From construction to pretend play, our tamariki at BestStart Botany Junction use open-ended resources to bring their ideas to life—building confidence, creativity, and strong connections with others along the way.
At BestStart Botany Junction, we love open-ended resources. We make sure to provide a wide range so our tamariki can create, make, and express their own ideas and working theories.
Our tamariki will often work together to construct a shared project using these resources, like the large hexagon discs seen here. I had walked over and noticed one of my friends sitting on a chair-like structure that she had been working on for 30 minutes.
- "That's a lovely chair," I commented.
- "No teacher, it's a toilet. See?" she replied.
Then my friends proceeded to show me how you sit down and stand up. After that, they were actually playing house, and they had made this 'toilet' as part of their play setup.
These hexagon discs provide rich educational opportunities for tamariki to bring their ideas to life. They support teamwork, problem-solving, and the ability to explore their own theories and transform them into physical creations.
Because the pieces are large, our tamariki used their gross motor skills to fit the pieces together and coordinate movements with one another. In this instance, it also led to pretend play, which supports children’s social-emotional well-being and helps them make sense of their own lived experiences.
As kaiako, we always look forward to these moments where children delight and inspire one another.
Ka kite anō.