Playgroups
Playgroups in Maia and Pine Hill welcome children from birth to around the age of three, accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Playgroups offer families the opportunity to experience and explore Steiner education and participate in a caring and social group. Group sizes are limited to around ten to ensure we can provide a nurturing environment for the children and adults. Families bring a gold-coin koha and a piece of fruit to share.
Playgroup rooms are created with care, to surround the children in beautiful light and colour. Toys are simple and natural, such as a basket of pine cones, wooden animals, and dolls handmade from natural materials. The changing seasons are reflected in the stories and songs, and each term culminates with a seasonal festival.
Our sessions follow a predictable rhythm, which offers both focussed times when we gather as a group, and periods of spontaneous free play.
As families arrive and settle in, the children and adults can join the table to shape wholemeal buns for our shared tea. The children then transition into indoor free-play. When the cleaning song begins, we all put away the toys, and gather at the table for tea. We share fresh-baked buns, chopped fruit, and chamomile tea. When children have specific food needs, their parents bring a suitable substitute.
After tea time we gather for a simple story, and share verses, songs, and movement games. We integrate Te Reo Maori songs and verses into our circle to offer the children an experience of the bilingual nature of Aotearoa/New Zealand. We also acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of our community by inviting speakers of other languages to offer a verse or song in their own language.
Following circle time, we put on our outdoor clothes and go explore the great outdoors. Families say goodbye when they are ready to go home. Ka Kite Ano!
If you are interested in joining a playgroup session just come along for a visit. Playgroup times can be found in our News and Calendar page. Please check the latest newsletter for any changes. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Playgroup rooms are created with care, to surround the children in beautiful light and colour. Toys are simple and natural, such as a basket of pine cones, wooden animals, and dolls handmade from natural materials. The changing seasons are reflected in the stories and songs, and each term culminates with a seasonal festival.
Our sessions follow a predictable rhythm, which offers both focussed times when we gather as a group, and periods of spontaneous free play.
As families arrive and settle in, the children and adults can join the table to shape wholemeal buns for our shared tea. The children then transition into indoor free-play. When the cleaning song begins, we all put away the toys, and gather at the table for tea. We share fresh-baked buns, chopped fruit, and chamomile tea. When children have specific food needs, their parents bring a suitable substitute.
After tea time we gather for a simple story, and share verses, songs, and movement games. We integrate Te Reo Maori songs and verses into our circle to offer the children an experience of the bilingual nature of Aotearoa/New Zealand. We also acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of our community by inviting speakers of other languages to offer a verse or song in their own language.
Following circle time, we put on our outdoor clothes and go explore the great outdoors. Families say goodbye when they are ready to go home. Ka Kite Ano!
If you are interested in joining a playgroup session just come along for a visit. Playgroup times can be found in our News and Calendar page. Please check the latest newsletter for any changes. Feel free to contact us for more information.