Little Gems Childcare

Welcome to Little Gems Childcare, located at 88 Opaheke Road in Auckland, New Zealand. Our establishment is not just a daycare, but a point of interest and a school where your child's safety and development are our top priorities.

At Little Gems, we follow the early childhood educational curriculum Te whāriki, which focuses on the holistic way children learn, including their wellbeing, belonging, contribution, and exploration. We strive to assess and plan for each individual child while also extending the emergent curriculum that arises during the day. Our goal is to foster an understanding of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, by providing opportunities for children to care for rivers, native forests, and birds.

We aim to create a warm, respectful, loving, and accepting atmosphere for both our children and their whānau (family). We believe in a three-way relationship between parents, teachers, and the child to ensure a smooth settling process. Communication is key to the success of this partnership, and we encourage parents and caregivers to approach our team members if they can assist us or the children in any way, such as reading books, gardening, or participating in celebrations. We also value and encourage parental input in policy development and reviews.

In addition to our nurturing environment, we offer a focused Transition to School Programme led by Primary School and ECE trained Teachers/Kaiako. This program provides more complex, challenging, and stimulating group activities to further develop and extend children's skills in fun and interactive ways. Our aim is to ensure that our children are well prepared and confident to start school with a solid foundation in early literacy and numeracy.

To support their learning, we have introduced a preschool week chart called "All about today," which includes the letter and sound of the week, days of the week, and the weather. We update this chart every day with the children during morning mat time, helping them learn sounds and letters. We also use Rainbow writing to teach them their names, making the process enjoyable and engaging. Additionally, we facilitate primary school visits to aid in their transition to school.

At Little Gems, we operate an open-door policy, welcoming parents and family into the center at any time. Parent participation sends a strong positive message to your child that you support them and are an integral part of their childcare environment.

We believe in guiding children's behavior in a positive and supportive way. Our positive guidance policy emphasizes respect and dignity for the child, acknowledging and accepting their feelings, and encouraging them to express those feelings.

At our center, learning is inspired by open play, fun, and friendship. We encourage indoor/outdoor free play and provide a fun-filled environment where children can make their own choices, learn, and grow.

For us, whānau (family) is of utmost importance. We strive to ensure that our families experience a sense of belonging.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what one of our parents had to say: "After 3 centers, we finally found a home!! My son has loved every minute of being at this center. Awesome structure for our very adamant and clever boy. With a small roll, your child is not just a number here; we are all family and made to feel so welcome!!"

We are sad to see families leave our region, but we understand that life takes us on different journeys. If you are looking for a nurturing and educational environment for your child, we invite you and your family to join us at Little Gems Childcare.