Blog Posts

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.

Infants and toddlers in group care will usually experience a range of transitions in their first three years. In this blog we provide a focus on the transition from an infant toddler space (under two’s) to an over two's space.

What can you do when your bundle of joy starts biting others? We take a dive into strategies and what you need to know as a parent when your toddler is biting others.

Forcing children to say sorry does not necessarily equal an authentic apology.

Before you rush out to purchase the latest toy on the market, look around and see what you have that is real, something not created to do all the child's thinking, give the child something truly authentic to play with and enjoy watching magic happen.

Classroom environments that are not only enchanting places that ignite children's imagination, but inspire their desire to learn, should be the norm in all our places for young children.

Seamlessly transitioning from home to Centre is important to support a child’s wellbeing, belonging, and inevitably all areas of their learning. It ensures children carry a sense of home so they can continue to learn and thrive within a safe and supported childcare environment.

Being both a sleep consultant and qualified head infant teacher, I am here to give inside knowledge, answer these common worries, and hopefully give you a boost of confidence before making those first steps towards starting childcare.

What can you do when your child who is usually very happy at their childcare centre, becomes increasingly unsettled?

In their early years, young children are still developing the skills, resilience, and strategies for coping with life’s ups and downs. I like to remind parents that young children are in an apprenticeship - they are still learning (so many things!) and need a LOT of practice, guidance, and loving support to work stuff out.