Dinosaurs and Paint: A Roaring Good Time for Our Little Ones!

Our centre was alive with ngā oro nui—the loud, joyful sounds of excitement as our little ones explored painting in a wild new way: with dinosaurs! 🦖✨

We spread large sheets of card across the tables, set out pots of bright, colourful paint, and invited our tamariki to bring dinosaurs to life through art. It didn’t take long for little hands to grab their favourite dinos—from the mighty T-Rex to the long-necked Brachiosaurus.

As the dinosaurs tikitiki (stomped) through the paint and onto the paper, trails of colourful footprints sprang to life. “Look! He’s walking!” one tamaiti shouted, eyes wide with wonder. 🌟 Another used a dinosaur’s tail to create swooping marks, sparking creativity and problem-solving. Our kaiako joined in, chatting about dinosaur types, what they might have eaten, what their skin looked like, and—of course—their epic roars! 🦕🔊

Our little ones didn’t just use dinosaurs—they became part of the action! They pressed hands into paint, mixed colours, and played with texture and movement. Every moment was filled with laughter, language, and learning. 😊🎉

This experience wove in Māori values like whanaungatanga, as tamariki built bonds through shared play, and manaakitanga, shown in their care for each other’s ideas. Ako shone through as our little ones led their own learning, guided by kaiako, while kaitiakitanga emerged in talks about dinosaurs and the natural world. 🌍

Through this hands-on, interest-led fun, tamariki grew their creativity, language, fine motor skills, and social connections. It was a roaring good time that sparked curiosity, imagination, and meaningful learning through play! 👏🥰