What to pack

Most of what tamariki need each day is ordinary and practical. A few things make a real difference:

• Spare clothes, and more than you think. Play gets wet and messy, and a change or two in the bag means your child can get stuck in without anyone worrying about it.
• Names on everything. Jackets, drink bottles and hats all look much the same once there are a few of them together.
• Something familiar, if it helps. A comfort toy or a small photo from home helps some children feel settled. Others don’t need one at all.

The rest of it is kai and nappies. Whānau send morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, a drink bottle with water in it, and nappies plus any cream your tamaiti uses. Tell us if a particular brand of wipes does not suit them. Formula, milk and bottles too, if those are needed.

Two things you do not need to buy. The sunhat is ours: every tamaiti gets one with their name embroidered on the front, so just tell us what colour they would like. Sunscreen is ours as well, from September through April, going on around half past nine and again around half past one.

If your tamaiti is two or over there is a KidsCan lunch available every day. They can have it instead of their lunchbox, alongside it, or not at all. Plenty of whānau pack a lunch anyway and let their tamaiti choose on the day.

The only things we would ask you to leave at home are chocolate and lollies, and anything other than water in the drink bottle. Go easy on packet food where you can, and ask any of the kaiako if you would like lunchbox ideas.

If you’re unsure about anything on the list, ask us before the first day. It’s an easy question to answer, and it saves a rushed morning.

How settling visits work

Settling visits give your child, and you, a chance to get to know the people and the space before the first full day. They’re also a chance for kaiako to get to know your child: what comforts them, what they’re curious about, and how they let you know they’ve had enough.

Come in as often as you like before the start date, even just popping in on your way past. There is no set number of visits and nothing to book.

Try a few different times of day, so the busy parts and the quiet parts are both familiar. A parent stays for these ones, and they are also when you meet their Hoa Ako, the kaiako who holds the learning relationship.

Closer to the start date we will suggest leaving your tamaiti with us for about an hour. That is the first practice at the goodbye, and at you coming back.

Every child settles differently. Some walk in and get on with playing. Others take a few weeks and want a familiar person close by for a while. Neither is a problem. You know your child best, so tell us what you’re noticing at home and we’ll work it out together.

A few things tend to help, whichever way your child starts:

• Say goodbye, even when it’s tempting to slip away. Children usually cope better with a clear goodbye than with discovering a parent has gone.
• Keep the goodbye short and warm. A long one is often harder on both of you.
• Talk about the centre at home. Once you know the kaiako, use their names. It helps the new place feel like part of your child’s world.

If your tamaiti is upset once you have gone, a kaiako who already knows them stays with them, one to one, until they have settled. Not passed around, not left to cry it out, and not handed to whoever happens to be free. The same person stays until they are ready to go and play.

And you do not have to wonder about it from the car park. Send a message through the Home app and we will answer from one of the tablets around the centre, or ring us on 020 472 7768. Being upset at the door often does not mean an upset day, and we would far rather tell you that than leave you guessing.

What we’ll tell you each day

When you leave your tamaiti with someone else, you want to know how their day really went. Not just ‘had a good day’, but the actual things: whether they ate, whether they slept, who they played with, and what caught their attention.

Kaiako will catch you at drop-off and at pick-up, and the end-of-day one is where you hear how it actually went.

The Home app carries the rest as the day goes: nappy changes, sleep times, anything that happened, and the learning stories for your tamaiti. Your enrolment details and account statements sit there too.

It has a messenger as well, for anything quick. Running late, a question, or just wanting to know they settled. We still love a phone call, and the door is always open.

Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum in Aotearoa, treats learning as something kaiako and whānau build together. So what you tell us matters as much as what we tell you. A rough night, a new word, a visit from grandparents: small details from home help kaiako make sense of your child’s day and respond to it.

A note on cost

If your child is three or older, the 20 hours ECE subsidy may help with fees. Ask us how it applies at Parrots when you get in touch, and we’ll talk it through with you.

Come and see us

If you’d like to visit Little Parrots or ask about a start date, send us an enquiry or call 020 472 7768. We’re at 32/34 Gloucester Road, Arataki, Mount Maunganui.

The post Starting at Little Parrots: what to pack, how settling visits work, and what we’ll tell you each day appeared first on Little Parrots: Mount Maunganui Childcare & Early Learning.

Ingredients

1 cup pumpkin puree (you can make this in advance)
2 eggs
1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp orange zest
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips + extra for topping

Method

Preheat your oven to 180°C and line a loaf tin with non-stick paper. If you haven’t already, make the pumpkin puree and set it aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and add the Greek yoghurt and maple syrup. Add the pumpkin puree to the mixture and combine well.
Add the sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the wet mixture. Fold in until just combined.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on top.
Bake for about 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!

Source: This recipe features in “Feed the Tribe” by Dr. Julie Bhosale. She shares many of her insights on her website Dr. Julie Bhosale – Baby Family Nutrition And Wellbeing Expert.
And you can also purchase her books. If you’d like to view her books before you buy, or borrow one for a bit, please ask us. Thanks!

