Soul Room (0-2 years)

Our way of being in the Soul Room

Whanaungatanga

“The relationship is all. It is a matter of life to the baby.”
- Dr. Emmi Pikler

We provide an extensive settling-in process when children start their learning journey in the Soul Room. This helps us to build a solid, trusting relationship with both you and your baby. Working alongside you, we will support and transition your baby to feel safe and secure within their new environment.

Manaakitanga

“The care moment is the most important moment in the baby's life.”
- Anna Tandos

Through unhurried care moments such as feeding, nappy changes and sleep, kaiako create special one-on-one quality moments. During this time, kaiako work in partnership with infants and toddlers, resulting in more understanding of infants' and toddlers' needs. This supports the baby's/toddler’s nervous system and emotionally fills them up so they can get on with playing.

Authenticity

“The child is a free and equal human being.”
- Dr. Emmi Pikler

We work with the natural choreography and blueprint of children's development. We trust in the baby's ability to unfold naturally, never putting a child into a position that they cannot get into or out of themselves. Trusting that the baby is capable results in children developing a strong sense of self-worth in achieving goals and trusting their own abilities.

Play

“Play is the only way the highest intelligences of humankind can unfold.”
- Joseph Chilton Pearce

The Soul Room is set to provide a rich learning experience as children naturally move through the environment. Exploring as they use all their senses to connect with nature. When children connect with a natural environment, they feel more grounded and settled within themselves. Within the Soul Room there are places to creep and crawl into an outside area that has natural grass, gardens, sand and even a rainforest.

With varying ground surfaces, inclines and declines, your baby will be challenged as they learn to crawl, sit, stand, walk and run.