Activities at KIDSPACE for Children's day 2012

Kia ora,

Activities at KIDSPACE for Children's day 2012

Please bring a baby photo of your children, and give to one of the teachers by Wednesday 7th March, as the teachers and children are going to play a guessing game with them!

The theme colours for Children’s day are purple, green, orange and yellow. Please dress your children up in these colours throughout the week (if possible).

Ainslee

Trip to Nelson Park School to visit Donnagh

'EB' the bunny

Over the last few weeks, Lepa has been bringing her bunny 'EB', into KIDSPACE. The children have had so much fun with EB so far. They look forward to Lepa bringing it in on Thursday's. EB is very friendly and loves the children. He enjoys running through the grass and bushes, and hiding under Squeezy's hutch. Cleo and Mana were captured in a photo, spending some time with EB on the hill. He stayed still as they gently patted his back and touched his soft fur.

The children like to find grass, carrots and apples to feed EB, and watch as he runs around. It is great to see the children taking care of his wellbeing, just like they do with Squeezy.

Ainslee

Ruby's Picture

This morning I set up a range of coloured paints on the deck outside. I put small tipped brushes with the paints. Ruby took an interest in the paints and appeared to have a clear idea of what she wanted to paint. She sat down and began choosing her colours and adding the details to the paper. After a few moments, I asked Ruby about her painting. I could tell that she was eager to share, but she kept saying, "It's a special secret and I'll tell you when I have finished it".

As I sat closely, watching Ruby at work, and assisting other children, Ruby kept looking over at me and giving me a cheeky smile, as if she was checking that I was still watching her. Once she had completed her picture, Ruby was ready to tell me all about it. "It's allllll about circles". "Circles and the moon AND the planets". I looked at Ruby's picture carefully as she pointed out which part was the moon and where the planets were. I told Ruby that I really liked her picture, particulary the colours she used, and how many planets she fitted onto her paper. I asked Ruby where she remembered seeing the moon and planets from, and she said, "Ainslee, I even went in your car, dont you remember?" Ruby was referring to the planetarium visit we went on in July. Ruby told me that she laid back in the chair and watched as the moon and planets and stars moved past.

I love the way Ruby has portrayed the new knowledge she gained from the planetarium visit into her painted picture. Fantastic work Ruby!

Ainslee

Tree Planting at Onekawa Park

As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations, we donated a Pohutukawa tree to the Napier City Council for Onekawa Park. The weather is now right for tree planting so the council will be planting our tree on Monday 23rd May at 9am. We will be taking the children over to the park to watch the planting. Families are welcome to join us.

Welcome to KIDSPACE Anika

Anika had a brilliant first day at KIDSPACE, yesterday. After mum left, she helped the teachers to set up outside, and began exploring the new environment. Anika had lots of fun on the climbing boxes, planks and jumping mat. She was even keen to walk along the narrow plank, but motioned that she wanted me to hold her hand to guide her. Anika had her lunch with Tamara and the little children as she said she was hungry and wanted her lunch box. Anika was helpful later in the afternoon by helping to clear away the messy play on the perspex table. She enjoyed putting her hands in it just as much I think!

We look forward to getting to know Anika and her family more over the next few months :)

Ainslee

Spending time outside

I aim to give Poesy plenty of time outside as well as inside so she can experience nature, feeling the grass, watching the leaves feeling the wind and seeing that beautiful sunshine, (although I don't know where that Hawkes Bay sun is today). Poesy is very observant and enjoys touching the grass and watching the wind blow the leaves. Poesy is very much loved at KIDSPACE, the young children and older children love to talk to Poesy and give her things to play with. Cleo shows a real interest in Poesy calling out, "bubba, bubba". On this occasion Cleo was very interested in Poesy talking to her and trying to touch the ball - she was very gentle. Someone else was trying to tickle Poesy with the long stemmed plant but she didn't appreciate this, as you can tell by the photo, and let this be known to the children. Poesy is great at communicating her feelings through non-verbal cues and using her voice with other children. Poesy is a very social being and loves having the older children around talking to her.

Poesy is developing a sense of who she is in the wider world of relationships, and the ways in which these are valued; for instance will these children listen to my voice and respect that I don't like this plant on me? I can say that the majority of the children listen to Poesy and notice when she doesn't like something, if not a teacher is close by to gently remind the children.

Tamara

Settled routines

After Cleo drifted off to sleep yesterday, I took this little photo of her, fast asleep. Since Cleo first started at KIDSPACE, she has become much more settled, particulary during her sleeping routine. She snuggled down to have her bottle and was then content to lye in her warm bed and drift off to sleep. Even if Cleo only has a short sleep, she still wakes up happy; generally standing in her cot and knocking on the window to the children and teachers :)

"Children experience an envrionment where their emotional well-being is nurtured" (Well-being, Te Whariki).

