Dear Parents,

I often write about the value of play and how much social learning happens when children are playing with other children. Just last week I happened on an interesting article written by an Australian psychologist, Emily Freeman and published in the Herald. It was about the benefits of playing rough and tumble games with dad (or mum or a significant male in their lives).

Play between a father and their child or children can offer a different type of play. It’s often boisterous, physical and competitive, and this all has an equally important role to play in a child’s development.

This type of play is full of excitement and challenge, and if it weren’t for the clear enjoyment of both parties, it might sometimes seem a little aggressive to an outsider. According to Freeman, this play isn’t just fun. Research has shown it’s also important for healthy child development. Play that’s active, physical and competitive has also been linked to better emotion regulation who, as a result, have an easier time making friends.

Dads have a tendency to push their kids to the limit, to set goals that are just a bit beyond their reach, and to rough-and-tumble play in a way that gets the kids worked up and, at times, frustrated. The benefits come as the child learns to handle these emotions. It is important though, that the dad doesn’t dominate but shares the winning and losing. The child has a chance to win and learns how to celebrate the win as well as learning how to handle the frustration of losing.

Freeman also states that children who regularly play rough and tumble games have less chance of being injured. Apparently, as a result of this type of play, children learn what their physical limits are and how far they can push themselves.

As well as being lots of fun, rough and tumble play teaches children how to regulate their emotions, how to safely push and extend their limits, how to assess risky situations, and how to get along well with others.

I always love it when experts tell us something all of us probably intuitively know. That the more time we spend with our children having fun, is so beneficial for them, as well as for our own wellbeing. I have to admit that I still have a wee bit of rough and tumble with my adult daughters and then we all fall about laughing!

I have quoted heavily from this article Rough and Tumble published on The Conversation website.

Financial Literacy

All classes have been focusing on financial literacy this week. We have an overview with the financial capabilities set out from year 0 to year 6. The year 0/1 classes are learning to recognise coins and notes and that these have value. They are learning about the responsibilities in borrowing and paying back and are discussing how and why people save money. At the other end of the scale, the year 6 classes are using coins and notes for transactions and calculating correct change. They are investigating ways to get value for money when spending. They are also learning how credit and interest work, especially getting good returns on savings.

Maori Language Week

It has been so great to hear children and staff using Maori in their everyday interactions, the more we hear of this, the better.  Our fluent speakers of Maori have helped those of us who are less confident with words and phrases as well as helping with pronunciation.

Cross Country

The cross country went very well last Thursday and the list of place getters was published in last week’s newsletter. There was one incident that merits sharing with the community. London Ridge came third in the year 4 boys’ race. At the award ceremony, he shook hands with the other two place getters, the only child to do that. Then afterwards the boy who came first told me that he had fallen over during the race and that London had stopped to help him up. The winner went on to say that London would have won the race if he hadn’t stopped to help him.

What a tremendous example of sportsmanship and an example of one of our students doing ‘our best always’. I celebrated London’s sportsmanship at assembly last Friday so the whole school could celebrate his selflessness. Yes, it’s important to strive for the win, but sportsmanship is an incredible quality as well.

Use of Class Emails

It is very convenient having access to the email addresses of the other parents in your child’s class but just a reminder that these are only to be used for school related matters, not to tout for business.

Quiz Night

The 90s theme made for some interesting costumes at last Friday’s Quiz Night! The organising team had gone to so much effort to make the hall look beautiful, have a look on our Facebook page and the photos below. It was such a fun night with the quiz, dancing, laughing and just enjoying ourselves. If you didn’t make it to this year’s quiz night, then please do not miss it next year! Huge thank you to the team who gave up their time to organise such a great event. A particular thanks to Manuka Doctor who sponsored the event and provided some great hampers of product as well as some amazing experiences to be auctioned.

Thank you to the team: Margot Kynoch, Abby Maire, Annick Larkin, Craig Hill, Kristin Williams, Shelley Cunningham, Susannah Barratt-Boyes, Roz Williamson and Victoria Arnold.

Kind Regards
Janice