Growing Wings Early Learning Centre

Growing Wings Early Learning Centre Our mission is to create a secure, enjoyable, and enriching atmosphere

👃👂👀 Learning About Our Tinana Through Play! 👀👂👃Today, Kaiako Katie brought in a very special friend, Mr Potato Head, to ...
23/09/2026

👃👂👀 Learning About Our Tinana Through Play! 👀👂👃
Today, Kaiako Katie brought in a very special friend, Mr Potato Head, to help our tamariki learn about the different parts of the body. There were lots of giggles and excitement as tamariki helped choose where the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arms, and feet belonged!
To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, we added a te reo lens to our learning, exploring body part names such as karu (eyes), ihu (nose), taringa (ears), waha (mouth), and waewae (feet). Through hands-on play, tamariki were building their vocabulary, strengthening their understanding of their tinana, and growing their confidence with te reo Māori.
Learning is always more meaningful when it is fun, interactive, and filled with laughter. Ka pai tō mahi, tamariki! 💚
🌱✨

Following Their Lead Through PlayAt Growing Wings, our kaiako take the time to truly understand each child's interests, ...
22/09/2026

Following Their Lead Through Play
At Growing Wings, our kaiako take the time to truly understand each child's interests, cues, and unique ways of exploring the world around them.
Recently, one of our tamariki showed a strong interest in sensory experiences and sought out opportunities to touch, feel, and investigate different textures. Recognising this, our kaiako thoughtfully extended their learning through sand play, creating opportunities for discovery, creativity, and exploration.
With curious hands digging, pouring, scooping, and feeling the grains of sand move through their fingers, our tamariki were developing sensory awareness, problem-solving skills, and confidence in their environment. Through these moments, kaiako supported language development by describing textures, asking open-ended questions, and encouraging deeper investigation.
By noticing a child's interests and responding intentionally, we create meaningful learning experiences that help tamariki feel seen, valued, and empowered in their play.
🌱 Learning begins with connection, understanding, and responsive relationships.

He Miiharo te Ako i ngaa Tae! 🎨Today our tamariki became little scientists as they explored colour mixing and learned th...
18/09/2026

He Miiharo te Ako i ngaa Tae! 🎨
Today our tamariki became little scientists as they explored colour mixing and learned the names of colours in te reo Māori.
With kikorangi (blue), kōwhai (yellow), and whero (red), the magic happened right before our eyes! 💫 As colours swirled and blended together, tamariki watched with excitement as new colours appeared. There were plenty of smiles, wonder-filled conversations, and curious questions as they discovered how colours can change and create something new.
Learning our colours through hands-on exploration helps tamariki develop language, creativity, and scientific thinking while having lots of fun along the way.
💙 Kikorangi�💛 Kōwhai�❤️ Whero
Sometimes the best learning happens when a little bit of magic, curiosity, and paint come together! 🌈✨

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Exploring Our Senses ✨This week we have been celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori by exploring ou...
15/09/2026

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Exploring Our Senses ✨
This week we have been celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori by exploring our senses through play, discovery, and language. Tamariki have been using te reo Māori as they notice the world around them, asking questions such as:
👀 He aha ngā tae ka kitea e koe? (What colours can you see?)�👂 Ka rongo koe i ahau e waiata ana? (Can you hear me sing?)�👃 Ka hongi koe i ngaa putiputi? (Can you smell the flowers?)�✋ Ka rongo koe i toona paa ki o matimati? (Can you feel it on your fingers?)�💧 He aha te reka o te wai? (What does the water taste like?)
Through sensory experiences, tamariki are developing their curiosity, communication skills, and connection to te reo Māori. We love seeing children engage all of their senses as they explore, learn, and make sense of their world.
💚

🐠 Book Week at Growing WingsDo you remember The Rainbow Fish?The shimmering scales, the beautiful illustrations, and the...
20/08/2026

🐠 Book Week at Growing Wings
Do you remember The Rainbow Fish?
The shimmering scales, the beautiful illustrations, and the lesson that stayed with so many of us long after the book was closed.
For many parents, this story brings back memories of childhood and the conversations we had about kindness, friendship, and sharing. Now, it's a story we have the joy of sharing with our own tamariki.
At Growing Wings, stories like The Rainbow Fish help children explore what it means to belong, care for others, and build meaningful relationships. Through books, children learn to understand emotions, see different perspectives, and develop the social skills they will carry with them throughout life.
Sometimes the most powerful learning starts with a story that captures a child's heart.
This Book Week, we're celebrating the stories that connect generations and remind us of the values that matter most.
✨ Kindness�✨ Friendship�✨ Belonging�✨ Sharing joy with others
What book from your childhood do you still remember today? We'd love to hear your favourites in the comments. ❤️

