Lighthouse Childcare

Lighthouse Childcare Early Childhood Education for 2-5 year olds. Open 7:45 to 17:00

Today we turned our play space into a supermarket to explore our focus question, “How can I be a capable communicator?”T...
25/08/2026

Today we turned our play space into a supermarket to explore our focus question, “How can I be a capable communicator?”
Tamariki had lots of fun filling their trolleys with groceries before taking them to the checkout. Using pretend money, they paid for their shopping, packed their bags and took turns trying out the different roles of customer, cashier and bag packer.

There was lots of communication happening as tamariki talked about what they were buying, asked for what they needed, listened to each other and worked together to keep the supermarket running. We even discovered that waiting was a job too, as tamariki had to wait patiently for their turn to take on the role they wanted.

This gave us a meaningful way to practise asking, listening, responding, taking turns and working alongside others. Through familiar everyday play, tamariki were learning that being a capable communicator helps us share ideas, organise our play and make sure everyone gets a turn.

Our tamariki have been exploring colour mixing for some time now, and today we took their learning a step further by put...
24/08/2026

Our tamariki have been exploring colour mixing for some time now, and today we took their learning a step further by putting their thinking into words.

We began with a colour walk, looking at the empty cups and using everything we already knew from our experiments to make predictions about what colours might appear when we mixed them.

“We make a rainbow!” Master I said.

“It’s mixing, it’s mixing… it’s purple!” Master S excitedly told his friends.

The hardest part was definitely waiting! Everyone was very keen to get their hands in and start pouring and mixing. There was a lot of excitement, but our tamariki did such a great job observing, watching what others were doing and listening to the instructions.

And then… one friend took a chance... 😆 and suddenly, everyone was elbow-deep in colour!

It was a great example of learning happening in the moment. Tamariki were observing, predicting, explaining, listening, negotiating, waiting, sharing ideas and testing their theories. They were using language to communicate their thinking and learning from the ideas of their friends.

This connects beautifully with our focus question: How can I be a capable communicator?

Being a capable communicator means sharing our ideas, listening to others, waiting and taking turns, expressing what we want and need, and working together.

And sometimes, being a capable communicator also means knowing when the experiment has officially become too much fun to stay clean!

Sometimes communication is not only about talking — it is also about listening. Ngā tamariki listened really carefully t...
21/08/2026

Sometimes communication is not only about talking — it is also about listening. Ngā tamariki listened really carefully to the instructions as we explored how to make acrylic paint float on the water.

At first, the paint wouldn’t come off the spoon and float on the surface. We tried a few different ways, but nothing seemed to work. Then we realised there was still some bubble solution left in the container from before. The bubble solution had changed the surface tension of the water, making it harder for the paint to float. We changed to a clean container with fresh water and… it worked! 🎉

Through this experience, ngā tamariki explored our room focus, “How can I be a capable communicator?” They discovered that being a capable communicator can mean listening carefully, sharing ideas, noticing what is happening, and working together to solve a problem when things don’t go to plan.

To explore our focus question, “How can I be a capable communicator?”, ngā tamariki took part in a baking experience. Ea...
20/08/2026

To explore our focus question, “How can I be a capable communicator?”, ngā tamariki took part in a baking experience. Each child chose a recipe and made their own wee cake in a mug.

Communication was really put to the test—when tamariki didn’t communicate, nothing happened! I supported them with prompts such as, “What ingredient do you need next?”, “Where are you up to?” and “Do you need some help?” When needed, I modelled simple sentences they could use, such as, “I need the milk, please.”

Once all the ingredients had been added, it was time to mix everything together and put each mug in the microwave. The way each cake turned out often reflected how carefully the instructions had been followed and how clearly we had communicated along the way. This gave tamariki a meaningful and delicious way to discover that being a capable communicator involves asking questions, listening carefully, and explaining what we need.

It started as a tunnel… then it became a trench… which led to a track… and somehow, along the way, it turned into a rive...
18/08/2026

It started as a tunnel… then it became a trench… which led to a track… and somehow, along the way, it turned into a river!

