Bear Park opens new child care centre

Bear Park’s Centre of Learning – Dilworth Avenue, Remuera

Bear Park has opened a new, exciting and eco friendly Child Care and Pre School centre that not only reflects New Zealand’s unique qualities but also reflects strongly the “Bear Park Philosophy.” This is the 10th Child Care and Pre School centre that Bear Park has opened since its establishment in 1986. Bear Park Child Care and Pre School centres cater for children from 3 months to 5 years of age, and are influenced by New Zealand’s Early Childhood Curriculum Te Whaariki, as well as being inspired by the Reggio Philosophy from Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Bear Park’s new Centre of Learning is unique in that it has been specially designed to reflect New Zealand’s eco friendly ethos in every way: Rain water is stored from the roof and is recycled for the water feature, gardens and toilets. Solid wooden furniture is used throughout the Centre and wooden toys dominate the play area. Natural light pours in through the main doors and windows.

Walking through the Centre a sense of transparency and visibility has been purposely created (through the use of glass walls, glass doors to the outdoor spaces or a window in which to see one’s friends through) to make learning experiences more visible and inclusive to the observer, whether that person is another child, a parent or a teacher. The Centre has various ateliers, where children are encouraged to develop their expressive languages with the support from the resident artist. There is also the opportunity for performing art classes where children can engage in the art of dance, drama, mime, music and much more. Bear Park strongly believes that through these various opportunities of expression and communication children develop a stronger sense of self worth. A central piazza area has been created and is to be the place of ‘meetings’ – it is the hub of the Centre where relationships and connections within the Centre’s three protagonists can be reaffirmed and developed.

The Centre has been designed to reflect various raw elements that make New Zealand distinct. Raw materials have been used on the outside of the building – from the use of concrete, brick and green glass in the windows – through to the feature walls of river, stones, glass tiles, corrugated iron or brick inside in the classroom pods. Throughout the outdoor explorative areas the elements of New Zealand have been transferred through the use of water, stone, plants, grass and timber.

Bear Park know they will revisit various aspects of the new Child Care and Pre School Centre and will develop them further as they go along, but for now the Centre is open and the staff are welcoming children into the new Centre.

Bear Park (www.bearpark.co.nz) operates 10 centres’ around Auckland. Located in Albany, Henderson, Herne Bay, Kohimarama, Mairangi Bay, Mt Eden, Parnell, St Heliers and two in Remuera.

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