Pikopiko Room – All-day care for 0-2 year olds

Visits

Depending on your situation you may have a different timeframe to get ready before your child starts. Where possible it is great to have several visits so they can get used to this new space and get to know their teachers. 

Your visit process may look a little like this:

• First: Meet the teachers, look around, ask questions, and share your aspirations
• Second: Stay and play together, giving your child the chance to explore with you there as a secure base
• Third: Let your child know you are popping out for a moment but will be back. This gives them a chance to get to know their kaimanaaki and see that you will return. You might have a cuppa in the whānau room.
• Fourth: Leave for a longer period of time, but stay in the building. The office staff may be available to pop down to see how things are going and keep you updated.

What to bring

• Settling Objects: You may have a soft toy, special blanket, dummy, or other special something to connect to home. Let us know if this is only for bed, however sometimes they may be useful to have out when your child is settling. 
• Nappies: You can bring in enough for the day, or a larger pack to store here
• Bottles: You may want to bring in enough for the day or store expressed, cows or formula milk at Kindergarten. (We do have spare bottles if you get caught short) 
• Clothes: a change in case of water-play or nappy leaks. (We have spare clothes if needed)
• Food: A container of snacks for their time here. We provide sippy cups though you are welcome to bring your own drink bottle if you prefer.

Kaimanaaki

• Your child will have a Kaimanaaki, also known as a primary caregiver while here. 
• Kai = the person doing the action & Manaaki = to support, take care of, give hospitality to, protect, look out for, show respect, generosity and care for others.
• This teacher will build that initial relationship with your child when they begin, and be their secure anchor here. They are the main person there for your child when they are settling into their day, and the person who will (particularly in the beginning) carry out most of their care routines.

Ratio

1:4

Rhythms and Rituals

Pikopiko Daily Routine

8am-8.30 Centre opens. 

Pikopiko and Toro teachers together welcome children, set up environment, and move between the two rooms.

8.30/9ish

Children and teachers settle into their respective rooms and continue to welcome and settle in children as they arrive.

9.00ish

Teachers invite tamariki to the kai table to eat, children may also initiate kai time and take the lead. Songs and karakia kai as well as conversation are part of this ritual as we connect with each other. Children may choose to play if not hungry.

A calm and nurturing programme involves time for children to engage with their environment, teachers, and peers. An enticing environment is set up to encourage children to drive their own play while teachers are available to gently support social learning, witness successes, and provide a secure base to settling children. Music, stories, and care of the environment are frequent experiences.

10.30ish Teachers invite tamariki to the kai table to eat

11.30/12ish Nappies not already changed are done now, and children are prepared to go home or to bed

12.00 Teachers invite tamariki to the kai table to eat

1.00ish Tamariki join with the Toro Room (in either space dependent on number of tamariki) and spend the remainder of the afternoon together.

3.30 – 4.30pm– Home: We farewell those who are heading home and the remaining tamariki return back to their work and free play. 

Kaiako continue to support and engage where needed and balance this with completing the final pack away rituals, preparing the environment for the next day. The few Mōkehu tamariki who remain may join us at around 3.30-4.

Note: Many babies will follow a slightly different rhythm with sleeps and bottles in sync with their home routines.

Unique to Pikopiko

The Pikopiko Room environment is set to a home-like, calm and peaceful space that supports children to learn in their own way and at their own pace. Our aim is to provide authentic experiences for children, like growing veges, herbs and fruit and baking bread, as well as providing an environment that supports children to revisit and practice skills and experiences from home and centre.

Alongside the NZ Curriculum, Te Whāriki, we take inspiration from the respectful philosophies from Emi Pikler, Magda Gerber and Pennie Brownlee and blend their ideas into our programm to provide our children with a caring, nuturing environment that responds to their needs and empowers them to take charge of their own learning and development.

Having strong relationships and working in partnership with whānau and children are fundamental for our room and support children making links between home and centre and developing a strong sense of place.