Arts, Crafts & Activity Ideas
Block play builds more than STEM
Scaffolding and extending children as they engage in block play in early education settings.
4 Frightfully Fun Halloween STEM Ideas
Four Halloween themed STEM activities to keep minds and bodies busy.
10 books to inspire future conservationists
10 beautiful books about conservation to inspire and motivate little learners.
It's A Small World: The Importance of Small World Play
How educators can facilitate small world play in early learning settings.
Make Matariki shine
This article offers Ideas for sharing Matariki and how to include families in the celebrations.
Growing kaitiaki to care, connect and protect
The role of early education and care services in teaching children about their responsibility as guardians of the land and offers activity suggestions to support this.
Embracing diversity through picture books
10 beautiful age-appropriate picture books that celebrate diversity and inclusiveness for children in early education settings and at home.
Mother's Day Gift Ideas
Five super fun, cost effective craft projects that work as lovely gifts for the hardworking parents in your early education service to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Ideas to build stem skills in preschoolers
Simple strategies for incorporating STEM toys to boost learning in child care.
10 Egg-cellent Easter Craft Ideas
10 egg-cellent Easter themed craft ideas that are cost effective, easy and fun.
The power of the puppet
Learn how puppets can be used in early education settings to engage and extend children during play based learning experiences.
Plunging into the creative world of water play
Summer is the perfect time for water play. In this article learn how to maximise the learning and developmental opportunities for children, as well as how to keep them safe.
The scoop on safe and fun sandpit play
Sandpits offering plenty of opportunities for unstructured play. Learn how to maintain a safe and hygienic sandpit in your service.
Wrap up Christmas with eco-friendly crafts
A range of cost effective and environmentally conscious holiday activity ideas, including gifts which the children can make.
World Nursery Rhyme Week
In World Nursery Rhyme Week, learn how to get involved by sharing a rhyme a day with the children in your service and the benefits of simple repetitive songs for youngsters.
The magic of learning outdoors
A range of fun, cost effective and educational outdoor learning experiences to engage the children in your early education service.
Turn down the terrors and promote fun this Halloween
A host of non-scary and inclusive Halloween craft and activity ideas to ensure all children in early childhood settings can experience the fun of Halloween in a non-confronting fashion.
Father’s Day: Creative, fun and inclusive celebrations
Craft and activity ideas for marking Father’s Day in early learning services along with strategies for supporting inclusivity for children who don’t live in hetero-normative family structures.
Sharks with Sharp Teeth - Craft
11 awesome shark themed craft ideas to do with the children in your early education service to celebrate the awe and majesty of these amazing apex predators.
Books to boost LGBTQI Inclusion
10 age appropriate picture books celebrating a diverse range of families and children that will boost LGBTQI Inclusion in your early childhood service.
Winter wonderland: Celebrate the season with fun activities and crafts
The colder weather of winter is a great excuse to head indoors for some high-quality season-themed crafting.
Making magic on International Mud Day
Ideas for participating in International Mud Day, an international event for celebrating the sensory and educational benefits to be gained from playing with mud.
How scribbles tell a story of child development and discovery
Learn how scribble drawings feature in the developmental spectrum and how this stage contributes to stages which follow.
Learning about nature - The gift that never fades
8 small, simple cost effective ways that early childhood services can scaffold a child’s exposure to nature and environmental education as well as ideas to bring nature to your doorstep.
Kiwi authors celebrate the importance of children’s books
Four Kiwi author/illustrators explain what qualities make a great picture book, what books offer children and how to ensure maximum engagement while reading to children.
Learning about seasons with autumn colours
Activity suggestions for helping small children to recognise and enjoy the months of autumn.
Fun Ideas for Boosting Activity Levels
The Healthy Active Learning initiative has been designed to promote and improve healthy eating and physical activity in schools, kura and early learning services across Aotearoa.
Introducing young scientists to colourful STEM
Using colour to engage children in the magic of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Celebrating diversity at Christmas
Embrace the diversity at Christmas within the community of children and families in your service.
'Process art' ideas for Christmas
There's no better gift than one that’s been lovingly handmade by a child, and now is a great time to bring forth the creativity with some process art projects.
Non-Scary Halloween Activities
Non-scary Halloween activities for a more inclusive celebration.
Gardening activities for little green thumbs
Being outdoors and getting their hands dirty gardening is fun and develops fine motor skills and self-confidence.
Ten bloomin' cute craft ideas to jump into this Spring
Brighten up your service and those little faces with a few fun activities that will work those fine motor skills and result in some great creations.
Fun Father's Day craft ideas to make Dad proud
Here are ten fun Father's Day craft ideas to celebrate all the dads, grandfathers, godfathers and uncles out there.
Why children love dinosaurs - 7 roar-some activity ideas
Young children love dinosaurs and while Jurassic passions may seem like just another passing craze all children go through, there are some interesting explanations behind the infatuation.
Winter STEM Ideas
From cute arts and crafts to interesting STEM projects for development, integrating the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, here are ten winter themed ideas to keep little hands busy over these cooler months.
Dino-mania - Craft ideas for preschoolers
Due to the wide range of excellent resources, dinosaur themed activities can encompass every aspect of the early childhood environment, from outside play to quiet time on the mat.
Fun Easter craft ideas - 2019
Easter, with all its motifs and symbolism is the perfect time to get cutting, colouring and pasting, and parents will love seeing all the amazing creations.