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Building relationships in the community
This month, our tamariki had an incredible experience when a firetruck came to visit us at BestStart Stokes Valley! The excitement was very real as the tamariki eagerly gathered around to meet the local firefighters and see the firetruck up close. The visit provided a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our connections with the local community, giving tamariki a deeper understanding of the important roles people in our neighborhood play in keeping us safe.
During the visit, our tamariki were given a lesson about fire safety and what to do in a fire, they were able to watch the firemen put on all their gear and then they were able to explore the firetruck! These hands-on experiences are a great way to follow the children’s lead and nurture their natural curiosity.
At BestStart Stokes Valley, we place great value on child-led learning, where tamariki are encouraged to explore their own interests. Many tamariki have shown a fascination with vehicles and emergency services, so having a real firetruck visit allowed them to dive deeper into their passions, ask questions, and gain new insights through play and exploration. This visit also linked closely with our centre’s value of Whanaungatanga (relationships and connections), as it provided an opportunity to strengthen bonds between tamariki, kaiako, and the wider community.
Through this experience, we reinforced the idea that learning happens everywhere, not just in the classroom, and that our community is a rich resource for expanding the children’s understanding of the world. We look forward to more exciting community engagements that support our tamariki’s learning and interests!