✨ What a wonderful way to finish Book Week! ✨📚This week, our tamariki have been immersed in the world of pukapuka, explo...
20/08/2026

✨ What a wonderful way to finish Book Week! ✨📚
This week, our tamariki have been immersed in the world of pukapuka, exploring stories from both Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. Through shared reading, storytelling, imaginative play, and rich conversations with our kaiako, children have been building their oral language skills, expanding their vocabulary, and developing a lifelong love of literacy.
To celebrate the end of Book Week, we came together for a special Character Day... or simply a chance to be ourselves! From favourite storybook characters to everyday superheroes, it was a joyful day filled with creativity, laughter, and connection.
At Growing Wings, we know that books do more than teach children to read. They spark imagination, nurture curiosity, strengthen relationships, and help children make sense of the world around them.
Thank you to our whānau for joining us in celebrating the magic of stories and the endless possibilities that books bring. ❤️📖
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”�— Dr. Seuss 🌟
Storytelling LearningThroughPlay ECE TeWhāriki GrowingReaders WhānauAndLearning 📚✨💛

🚜📚 Book Week at Growing WingsIf you grew up in New Zealand, chances are you remember The Little Yellow Digger.The stuck ...
19/08/2026

🚜📚 Book Week at Growing Wings
If you grew up in New Zealand, chances are you remember The Little Yellow Digger.
The stuck truck, the big machines coming to help, and the excitement of wondering how they would solve the problem. It's one of those stories that has been shared across generations, from grandparents to parents, and now to our tamariki.
This week, we've been bringing the story to life in our sandpit. Armed with diggers, trucks, bulldozers, and plenty of imagination, our tamariki have been creating their own Little Yellow Digger adventures.
Some trucks got stuck. Some needed rescuing. Some went on big construction projects. And every story was different.
What started as a familiar book quickly became an opportunity for children to create, collaborate, problem-solve, and tell their own stories. As they play, they're building language, negotiating ideas with friends, and developing the confidence to share their thinking with others.
It's a beautiful reminder that books don't end when the last page is turned. The best stories continue through play.
Did you grow up reading The Little Yellow Digger? We'd love to hear your favourite memory of this Kiwi classic. 💛🚜

📚🐛 Book Week at Growing WingsDo you remember turning the pages of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as a child?Watching him ea...
18/08/2026

📚🐛 Book Week at Growing Wings
Do you remember turning the pages of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as a child?
Watching him eat his way through apples, pears, plums, strawberries, and that famous slice of cake? 🍎🍐🍓🍰
Some stories stay with us forever. They become part of our childhood memories, and now we have the privilege of sharing them with a new generation of tamariki.
This Book Week, we're celebrating the stories that have brought families together for decades. As children listen, laugh, predict what comes next, and retell the story in their own way, they're doing so much more than enjoying a book. They're building language, developing curiosity, strengthening their imagination, and discovering a love of learning.
At Growing Wings, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens curled up with a great story and someone special to share it with.
What's your favourite childhood book? We'd love to hear in the comments. ❤️

Days like today remind us exactly why Growing Wings was created. 🧡Our vision has always been about more than preparing c...
07/08/2026

Days like today remind us exactly why Growing Wings was created. 🧡

Our vision has always been about more than preparing children for school. It is about creating meaningful bridges between early childhood education and primary school, ensuring every child feels capable, confident, and secure as they take their next step.
Today, we had the privilege of joining one of our tamariki on a school visit, bringing together two important parts of their learning journey. Watching the connections between ECE and school come to life highlighted the importance of collaboration, relationships, and truly understanding each child as a unique learner.
At Growing Wings, our philosophy is grounded in fostering strong relationships, nurturing a sense of belonging, and empowering tamariki to be confident in who they are. By working alongside whaanau, schools, and our wider community, we help children transition with confidence, knowing they are valued, capable, and ready to thrive.
These moments remind us that transitions are not about leaving one place behind. They are about carrying a strong sense of identity, curiosity, and confidence into new experiences.
We are so proud of our tamariki as they spread their wings and take their next steps. 🥹

Address

1 Storey Avenue
Hamilton
3200

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+6472601909

Website

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