August 2025 | Kōrero from Curious Minds

Kia ora e te whānau,

Look at all the fun we’ve been having! What a month it’s been at Curious Minds!Our tamariki have been out exploring the community, snuggling up for teddy bear picnics, meeting spiky new friends (hi, Spike!), and diving into some seriously good books. We’ve had messy play, cosy shared kai, and plenty of giggles along the way.There’s never a dull moment when curious minds are at work!

‍

Island Bay

We’ve been venturing out into our local neighbourhood on regular community walks, including trips to the library and grocery store. These outings offer our tamariki valuable real-world learning experiences: practising road safety, navigating social spaces, and building an understanding of their place in the wider world. It’s always special to see the tamariki engage with their environment and proudly represent our centre.

A high point this month was our Teddy Bears Picnic, where our soft and cuddly friends joined us for a day of stories, singing, and shared kai. With picnic blankets laid out and favourite teddies in hand, the children embraced the magic of imaginative play and companionship. One of our kaiako froze some of our favourite loose parts into large blocks of ice! The tamariki had a blast exploring this chilly sensory experience: touching the cold surfaces, observing how the ice slowly melted, and figuring out how to free the trapped treasures inside. This kind of hands-on play encourages problem-solving, scientific thinking, and lots of curiosity. Through these everyday adventures, our tamariki are building confidence, independence, and a growing sense of belonging, both within our centre and our wider Island Bay community.

‍

Johnsonville

It’s been a month full of creativity, culture, and care here in Johnsonville! In the Nursery, our youngest tamariki have been exploring the world through sensory play and creative arts. From squishy textures to vibrant colours, they’ve been discovering new ways to express themselves—and even made a few animal friends along the way! These hands-on experiences help build confidence, fine motor skills, and a growing sense of wonder.

Over in the Classroom, we’ve been celebrating the diversity of our global whānau with special days to mark Canada Day and Bastille Day. There’s been flag-making, stories, music, and kai inspired by each culture—giving our tamariki a chance to learn about the wider world and the different ways people celebrate.

We’ve also been weaving in the important value of kaitiakitanga—caring for our environment and showing respect for the people and places around us. Whether it’s helping tidy up our space, being kind to our friends, or learning about Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), our tamariki are learning that even small hands can make a big difference.

‍

Miramar

July has been a joyful month of discovery, movement, music and mindfulness here in Miramar. Our tamariki had the special opportunity to walk to the Miramar Library and meet the much-loved Suzy Cato. The children loved hearing Suzy read stories and share songs. We also took a trip on the iconic Wellington cable car! The tamariki were full of wonder as they watched the city zoom by them. These real-world experiences help strengthen their sense of place and belonging in our beautiful capital city and wider world. At the centre, we held a Teddy Bear Picnic Day, where every child brought along their favourite soft toy for a day of cuddles, stories, and shared kai. There were so many smiles as teddy bears joined in on the fun!

Karaoke Day brought a ridiculous amount of laughter and confidence as our tamariki had the chance to sing their favourite songs—some even performed in groups, showing great teamwork and joy in self-expression. With all the sunshine and movement lately, it’s no surprise that bike riding has also been a favourite activity this month. Our tamariki have been zooming around the outdoor area, building strength, coordination, and confidence on wheels. To cap it all off, we introduced Self-Care Day, a time for our children to slow down, tune into their feelings, and practise gentle, nurturing routines. With foot baths, and mindfulness activities, the children were supported to understand that looking after ourselves is just as important as looking after others. These wonderful experiences help our children continue to grow as confident, compassionate, and curious little minds.

‍

Queenstown

This month, the tamariki in Queenstown have been engaging their senses, testing their limits, and meeting some scaly new friends!

The highlight for many was the visit from Spike the Bearded Dragon. The children were absolutely fascinated by his unique appearance and gentle movements. With the guidance of his handler, tamariki had the opportunity to observe Spike up close, give him a cuddle, and gently touch his textured skin. This helps build confidence, curiosity, and respect for living creatures. It was a wonderful way to introduce conversations about animal care, habitats, and empathy. Indoors and out, climbing has taken centre stage! Whether on our climbing frames or creating their own obstacle courses, the children have been pushing themselves to new heights—literally. These physical challenges support gross motor development and build resilience as they learn to take safe risks in a supportive environment.

We’ve also seen a strong interest in reading emerge across the centre. Quiet corners have been filled with tamariki diving into books, sharing stories with teachers, or turning pages with a friend. It’s beautiful to see their growing love of language and storytelling blossom in such a natural way. To top it all off, we’ve been exploring sensory play with simple yet captivating materials like flour and water. There’s been lots of messy hands, laughter, and wide-eyed discoveries as the children squish, mix, and experiment—helping to build fine motor skills and understanding of texture, cause and effect.

‍

Ngā Mihi Nui from The Curious Minds Team!

The Curious Minds Team

‍Stay Connected: Island Bay, Johnsonville, Miramar, Queenstown