Muddy Toes Stanmore Bay

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Muddy Toes Stanmore Bay

High-quality early childhood education grounded in nature.

Located in Stanmore Bay, we support confident, curious learners through outdoor play and meaningful relationships.

19/08/2026

What a day for a big walk ☀️💪

Our littlest tamariki joined the big kids today for what was, for some of them, their biggest walk yet.

Little legs climbed a very big hill, made it all the way to the top, and looked back down at the view with Muddy Toes in the distance.

And some of them aren’t even two yet!

Toddlers aren’t exactly famous for wanting to walk when you need them to 😂 But give them an adventure, their friends and plenty to discover along the way, and suddenly those little legs can go a very long way.

It’s pretty incredible what children are capable of when they’re given the time, space and encouragement to give things a go.

Such a cool achievement for our littlest tamariki 💛

18/08/2026

Tuakana-teina 🤎 A very special part of life at Muddy Toes, and something we believe in wholeheartedly.

There’ll be plenty of time for separate classrooms and age groups once they get to school. The early years are a special opportunity to learn, play and grow together, in a way that’s a little more like family life.

For our littlest tamariki, being around the bigger kids gives them so much to watch and learn from. They see what’s possible, give things a go when they’re ready, and often challenge themselves in ways they might not otherwise.

They’re also not confined by what an “under 2s room” is set up for. They can explore what’s within their capabilities, with our kaiako alongside them to support safe risk-taking and help them work out what their bodies can do.

And the learning goes both ways. Our bigger tamariki get opportunities to help, lead and care for someone smaller. Whether that’s helping a little one navigate something tricky or proudly taking them along on their first excursion, those moments build empathy, confidence and a real sense of responsibility.

Of course, different ages need different things too. We spend lots of our day together, but we also make space for that. Our bigger children head off on more challenging adventures and have experiences designed to extend their learning, while our littlest have calmer spaces, unhurried mealtimes and a curriculum that supports their own stage of development.

Together when it works. Space for their own needs when they need it. And lots of learning from each other in between 🤎

13/08/2026

Thursday at Muddy Toes 🌿🌊

A double excursion day today, because why choose one adventure when you can have two?

A mixed-age group of our oldest and youngest tamariki headed out together for a walk around the neighbourhood, stopping to smell the flowers along the way 🌸 We love seeing tuakana–teina happen so naturally, with our older tamariki looking out for and supporting our littlest explorers.

Meanwhile, another group of our older tamariki made the most of the low tide, walking from Christine’s Beach around to Red Beach to explore the rock pools and see what they could discover 🐚🌊

Back at Muddy Toes, there was dinosaur play, sorting and counting, stories, and plenty of creating.

A pretty good Thursday, if you ask us 💚

12/08/2026

3, 2, 1… GO! 💨

Howling wind? Apparently perfect racing weather.

A little rain and wild weather has never stopped us getting outside. In fact, some days it just makes it more fun.

Some of the best adventures happen when the weather gets a little wild!

07/08/2026

❄️ A frosty start to the day at Muddy Toes!

Jack Frost paid us another visit overnight, freezing our dinosaur water tray solid. Frosty mornings aren’t something we see very often here, so we’ve been making the most of them this week. Whether it’s frost, rain, wind or sunshine, we love leaning into whatever nature throws our way. It’s one of the things we love most about our forest philosophy.

The tamariki wasted no time rescuing the dinosaurs before turning the ice into giant canvases with blue and white paint.

As the sun warmed things up, it was time to head out. We split into two groups for today’s adventures. One group enjoyed a local hīkoi, spotting swan plants and even bananas growing on a tree. We kept an eye out for monkeys too… no luck this time! 🍌🐵

The second group jumped in the van to explore a new park in Red Beach. The playground was a hit, but it was the magnificent old tree that really stole the show.

Back at home base, our little chefs harvested celery from the garden before making homemade dumplings for afternoon tea. From picking the vegetables to chopping, mixing and watching them cook, everyone had a chance to be involved.

A pretty good way to spend a sunny winter’s day 💙☀️

01/08/2026

Adventure doesn’t begin when children are old enough to keep up.

It begins with a baby feeling mud beneath their feet. Noticing the leaves overhead. Smelling their first flower. Being carried into the bush and included from the very beginning.

As they grow, they begin to take the lead.

They climb higher. Wander further. Notice more. The world becomes somewhere they feel confident exploring, not somewhere they simply watch from the sidelines.

At Muddy Toes, excursions aren’t an occasional treat. They’re part of childhood here.

Because children deserve more than somewhere to spend their day.

They deserve space to explore, connect with nature and discover what they’re capable of.

Now enrolling in Stanmore Bay. Send us a message to book a visit.

27/07/2026

We never really know where a walk is going to take us.

Today it involved a cave with water dripping over the rocks, a giant palm frond that needed to be measured immediately 😂, and some very serious pirate ship spotting. 🏴‍☠️

This isn’t a special occasion. It’s just Monday. 🌿

26/07/2026

Unpopular opinion… kids don’t need endless toys.

We sometimes get asked why our mud kitchens don’t have wooden fruit sitting on the shelves.

The answer is simple.

As soon as you put an apple in the kitchen… it’s an apple.

But replace it with a pine cone, a wooden round or a handful of loose parts, and suddenly it can become dinosaur food, treasure or a magic potion.

Children decide.

That’s why you’ll find so many natural materials, loose parts and repurposed resources around Muddy Toes. PVC pipes, tyres (we’re slightly obsessed 😅), shells, sticks and cable reels. Things that have often already lived another life before finding their way into our environment.

That doesn’t mean we don’t invest in quality resources. We do. Beautiful books, art materials, blocks, puzzles and musical instruments all have an important place in children’s learning. Nature can’t provide everything, and where a resource genuinely adds value, we’re all for it.

It’s a little like when you buy a child an expensive toy… and they end up playing with the box instead 😂

Children don’t need hundreds of toys telling them what to do. They need interesting materials, time, space and the freedom to imagine.

So if you visit Muddy Toes and see a stack of tyres, a few PVC pipes and a pile of sticks…

Now you know why. 🤎

23/07/2026

At Muddy Toes, we believe babies belong in nature too.

Long before they can name a tree, they’ll run their hands over its bark. Before they can explain what they’re feeling, they’ll discover the squish of mud, the sound of birds, the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the joy of exploring the world around them.

Our babies start with gentle adventures close to home- our onsite Loose Parts Forest, local walks and plenty of time outdoors. As they grow, so do their adventures.

Of course, forest philosophy isn’t just about nature. It’s about creating loving, responsive relationships that help babies feel safe enough to explore with confidence. Because while nature matters, relationships matter even more.

We know this approach isn’t what every early childhood centre offers - and that’s okay. But if you’re looking for a calm, unhurried beginning to your child’s early years, we’d love to show you what makes Muddy Toes a little different.

21/07/2026

We might be biased…

But we think we have one of the best classrooms in New Zealand 🌊 👣🌿

Address

5a Poplar Road
Stanmore Bay

Telephone

+64224154027

Website

http://stanmorebaymuddytoes.co.nz/

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