October 2025 | Kōrero from Curious Minds

Kia ora e te whānau,

What a wonderful month it’s been across our Curious Minds whānau! From celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and Colombia Day to puddle jumping, shadow play, and creative construction, our tamariki have been learning through laughter, culture, and discovery. Whether painting rainbows, baking in the café, or exploring nature’s wonders, every moment has been filled with curiosity, connection, and joy.

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Island Bay

It’s been a month full of curiosity, creativity, and puddle-splashing fun! Our tamariki have loved getting hands-on with nature and colour — whether it’s exploring Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, diving into the world of bugs, or jumping in puddles after all the rain! 

As part of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, our tamariki explored colours in te reo, creating a beautiful āniwaniwa (rainbow) together. It was a joyful way to connect with language through art and play, helping to bring the beauty of te reo Māori to life.When the rain arrived, it didn’t slow anyone down. Instead, it brought even more adventure! With gumboots and jackets on, our explorers headed outdoors to jump, splash, and laugh together in the puddles. Experiences like these remind us how important sensory play and connection to the environment are for our children’s growth and joy. Bugs have also been a big fascination this month. From tiny spiders to wriggly worms, our tamariki have been learning about these small creatures and  their role in our world. This curiosity has led to meaningful discussions about kindness, care, and respect for living things.We also had lots of fun learning about hygiene in a hands-on way! Through a playful “Wash the Germs Away” activity, our tamariki discovered how soap and water work together to keep our hands clean. It’s such a clever and engaging way to build lifelong healthy habits

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Johnsonville

“There are plenty of fish in the sea, but only one amazing dad like you for me!” At CMEL Johnsonville we had a wonderful Father’s Day to celebrate all our dads, grandads, uncles, and father figures. Cookies and heart-shaped fridge magnets were decorated with aroha. We also showed our support for the New Zealand Cancer Society by taking part in Daffodil Day. The centre bloomed with yellow as we talked about kindness, care, and helping others in our community. It’s been a heartwarming few weeks at Johnsonville! Everyone is getting ready for the spring weather, and looking forward to the longer daylight hours and sunshine! Summer is just around the corner!

From artwork and laughter to learning and aroha, our Johnsonville whānau have had a wonderful month celebrating connection, community, and care

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Miramar

What an exciting and vibrant few weeks we’ve had at Miramar! Our tamariki have been exploring Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, learning new kupu, creating headbands, and taking part in fun activities that celebrate Aotearoa’s beautiful language and culture. The centre has been filled with waiata, movement, and smiles as our tamariki proudly shared what they’ve learnt. We also took a colourful journey across the globe to celebrate Colombia Day! “Hola amigo!” echoed through the centre as our tamariki explored Colombian culture through art, colours, and cooking. It was a wonderful way to embrace diversity and learn about the world around us.

In the dining area, creativity and teamwork were in full swing as our tamariki opened the CMM Café! With busy hands “baking” their favourite treats, the café was buzzing with laughter and imagination. These moments of role play help build communication skills, confidence, and connection — all through the joy of play.

From celebrating te reo Māori to cooking up fun in the sandpit, it’s been a month full of learning, laughter, and cultural connection here at CMEL Miramar..

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Queenstown

Our tamariki have been busy learning through creativity, construction, and imaginative play; all while enjoying the sunshine and each other’s company! 

Construction has been a big focus recently, with children working together to design, build, and problem-solve. Through these experiences, our tamariki develop spatial awareness, fine and gross motor skills, and a strong sense of teamwork. It’s amazing to see how collaboration and creativity come together as they bring their ideas to life. Shadow play has also captured our children’s curiosity! Using light and movement, they’ve been exploring how shadows form, change, and interact. This simple yet fascinating activity helps develop both cognitive and motor skills while sparking imagination and storytelling — as tamariki create their own shadow worlds and stories. We know how to make a big wonderful mess, but also how to get sudsy and clean it up! Leaning about tidy practices will helo our tamariki later in life. Whether it’s constructing masterpieces or playing with light and shadow, our Queenstown tamariki continue to learn through exploration, curiosity, and connection. It’s the heart of what we do here at CMEL

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Ngā Mihi Nui from The Curious Minds Team!

‍Stay Connected: Island Bay, Johnsonville, Miramar, Queenstown