Playcentre Aotearoa is encouraging whānau with pēpi and tamariki across Aotearoa to embrace outdoor play (tākaro ki waho) as part of Playcentre Outdoor Play Week, from 4-8 November.
Playcentres across the country are inviting families to visit and experience some of the awesome outdoor play experiences on offer in recognition of Play Week Aotearoa which is run annually by Sport NZ.
The theme of Playcentre’s Outdoor Play Week this year is “The Wonderful Outdoors” or “Tino Taiao.”
With summer just around the corner, whānau are encouraged to make the most of the warmer weather to explore the wonders that nature (te taiao) has to offer with their pēpi and tamariki.
Ideas for outdoor play could include going on scavenger hunts in the garden, making pirate treasure maps, building a fort, testing what natural objects sink or float in water or making a volcano in the sandpit using baking soda and vinegar.
“Outdoor play offers numerous benefits for pēpi and tamariki, including the development of problem-solving skills, creativity and social skills, not to mention having a positive effect on their emotional well-being,” explains David Moger, Chief Executive of Playcentre Aotearoa.
Playcentre’s philosophy values parents as the first and best educators for their tamariki.
“Because parents attend Playcentre alongside their tamariki, this means Playcentre has a high adult to child ratio and can offer some awesome outdoor play experiences and excursions into the community to support tamariki to learn about the world around them,” says Moger.
Playcentre is a nationwide charity and licensed early childhood education provider with over 400 centres located throughout the country.
Every Playcentre offers three free visits before you join. Find your local centre.
