Today our group of 4 year olds spent the morning at Margaret Mahy Playground where they explored the big climbing nets, the long spiral slide, the wide slides, the water play area, and the basket swings.
Tamariki were eager to try new challenges and talked openly about feeling both excited and a little unsure as they looked at the height and size of the equipment. The climbing nets encouraged tamariki to think carefully about where to place their hands and feet.
Some climbed part of the way, while others went higher as their confidence grew. At the slides, bravery shone through. Patrick shared "Big slide weeee and I liked the big slide, at the start I was scared but then I was like wee wee wee." Christian proudly said "Caitie, I went down the big slide on my own and it was amazing" and "I really liked the twisty slide." GG reflected on her own progress, saying " I liked the big slide, Ive never been down the big slide before because when Ive been with Bill, I climbed down, but this time I went down the slide." Sophie added "I really liked it, the small slide. And the tunnel slide" Johan shared "I liked making the slide, running around" showing his excitement for both the equipment and the open space to move.
Some children explored the water features, with Henry simply stating I liked the water play and pushing the buttons" which made the water come out of holes in the walls. This shows us how each child found their own different areas of interest within the playground. Throughout the visit, tamariki worked on balance, agility, and risk taking. They showed awareness of their limits and made thoughtful choices about what they were ready to try. There was plenty of encouragement among friends as they watched one another climb, slide, and run. Moments of hesitation often turned into moments of pride as tamariki tried something new and discovered they could do more than they first thought.
This trip supported the strands of Exploration, Mana Aotūroa and Contribution, Mana Tangata in Te Whāriki. Tamariki developed physical confidence, practised decision making, and shared in each other’s achievements. They returned to preschool proud, energised, and full of stories about the challenges they took on.