Growing Wings Whangamata

Growing Wings Whangamata Family-owned Early childhood centre based in Whangamata. We cater to children 4 months - 6 years Heart led centre with exceptional teachers!

All of our teachers are qualified or are in training.

At Growing Wings, our tamariki have been deeply engaged in the magic of small world play through the dolls house 🏡✨This ...
13/04/2026

At Growing Wings, our tamariki have been deeply engaged in the magic of small world play through the dolls house 🏡✨
This special space invited storytelling, imagination, and connection as tamariki created their own little worlds. The conversations flowing from this play were rich and meaningful—full of creativity, problem-solving, and social learning.
It was truly heartwarming to hear, see, and feel the joy throughout the centre as tamariki worked together, shared ideas, and brought their stories to life 💛
Moments like these highlight the power of play in supporting development, communication, and a strong sense of belonging.

At Growing Wings, our tamariki have been enjoying learning the game of Memory 🧠✨This fun and engaging game encourages ta...
08/04/2026

At Growing Wings, our tamariki have been enjoying learning the game of Memory 🧠✨
This fun and engaging game encourages tamariki to remember where their cards are, while also paying close attention to the cards their friends turn over to find a match. It’s a wonderful way to build memory skills, concentration, and turn-taking, all while having lots of fun together 💛
There were moments of excitement, surprise, and pride as matches were found—and some impressive memories on display!
Why not try a game of Memory at home on a rainy afternoon and see if your memory is as good as your tamariki? 😊

At Growing Wings, our tamariki had so much fun combining movement, music, and learning with bean bags 🎶✨Using the song “...
06/04/2026

At Growing Wings, our tamariki had so much fun combining movement, music, and learning with bean bags 🎶✨
Using the song “Throw the Bean Bags”, our tamariki listened carefully to the instructions and explored where and how to place their bean bags. This engaging activity supported the development of listening skills, coordination, body awareness, and following directions—all important skills that will support them throughout their learning journey.
There were smiles, laughter, and lots of concentration as everyone joined in and gave it a go 💛
Why not have a listen to “Throw the Bean Bags” at home and see if you can follow along together? Such a fun way to learn through play!

At Growing Wings Whangamatā, our tamariki have been busy exploring hands-on learning that strengthens their fine motor s...
30/03/2026

At Growing Wings Whangamatā, our tamariki have been busy exploring hands-on learning that strengthens their fine motor skills 💛
Through engaging with a variety of resources, our tamariki are building the strength and coordination in their hands that supports their development towards confidently holding pencils and writing. One activity that was an absolute hit was using rubber bands to create pictures—so much creativity and focus!
From forming the letters of their names to designing awesome Beach Hop cars, every creation reflected their growing skills and imagination 🚗✨
It’s amazing to see how much learning can happen through play, as our tamariki develop strength, persistence, and pride in their work. A fun and meaningful experience enjoyed by all!

Water play always brings a sense of excitement and discovery for our tamariki at Growing Wings Whangamatā 💧Our tamariki ...
24/03/2026

Water play always brings a sense of excitement and discovery for our tamariki at Growing Wings Whangamatā 💧
Our tamariki immersed themselves in exploring everything water. With the addition of different resources, the water play area became a space for experimenting, pouring, scooping, and observing what happens when we change and add new materials.
By introducing a variety of tools and objects, the children were able to test ideas, make discoveries, and develop their understanding through hands-on exploration. Water invites curiosity — from watching how it flows, to seeing what floats and sinks, and working together to create new ways to play. 🪣🌊
Moments like these show how simple resources can open the door to rich learning experiences. Our tamariki love the excitement that water brings, and each splash, pour, and experiment leads to new discoveries and new learning.

