Information for Parents
Centre Visits and Settling In
KidzWay should feel like your child’s home away from home. That’s why we encourage you to spend time with your child at KidzWay prior to their first day. This will ease them into the new setting more quickly and allow them to become familiar with the facilities, staff and their peers with the comfort of having you close.
The settling-in process varies for each child so know that you and your child are welcome to visit as often as you like before your child starts. We recommend a minimum of three visits for two-year-olds and three-year-olds and at least two visits for four-year-old children. Our Whānau Room is available to help with this transition.
See A-Z for more information about the Whānau Room as well as tips to aid the settling in process for your child.
What to Bring
Clothing, Footwear & Accessories
A day at KidzWay includes participating in outside play, art, messy play, music and movement so it’s important that children come dressed in suitable clothing.
We ask that you bring the following clothing and footwear, and that every item, including shoes and accessories, be clearly named/labelled:
-
A waterproof bag for their wet clothes.
-
Sensible footwear.
-
Casual, comfortable clothes appropriate for exercise that are easy to get in and out of for toileting. Layers are better than bulky items.
-
Several pairs of underwear and pants for those undergoing toilet training. Overalls are not recommended.
-
Extra sets of clothes, including socks.
-
Sun hat (October – April) that protects their face, neck and ears, such as Legionnaire, broad-brimmed or bucket hats.
-
Togs and towel on hot days for water play.
-
Woollen hat and coat on colder days.
-
We welcome gumboots for outside wear in winter.
Nappies, wipes, creams & powders
Children who require nappies will have a named basket in the nappy-changing area. We ask that you ensure your child has plenty of nappies (re-usable or disposable) and wipes in the basket and that you regularly check your child’s supply.
Medications
Parents must inform staff of their child’s medication needs and complete a Medication Administration Agreement form upon enrolment or as medical needs arise. All medication is stored in the kitchen out of child’s reach. No medication is to be left in a child’s bag, this is for the safety of all children at KidzWay.
Food
We are a NUT FREE Centre, so please check food ingredients carefully. 'Traces of nuts’ are acceptable; however, Nutella and Peanut Butter are not. Any food containing nuts will be removed and given back to you at the end of the day.
Drink Bottles
Are to contain water only and should be labelled. Children have access to these throughout the day.
Morning and Afternoon Tea
Please provide your child's morning and/or afternoon tea. It is best to place the food intended for morning and/or afternoon tea in separate containers and have them marked as such. This makes it clear to the children and the teachers what the children are supposed to have. For information on healthy choices which follow the food and eating guidelines from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education see the MoH's Reducing Food-Related Choking in Children publication.
Lunch
Children need a healthy and nutritious lunch packed in a lunchbox. Please use easy-to-manipulate packaging and unbreakable containers, labelling all containers with their name for easy identification. This helps to reduce waste. NO plastic/cling wrap.
Children often eat more at KidzWay than they do at home, so please pack a hearty lunch. If you are unsure, please feel free to discuss this with our teachers.
The fridge is available for perishable foods, and the oven is available for heating. Place food needing refrigeration in the fridge, and food to be heated by the oven, when you arrive. Please ensure that you tell the staff about such foods, write your child’s name on the board provided under the kitchen servery in the Centre, and that these items are clearly NAMED. For more hints and tips on food see our A-Z Useful Information Guide.
