Within Bear Park, we view not only our children but also our teachers as resourceful creative thinkers, so with this in mind, we have once again organised a “Bear Park Wearable Arts” event. This event not only highlights our teacher’s creativity and ingenuity with the use of recycled resources but also shows how this ‘trash’ can be turned into spectacular wearable designs.  Our teachers involve the children by inviting them to participate in the collation, design, and transformation phases of these artistic formations and also throughout the discussions on how such items can be re-used ..read more

Teachers at Bear Park see ourselves as reflective researchers and continue to develop our practice by inquiring into and sharing in pedagogical thinking that generates deepened or new understandings of teaching and learning. Professional development is therefore an essential part of our practice here at Bear Park, and in July this year a group of 6 teachers including myself felt incredibly fortunate to be supported to engage in such an opportunity when we travelled to Melbourne to attend the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE) conference. REAIE Conference in Melbourne Our phil ..read more

In 2019 Sue Stevely-Cole met with Richard Wallis from The CarbonCycle Company to pursue her passion for composting the organic waste at the Bear Park early childhood centres. They immediately connected as kindred spirits, and Sue’s forward thinking led to the installation of a two box composting system under a tree in the car park at the Remuera centre. The Remuera centre staff pitch in with Richard to install the 2 box system The design of the composting system stems from Richard’s own  passion. Twelve years ago, while on sabbatical in London with his family, Richard, who had be ..read more

What inspired you to get involved with the Enviroschools programme, and how does it align with Bear Park’s values and vision? Enviroschools is a nationwide programme supported by Toimata Foundation, founding partner Te Mauri Tau, and a large network of regional partners. First established in 1993, Enviroschools now involves more than 1,000 schools and early childhood centres across Aotearoa, New Zealand. It was wonderful to be invited to join the programme in 2022 as the Enviroschools Kaupapa so strongly and authentically connects with our Bear Park philosophy, values and vision. These collec ..read more

At Bear Park we believe in creating environments that not only nurture but also create imagination. Our environments are aquariums where the ideas, cultures, values and attitudes of the people within them are reflected. Spaces are curated in such a way that they act as a third teacher, inviting, providing suggestion and provoking a sense of wonder and curiosity based on the interests of the tamariki or current investigation focus. Each space is intentional, given considered reflection, with purposeful decisions made around how it will support a specific learning intent as well as offer oppor ..read more

Investing in our teachers is paramount in our thinking, so providing opportunities for international professional development is one of our natural ways of ensuring this. Going to Reggio Emilia to take part in the study tour is something that I had looked forward to and heard about for many years when I first began working at Bear Park Remuera in 2015. I always remember my senior teachers coming back with so much inspiration and enthusiasm, then seeing that inspiration come to life as they enriched our environments, investigative learning projects or as they shared meaningful anecdotes in co ..read more

Transitioning to school is a significant milestone in a child’s life, and it can be both exciting and daunting. As a parent, you want to ensure that your child is well-prepared for this transition, both academically and emotionally. So what can parents do to help their child prepare for the transition to school? In this blog we will provide some tips and advice on how to make this transition as smooth as possible. Tips for Helping Your Child Prepare for the Transition to School: Establish Routines: A school day can be hectic, and establishing a routine can help your child feel more prepare ..read more

How did the collaboration between BeezThingz and Bear Park come about? Bear Park was looking at introducing sustainable learning for the kids at their centres which lead them to investigating ways this could be achieved. Given they already had gardening activities in place, introduction of bees completed this puzzle. What specific benefits do the beehives provided by BeezThingz bring to the Bear Park childcare centres? Bees provide pollination services not only to the centre gardens but 3km in radius of the centre, therefore most of the parents leaving within 3km of the centres gets their ba ..read more

New Zealand is a wonderful place to raise children, providing endless opportunities for outdoor play, and memories treasured by our little people. However, it’s not just the fun that is created on these adventures, there are many benefits for outdoor play – so let’s jump in! As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our everyday life, the importance of outdoor play becomes especially important and essential for our children’s physical, mental, and social development. Not only does it provide the opportunity to explore and investigate their environment, but it allows children to learn ..read more

Ever wondered what it’s like to work in Early Childcare? Bear Park’s People and Culture Manager Nicky shares her insights of the industry below. What inspired you to work in Early Childhood Education, and what do you enjoy most about your job? ECE was not an industry or sector I knew much about until I had my own children, then overnight it became one of the most important things in my life! Being involved in ensuring children are surrounded by love and amazing learning experiences is such a privilege. I really enjoy working alongside teachers and ensuring they are getting the most from their ..read more