Construction play at the vines
This July, our four-year-olds in the Karepe Room have been busy building, creating and learning together through our current topic: Little Builders, Big Learners.
It’s been exciting to see what our tamariki come up with when they’re given the tools, space and encouragement to explore. While it may look like play (and it absolutely is!), there’s also a lot of learning happening, from sharing ideas and working as a team, to developing coordination and problem-solving skills.
Construction play is a powerful learning tool. At The Vines, we believe in the importance of following children’s interests while offering the guidance and structure that supports deeper learning.
What are we building – and why?
In the Karepe Room, we’ve gathered a variety of loose parts and materials for children to build with: things like boxes, coloured blocks, play-dough, stones, corks, toothpicks, sticks, and pipe cleaners. These open-ended resources let tamariki use their imaginations and try out different ways of making and creating.
Our kaiako set up thoughtful activities to spark ideas and help children think in new ways. We might ask questions like: “What would happen if you turned that sideways?” or “Can you find something to make it stronger?” .
These gentle prompts encourage tamariki to think creatively, take their time, and test their own ideas.
Exploratory learning builds confidence and encourages young ones to see themselves as capable learners.
Learning to work together
One of the best things about this project is the way it brings tamariki together.
When children build side by side, they also learn how to listen to others, take turns, share materials, and solve problems as a team. They are not just building physical structures; they are also building friendships.
These are big skills that help children feel confident with others, now and in the future.
Our kaiako support children to use kind words, share their thinking, and build strong friendships while building their creations.
Building bodies and brains
All the lifting, balancing, stacking and sorting involved in construction and taking things apart helps children develop both gross motor skills (big body movements) and fine motor skills (smaller hand movements). Whether it’s manoeuvring large wooden blocks, threading small pieces together, or balancing objects, these tasks offer different levels of physical challenge.
This type of play strengthens coordination, builds confidence and gives tamariki the chance to challenge themselves in ways that feel fun and achievable. They are encouraged to test their own limits in a safe and supportive environment while having fun and working together.
Noticing patterns, shapes and thinking about space
As children build, they’re also learning to notice, describe, work out how things fit together, and create patterns. This might be by painting, arranging colours and shapes in a repeating sequence or building symmetrical structures.
It’s wonderful to see our tamariki rearrange and reshape objects and materials, see things from different spatial viewpoints, solve problems, and build early maths and thinking skills, all while having fun, expressing themselves and growing in their own ways.
We learn best when we learn together
At The Vines, we believe children learn best through play, especially when they feel supported, respected and included. We’re proud of the rich learning happening in our Karepe Room this month – and every month. The creativity, teamwork and thinking that come out of construction play are a joy to be a part of.
Looking for a centre where your child can learn, play and grow?
If you’re looking for a warm and welcoming early childhood centre in West Auckland, we’d love to show you what makes The Vines special. Our home away from home is a nurturing environment where tamariki are supported to grow, learn and shine, every day.
Enrolments are open now. To learn more, book a visit or give us a call. We’d love to welcome you to our learning community.
To help make that tricky work, commitment and family balance easier, we offer flexible enrolment options: short and full-day options for children, ranging from up to 7 hours per day to up to 10.5 hours per day.
Plus, to help all children access high-quality daycare, we offer family discounts and subsidised care for children aged between 3 to 6 years old for up to 20 hours per week.