Everyone had big ideas about what they wanted it to become. Boats needed somewhere to sail, friends wanted to jump over it, some wanted to pour sand in, others wanted to dig underneath it… there was A LOT happening!

As the play developed, our tamariki were busy communicating, collaborating, problem-solving and listening to each other.

There were moments when there was too much happening or not enough listening to each other. A boat would be sent sailing just as someone was getting ready to jump. Sand would be poured into a section that someone else had carefully made into a boat track. Someone would have an idea and be so busy getting on with it that they didn't hear what their friend was saying.

These moments gave our tamariki opportunities to stop, talk, listen and work out what needed to happen next. They had to tell their friends what they wanted, listen to what others were saying, negotiate, make changes and think about how everyone could play safely together.

And that's what being a capable communicator looks like. It's learning to express your ideas, listen to others, respond when someone communicates with you and work through those moments when our ideas don't match.

There were lots of voices, lots of ideas and plenty of problem-solving happening — and somehow, it all came together!

Today ngā tamariki asked to revisit an old experience... shaving foam and building blocks... so we brought it back... t...
17/08/2026

Today ngā tamariki asked to revisit an old experience... shaving foam and building blocks... so we brought it back... this time with a very intentional focus on our term question: How can I be a capable communicator?

While the tamariki explored, our kaiako were putting the strategies from our Magnetic Language course into practice.

- Keeping language short and simple: Kaiako were using 2–4 words at a time and breaking longer sentences into smaller chunks.

- Labelling everything: Kaiako were naming objects, actions, colours, shapes, sizes and numbers:
“Big block.”
“Red block.”
“Square block.”
“Two blocks.”
“You’re building!”

- Repeating and extending language: Kaiako were pairing our comments with the words the tamariki were already using or showing us through their play.

- Using the question words: Kaiako used who, what, where and how... without turning the experience into a constant question and answer session:
“What?” → “Building a house.”
“Where?” → “Building outside.”
“How?” → “Building is tricky!”

- Remembering the one-hand rule: Kaiako aimed for around four comments for every one question. This gave tamariki lots of language to hear and opportunities to join in, rather than feeling like they were being tested.

Tamariki were listening, watching, copying, responding, learning new words, expressing ideas and sharing their thinking with others. Sometimes the best learning experiences are the ones tamariki ask to do again.

"How can I be a capable communicator?" We are practising it every day, one small conversation at a time.

15/08/2026

We think our team might be pretty super!

So we put it to the test…

Turns out we have: superpowers, weaknesses, questionable superhero names, and apparently absolutely no dignity

Meet the Lighthouse Superheroes

We'd say our team is pretty great… but we'll let you be the judge.

Who do you think has the best superhero alter ego?

Today, our tamariki opened their very own ice cream shop! 🍦💚Our favourite Goody Goody Gum Drops ice cream was made from ...
14/08/2026

Today, our tamariki opened their very own ice cream shop! 🍦💚

Our favourite Goody Goody Gum Drops ice cream was made from cloud dough, and tamariki used pretend cash to buy and sell their creations.

Before long, the shop was full of kōrero:

“Can I have a pink ice cream?”
“We don’t sell that. We only have green.”
“I mean a pink cup!”

There were lots of moments like this as tamariki explained what they wanted, listened carefully, clarified their ideas, and responded to one another.

A lovely example of our focus question, “How can I be a capable communicator?” Through imaginative play, tamariki were learning that communication isn’t only about speaking — it’s also about listening, understanding, and finding another way to explain what we mean. 🍦💬

13/08/2026

Since our core board workshop, we have become more intentional about modelling how our core board can be used during fun, meaningful interactions.

Our kaiako waited while this clever tamaiti pointed to “bigger” on the core board. Each time he pointed, she blew a little more air into the balloon. When it was finally big enough, he pointed to “finished”—and off it flew!

This is why communication tools matter—every tamaiti deserves a way to be heard!

Address

250 Nelson Street, Strathern
Invercargill

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

+64277771407

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