At BestStart Gillies Avenue, Sports Day is a highlight of the week for our preschool tamariki. Through engaging, play-based activities, children build strength, coordination, and social skills, all while having fun and preparing for school.
Every Tuesday at BestStart Gillies Avenue, our preschool tamariki dive into one of their favourite parts of the week—Sports Day! As part of our Now That I Am 4 Set for School Programme, Sports Day is a purposeful part of our curriculum that helps tamariki grow strong, confident, and socially capable.
During our Set for School session, children rotate through a variety of engaging activities such as table tennis, catch, ring toss, and spoon relay races. These games are carefully chosen to support the development of gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness, all while encouraging tamariki to take turns, cheer each other on, and work together.
Sports Day is a fantastic way to build social competencies like cooperation, patience, and resilience—skills that are essential for a smooth transition to school. It also reflects our commitment to a holistic, play-based curriculum grounded in Te Whāriki.
It’s a time where tamariki can challenge themselves physically, express their energy, and experience the joy of movement in a safe, inclusive environment. Whether they’re tossing a ring or balancing a spoon, every child is learning through play—and having a blast while doing it.
This is just one of the many ways our Set for School programme helps prepare tamariki for the next step in their learning journey. We’re proud to offer experiences that support the whole child—mind, body, and heart.