Blog Posts

“Can You Hear It?” explores how a centre’s philosophy can move beyond words to become a living presence - something you can see, hear, and feel. It reflects on how values come to life through environments, language, relationships, and reflective practice, reminding kaiako and leaders that a philosophy isn’t meant to live on paper but in people, guiding every interaction, decision, and moment of joy.

When we think about toddler environments, it’s easy to drift toward ideas of “mini classrooms,” themed corners, or curated activity tables. But toddlers aren’t driven by curriculum—they’re driven by biology. Their natural urges, impulses, curiosity, and instinctive need to move are what shape their learning.

Loose Parts are more than objects, they are invitations. Invitations to wonder, to stretch, to build, to imagine, to collaborate, to become.

Not every whānau celebrates Christmas, but every child deserves to feel they belong. This blog explores how kaiako can create inclusive, heart-centred celebrations that honour all cultures and traditions, focusing on kindness, connection, and aroha during the festive season.

Celebrates the magic of open-ended materials in early childhood education. Grounded in Te Whāriki and He Māpuna te Tamaiti for Aotearoa, it explores how loose parts nurture creativity, collaboration, and curiosity.

“Mixed Age Learning” celebrates the beauty and challenge of early learning spaces where babies, toddlers, and preschoolers grow together. Grounded in Te Whāriki, it explores how mixed-age environments nurture belonging, empathy, and leadership through natural tuakana–teina relationships and everyday acts of care.

Mat time. Hui time. Connection time. Story time. Gathering. Different names—same purpose. It’s not what you call it; it’s what you believe about it.

"The big question is: should we even be doing mat times at all? It’s one of those hot-button topics in early childhood education, with passionate views on both sides.

Visual arts in early childhood are not simply about producing something to hang on the wall, they are about giving tamariki a voice, nurturing their identity, and affirming that their ideas matter.

Printed portfolios have been a cherished part of ECE for decades, but in 2025, educators are divided, some see them as essential, others question their relevance.

Let’s stop creating inauthentic documentation that does nothing to improve teaching practice or children’s learning outcomes. We may as well write it on a piece of paper… and burn it.

In early childhood education, power and autonomy are about recognising the capabilities of both tamariki and kaiako. It’s about holding space, not holding control - making room for choice, voice, and shared leadership.

ECE business broker Henry Helsby, from Kakapo Business Sales, shares his top tips when entering the sale process.

Routine is a familiar, well-used word when talking about young children. Why? Routines are based on structure and consistency – often challenging to define and form - but once developed, they offer a rhythm, flow, and smooth transitions throughout the day.

What is it about building a tower out of bricks, taking it apart, and putting it back together that brings children so much joy? In the early years, children are drawn to ‘Constructive Play’ because it’s open-ended, creative, and satisfying. They can discover, explore, investigate, and learn to share as their fort, castle, car park, farm, or house rises from the floor. The other good news? It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to set up a construction and building area for children in your early years environment that is packed with learning experiences.

Children learn best when they are deeply engaged in what they are doing or experiencing. When their curiosity is piqued, and they become genuinely involved and interested, they’re engaged - and this is powerful for learning. So, how can we work with our children to support, develop, and extend engagement?

In this blog, we’ll dive into why the toddler stage is one of the most significant (and rewarding) phases in early childhood education.

Navigating the Hard Work, Rewards, and Realities of ECE Leadership. Being a leader in early childhood education (ECE) is a bit like being the glue, the guide, and sometimes the person who fixes the photocopier. It’s a role full of purpose and rewards—but let’s be honest, it’s hard work, too.

This blog dives into the challenges and realities of documentation in early childhood education, acknowledging the overwhelm many educators face with endless portfolios and learning stories.

Learning stories have been the assessment tool of choice in early childhood education for more than thirty years. Prior to this, running records were questionably a blunt instrument for documenting a child’s development.

This article is about PICKY eating or FUSSY eating or CHALLENGING eating or AVOIDANT eating and all similar words used to refer to struggles of feeding young children.