change texture and shape when different ingredients are added and also how temperature effects the finished product. The children enjoyed having input into preparing our kai and sharing this with the rest of the KIDSPACE whanau.

Rie

Happy Birthday Rionagh

Yesterday we celebrated Rionaghs birthday with a lovely cake made by her mum. Rionagh turned 3 over the weekend. Monica

Hannah and Mana get their groove on

Hannah had asked if I could put some party music on in the art room, so I did. In no time at all Mana
was on the dance floor getting his groove on. Hannah and Mana shared their different dance moves with each other.
Mana was very confident with moving in space and had plenty of dance moves to action, he did twists, little jumps off the wall
and what looked like some break dancing moves. Hannah twirled and jumped up and down she was having a fantastic time. After a little while more children joined in with Mana and Hannah's dancing. Mana and Hannah are showing the ability to be self-expressive with and alongside their peers.

Tamara

Happy 2nd Birthday Scarlett

Art Deco Decadence morning tea

Val and Bruce come to visit

Art Deco bus trip to town

On Thursday 16th February, we took the whole centre into town via the public bus, for an Art Deco themed trip. We split into groups of 6 children to 2 teachers/adults. Meg and I joined up with Monica and Jenny (Hannah's mum), to see the Art Deco sights of Napier. Meg and I had Rionagh, Mana, Paige, Thadeus, Oscar and Ruby in our group. Monica and Jenny had Max, Joshua, Scarlett, Hannah and Poesy.

We did a big loop of town, starting at the library walking up Dickens street onto Hastings Street and Marine Parade. We spotted lots of old buildings with different designs, patterns and colours. We went past a few Art Deco shops as well, stopping at the window to look at the gorgeous dresses, hats, gloves and beads. One shop had music playing, and the children enjoyed that. We headed down Emerson Street to see the bronze 'a wave in time' statue. The children enjoyed touching the dog statue. We continued down to lower Emerson Street, where we saw a painting of a vintage car on an alley way wall. We walked around past Clive square and back up to the bus stop, before returning back to KIDSPACE on the 11am bus.

The children really enjoyed the bus ride experience, as it was the first time on a bus for some children. Although the bus was quite full on the way to town, the children still enjoyed the journey and could recognise familiar places out the window e.g police cars, railway lines, Pak 'n' Save etc.

Each group took their own camera so more photo's will follow from other teachers.

Ainslee

The Graduation and farewelling of Mohanan

We recently held a small celebration at KIDSPACE to acknowledge the graduation of Mohanan, who has just completed his Graduate Diploma of Teaching. We also wished him a fond farewell as he takes up a teaching position at Jenz Montessori in Clive.

Mohanan also got to don our beautiful new Graduation Korowai, which children who are Graduating, will have the choice of wearing if they prefer it to the old one.

Mohanan also shouted a lovely morning tea which was enjoyed by all. Monica

Happy 1st Birthday Oscar

Art Deco

We are planning several activities for the children during the art deco celebrations next week. Two of these are on Thursday 16/2 - in the morning we are getting the public bus into town to look at all things art deco, then in the afternoon we are visiting the residents at Bardowie Retirement Complex. Parents and whanau are welcome to join us on either of these trips.

We encourage teachers and children to dress up in art deco costumes on this day (last year we also had some fairies and super heros as well and that is all ok).

Number painting

Over the Chirstmas break, I bought some number sponges to help promote math concepts within painting experiences.

I set up the sponges with a range of colours on the table on the deck. Cian, Hannah, Noah and Zoe all chose a spot at the table, straight away.

I showed the children what I had bought, and laid the numbers out in order zero through to nine, and began counting. Hannah and Noah started counting with me straight away.

Noah was keen on using the number two. Hannah wanted to try using every sponge, so she could have every number on her page. Zoe took her time to carefully choose which number she wanted, before putting it to her paper. She looked at the numbers to decide which way was the right way up. Cian quite liked using numbers three and four. Perhaps these are numbers he can relate to?

Exploring mathematical concepts can encourage creativity, perseverance and self-confidence., as well as providing the basis of early numeracy recognition.

Written by Ainslee

Oscar enjoys the swimming pool

Ever since Oscar started, we have noticed he has such a contagious laugh that lights up the room. I was able to capture his laugh while he paddled in the pool. Oscar had such a great time interacting with Bella in the swimming pool. He found it very amusing when she threw her hat into the water then put it onto her head soaking with water. It made Oscar laugh hysterically every time over and over.

Tamara

Happy graduation and school days Jack

Welcome to KIDSPACE Milan

Click to enlarge

Welcome to KIDSPACE Lucas

Double click to enlarge

Imaginative water play

The boys had an absolute ball with the water outside yesterday. Their play all began with Joshua and Thadeus pouring water from the trough, onto the big blue mat. Thadeus then jumped on the mat and slid as if it was a slip 'n' slide. Joshua was excited and kept throwing buckets full of water down, and everytime he did, Thadeus would pretend to slip. Before long, Noah, Charlie, and Lucas joined in the fun. Joshua continued to pour water over the mat and everyone on it, while the boys slid around, laughing and enjoyed getting saturated!

Spontanous play is recognised as valuable and important learning (Te Whaariki).

Ainslee