It was a big day for our little ones. The sound of a siren outside of the Vines announced that they were about to get some very special visitors.
They say it takes a village, and they’d be right
Thanks to some of our wonderful connections in this fabulous West Auckland community, we had a visit from the police, but for all the right reasons.
The police visit to our daycare was organised by one of our caregivers and local Detective Constable Newman. DC Newman took time out of his busy day to meet with our preschool students at the Vines. His goal? To teach our young learners about their important role in our community.
He arrived with two local Henderson community constables. They were met by shrieks of delight as our tamariki learnt about community policing. Although to be fair, the sirens and the flashing lights were the biggest drawcards, and the officers let them off loads of times.
Taking advantage of this captive audience and special learning opportunity, the officers shared interesting facts and stories about their work in the community. The children listened attentively as DC Newman talked about the different vehicles they use: cars, police boats and helicopters. He also spoke about the uniforms they wear and the equipment they carry.
After the activities, came question time! The children could barely contain their excitement as they peppered the officers with questions. We may have a few future police recruits, who’s to know? Once the children had had their curiosity satisfied, at least to some degree, the officers let the children try on police hats and vests. They even got the chance to sit in the police cars.
We can’t thank Detective Constable Newman and his colleagues enough for their dedication to law enforcement and community safety. His visit gave our Vines preschoolers a glimpse into the valuable work they do, inspiring admiration and appreciation in our wee ones.
Getting involved with local community is what we’re all about
Visits to our daycare reinforce our commitment to early learning within a community context. At The Vines ELC, we are here to build connections.
These kinds of visits to our daycare help children gain a broader understanding of the world in which they live. They help them to see how different people play different roles within their local community. It also helps children understand that the police are here to help and support us if we ever need them.
Whether it’s a visit from local police like Detective Constable Newman or other local heroes, we believe these experiences help tamariki build cognitive and social skills essential for their growth.
Once again, a big thank you to the local New Zealand police for their time and effort.
It was a great day with lots to learn and laughter to share.
