Babies learn from the moment they are born through play, everyday experiences and responsive relationships. During the first years of life, babies develop communication skills, physical abilities, social and emotional skills, confidence and an understanding of the world around them.
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Babies learn through play, exploration and responsive relationships with the people around them. Every interaction and experience helps babies make sense of the world, develop new skills and build confidence in their abilities.
A baby's first year is a period of rapid growth and development. During this time, babies build important foundations for communication, movement, relationships, learning and wellbeing through everyday interactions and experiences.
We support tummy time, movement and exploration by providing safe opportunities for babies to practise new skills at their own pace. Movement plays an important role in early development, helping babies build strength, coordination, confidence and an understanding of the world around them.
Babies develop language through everyday interactions, conversations and responsive relationships with the people around them. Long before they speak their first words, babies are listening, observing, understanding and learning how to communicate.
Every baby develops at their own pace, and developmental milestones are intended to be guides rather than strict timelines. The best way to support development is by providing opportunities for babies to practice new skills through play, exploration and responsive relationships.
Every baby learns and develops in their own way. Supporting different learning needs means understanding each child's strengths, interests, abilities and areas where they may benefit from additional support, so they can participate confidently in everyday learning experiences.
A typical day for a baby includes a balance of play, rest, feeding, care routines and responsive interactions that support learning and development. Rather than following a strict timetable, most babies follow routines that reflect their individual needs, rhythms and stage of development.
We respond to children's behaviour using positive guidance, caring relationships and developmentally appropriate support. For babies and young children, behaviour is often a form of communication and can reflect feelings, needs or frustrations that they are not yet able to express in words.
No. Babies learn best through play, movement, exploration and responsive relationships rather than screen-based activities. During the early years, hands-on experiences help babies develop communication skills, physical abilities, social connections and an understanding of the world around them.
Babies learn through exploration, movement and play, so it is important that learning environments are both engaging and safe. Safe exploration allows babies to build confidence, develop new skills and learn about the world around them while being appropriately supported and supervised.
BestStart uses a play-based learning approach supported by caring relationships and intentional teaching. Our approach is guided by Te Whāriki, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum, and focuses on helping children learn through play, exploration and meaningful everyday experiences.
Learning at BestStart combines play-based learning, caring relationships and intentional teaching to support each child's individual development. Our approach recognises that children learn in different ways and at different rates, so learning experiences are tailored to their interests, strengths and stage of development.
Intentional teaching means teachers thoughtfully plan and respond to children's learning, helping to make the most of every opportunity for learning and growth. It involves recognising how set ups for play will support development, extend thinking and build new skills through everyday experiences, play and interactions.
Different early childhood philosophies support children's learning and development in different ways. While each approach has its own focus, all aim to help children build confidence, develop new skills and foster a love of learning.