Ainslee

Welcome Thadeus and Ahlyna

Invitation KIDSPACE 10th anniversary celebration

You are invited to join past and present KIDSPACE staff and parents to celebrate our 10th anniversary on Friday 11th March 5 - 7 pm
(see notice in pocket)

Name for our new Guinea Pig

Over the last few weeks the children have came up with a name for our new guinea pig - Squeezee. Squeezee's name came about from me telling the story to the children how when he was a very little baby guniea pig he squeezed out of the bars in his cage to run around my garden. The children thought this was very funny, hence the name Squeezee. Squeezee's is thriving in his new home at KIDSPACE, with consistent weight gains of 100gm per week, together with 2 cm in length and tummy size per week. Well done to all KIDSPACE children on taking such good care of our new pet.
Ann

A trip in to town...

On the 5th of January we had just a small group of children at KIDSPACE, so Ainslee, Kerry and Rochelle took Shaydn, Lyrique, Jaz, Aimee, Mollie, Jorja and Akasha for a trip into town! We packed morning tea and headed down to the bus stop. Our first stop was the Napier Library were we enjoyed our morning tea under a shady tree, waiting excitedly for the Council Chambers to open. Just before 10.30 we made our way up stairs and lifts, ready to watch Zappo the Magician!! We found a good spot, in amongst other children, parents and families. Zappo had lots of funny things to show and tell. He had a parrot puppet and told stories. Zappo invited some children one at a time up the front to play little tricks on them as well. His last trick was to cover a rabbit hutch with 'magic blankets' and after he said a spell, and pulled the covers off, there was a little fluffy rabbit! Shaydn, Jorja, Lyrique and Mollie were so intrigued and interested and were watching and listening all the way through. Jaz, Aimee and Akasha (the younger children), sat very well, and enjoyed being in the atmosphere of things and watching different people interact.

After the show had finished, we headed over to the Marine Parade playground, where we had our lunch from our lunchboxes and a big drink of water. We had a big play on the playground afterwards as well! Slides, tunnels, swings, ladders kept the children energised and happy! After we packed up from the park, it was nearly time to head back to the bus stop. But not until we had stopped for an ice cream at Lick-it!. The children chose their flavours and we sat outside in the sun eating ice creams before heading back on the bus.

Children develop interest and pleasure in discovering an unfamiliar wider world where the people, images, objects, languages, sounds, smells and tastes are different from those at home (Belonging, Te Whariki).

Ainslee

Welcome to KIDSPACE Mana

Welcome to KIDSPACE Mana!! You have settled in so well over your first few days. You have particulary enjoyed playing in the sandpit, digging with the diggers and trucks and having a go with the hose. After lunch, you joined in for a story at group time, and sat down well and took an interest in the book.

Continue to explore and enjoy your new envrionment Mana, and we look forward to getting to know you more.

Ainslee

Literacy and Numeracy

Monica and I had another informative 2nd day of the literacy and numeracy course. Most of the morning was spend looking at brain development and how this impacts on literacy. Also how children engage and learn in early childhood settings. Judith has sent us an email with some very interesting information and links. We discussed the different numeracy concepts that children learn from an early age, and then how they develop through to more complex concepts, for example 'more or less' are comparing things; 'upside down' is about position and direction; 'grouping and matching' are about counting; and 'big and little' are about measurement.

As an extension of the literacy area that I set up, I have taken photos of visual literacy within the local community and displayed these on the wall. I want to engage children in conversation surrounding these and use representation and recall to extend their learning.

Ainslee

Haere mai Jordan

Jordan has had a good first couple of weeks and is settling into his new environment well! He has particularly enjoyed engaging in a range of different art experiences, and dressing up with his bus/truck drivers hat. He has been making the most of lots of cuddles from the teachers and has started to make some special friendships with some of the older girls who have been looking out for him. We welcome Jordan and his whanau to KIDSPACE!

Happy Birthday Harry

Tamara

Happy Last day Ruby

Tamara

Isabella

Isabella is doing well at KIDSPACE and settling in and beginning to have a sense of belonging. She's getting to know the teachers, children and knowing the routines. She's exploring what our environment has to offer and using self help skills, like putting the chairs away, helping with the table cloth and getting her own lunch box.

Isabella it's great to see you getting involved.

Tamara

Jessie

Happy 4th Birthday Acacia

Tamara