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Bugs Bugs Bugs!
Our Infant Room has been busy with bugs!!! It has been a big interest for our tamariki over the last few weeks after discovering a big beetle in our playground! Bug hunting with infant children offers a rich opportunity for learning, focusing not just on the experience itself, but also on supporting our learning through our learning priority He Kōrero.
Through the experience, our tamariki have been strengthening their oral language skills as they hear descriptive words and engage in conversations with each other and teachers about what they’re seeing and what bugs they are hunting for! While the excitement when we find a bug is contagious, teaching our tamariki to approach bugs with kindness and respect fosters a compassionate relationship with nature. We encourage our tamariki to observe bugs in their natural habitat to foster care and responsibility for all living things, no matter how small.
This gentle empathy encourages both curiosity and mindfulness, helping children form a balanced connection with the natural world. The act of sharing and turn-taking with our resources fosters early social skills, teaching them the value of patience. Understanding how to play in the same space as each other encourages collaboration and empathy as children observe and interact with their peers.
These moments of discovery, rooted in the natural world, help lay the foundation for communication, social interaction, and group dynamics, turning a simple outdoor experience into a powerful learning experience.