Under 2s

Our Under 2s

Kia ora, hello, all parents, whanau/family and caregivers

We would love to share with you a brief overview of our philosophy, the beliefs which shape our teaching practice with the infants and toddlers in our care. We base our teaching practice on the Pikler/RIE approach, the ideas of Dr Emmi Pikler and Magda Gerber. They believe that all children are free and equal human beings, and they suggested many ways to show this respect for the child in our actions.

These are the main ideas that shape our teaching practice on the Under Two side:

Respect

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The child is respected as a free and equal human being. This means that we accept each child as an individual with the right to make her own choices. Children are treated as competent and capable, with their own unique capabilities.
Taylin car

Freedom of Movement

ww U2 crawl Quality physical development is vital to the healthy growth of a child’s brain and body, and affects their holistic well-being. Free movement means that we allow each child to develop at their own individual pace. The quality of each movement  (rolling, crawling, sitting, walking etc) is valued, rather than the time it takes to transition to the next phase. The motivation and determination it takes to independently move themselves into the next position is an extremely valuable quality for lifelong learning. WW U2 greer2

Relationships

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On the Under Two side we value secure, trusting and responsive relationships between children and the adults in their lives. We have two consistent teachers who work with the children on the Under Two side, and two consistent teachers who are available to take their place when needed. This includes handover times, nappy changing and sleep times.
greer puppy(copy)

Free Play

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Play is seen as the main process through which children learn. Free play means that our resources are open-ended; they are able to be used in many different ways, and extend the children’s imagination and creativity as they manipulate them in any way they like.
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Contact Us

09 437 5718

info@openspaces.net.nz
 

Location

592 Ngunguru Road, RD3 Kiripaka
Whangarei, New Zealand