New Shoots Tauranga celebrated its 10th birthday this year, marking a decade of dedication to nurturing and educating young minds. To coincide with such a special birthday, we sat down with Centre Director Jen Gaylard for a chat.
What is your all time favourite children’s book?
My favourite book is “5 Minutes Peace” by Jill Murphy. When I was a child, my Mum used to read this book to me all the time, and I loved the cheeky nature of the children who were following their Mum around to try and show her their cool creations. I now read this book to my children, and I really identify with Mrs Large, who just wants five minutes peace alone, without her children!
What is your favourite type of play?
I love messy and sensory play. They capture the essence of early childhood for me. From water play to slime, to playdough with mixed herbs and flowers—sensory play promotes and supports the holistic development of children and empowers them to lead their own learning.
Tell us your story about how you got into the early learning sector?
My early childhood learning began during my psychology degree, when I was drawn to all of the papers about brain development and the early years. After my son was born, I decided to study for my Graduate Diploma in ECE, and the rest is history. I have spent the past 14 years working with children across all of the different age ranges, infants, toddlers, and preschool, and I truly just love each different age and stage.
What is one thing that parents could do to encourage children learning at home?
Spend time with your children. Playing, going for a walk, interacting with them, and learning about the world alongside them. Time really is the greatest gift you can give your children.
What is your favourite rainy day activity for under 5s?
Dancing! Put the music on and kanikani together. Follow the leader, musical statues, or even a dance-off. Music and dancing are great ways to lift the mood and have lots of fun together.
What is it about your centre that makes it special?
New Shoots Tauranga is a diverse and vibrant centre in the heart of Tauranga city. The relationships within our centre are fueled by an amazing team of passionate, dedicated kaiako who truly love what they do. We care for the tamariki with warmth and aroha, and weave fun and joy throughout all that we do.
What is your centre philosophy?
Our centre is inspired by the RIE and Pikler philosophies, allowing children with the time, space, and connection to become competent and confident learners. Through play and exploration, tamariki are supported to learn and develop holistically. One of our core values is whanaungatanga, and we strive to build positive, reciprocal relationships with all of the tamariki and whānau at our centre, as well as the local community. By building partnerships with local kura, iwi, and community organizations, we can support tamariki to make sense of the world around them and make connections between people, places, and things in their world.
What’s something new happening at the centre?
We have recently started a Hīkoi Ako program in our preschool room, allowing us to get out and about in our local community. Our first visit was to The Incubator Creative Hub at The Historic Village for an art workshop, and we also welcomed Little Scientists into our centre for a Matariki science workshop. The program aims to introduce our tamariki to the wonderful world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM), making learning fun and accessible to all.
Jen’s passion for early childhood education and her commitment to fostering a nurturing, stimulating environment at New Shoots Tauranga is truly inspiring. Her leadership and dedication to both the children and the kaiako make the centre a special place for learning and growth. We are proud to have Jen as part of the New Shoots family, helping shape the minds and hearts of our tamariki.
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