Seedlings Philosophy / Kaupapa Pihinga
Seedlings is a place of fun, exploration, wonder, learning and being together as people who care for and respect Papa-tū-ā-nuku. Being in a natural environment that tamariki have a deep sense of belonging to provides them with the desire to express their innate play urges, knowing that they are truly respected learners; they can express their feelings safely, their voice is heard, they are seen.
Seedlings: Connection, Nature, Play…our Philosophy.
We are akonga who have the kaha to have a go, take risks, reflect, accepts and learns.
You will feel: Courage - imagination, trust perseverance.
We experience koa through self-expression and self-regulation and develop our identity within the ropu through aroha.
You will feel: Connection - acceptance, respect, joyfulness.
We acknowledge and celebrate whanaungatanga, with each other & Papa-tū-ā-nuku, recognising our uniqueness.
You will feel: Compassion - freedom, kindness, wonder.
“Children learn through play: by doing, asking questions, interacting with others, devising theories about how things work and then trying them out and by making purposeful use of resources. As they engage in exploration, they begin to develop attitudes and expectations that will continue to influence their learning throughout life.” Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa Early childhood curriculum
Mana atua: Children understand their own mana atuatanga—uniqueness and spiritual connectedness Mana whenua: Children’s relationship to Papatūānuku is based on whakapapa, respect, and aroha Mana tangata: Children have a strong sense of themselves as a link between the past, present, and future Mana reo: Through te reo Māori, children’s identity, belonging, and wellbeing are enhanced Mana aotūroa: Children see themselves as explorers, able to connect with and care for their own and wider worlds (Ministry of Education)
"Promoting children’s wellbeing, confidence and resilience should be the cornerstone of every educational policy, if we are to empower our children to achieve the best developmental outcomes. Nature Kindergartens are child centered and are deliberately designed to promote the holistic development of the child." www.little-learners.com.au
“Nature has coded play into the Human Pattern as the process by which to unfold the physical, the social, the psychological, the cognitive, the imaginative, the creative, and the spiritual patterns of the human child. The degree to which the child gets to play in all of her ‘realms’ is the degree to which she can unfold the potential within her and become (what Joseph Chilton Pearce terms) the ‘Magical Child’. The Magical Child is dormant within every child, and play is the process by which the Magical Child unfolds and emerges - or not.” Pennie Brownlee
What does "outdoor learning" look like? The Nature Play model is designed for our youngest citizens to gain the most profound learning, in nature, by providing the "right" conditions for Sponge Learning. Nature Play asks adults enculturalised by Taught Learning to step back and allow the innate intelligence of play within every human being, the time, space and place to unfold. Nature Play - take a step back and observe your child at play.” www.nature-play.co.uk
