What activities does the Centre offer?
We offer a variety of activities and experiences based on the tamariki interests. You will see the tamariki involved in; science experiments, painting, gardening, water and messy play, group times, story times, role play, excursions to the community and many many more.
Are there routines, for example sleep, meals, and nappy changing?
Yes - we do have daily routines when it comes to kai times, and nappy changing toileting. However, we understand that children also have their own routines so we ensure we have kaiako available to support tamariki with these routines outside of our scheduled times as detailed below:
- nga ruma Kākā:
- Kai times at 9.00 am morning kai, 11.00 am lunchtime kai, 2.00 pm afternoon kai, and late snack at 4.30 pm
- Nappy checks between 10.00 - 10.30 am, 12.00 to 12.30 pm, 2.30 to 3.00 pm and 4.30-5.00 pm
- nga ruma Pūkeko
- Rolling kai between 9.00 to 9.30, lunch at 11.30, rolling afternoon kai at 2.00 to 2.30pm, late snack at 4.30pm
- Nappy checks and toileting checks at 10.30 am, 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm and 4.30pm
Do you need to bring food for your child or is it provided?
Yes, you do need to bring food for your child. We know thinking of lunchbox ideas can be challenging - particularly if you have picky eaters, so we share nutritious and healthy lunchbox ideas in our enrolment pack. Please bring a named lunchbox and drink bottle for your tamaiti. We have facilities to store cold foods in the kitchen fridge and a microwave for lunchtime heat-ups. Please note we are a Peanut Butter Free Centre.
Nervous about leaving your little one with us for the first time?
Settling in process for you and your tamaiti
We know that making the decision to start your tamaiti into a preschool learner environment is not easy! We encourage you to come visit our lovely wee Centre so you are able to get a feel for our learning environment and meet our amazing kaiako team - this is such an important part in finding the Centre that will best suit your tamaiti and whānau needs.
If you decide Creative Corner is the right place for you, we have a comprehensive transition process which we can tailor to meet your individual needs. We like to arrange six 30-minute visits so that you and your tamaiti are able to build relationships with your priority kaiako and the other kaiako within the room before you have to say goodbye. These visits typically start 3 weeks before your official starting date. This provides you with the opportunity to share special characteristics of your tamaiti, their play interests, settling techniques, kai and sleeping routines etc. This process is just as important for you as a parent to feel comfortable and safe leaving your tamaiti, as it is for the tamaiti.
Visit 1 - This is a time to meet the Kaiako team and your tamaiti priority teacher. This visit will purely be around creating a relationship for everyone and allowing the child to explore freely if they wish.
Visit 2 – Building on the relationships between the priority kaiako and tamaiti, and priority kaiako and whānau while gathering insight into the child’s routine.
Visit 3 – Continue strengthening relationships. Allowing your tamaiti to explore freely with more interaction from the priority kaiako
Visit 4 – This is a time if you are feeling comfortable where you can say goodbye for 10 minutes and make yourself a cup of tea in the staff room. It is important to say goodbye to your child, so that they know what is happening and that you do come back. While it may be tempting to sneak out while they are happy and engaged in play, this can cause dis-trust when they realise you have gone making it harder at future drop-offs.
Visit 5 – Saying goodbye for 20 minutes if you feel comfortable; feel free to bring some snacks or if your tamaiti is requiring a bottle within that time
Visit 6 – Repeat of visit 5; this will create consistency for the child.