Happy Times Childcare

Welcome to Happy Times

Happy Times is a small community based Childcare center in Te Puke.

Every child is valued as an individual and cared for.

The Centre offers care and education for children aged 0-6 years.

We are committed to maintaining a stimulating program and to creating an open caring atmosphere that supports both children and their families. We respect individual needs and differences and aim to provide high self-esteem and healthy relationships between children families and staff.

Happy Times Childcare and Preschool offers a balanced mix of structured learning and free play experiences. Children are given opportunities to experience a supportive and challenging environment in an age appropriate manner.

Our philosophy

We believe that all children are unique. We respect their unique individuality and aim to provide them with stimulating opportunities for their own ideas to flourish, to enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence.

We believe that all children have the right to learn and practice their home languages and cultural values. Therefore, we strive for collaborative relationships with parents, where contribution and participation is encouraged to support continuity in values, beliefs, customs and traditions.

We believe that children are holistic beings, therefore our practice has a strong focus on nurturing and empowering children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional well-being. We acknowledge learning as a holistic process, in which we aim to build skills, knowledge, and understandings through a play-base programme, interwoven within the wider context of family, home and community

We believe in the power of the natural environment to teach and inspire. We aim to weave nature into the lives of children to foster imagination, curiosity and inquiry. We aim to create a natural learning environment both indoors and outdoors, that is developmentally appropriate and enables tamariki to develop a sense of belonging and autonomy.

We believe in promoting a peaceful and secure environment for children. We strive to create an environment where children can learn and enjoy, as often as possible, authentic, real life and meaningful experiences.

Infants & Toddlers

• Loving, calm nurturing environment that is physically and emotionally secure

• High staff/infant ratios

• Partnership between parents and staff

• Individual routines for feeding and sleeping are catered for

Preschool (2 – 5 years)

• Flexible approach encouraging children to explore the environment through music, stories, art and tactile experiences while catering for each individual’s needs

• Fun, challenging broad based educational programme, incorporating free play and structured play based around the child’s interest

• Children at this age are encouraged to participate in group art, language, drama, music and movement, cognitive development, stories, puzzles and games

• We provide activities where children are in smaller groups enabling them to build up solid relationships with an adult and other children of their own age