Sea Week sparked so much curiosity among our tamariki at Growing Wings Whangamatā 🌊Using the resources and conversations...
19/03/2026

Sea Week sparked so much curiosity among our tamariki at Growing Wings Whangamatā 🌊
Using the resources and conversations from Sea Week as inspiration, we extended our learning beyond the ocean and began exploring the small creatures living in our own environment. The tamariki eagerly searched for bugs around the playground and natural spaces, observing closely and sharing their discoveries with one another. 🐞🔍
By using our environment as a learning space, tamariki are able to explore, question, and develop deeper understandings about the living world around them. These hands-on experiences help expand their knowledge and lead us into new and exciting learning pathways.
It’s always amazing to see how one idea can grow into another. From Sea Week learning about the ocean, to discovering bugs in our own backyard, our tamariki continue to build connections with nature and develop a greater appreciation for the environment around them. 🌿

Living and learning by the sea gives our tamariki such special opportunities to connect with the world around them 🌊At G...
17/03/2026

Living and learning by the sea gives our tamariki such special opportunities to connect with the world around them 🌊
At Growing Wings Whangamatā, our beachside location inspires many of our learning experiences. By using resources gathered from our local environment, tamariki are able to explore, question, and build knowledge about the natural world in ways that truly bring learning to life.
Kaiako Lou created an exploration tray using rubbish that had been found at the beach. Together, the tamariki observed, discussed, and wondered about how these items ended up in the ocean and on the shore. Through these conversations, they began to develop an understanding of how we can care for our environment and protect the beautiful beach we are so lucky to be near. 🐚
These moments help build respect and responsibility for our natural world. A simple but powerful message we shared together : when we visit the beach, all we should leave behind are our footsteps in the sand. 👣✨

Sometimes the most unexpected moments spark the biggest adventures! 🏴‍☠️When the fire station alarm sounded nearby, it c...
12/03/2026

Sometimes the most unexpected moments spark the biggest adventures! 🏴‍☠️
When the fire station alarm sounded nearby, it captured the curiosity of our tamariki. Instead of letting the moment pass, we followed their interest and transformed our centre into a pirate adventure!
The playground became our pirate ship as the children climbed aboard, took turns walking the plank, and worked together as a crew heading toward new land. Using simple materials, we created telescopes to scan the horizon and search for islands, treasure, and exciting discoveries. 🔭🌊
Moments like these show the magic of child-led play. When we lean into children’s curiosity and imagination, ordinary spaces become extraordinary worlds. We weren’t just at the centre — we were brave pirates sailing the seas, exploring, discovering, and learning together.
At Growing Wings Whangamatā, we love supporting tamariki to be curious, creative, and to transport themselves into wonderful worlds of play. ⚓✨

There’s something special about bringing a little piece of home into our learning spaces 🌿our tamariki explored the sand...
10/03/2026

There’s something special about bringing a little piece of home into our learning spaces 🌿
our tamariki explored the sandpit using household pots and pans, turning the space into a busy little kitchen. Scooping, pouring, mixing and serving up their sandy creations, the children were deeply engaged in imaginative play. 🥄🍲
Using real-life resources like pots, pans and utensils helps bring play to life. These familiar tools connect children to their everyday experiences at home, sparking creativity, storytelling and collaboration with their friends. It’s amazing to see how something so simple can inspire rich learning and meaningful play.
At Growing Wings Whangamatā, we love creating opportunities where everyday materials become powerful learning tools. The sandpit was full of laughter, teamwork and delicious “sand meals” today! 🏖️✨

Nau mai, haere mai!- Welcome to our 2026 whānau of Growing Wings Whangamatā 💛We are so excited to work alongside you ove...
05/01/2026

Nau mai, haere mai!- Welcome to our 2026 whānau of Growing Wings Whangamatā 💛
We are so excited to work alongside you over the coming month as we set new learning aspirations for your tamariki—supporting them to watch, learn, and grow in confidence, curiosity, and connection.
Thank you for being part of our Growing Wings community. We can’t wait to see all the beautiful moments, milestones, and magic that this year will bring.

Today was full of excitement and learning! 🚑The tamariki were lucky enough to have a special visit from St John. Togethe...
30/10/2025

Today was full of excitement and learning! 🚑
The tamariki were lucky enough to have a special visit from St John. Together we explored what to do in an emergency — how to stay calm, call for help, and care for others. Everyone had so much fun taking turns in our make-believe ambulance and practising being real-life helpers. ❤️

It was wonderful to see the tamariki so engaged and curious, asking questions and sharing what they already knew about keeping people safe. What amazing little first responders in the making! 🌟

Address

104 Mark Street
Whangamata
3620

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+6478659899

Website

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