The post Recipe of the week: Yummy pumpkin bread appeared first on Little Parrots: Mount Maunganui Childcare & Early Learning.

Ingredients

100g butter or coconut oil (or a mix of the two)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup combination of chopped dried fruit, nuts and seeds (like apricots, cranberries, raisins, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds etc.)
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1 3/4 cups fine rolled oats
1/4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 170ºC
Line a square 18-20cm baking tin or large loaf tin with baking paper.
Gently melt butter and honey together in a pot or in the microwave.
Stir in all other ingredients.
Press mixture into your tin using the back of a spoon or a fork – you want to press it firmly.
Bake for 25-30 mins until golden.
When it comes out of the oven, press it down firmly again and pop in the fridge for 1-2 hours to firm up. (I usually throw this together when the kids are in bed and leave it in the fridge overnight).
Cut into 16 squares or small bites.
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks, or in the freezer for 2 months.

Source: This recipe features in “YUM!” by Nadia Lim. If you’d like to view her books before you buy, or borrow one for a bit, please ask us. We’re more than happy to share. Thanks!

The post Recipe of the week: Muesli bites appeared first on Little Parrots: Mount Maunganui Childcare & Early Learning.

Vege pasta snacks

This delightful recipe is a hit in our house! And bonus, it’s super easy to throw together. Created by one of Aotearoa’s most amazing nutritionists for tamariki, Dr. Julie Bhosale, they work well warm or cold and are great for the lunchbox.
We make batches of these, freeze them in a container, and just pop them in lunchboxes the night before, so they thaw out in the fridge overnight.

Ingredients

• 1 carrot
• 1 small head broccoli
• 200g macaroni pasta (raw). GF: Use GF macaroni or a pulse pasta
• 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese (1 cup in the mixture and 1/2 sprinkled on top). DF: Use a DF cheese
• 1 egg. Egg Free: Use flax egg
• 2 tbsp butter – DF: Leave this out – they still work out perfectly
• 1/2 cup wholemeal breadcrumbs (plus a little extra for sprinkling on top) – GF: Use GF breadcrumbs

Method

• Preheat oven to 180ºC
• Line a medium sized muffin tin with baking cups/cupcake cases
• Make a vege puree by chopping and steam the carrot in a pot, when nearly cooked, chop and add the broccoli and cook that too. No need to overdo it here, as you want them to remain vibrant. Retain a little of the cooking water to blend the steam veges and make your puree using a blender, food processer or whatever you have at home.
  Tip: If you have a few carrots or broccoli in the fridge that you need to use up, puree them and pop this in the freezer.
  Then you’re ready to make another batch of these whenever it works for you.
• While your veges are steaming away, cook the macaroni as per the instructions on the packet. Drain and set aside.
• Add the egg, cheese, butter into a large bowl and whisk. Add the cooked macaroni, vege puree and the breadcrumbs and mix gently to combine.
• Spoon into baking cups.
• Combine the 1/2 cup grated cheese with some breadcrumbs to make a topping. Sprinkle on top.
• Bake for 30 minutes
• Cool a little before removing from the tray

Other tips

• You can use whatever vege you like in these really – cauliflower would work as well as the broccoli, while potato or parsnip could work as a substitute for carrot.

Source: This recipe features in “Feed the Tribe” by Dr. Julie Bhosale. She shares many of her insights on her website Dr. Julie Bhosale – Baby Family Nutrition And Wellbeing Expert.
And you can also purchase her books. If you’d like to view her books before you buy, or borrow one for a bit, please ask us. Thanks!

The post Recipe of the week: Pasta lunch snacks appeared first on Little Parrots: Mount Maunganui Childcare & Early Learning.

Highly regarded in New Zealand and internationally acknowledged, Te Whāriki was one of the first national curriculum documents for early childhood education. And at Little Parrots, we’re big fans of it. In this blog, we’ll explore key components of the curriculum and provide insights into how you can actively engage in and enhance the early learning years for your tamariki at home.

Te Whāriki: The heart of early learning

At the core of New Zealand’s early learning approach is Te Whāriki, the Ministry of Education’s curriculum framework.
It emphasises a holistic approach, focusing on the interconnectedness of wellbeing, belonging, exploration, communication, and contribution. Whānau can align their efforts with Te Whāriki by nurturing these guiding foundations at home:

• Whanaungatanga – building connections:
  Whanaungatanga, or building connections, is a fundamental aspect of Te Whāriki. Whānau can support this by fostering strong connections at home and within the community. Arrange playdates, attend local events, and engage in activities that promote a sense of belonging for your tamariki.

• Mana atua – wellbeing and spirituality:
  Mana atua encourages the holistic well-being of tamariki, incorporating physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions. Whānau can actively contribute by providing nutritious meals, ensuring sufficient rest, and incorporating cultural practices that resonate with your values.

