22/09/2026
Kia ora whānau,
You may have seen the recent announcement around proposed changes to screen use in Early Childhood Education, including the proposal to remove screen and individual-device use from ECE centres.
We wanted to reassure you that screen use is not part of our everyday teaching and learning at Tiny Smiles. Our tamariki do not have open access to tablets, phones or other screens, and screens are certainly not used as a way to occupy or entertain children at any point!
Our philosophy at Tiny Smiles has always been that young children learn best through real experiences, relationships, hands-on learning, play and interaction with the people and world around them & is part of the Te Whariki curriculum. There is simply no need for screens to be a central part of an early childhood environment.
On the very odd occasion when a child interacts with a screen, it is purposeful, teacher-led and for an educational reason. This is not part of our regular programme.
Our tablets are primarily staff tools, used for compliance, documentation, health and safety recording and other centre administration. They are not available for children to freely use.
We will continue to focus on what we believe matters most for our tamariki — Intentional teaching through meaningful, child-led experiences and extending children's interests and ideas, relationships, connection, play, creativity, communication, physical development, independence and hands-on experiences.
We continue to remain neutral when it comes to political matters, but what we can speak to is our own practice and philosophy, to which we are confident that our current approach provides children with rich learning experiences without relying on screen time.
We wanted to share this with you simply so you know exactly what happens at Tiny Smiles and can feel confident that screens are not a part of your child's everyday experience here.
Ngā mihi,
Tiny Smiles Early Learning Centre
