At Folkestone Street Infant & Child Care, we understand that the early years are a crucial period for nurturing critical thinking and self-regulation in tamariki. Our dedicated kaiako (educators) prioritise developing these essential life skills, supporting your child’s growth far beyond traditional academic milestones.
Why Critical Thinking and Self-Regulation Matter
Critical thinking involves more than learning facts—it’s about encouraging tamariki to explore, ask questions, and solve problems independently. Self-regulation refers to a child’s ability to manage emotions, behaviours, and reactions in various situations, essential for successful social interactions and lifelong learning.
According to developmental psychologist Dr. Adele Diamond, developing these executive function skills in early childhood significantly predicts future academic achievement, emotional wellbeing, and social competence (Diamond, 2016).
How We Support Critical Thinking Through Play
At Folkestone Street, our kaiako intentionally design play experiences that encourage curiosity, experimentation, and independent problem-solving. Through open-ended play and exploration, tamariki learn to ask questions, develop hypotheses, and test their ideas in meaningful ways.
Examples include:
Sensory Exploration: Activities with sand, water, clay, or natural materials challenge tamariki to experiment, investigate, and discover outcomes independently.
Construction and Design: Using blocks, loose parts, or recycled materials encourages creativity, spatial awareness, and logical thinking.
Outdoor Discovery: Guided exploration in our natural outdoor spaces helps children ask questions, make observations, and draw conclusions from their surroundings.
Nurturing Self-Regulation and Emotional Intelligence
Our kaiako actively model and teach strategies that help tamariki develop emotional control and resilience. By recognising and validating each child’s feelings, our educators help them learn appropriate ways to express emotions, solve conflicts, and adapt to changing situations.
Some of the practical ways we foster self-regulation include:
Calm-down Techniques: Teaching simple breathing exercises or quiet reflection methods to help tamariki manage emotions when feeling overwhelmed.
Gentle Guidance and Support: Offering calm and patient assistance as children navigate frustrations, providing words and strategies to manage difficult feelings.
Routine and Predictability: Clearly structured daily routines help tamariki feel secure, promoting emotional stability and behavioural consistency.
Spotlight on Kaiako’s Role
Our kaiako understand their role extends beyond just supervising play—they are active guides, observers, and partners in learning. Kaiako gently encourage children to think critically by asking open-ended questions, guiding without providing immediate answers, and inspiring curiosity through shared discovery.
As kaiako Rachel explains:
“We love watching children figure things out on their own. When we ask them questions instead of giving answers immediately, we see their eyes light up with excitement as they make their own connections. It’s incredibly rewarding and empowering for them.”
Partnering with Whānau
We greatly value collaboration with whānau, offering insights and strategies to support critical thinking and emotional self-regulation at home:
Encourage open-ended questions: Regularly ask your child to explain their thinking, fostering confidence and independence.
Support emotional expression: Help your child label their feelings and practise calming techniques during challenging moments.
A Foundation for Lifelong Success
At Folkestone Street Infant & Child Care, fostering critical thinking and self-regulation is central to our educational approach. By nurturing these fundamental skills early, we ensure your tamariki develop into confident, creative, and emotionally intelligent individuals, fully prepared to embrace life’s challenges and adventures.
