Back to Blog

The Wonders of Learning Alongside Kararehe (Animals): Insights from NZ Research

Learning alongside kararehe can be a transformative experience for tamariki aged 3 to 6 years. Not only does it offer abundant opportunities for educational growth, but it also fosters empathy, emotional development, and a sense of responsibility. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of tamariki learning alongside kararehe, backed by research conducted in New Zealand.Emotional Development:New Zealand's research has shown that interacting with our kararehe can enhance a tamaiti emotion...

How do we prepare your tamariki for school?

Naturally, our whānau want to know - why should they leave their tamariki at The Forest until aged six?  So many reasons, and we will explain!  But firstly - WHY do Kiwi tamariki often go to school at five? Let’s go back to the beginning….. The age of five has been set as a societal convenience rather than a decision based upon the developmental needs of our tamariki.  Initially, with the first education act in 1877, New Zealand adopted a very evolved ‘seven’ as its ...

What's it all about?

A forest/ woodland environment is a perfect place for children to play freely, explore their imaginations and to gain a sense of freedom, learning through play and using nature as their teacher.  We work to ensure our programme aligns seamlessly with our National curriculum, Te Whāriki, our own local curriculum - created by families and teachers for the children who work and play within our context, and the philosophy, vision and values of The Forest ECE. Children are encouraged to follow ...

Why the Forest?

Adapted from the Scandinavian approach to learning that originated in the 1950's, Forest schooling has spread across the world with the flood of research proving it's benefits for children. This is a long term, holistic learning process that aims to raise self-awareness and self-esteem in participants.   The natural environment is the teacher, the kaiako (teachers) skilled facilitators of exploration, encouraging of problem solving and promoting the dispositions of curiosity and persev...