Early Start Project

22/09/2026

I came across this today and thought it was such an interesting read to share.

It gave me a really helpful perspective on how children learn skills like patience, listening, self-control, turn-taking and coping with big feelings. Sometimes it is easy to keep reminding children what they need to do, but this is a great reminder that they often learn best through play, practice and seeing us model these skills too.

Hopefully it offers something useful for other parents and caregivers as well. 💛

We tell kids to “be patient.”
“Wait your turn.”
“Stop interrupting.”
“Use a quieter voice.”
“Think before you do something.”
“Be a good sport.”

And then we wonder why saying it a hundred times isn’t actually teaching the skill.
Because telling a child what to do and teaching their brain how to do it are two different things.

And one of the best ways to teach little kids?
Speak their language.
PLAY.

Want to build impulse control?
Play Red Light, Green Light.

Want them to practice stopping their body?
Freeze Dance.

Want to work on listening and following directions?
Simon Says.

Want to practice volume control?
Play a game where you switch between silly loud voices, regular voices, and whispers.

Want to build problem-solving skills?
Give them puzzles, building challenges, and little pretend-play problems to solve.

Want them to get better at losing?
Play games. Let them lose sometimes. Let them watch YOU lose and model what you do with the disappointment.

Want to build patience?
Give them lots of tiny, manageable opportunities to wait, take turns, and anticipate what comes next.

Because kids don’t learn these skills because we explained them really well. Over and over.
They learn through practice.

And practice doesn’t have to look like a lesson.
It can look like running around the kitchen yelling RED LIGHT.

There is almost always a way to turn the skill your child is struggling with into something they can actually experience and practice.
Less lecturing.
More doing.
More playing.
More opportunities for their brain to actually build the skill.
(Ray of sunshine patenting)

16/09/2026

🌿 Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Rāapa/Wednesday Match the Kupu Challenge! 🌿

Can you match these everyday kupu to the correct English meaning? Comment your answers below using the letters and numbers — for example: A-3, B-1.

A. Whare
B. Wai
C. Kuri
D. Rā
E. Pēpi
F. Pukapuka
G. Aroha
H. Kai

1. Food
2. Sun
3. Baby
4. House
5. Water
6. Book
7. Love
8. Dog

Have a go — kei te pai! I will post the answers in the comments tomorrow. Every little bit of te reo Māori we use helps keep the language alive. 💛

15/09/2026

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Rā Tūrei / Tuesday

Today we’re sharing a fun waiata for you and your tamariki to listen to and sing along with at home! 🎶

Singing is a lovely, easy way to introduce te reo Māori into everyday life. Give it a go together, have fun with it, and enjoy learning some new kupu along the way.

Kia pai tō rā! 💛

13/09/2026

🌿 Kua tīmata Te Wiki o te Reo Māori! 🌿

This week we are celebrating te reo Māori — one of the official languages of Aotearoa. It is a beautiful opportunity for us to learn together, use a few new kupu, and help our tamariki hear and feel proud of the language every day.

Today is Rāhina — Monday
Pronounced: rah-hee-nah

Here are some easy kupu you can use at home today:

🌞 Mōrena — Good morning
Pronounced: more-eh-nah

👋 Kia ora — Hello / thank you / take care
Pronounced: kee-ah or-ah

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Whānau — Family
Pronounced: faa-nau

🍎 Kai — Food
Pronounced: kai

❤️ Aroha — Love
Pronounced: ah-roh-hah

⭐ Ka pai! — Well done / good job!
Pronounced: kah pie

Give one or two a go today with your whānau — every little bit helps keep te reo Māori strong for our tamariki and future generations. 💛

Kia kaha te reo Māori!

01/09/2026

⚠️ PRODUCT RECALL – PLEASE SHARE ⚠️

Just a heads-up for our parents and whānau who may have purchased Nature Baby onesies.

A recall has been issued due to a potential choking risk. If you have Nature Baby clothing at home, please take a moment to check whether your child’s onesie is one of the affected products.

Please have a read of the recall information below and share with other parents and caregivers who may need to know. ❤️

Keeping our pēpe and tamariki safe is always the priority. 🫶

People have been asked to stop using it immediately, and return it to the nearest store or to Nature Baby using the online returns process for a full refund.

28/08/2026

🩺 Heading to the 24 Hour Surgery?

