It is hard to believe that we only have a few days left of term 1; with the Easter break around the corner, it is a wonderful time for children to play. Last week, Sara Baker (DP) and I were lucky enough to attend the IB World Conference, where we listened to experts explain how to 'create playfully curious learning'. We know that play has many benefits, and at school, we plan learning experiences that create wonder, spark curiosity and drive creativity. This can be seen daily at Milford in the range of learning within and beyond the classroom.

At break times, there are always so many games happening it is hard to keep track, but what is evident is that any activity can be play; the secret sauce is playfulness - the ability to see a situation and be curious about it, realise it can be enjoyable and get involved.

Play contributes to intellectual development by building executive function skills, content knowledge, and creative thinking. For example, when children create with blocks or draw, they count, classify, create, and examine patterns. Play helps with social development by listening and sometimes taking another person's perspective. It can encourage children to share ideas and express feelings while negotiating compromises. We also know that children learn self-regulation by following norms and paying attention while experiencing emotions such as anticipation or frustration. Play teaches children how to set and change rules and decide when to lead and when to follow, so play supports emotional development. Play helps physical development. As children play sports, outdoor games, and dance, they develop strength, muscle control, coordination, and reflexes. They push limits and try new things — racing down a hill, swimming underwater — that can motivate them to take risks in other circumstances.

Playful learning creates choice, wonder, and delight. Choice can mean developing and sharing ideas, making rules, negotiating challenges, and choosing how long to play. Wonder is children exploring, creating, pretending, imagining, and learning from trial and error. Thirdly, delight is happiness: children smiling, laughing, being silly, or generally feeling cosy and at ease.

As the holiday approaches, make time and space for play. Encourage play dates or a walk to the playground. Be open to risk. If you let children know you trust them to take small risks, they'll enjoy creating and exploring and won't mind a few bumps and bruises. Role model play, when children watch their parents or grandparents enjoying sports or being creative, then it's more likely that they will find interesting things to do with their time. Remember, your children do want to play with you! Build sandcastles, dress up, or tell stories together. Get into the spirit of the play and do it together. That's the beauty of school breaks...it can be learning in disguise.

Parking on Otakau Road

Otakau Road is an extremely busy entrance to the school, and to ensure the safety of our students please do not park on the yellow lines. The Community Police are working with the school to monitor the entrance. Longer term the school is working with Auckland Transport to seek a solution to the congestion.

School Holiday Reminder

A reminder that the school holidays start on Friday 7 April (Good Friday) and term 2 will begin on Wednesday 26 April.

FOMS Family Fun Afternoon – TODAY!

We are looking forward to the Family Fun event after school today (3 to 5pm). Bring your picnic and watch the fun; face painting, popcorn, sausage sizzle, bouncy castles, the list goes on. A big shout out to FOMS for organising what promises to be a fantastic social event and chance to have some community fun!

I look forward to seeing you there!

Noho ora mai

Lucy Naylor

Tumuaki