Despite the chilly winter weather, our tamariki have been making the most of the fresh air while enjoying one of their favourite learning experiences – books.
Recently, we transformed part of our outdoor environment into a cosy book nook complete with blankets, cushions, and a carefully selected collection of books.
Wrapped up in warm jackets and surrounded by friends, the tamariki eagerly settled in to explore stories together. At BestStart Tawa South, one of our centre priorities is supporting the development of oral language, and books provide endless opportunities for this learning to occur naturally. While reading, children are exposed to new vocabulary, hear different sentence structures, and begin to make connections between words, pictures, and their own experiences.
Throughout the morning, we observed children independently selecting books that captured their interest and spending time carefully turning pages, studying illustrations, and revisiting familiar stories. Some children chose to sit quietly and read on their own, while others gravitated towards friends, creating opportunities for shared reading experiences. These shared moments were filled with meaningful communication. Children pointed to pictures and named familiar objects, animals, and people. They used gestures, sounds, words, and simple sentences to communicate their ideas and share discoveries with one another. We heard children identifying colours, commenting on what they could see, and responding to their peers' observations. For many of our younger tamariki, oral language development begins long before full sentences emerge.
Through pointing, babbling, making sounds, and using single words, children are already learning the foundations of communication. Experiences such as our outdoor book nook provide a safe and engaging environment where these early communication skills can be practised and strengthened. Books also create opportunities for children to listen. As children hear stories being read and conversations taking place around them, they begin to develop their understanding of language and learn the important social skills involved in communication, such as taking turns, listening to others, and responding appropriately.
We particularly enjoyed seeing children sharing books with one another. Sitting side-by-side, they showed genuine interest in what their friends were reading and often pointed out pictures for others to notice. These interactions help children understand that language is a tool for connection and that books can be enjoyed both independently and collaboratively. The outdoor setting added an extra layer of richness to the experience. Children could hear the sounds of the environment around them, feel the cool winter air, and observe what was happening beyond the pages of their books.
These real-world experiences often sparked additional conversations and encouraged children to make links between stories and the world around them. By creating inviting spaces that encourage communication, curiosity, and connection, we are helping to nurture confident communicators and lifelong learners. Whether children are listening to a story, sharing a book with a friend, naming pictures, or simply turning pages and exploring independently, they are building important foundations for literacy and language development every day.
Sometimes the simplest experiences create the richest learning opportunities, and our cosy winter book nook was certainly one of those moments. He taonga te kōrero" – Conversation is a treasure. Through stories, books, and meaningful interactions, our tamariki are discovering the power of language one page at a time.