Did you know that Pegasus Health has a Patient Wait Time Dashboard where you can check the estimated wait before you head in? 📱⏰

The dashboard is updated regularly and lets you see the current:
⏱️ Estimated wait time for less urgent patients
👥 Number of patients waiting
🚨 Number of time-critical patients
👩‍⚕️ Number of patients currently receiving treatment

This is a handy resource for whānau to bookmark or save on their phone, so it’s easy to check when you need it. 💚

Remember, patients are seen based on the urgency of their condition, so someone who arrives after you may be treated first and wait times can change.

👉https://www.pegasus.health.nz/wait-time-dashboard

🚑 Please don’t delay seeking urgent medical care because of the displayed wait time. If it is an emergency, call 111.

Patients are seen based on the urgency of their condition, so someone who arrived after you may be treated first. If you decide not to wait, let reception know so we can update our records and avoid unnecessary follow-up. If you start feeling worse or have any concerns while waiting, please speak to...

20/08/2026

🌿 Nau mai, haere mai Ivy Harper 🌿

He mihi mahana ki a Ivy Harper, our newly appointed Chief Executive of Early Start.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ivy into our Early Start whānau. We are excited to begin this new chapter and look forward to walking alongside her as she brings her leadership, knowledge and experience to our organisation.

A few words from Ivy as she begins her journey here at Early Start:

“I am so pleased to have joined the Early Start whānau as Kaiwhakahaere. I look forward to working and learning alongside tamariki, whānau, kaimahi and the wider community.

I value mana-enhancing, relational ways of working that recognise the central role of whānau in the care, nurturing and wellbeing of tamariki. Together, we can help build the conditions in which tamariki and whānau can thrive.

I bring experience in executive leadership, whānau-centred commissioning, governance, public policy and Māori-centred organisational development. My mahi has focused on supporting positive, whānau-centred outcomes through strong relationships, careful investment, data-informed decision-making and Te Tiriti-based leadership.”

Nau mai ki te whānau, Ivy. We are delighted to have you with us and look forward to the journey ahead. 🌿💚

05/08/2026

❄️🤧 Winter Bugs Are Doing the Rounds! 🤧❄️

Winter in Ōtautahi often brings plenty of coughs, colds and other bugs home with our pēpe and tamariki. When our little ones are unwell, sometimes the best medicine is simply rest, comfort and lots of aroha. 💛

A few things that can help when your pēpe or tamariki are under the weather:

💧 Keep the fluids going
Offer drinks regularly throughout the day. Little and often can sometimes be easier when they’re not feeling well.

🛋️ Let them rest
It’s okay for routines to look a little different on sick days. Quiet play, books, cuddles and extra sleep can give their bodies the chance to recover.

🌡️ Keep them comfortable
Dress them in comfortable layers and keep an eye on how warm they are. If they have a fever, avoid bundling them up in too many clothes or blankets.

🍌 Don’t stress too much about food
Appetites can change when children are sick. Keep offering familiar foods without pressure and focus on keeping fluids up.

🤗 Bring on the extra cuddles
Being sick can be unsettling, especially for our littlest ones. Your calm voice, closeness and reassurance can help them feel safe and secure.

🩺 Know when to get some extra help
Trust your instincts. If you’re worried about your child, they’re getting worse, having difficulty breathing, are unusually sleepy or difficult to wake, aren’t drinking, or you’re concerned about dehydration, seek medical advice. For young pēpe, it’s especially important to get advice promptly if they are unwell.

And remember, caring for sick tamariki can be exhausting for parents and caregivers too. Lower the expectations, leave the washing for later if you can, and take the quiet moments where you find them. 💛

Here’s hoping those winter bugs move on quickly and everyone is feeling better soon! 🌧️➡️🌤️

24/07/2026

🐾 Calling all our whānau with kuri! 🐾

What a fantastic opportunity to help keep our much-loved four-legged family members safe and healthy. ❤️

With some nasty dog viruses around, this is a great chance to get your kuri protected – and the best part is, it’s FREE for whānau.

Bring your furry friends along and give them the care they deserve. Check out the info below for all the details. 🐶🐾

23/07/2026

💬 Got questions about your little one’s speech, language or communication? We’ve got you covered! 🧸🗣️

Sometimes all it takes is a quick chat with the right people. 💙 These FREE Speech & Language Drop-In sessions are a fantastic opportunity to ask questions, get advice, or simply have a kōrero about your child’s development in a relaxed, friendly environment.

No pressure, no appointments—just pop in! 😊

Check out the poster below for all the dates, times and location. 👇