• Mana whenua – belonging to the environment:
  Recognising connection to their environment, both natural and built, is the essence of Mana whenua.
  Whānau can support this by involving their tamariki in everyday activities like gardening, recycling, and appreciating the beauty of Aotearoa’s landscapes.

• Mana tangata – contribution and communication:
  Mana tangata focuses on the ability for tamariki to contribute to their community and communicate effectively. Whānau can encourage this by involving their child in decision-making, promoting positive communication, and supporting their unique interests and talents.

• Exploration and play:
  Play-based learning is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s early learning philosophy. Whānau can create an environment that encourages exploration, imaginative play, and hands-on experiences. Provide a variety of materials, engage in creative activities, and encourage your child to take the lead in their learning journey.

• Cultural competence:
  Embracing cultural diversity is integral to New Zealand’s early learning curriculum. Whānau can celebrate cultural festivals, share family traditions, and expose their tamariki to a rich tapestry of experiences, fostering an understanding and appreciation for diversity.

• Effective communication with kaiako:
  Establishing open lines of communication with early learning educators is essential. Regularly communicate with kaiako, and actively participate in your early learning community. This collaboration ensures a shared understanding of the needs and of your tamariki, which enhances their early learning experience.

At Little Parrots, we believe early learning is a shared journey between whānau, tamariki, and the wider community.
Everything we facilitate is based around the guiding elements of Te Whāriki – fostering connections, embracing cultural diversity, and prioritising well-being. Reinforcing these principles at home, is a simple way that you can actively contribute the learning and development of your tamariki. Together, let’s create a foundation that honours the uniqueness of each tamaiti and sets the stage for a lifetime of curiosity, growth, and fosters lifelong aroha for learning.

If you have any questions about Te Whāriki, or would like to know more about the ways we bring the curriculum to life here at Little Parrots, then please get in touch and korero with our kaiako, or pop in and see us for a cuppa – you’re welcome anytime.

The post Understanding Aotearoa’s early learning curriculum appeared first on Little Parrots: Mount Maunganui Childcare & Early Learning.

• Start slowly
  Start by introducing tamariki to the concept of daycare gradually. Arrange short visits and really take the time to allow your tamariki to explore the environment and interact with the centre’s kaiako. This helps familiarise each tamaiti with the new setting and builds a sense of comfort and trust.

• Establish a routine
  Most tamariki thrive on routine, as it provides a sense of security and predictability. Start implementing a consistent daily routine at home, including set mealtimes, nap times, and playtime. This will make the transition to daycare smoother, as they are already accustomed to a structured schedule. Share your routine with your centre’s kaiako so they can plan how they’ll best support your tamariki and replicate where they can, what you do at home.

• Encourage independence
  Foster independence by encouraging pre-school tamariki to do simple tasks on their own, such as dressing themselves, picking out their toys, or setting the table for mealtimes. This builds confidence and introduces them to building a strong sense of self and self-care.

• Get social!
  Arrange playdates or attend community events where tamariki can interact. This helps tamariki to develop their social skills.
  Learning how to share and collaborate are essential parts of the early learning experience.

• Talk it through
  Maintain open and honest communication with your tamariki about the upcoming change. Use positive language to discuss the benefits of going to daycare, such as making new friends and engaging in fun activities – there will be lots of opportunities to play and learn new things! It’s super important to address any concerns they may have and validate their feelings. We know each tamaiti is different. Some may benefit from you creating a visual chart that outlines what will happen in their day, from start to finish, giving you an opportunity to show when you will come back to get them. Other tamariki benefit from roleplaying, storytelling or making up a song about going to daycare – whatever works best for your tamariki.

• Create a comfort object
  Provide your tamariki with a comfort object, such as a favourite toy or blanket, that they can bring to daycare. Having a familiar item from home can provide a sense of security.

• Build a relationship with your kaiako
  Establish a connection with the teachers. Share important information about your tamariki, including their routines, preferences, and any specific needs. Building a partnership and collaborating with us, helps ensure we adapt our approaches to best support your tamariki, so they feel safe and secure.

• Practice positive goodbyes
  Practice positive goodbyes at home, reinforcing the idea that you will always come back. Keep farewells short and sweet and avoid lingering. This helps your tamariki understand that separation is temporary and builds trust in the consistency of your return.

• Keep up with updates and korero with your kaiako
  Stay informed about what activities are happening at your daycare facility and the progress your tamariki are making.
  We encourage regular communication with our kaiako as it provides insights into the experiences of your tamaiti, allowing you to address any concerns promptly and stay actively involved in their early development. At Little Parrots, we have a dedicated whānau portal and app that helps you keep in touch with us and makes life easier for parents. It’s a secure online area where you can login to access information about your tamariki and see how things are going in real time.

Preparing your child for joining an early learning centre like ours is a gradual process that requires patience, understanding, and planning. By implementing these tips, you will create a positive foundation for your tamariki to start their early learning journey.
We know parenting is hard. If you are struggling with preparing your child to join an early learning centre, or at any stage during the transition, then please reach out. We’re part of your community and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

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