At BestStart Blenheim Central, to celebrate The Teddy Picnic, the tamariki were invited to paint their own teddy bear faces.
Each child was given freedom and choice, selecting three favourite colours to use.
This supported their developing sense of autonomy and decision-making, aligning with cognitive-based learning, where children learn best through hands-on experiences. It was wonderful to see the unique and creative approaches each tamaiti used with the paint and brushes. Some held their brush with a firm grip, while others experimented with different ways to move their hands and arms, exploring a range of brush strokes – from gentle dabs to bold, sweeping lines.
This showed not only their fine motor abilities, but also their willingness to try new techniques and solve problems as they worked. As they painted, I noticed rich conversation about colours, shapes, and teddy bear features. Encouraging open discussion supported oral language growth and helped children share their ideas, developing social and cognitive skills together.
Overall, this experience celebrated children’s thinking processes and creativity. By providing choice, encouragement, and a fun context, we saw how capable tamariki are when given space to express themselves and lead their own learning journey. Ka Pai to Mahi Tamariki!