Kia Ora, Vanakkam, Namaskaram, Namaskaramu, Ayubowan, Nǐ Hǎo (你好), Lí Hó! (你好)
At BestStart Riccarton Park, we encourage our tamariki to explore, discover, and play at their own pace and in their own time. We believe that meaningful learning happens when children are given the freedom to follow their interests and engage in experiences that spark their curiosity and wonder.
One of our 16 Areas of Play is wai (water) play, and it is always a favourite among our tamariki. Water play provides endless opportunities for exploration, creativity, and learning in a fun and engaging way. As children pour, scoop, splash, and experiment with wai, they develop important skills across many areas of learning.
Water play supports fine motor development as tamariki strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers through actions such as pouring, squeezing, and transferring water between containers. It also encourages problem-solving and critical thinking as children test ideas, make predictions, and discover cause-and-effect relationships. Our tamariki love investigating how wai moves, flows, and changes. Whether they are creating rivers, filling buckets, or discovering which objects float or sink, they are engaging in rich learning experiences that nurture their natural curiosity and support their growing understanding of the world around them.
Water play is a wonderful way for children to build social skills too. As they play alongside their friends, they learn to share resources, take turns, communicate their ideas, and work together on creative projects. These interactions help foster manaakitanga (kindness and care for others), cooperation, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging within our learning community. Wai play also encourages children to demonstrate rangatiratanga by making choices, leading their own learning, and developing independence. Through collaborative play, tamariki learn the value of working together and supporting one another, strengthening their relationships with friends and kaiako.
Most importantly, water play provides a calming and sensory-rich experience that allows tamariki to connect with their environment while having fun. The soothing nature of wai offers opportunities for mindfulness, exploration, and discovery, creating moments of joy and wonder. Watching children explore, learn, and delight in the simple pleasures of water is always a highlight of our day here at BestStart Riccarton Park.
We are grateful to share these learning journeys with our tamariki and whānau and look forward to many more splashes, discoveries, and learning adventures together. "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini." My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective. This whakataukī reflects the importance of learning, growing, and succeeding together.
Through wai play, our tamariki, kaiako, and whānau work alongside one another, sharing ideas, building relationships, and supporting each other's learning journeys every day. 💙🌿