At BestStart Remuera Road, the air was filled with excitement (and the smell of delicious food!) as we hosted our Teddy Bear Picnic in support of the BestStart Butterfly Appeal. This special day was all about coming together as a whānau to support a great cause while creating lasting memories for our tamariki.
The centre was transformed into a bear-themed wonderland. In the lead-up to the event, our creative tamariki were busy with bear-themed arts and crafts, practising their fine motor skills while creating fuzzy masterpieces. On the big day, the children arrived proudly wearing their bear-themed outfits, accompanied by their favourite cuddly companions from home.
To make the event even more special, we offered pre-order meals to engage our families. A huge thank you to our wonderful parent helper who stepped into the kitchen to prepare these meals—this kind of contribution is the heartbeat of our centre.
This event beautifully reflects the principles of Te Whāriki, our early childhood curriculum. In particular, it highlights the strand of Belonging | Mana Whenua. By inviting families to participate in meal pre-orders and welcoming parents to help, we strengthen the connection between the centre and the wider world, ensuring children feel their family culture is valued and integrated into their learning environment.
The picnic also supported Contribution | Mana Tangata. Tamariki learned the value of collective action and supporting others through the Butterfly Appeal. Whether through art, dress-up, or sharing a meal, every child had the opportunity to contribute to a shared community goal.