Fire Engine Visit to KIDSPACE

On wednesday the 25th August, four firemen came to visit us at KIDSPACE, in their big fire engine! This was sparked from Max and Shaydn's interests. Two of the fire fighters came inside and read the children a book called 'Get out, Stay out'... conveying information of what to do if there is a fire. Max had a turn at putting on a children's fire fighters outfit, as one of the other fire fighters put all his gear on. We then went outside and took turns at looking at the fiire engine. In groups of three, the children had a turn looking at the hoses, the big truck and climbing up inside. The things the children seemed to notice most was how big the wheels were and the different equipment there was e.g. helmets, hoses, buttons etc.

Thank you very much to the fire men who came along. We loved having you to visit us. We have since done a fire drill and talked about getting out safely in the event of a fire.

"Children develop knowledge about the role of the wider world, including the fire service" and "children develop an interest and pleasure in discovering an unfamiliar wider world where people, images, objects and sounds are different from those at home (Te Whaariki, Contribution).

Ainslee

Museum School Holiday Programme

Hair, hair everywhere

Last week we used whero and kakariki washable coloured hair spray in some of our children's hair. Asking permission from Mums and Dads first, children then decided did they really want a turn before starting. Ruby, Tyra (said no as she had some the day before and didn't want to wash her hair again) and Noah said no at the time, but Jasper, Laker, Sarah, Isaac, Oly, Maia, Eneri and Elijah all decided yes. We had shark stripes, lines, and coloured hair sprayed fringes and pony tails. Children wore a towel on their shoulders to protect bodies and faces from the coloured hair spray and looked in two mirrors and at themselves on the camera to see if they were happy with the outcome.

"Young children have a widening range of opportunites for independence, choice and autonomy", Te Whaariki: Well-Being. Jessie

Jasper's visit to Nelson Park School

This morning Jasper had his first pre-school visit to Nelson Park School. He took brother Oly, mum Kelly and dad Rohan.
This is Jasper's story... "I played in the playground and Oly, and daddy tried to play on the playground but he couldn't". "I already ate my sandwiches at the tea time there", "I played with the pirate ship and the little pirate people". When asked if his class rooms had numbers Jasper said "umm there's a number 1 and a number 2 on the windows, I played outside and inside".
Jasper demonstrates "enjoyment of and interest in a moderate degree of change" and shows "constructive strategies for coping with change", Belonging , Te Whaariki.
Jessie

Laker and Elijah go to Onekawa school

On Thursday Laker and Elijah had their first visit to Onekawa School, this is their primary school and they start after the Christmas school hoildays.

Look at a sample of their letter writing, they told Monica this was their 'school work'. They reported their new teacher is Miss Kay and mum Suzie said 12 new children visited Onekawa School. Elijah said "you got to take off your shoes in the sandpit, so they don't dirty inside" and "they got a swimming pool". Laker added his experience "we got to go there two days, because the teacher said, we do the same we go in the class and we have to sit down on the carpet, then we have to play, first we needed to go to the library, 'cause the man said to us, to the children, we don't know the man's name". Louise's two children also attend Onekawa School and a newsletter said out of the 12 new children starting there is a set of twins and a set of triplets.

Jessie

Maynard visits KIDSPACE

Karla and Ruby arrived with Maynard this morning, his first visit to KIDSPACE. Tyra took the close up photograph and lots of children came for a close look and touch or a stand at the back of the car seat look. We talked about Maynard's carseat, Corbin was interested in the seat belt and his PJ's and when we looked at Maynard's hand Tyra commented "he has veins". Charlie said "he's Joaquin's brother", Noah squealed happily and Paige said "baby". Big sister Ruby was very proud announcing Maynard was here when she first arrived.

"Opportunites are arranged for families and whaanau to meet each other and the children in the early childhood education setting...", Belonging, Te Whaariki,

Jessie

Isaac brings in his stitches

Today Isaac was back at KIDSPACE and he brought along his stitches in a jar with a lid. These black nylon stitches where removed from his head and today he has glue in his cut and a plaster to cover it.

A few of Isaac's friends have been very worried about him after he cut his head and the ambulance arrived, but today when he proudly showed off the stitches they all smiled and had a close look into the jar. Thanks for sharing your stitches Isaac!

Jessie

Sarah"s Huts

For a while now, Sarah has had a strong interest in making huts and tents within the KIDSPACE environment and yesterday was no different. After gathering large sheets and pieces of material she set to work constructing her hideaway. After a little help from me, Sarah now had the perfect place to relax and read some books with Ruby who decided to join her in this quiet time. I will be interested in seeing whether Sarah will continue to make these huts as it may well be that she using a learning mechanism (schema) to make sense of her world. Sarah is developing strategies for actively exploring and making sense of the world by using her body, including active exploration with all her senses, and the use of tools, materials, and equipment to extend her skills. Monica

Clay Painting.

As soon as Sophia woke up from her sleep this afternoon she came into the art room where I had watered down some clay to use as paint. Sophia began by using the paintbrushes before noticing the sponges I had also set out. While Sophia painted she still had one arm firmly wrapped around her dolly and once she lost her grip on the doll she decided it was time to finish painting. The grainy, thick texture of the clay paint is quite a different experience from the paint Sophia would normally come across in the paint pots. Te Whariki communication goal 4. Sarah. F.

Paige's Adventure in the Snow

This is what we did for some sunday afternoon fun - NOT!!

Got stopped at Titiokura Hill, 40 mins north of Napier at 2.45pm, Then had to walk up the hill in blizzard conditions to 4wd vehicles who bthen ferried us to Te Pohue Pub & then on down to Eland station & then we caught buses to Hukarere College at Eskdale & then buses to town to taxis & finally home. The whole process took from 2.45 pm to 1.45am when we walked in the front door at. Paige was a little star the whole time.

I really don't recommend this adventure to the faint hearted.

The pictures attached are travelling from Taupo at the Rangitikei plains to Te Haroto (The summit) . This is our car when first stopped, by time we left it at 7.30pm you could not open the doors without pushing snow out of the way, couldn't see the bonnet, front bummper, windscreen or Roofracks. It was a big white blob.