Rolleston Playcentre

31/08/2026

A perfect day for a story at Playcentre 📖

We might have gone a little overboard with the book size though… 😂 Definitely a two-person job to turn the pages!

31/08/2026

New Space group opening up in Rolleston 😁 If you have a baby under 6 months we would love you to join ❤️

📣SPACE - TERM 4 BOOKINGS NOW OPEN 🥰
Our new groups are filling fast - book today and take advantage of the early bird pricing! We would love to have you join us in term 4:
Buchan St Wed & Thurs PM
Lincoln Mon PM
Rolleston Tues PM
Fendalton Wed PM
Woodend Wed PM
Belfast Fri PM
(Buchan Mon, Somerfield and Avonhead are all full)
https://bookwhen.com/babiescanplay
Space is a lovely 20-week programme where you will enjoy heuristic play, music and movement, books, crafts and facilitated discussions around parenting and development. Space is a great way to enjoy some special time with your baby while meeting other parents with little ones of a similar age in a relaxed, safe and nurturing environment 💜
For more info email [email protected]

26/08/2026

Oobleck fun! 👐

There’s something pretty cool about this messy, gooey mixture that feels like both a liquid and a solid.

Tamariki can squeeze it, squish it, pour it and watch how it changes depending on how they interact with it. The science behind it is that oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. When you apply quick pressure, the cornflour particles jam together and it feels solid but when you move it slowly, the particles have time to flow around each other like a liquid.

It’s a great sensory experience while also encouraging curiosity, experimenting, problem-solving and lots of “what happens if I…?” thinking. 🔬💭

20/08/2026

17/08/2026

🥧 PIE FUNDRAISER!🥧

We’re excited to be fundraising for Rolleston Playcentre with delicious Naked Baker family pies, locally made in Christchurch.

At just $8.50 each, they’re a great way to stock the freezer while supporting our Playcentre community! ❤️

📅 Orders close: 4 October
🥧 Pick-up: 15 October (local drop off can be arranged)

Every pie purchased helps raise funds directly for Rolleston Playcentre. Thank you so much for supporting our little community! 🧡

Please email [email protected] to order ☺️

13/08/2026

OPEN WEEK IS COMING!

We’re opening our doors for a week full of getting stuck in, making messes, exploring, creating and most importantly… PLAY! 🎨💦

If you’ve got tamariki aged 0–6, come along and see what Rolleston Playcentre is all about. Meet some of our awesome whānau, have a play and enjoy a morning together in our space. ❤️

✨ FREE TO ATTEND

🌿 17-21 August 2026
📅 Mon|Wed|Thur|Fri
⏰ 9am–12pm
👶 0–6 years

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to attend.

And our biggest tip… bring a change of clothes! You never know where the play might take you! 😂🫧

10/08/2026

🏖️ The sandpit has definitely been the place to be this week!
From digging deep holes and building roads to loading dump trucks, scooping with excavators and working together, the sandpit has been buzzing with busy tamariki.
Rich in open-ended play, it has supported imagination, teamwork, problem-solving and plenty of conversations as children negotiated, shared ideas and explored together. There's something special about a sunny winter's day spent knee-deep in sand!

05/08/2026

🌈 Colour, creativity and a little bit of science!
Our tamariki explored beautiful cotton ball rainbows using coloured water and pipettes, carefully squeezing different coloured droplets onto the fluffy clouds of cotton. This simple invitation encouraged fine motor development, hand-eye coordination and concentration, while also introducing colour mixing and cause-and-effect as they watched the colours spread through the cotton. Every rainbow was unique, and it was wonderful to see the interest and excitement as each creation came to life.

31/07/2026

What a lovely way to spend a sunny day at Playcentre! ☀️

This week, some of our pre-schoolers discovered their own little project in the bushes, where a small group of tamariki happily played alongside each other using shovels and toy trucks to move soil and dirt from one place to another. There was plenty of scooping, tipping and general mudiness as they quietly became completely absorbed in their play.

Moments like these are a wonderful reminder that some of the richest learning happens through simple, child-led outdoors.
It was one of those calm, magical Playcentre moments that reminds us how much joy can be found in the simplest of activities. 🌱🚜💚

24/07/2026

🐢 Kicking off Term 3 with a special visitor this week from Turtle Rescue & Rehoming. Donna taught us about the importance of responsible pet ownership and the incredible work she does rescuing turtles that have been abandoned or released into our waterways.
The tamariki were fascinated to see real turtle eggs and a big sea turtle shell while learning about the needs of these amazing animals. The biggest excitement came when a few rescued turtles were brought out for everyone to see and gently touch – there were lots of smiles and curious chatter!
It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience that encouraged empathy, respect for animals and an understanding that owning a pet is a lifelong responsibility. Thank you for sharing such an engaging and memorable visit with us! 💚