Today at BestStart Mangere East, our tamariki enjoyed a wonderful outdoor creative experience, exploring colour, paint, dye and mark-making together in the sunshine.
Using a large piece of cardboard as their canvas, the children were able to freely experiment with brushes, different colours and their own ideas. They have also been learning about recycling cardboard, so using it as part of their creative experience was a meaningful way to connect this learning with their outdoor exploration.
Experiences like this are about much more than painting. As tamariki dipped their brushes, moved their hands across the cardboard and watched the colours appear, they were developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and concentration.
They were also learning alongside one another by sharing space and resources, observing what their friends were doing and building confidence to express themselves in their own unique ways.
Our kaiako support these moments by giving tamariki time and space to explore, following their interests and using language to encourage curiosity. Conversations about colours, textures and what happens when different materials are used help children develop their vocabulary and make connections through their experiences.
This learning connects with Te Whāriki, particularly Mana Aotūroa | Exploration, as tamariki learn through active exploration of their environment alongside their friends.
At BestStart Mangere East, we love creating opportunities where learning can be creative, social, hands-on and fun.