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Our Discoverer's room
Tēnā koutou! The tamariki in the Discoverers Room have been busy exploring with all of their senses, as they typically do at this stage of development. As kaiako, we are constantly searching for new ways to satisfy their urge to touch, smell, taste and to stimulate them visually and aurally. Throughout the past month they have engaged with a variety of different concoctions such as gloop, cloud dough, silky dough, corn flour and shaving foam, sand and paint, and natural resources such as herbs, dried flowers, water and ice. Even the most reserved of our tamariki have taken the opportunity to get their hands dirty!
The inclusion of messy play in our under 2’s curriculum provides children with an exciting tactile and sensory experience that inspires curiosity, allows them to explore their world, and enhances their language and creativity. Tamariki learn through experimentation, and messy play encourages tamariki to explore new and interesting textures and to manipulate materials in a variety of ways. Not only does it enhance their cognitive development, but improves their physical development too. Their fine and gross motor skills are refined, and this supports the development of muscle strength; they develop hand-eye coordination and concentration; their body control and balance are improved through small and large movements; and they develop spatial awareness as they play alongside their peers. By including natural resources, tamariki form a connection to the natural world, discover their place in it, and are encouraged to be kaitiaki (guardians) of the natural world.
We will continue to provide our youngest tamariki with opportunities to explore the weird and the wonderful!