Part 2 of our useful guide on how inspire meaningful play outside the classroom. Read on to discover our key tips for engaging your child in Reggio-inspired play. 3. Spend lots of time outside Nature is hugely restorative, both for adults and children. Deepen your child’s connection to the natural world by taking walks, picking fruit or …
Read More
Our teachers have had lots of requests from parents who would like to integrate Reggio philosophy at home. With this in mind, we’ve whipped up a useful guide that aims to inspire meaningful play outside the classroom. Read on to discover our key tips for engaging your child in meaningful play. Part 2 to follow! 1. Unstructured …
Read More
Recently, Bear Park’s atelierista Katja Keene-Fabig had the pleasure of being interviewed by MiNDFOOD magazine! They were curious to know more about her role as an art educator. For those who have always wanted to know more about this profession, we hope the following Q&A helps to de-mystify the profession a little. In your own …
Read More
Good news! Another talented Bear Park teacher spent time in Italy this year, visiting the birthplace of Reggio Emilia philosophy. Naomi McCutcheon is Centre Director for our Kohimarama centre. She soaked up the spring weather for 10 days in April, learning with other educators. Read on below for her insights and ideas. Q: First things first. …
Read More
Here we show you how to set up a fun art activity at home for your child using only what nature provides. The best part is that you’ll love participating too. Enjoy! What: A nature mandala is a circular art form that is made using different objects and natural materials. Why: The idea of this …
Read More
The Remuera teaching team worked alongside the Tui children to extend and develop ideas around repurposing. We believe that for children to appreciate the value in an object or material, they need to discover its true potential. Our team introduced the idea that discarded or recycled materials have unlimited possibilities, and the results were remarkable. The …
Read More
Bear Park teacher Hiromi McCarthy-Dowd jetted off to Italy earlier this year to gain first-hand experience of the Reggio Emilia philosophies. Here she reflects on the culture of community that their teachers and parents have embraced, and how we can introduce these practices into our own circles here in New Zealand. Q: How long did …
Read More
Celebrations are in order: 2016 marks a grand thirty years of Bear Park early childhood education. Read on for a trip down memory lane. In June 1986, Sue Stevely-Cole opened the first pre-school. On the roll call was an intimate grouping of three children, who we now fondly refer to as our founding learners. As …
Read More
This question is often brought to our attention, and continues to be a highly debated topic. In the classroom, we welcome technology, aware that balance is necessary for a well-rounded learning experience. Our stance on the debate is simple: digital technologies are simply another tool to encourage a child’s curiosity. They are an accessory in …
Read More
It starts with the small details, encouraging young children to celebrate difference, and see beyond their own perspective. To see the world not as a single story, race or colour, but as a place of variety, woven with perspectives and languages. At Bear Park, we pride ourselves on a continual commitment to teaching with a …
Read More