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Southland Steiner Playgroup

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Southland Steiner Playgroup

Southland Rudolf Steiner Playgroup is a small, parent-run gathering for parents & young children. Both Term and Casual fees are offered.

The Southland Rudolf Steiner Playgroup is a small, parent-run gathering for parents and young children based on the educational philosophy of Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). We meet on Wednesdays between 10.00am-12.30pm at the Ryal Bush Community Centre, 55 Ryal Bush School Road. Key elements of Steiner education include rhythm, environment (surroundings), free play and nature. These elements help

support our aims to:
- foster our children’s imagination;
- nurture our children’s senses and protect the wonder of childhood;
- support parents to connect with each other, and learn about child development in the early years. Our playgroup was formed by four dedicated women in May 2009. A charitable trust was established and certification from the Ministry of Education gained. We're also affiliated to Steiner Education Aotearoa New Zealand. As such, we support the guidelines of both organisations as well as all health and safety advice from the Ministry of Health. To learn more about our playgroup and its philosophy, feel free to get in touch with us! However, you’ll find that the best way in discovering our approach is for you to come visit us! You and your family are warmly welcome to join us: The first three sessions are free, allowing you to have a sense of whether our playgroup is right for you and your children. Much blessings and aroha nui to all.

01/07/2026

Like the little hedgehog in our mat time story, our playgroup will be hibernating for Term 3. 🦔 See you in term 4 ☀️

If you are interested in attending our family steiner education evening in September please reach out. We will put details out about this closer to the time.

Keep warm and healthy. Mā te wā

21/06/2026

May the light within you help you through the darker months. The warmth and friendship and sense of community we experience at playgroup give you light and hope and sustain you. We look forward to the warmer months but cherish the cooler darker months to look inward and rest.

Winter Solstice celebration 2026

17/06/2026

Our morning was filled with movement, imagination and morning tea. We gathered together with songs that use our hands and bodies. At morning tea, the children enjoyed a beautiful rainbow of fresh fruits. The indoor slide was active play that the kids enjoyed. Nearby, grand castles were built for kings and queens. Crowns, capes, and cloth used to try inspire imagination.

Between rain showers, we enjoyed the sandpit and cleared leaves from the backdoor and removed low branches helping to prepare the door for the Winter Solstice celebration.

31/05/2026

From last playgroup "Another cold but amazing morning. The steiner nature based aspect of the playgroup is very special. Seeing the kids playing outside doing gardening chores, using their imagination, learning to share, and be part of a family learning environment is just so special. The creativity inside, the retelling of my story in craft, the wooden toys, the sharing and caring. This is all steiner"

29/04/2026

Autumn is showing many signs around us. Our mat time story reflects this also. A beautiful playgroup this morning. Thank you Jane and families.

07/02/2026

🫐 🌞 This week our Playgroup is off to our local Blueberry Farm. 🌞 🫐

‘Steiner philosophy views food as a crucial element for physical health and spiritual development, emphasising fresh, organic, and whole foods to nourish body, soul, and spirit. It advocates for conscious, non-processed eating, encouraging the use of biodynamic produce, and fostering a deep, rhythmic connection between nature and human nourishment.’

*Please note we will not be onsite on the 11th of February.

14/01/2026

🌞 As we make the most of the blessings that Summer presents us with, we begin to prepare for the coming calendar year and look ahead to welcome our families back to Steiner Playgroup from the 28th of January.

A new year bringing new life and energy into the playscape, and we look forward to being joined by some new families starting their Steiner Playgroup journey, along with farewelling some of our families whom are moving onto new and exciting chapters.

👋 A warm Steiner Playgroup welcome to our new whanau - Jacinta and family, Sarah Iddles and family, Julia and family.

👶On that note, we wish our outgoing President and All-Round-Achiever Lis Zeestraten and family all the best as they prepare to welcome their new baby into the physical world. Thank you for keeping the Steiner movement going for our Southland whanau. Enjoy a well earned rest from all those voluntary duties as you settle into life as a family of 5. We can’t wait to meet the soon-to-be new addition later in the term.

👶Thoughts and well wishes to Olivia McGregor and family on their journey to welcoming another wee one in the near future as well.

👋 Farewell to El and family, your input and calm energy have been a cornerstone of the playgroup philosophy. Thank you for hosting us in your beautiful slice of paradise last year, a very special morning indeed.

👋 A warm welcome back to all our returning family, children, and wonderful facilitator Jane, a joy to continue to share in our weekly gatherings with you all in 2026.

👋 For anyone else interested in finding out more or in joining in the magic, please flick us a message and we will be in touch.

See you all on the 28th of January, 10am.
🌞

02/12/2025

Tomorrow morning we celebrate the summer Solstice/end of year, at Andersons park. You're welcome to join us at 10am for a picnic and play. Please let us know as we have a wee strawberry 🍓 hunt for the kids.

We will be back next Wednesday at Ryal Bush Community Centre for our final session of the year. Feel free to come join us and see if our Playgroup is a fit for you and your family. ☀️

(Photos are from last year's strawberry hunt)

25/11/2025

Tomorrow ur morning our beautiful facilitator Jane and families will be out enjoying sunshine and supportive company. We welcome any new families to come visit us and see what our wee steiner playgroup has to offer.

Wednesday 10am - 12.30pm at the Ryal Bush Community Centre.

02/11/2025

Southland Steiner Playgroup warmly invites new and prospective families to join in the magic for 2026.

We follow a simple Steiner philosophy, grounded in seasonal rhythm and daily ritual, setting a beautiful tone for each session. Set in a rural location, abundant in opportunity and natural provocation, our playgroup is something quite special to our families, past and present.

We have a limited number of spaces coming available for new children (0-6yrs) to partake in the weekly gatherings that is our Steiner Playgroup.

We are a small, parent-led playgroup, supported by a lovely facilitator, coming together each Wednesday morning, during Term time.

If you would like to know more about our Playgroup, or you are keen to join us for one of the final Wednesdays for 2025, please reach out to us via our FB Messenger and we will be in touch with you.

Address

55 Ryal Bush School Road
Ryal Bush
9876

Opening Hours

10am - 12:30pm

Website

facebook.com

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