Kia ora whanau,
Here at BestStart Botany Junction, we love to embrace the spontaneous moments of fun throughout the day. We value our beautiful outdoor environment and the rich learning opportunities it provides our tamariki.
Even on rainy days, we try to catch the moments when te rā (the sun) is out to run, jump, and breathe in that beautiful fresh air. The other day, when te ua (the rain) had stopped, our preschoolers were so excited to get outside and spend some time with Papatuanuku (earth mother).
One child spotted a puddle and called their friends to join. A kaiako (teacher) supported them to take off their shoes and had a towel ready to dry their feet afterwards. It was a splash-tastic time where they explored different ways of jumping and hopping, enjoying the cool sprinkle of water from the puddle.
Some children even noticed that different techniques of jumping produced different waves and splashes. Bigger jumps made bigger splashes – hmm, how interesting! What first appeared to be simple puddle-jumping turned into a fun-filled physics experiment, where they observed the force and energy applied to a material and how it responded.
Through play, children can start grasping early concepts of maths, science, and literacy. Sometimes, we as grown-ups just need to slow down and observe to see the natural learning occurring right in front of us.
Arohanui,
Shaista, Abbey, and the Botany Junction team