In Pūkeko Nest, we celebrate the beauty of learning through play — especially the kind that gets a little messy!
Recently, our youngest tamariki have been diving into the colourful world of sensory finger painting.
For our under-twos, this experience is so much more than just making art it’s a full-body, multi-sensory journey. Through the simple act of dipping fingers into paint and spreading it around, our babies are exploring texture, colour, temperature, and cause and effect. They’re learning that their movements leave a mark that they have agency in their environment.
These joyful, tactile moments support the development of:
• Fine motor skills (hand and finger strength)
• Hand-eye coordination
• Sensory processing
• Creative expression
• Emotional regulation through calming repetitive motion
Finger painting also offers rich opportunities for language as we describe the experience together: “squishy,” “cold,” “smooth,” “blue,” “slippery.” These words help build vocabulary and support early communication.
In line with Te Whāriki, our early childhood curriculum, this kind of open-ended exploration nurtures the strands of Wellbeing – Mana Atua and Exploration – Mana Aotūroa, empowering tamariki to learn through their senses, feel safe in their environment, and express themselves freely in their own time and way.
We treasure these simple, magical moments where curiosity leads the way — and a little mess becomes a lot of learning