Music holds a special place here at Beststart Totara Street, offering a fun and meaningful way to support tamariki’s learning and development.
From the earliest ages, children are naturally drawn to rhythm, melody, and movement, making music an engaging tool to spark creativity and expression.
Singing songs, clapping hands, and exploring simple instruments allow children to develop essential skills such as language, co-ordination, and memory, all while having fun.
Music also plays a vital role in connecting children with their cultural identity and community. Incorporating waiata Māori and other songs that reflect New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage helps tamariki build a strong sense of belonging and respect for diversity.
Our centre participates in the annual local Tuwharetoa festival each year, with our tamariki proudly taking their position on stage amongst hundreds of other performers, making this an extremely exciting event. Music encourages social interaction, turn-taking, and cooperation, which are key components of emotional and social development.
Additionally, music supports cognitive growth by helping children recognise patterns, sequences, and sounds, which are foundational for literacy and numeracy skills. Our amazing kaiako weave music into daily routines to create an environment where learning feels joyful and fun.
Movement and music not only enhances physical development but also promotes self-confidence and emotional expression. We also have a local dance principal join our tamariki each fortnight to share her love and passion for music and movement with us.
This is a firm favourite with our tamariki who always look forward to her visits. Music and instruments is much more than entertainment, it nurtures the whole child, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and culturally. By embracing music, we honour tamariki’s unique identities and support their journey to becoming confident, connected, and curious little learners.