2-8 Triangle Road, Massey, Auckland Phone (09) 832 9999
I like messy play! - Do you know what I can learn through engaging in messy play? Not sure...... then let me tell you. No wait let me show you. Because I am still little, one of the ways in which I learn more about the world around me is through my sensory perception. Messy play with paint, foam, sand, water, glue, gloop and playdough lets me explore experiment and discover how both new and familiar materials and resources feel. How do things sound, what they look like, if they smell, and sometimes if my teacher isn’t looking I can see how things taste. Messy play is also an opportunity for me to express myself when I have not yet developed the verbal skills to communicate effectively. Messy play such as painting, allows me the chance to use my imagination, express my thoughts and creativity through my play experiences. All of these feelings come in to play and the results are my own unique and individual creations and experiences. Messy play encompasses my whole body holistically. When I engage in messy play it makes me feel good and has the potential to be very calming and soothing. I can join in with my friends and socialize verbally and non-verbally, while having fun. I can also use my whole body from my head to my toes, especially when I get to body paint. Oh what fun!! Let’s take a short journey and capture some of these special and memorable moments. These will last me a life time. I hope that you have enjoyed reading about my wonderful learning experiences that I have had at Junior Junction. I know that I have learnt so much because of the opportunities that I was able to have through my messy play. But for now I am going to concentrate on celebrating the festive season with my family, teachers and friends. I hope that you can join me. Until then ka kite anu.
Water, water, everywhere - Water in the sand play area is a great way for the children to experience science, it allows the children to experiment and explore two different mediums such as sand and water. The children love to play with water. They love to experimenting with it by adding sand and feeling the difference it makes to the sand. This includes the making of those famous sand pies. Also on these hot summer days the opportunity to play in water is a great way to cool down. Water play is one of the favourite activities of Conor, Micah and Kyree and if water is on offer you will usually find anyone of them at the water trough.
Experience and explore - Today in the outside area a bathing babies activity was set up for the children to experience and explore. The children were all interested in this activity at some stage throughout the day but Alex, Taylah and Leisharne spent the most time playing at this activity and exploring the different aspects. Alex enjoyed the nice cold face cloths where he could soak up all the cool water and squeeze it out again over his hands, Alex also found it a bonus treat to suck on the face cloths and drink the nice cool water. Taylah enjoyed dipping the clothes in the water and then dropping them on the grass and then back into the water again. Taylah also enjoyed pushing the babies around in the bath but wasn’t really sure about it when the water would splash her in the face. This was a great activity for all the children as it worked on many of their areas of development. Some of these areas are hand eye co-ordination, senses, and problem solving.