Springtime adventures with your tamariki
Spring/kōanga is a season of new life and growth, and it’s a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors with your tamariki. The warmer days and fresh blooms invite curiosity and exploration. Being outdoors gives tamariki the opportunity to connect with nature, notice seasonal changes, and learn about caring for the environment through hands-on experiences with and alongside others.
These opportunities connect to Te Whāriki, Aotearoa New Zealand's Early Childhood Curriculum, which encourages tamariki to develop a sense of kaitiakitanga by providing regular opportunities to connect with the wider natural environment and with materials drawn from nature.
Hands-on nature exploration
Spring is a perfect time for sensory exploration. Tamariki delight in using touch, sight, smell, sound, and movement to learn about their world. You could:
- go on a spring spotter challenge with a checklist of flowers, leaves, birds, lambs, or bugs, or create a scavenger hunt with a simple map for older children
- plant seeds together or create a mini garden in a jar, observing and caring for these over time (e.g. watering, shelter, sunlight) and recording progress in drawings or photos
- build a simple bug hotel or bird feeder and watch who comes to visit
- play and experiment with natural items like mud, grass, petals, sand, or water for sensory exploration
Science and maths in spring
Outdoor play can spark early science and maths learning. Try:
- counting flowers or leaves to practise number recognition
- collecting outdoor materials and sorting them into categories of size, shape, or colour
- using a magnifying glass to take a closer look at small creatures and blossoms
- experimenting with puddles by exploring reflections and changes in water after rain
- making a butterfly craft and talking about its life cycle to learn about change and growth. Reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a great way to spark conversation and imagination.
Creative and language activities
Spring offers endless inspiration for creativity and storytelling. You could:
- make flower prints, paper butterflies, or crowns using treasures from the garden
- create art from natural materials like sticks, petals, or seeds
- share books about spring or invent your own springtime stories together
- try spring-themed yoga poses, like a tree or frog, to combine movement with imagination.
The benefits of spring learning
Spending time outside together in spring not only builds happy memories but also strengthens learning and development. Tamariki build physical skills through active play, develop social skills and friendships by sharing experiences, and grow their curiosity and confidence by exploring the world.
Being outdoors also supports wellbeing – lowering stress, boosting mood, and building a deeper appreciation for the environment.
By making the most of spring, tamariki learn to observe, question, and care for the world around them. These experiences nurture curiosity, kaitiakitanga, and joy in learning, while supporting all strands of Te Whāriki.
