About Co Kids Childcare
At Co Kids, our vision is to provide high quality early childhood education in an innovative and creative environment that supports every child’s learning and development.
Our role as educators is to support each child through rich learning experiences in a safe and engaging environment, helping them grow into active, confident learners.
Families and the Co Kids team play an important role in creating these opportunities together. We believe that strong partnerships with parents and whānau are the foundation for building confident children and a strong community for the future.
Our Values
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Creativity is at the heart of how we care for and support children’s development, shaping the experiences, environments and opportunities we provide each day.
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We follow children’s interests and provide both planned and spontaneous learning experiences throughout the day. This allows children to explore their curiosity while discovering new ideas and skills.
Our teaching approach focuses on nurturing each child’s sense of self-worth and belonging. We believe that building confidence and healthy self-esteem is an important foundation for children to fully enjoy and benefit from their early learning experiences.
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We respect the natural pace of each child’s development and approach caregiving routines with patience, responsiveness and respect. By working in partnership with children during everyday moments, we support them to feel secure, capable and valued.
We also guide children in understanding boundaries, helping them learn to respect their own needs as well as the needs of others.
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We honour the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by weaving te reo Māori and tikanga Māori into our centre environments and daily practices. This helps create a shared bicultural foundation where children grow with an appreciation and understanding of Aotearoa’s unique heritage.
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We believe children learn best through play, and that this learning should take place in a safe, happy and stimulating environment. When children feel secure and supported, they are able to relax, explore and grow naturally in their development.
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We believe strong relationships with families and our wider community are an important part of children’s learning and wellbeing. By working closely with parents and whānau, we create a supportive environment where children feel connected, valued and confident.
Through these partnerships, children develop a sense of belonging and learn the importance of kindness, respect and being part of a caring community.
Our Philosophy
At Co Kids, we incorporate elements of the Emmi Pikler and RIE approaches into our teaching philosophy. These approaches are centred on respectful care and education, supporting children to develop confidence, independence and secure relationships within a calm and nurturing environment.
SHARING IN YOUR CHILD EXPERIENCES
Our Early Childhood Centres
At Co Kids, we incorporate elements of the Emmi Pikler and RIE approaches into our teaching philosophy, which centres on respectful care and education. We create environments for infants and young children that encourage creativity, curiosity and exploration.
By maintaining a high standard of care, we help children develop a strong sense of wellbeing and belonging. This foundation supports confident play, meaningful interactions and positive learning experiences.
Our programme also encourages inquiry based learning, where questions, ideas and real life scenarios naturally arise through play. This approach supports children to become curious, motivated and capable learners as they begin their journey towards primary school.
Lincoln Road, Auckland
Our Henderson centre, overlooking Lincoln Road, has been part of the local community since 2016, providing a welcoming and nurturing environment for children and their families.
The centre is thoughtfully designed with three separate rooms for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, allowing each age group to learn and develop in a space suited to their needs. At the heart of the centre is our kitchen, where healthy and nutritious meals are prepared fresh each day by our onsite cook.
Our baby and toddler rooms are located on the eastern side of the centre and open out to a beautiful outdoor area, creating a safe and playful environment where young children can explore and develop their confidence.
Our passionate teaching team sits at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and emotionally supportive environment where children feel secure and valued as they learn and grow.
In our preschool room, children are supported as they begin preparing for school through engaging, play based learning experiences. Early literacy, numeracy and writing skills are introduced through games, songs and hands on activities that encourage alphabet recognition, phonics awareness and a love of learning. These early foundations help children build confidence and support their transition to primary school.
Thorndon Quay, Wellington
Co Kids Thorndon opened in late 2018 and has become a well regarded early learning centre for families in the Wellington community.
The centre is thoughtfully designed across three learning spaces, connected by a modern kitchen at the heart of the centre. We are committed to providing wholesome, refined sugar free meals, all freshly prepared each day by our dedicated onsite cook.
At Co Kids Thorndon we focus on creating an enriching environment where children have the freedom to explore their interests and develop a love of learning. Our carefully selected resources encourage open ended play and discovery, helping children build strong cognitive, physical and emotional skills.
Our passionate team of teachers is dedicated to supporting each child’s individual journey, creating a nurturing environment where children feel confident, capable and excited to learn.
Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch
We welcome children into a bright and spacious environment where they are free to explore, imagine and discover. Our spaces allow children the time to simply ‘be’, encouraging creativity and curiosity as they move through their day. Inquisitive minds are given the freedom to ask questions, have conversations and follow their own paths of discovery. Our vegetable garden also provides opportunities for children to take part in growing and learning about food that complements our nutritious, refined sugar free approach to meals.
Our Christchurch centre features two main play spaces designed to minimise the stress that can come with frequent room transitions. These shared spaces create a calm and connected environment where siblings can spend time together, older children can naturally support younger peers, and younger children can observe and learn from their older role models. Together, children and teachers build a community grounded in empathy, kindness and a strong sense of belonging.
We encourage children to be adventurous with food by trying new dishes and exploring different flavours. This helps build a positive and healthy relationship with food, where children learn to enjoy eating and discover new tastes.
Across all Co Kids centres, our onsite chefs prepare fresh meals each day that are refined sugar free and nut free. Our menus are thoughtfully designed to cater for children’s dietary needs, cultural preferences and family values.
Our kitchens follow strict food safety practices and consistently meet all required food safety audit standards.
Nutrition
LOW IN SUGAR
CATERED MEALS
VEGE OPTIONS
ALLERGY FRIENDLY
Creating active and confident children
Infants and toddlers
WHAT OUR PHILOSOPHY LOOKS LIKE FOR…
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Freedom of movement allows infants to move naturally and develop their physical abilities at their own pace. As they explore movement freely, they build the muscles and coordination needed for each new stage of development. Rather than rushing these milestones, we believe infants benefit most from patient, respectful support and the opportunity to progress when they are ready.
When infants are given the time and space to develop naturally, they build strong foundations for balance, posture, core strength, agility and body awareness. For example, an infant who begins on their back will naturally learn to roll, and as they spend more time on their tummy they gradually develop the strength needed to push up, crawl, sit and eventually walk.
At Co Kids we respect this natural progression. Infants are not placed in positions they cannot reach on their own. Instead, we create safe and supportive environments where they can explore movement, build confidence and develop their abilities naturally.
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Physical and cognitive skills, along with confidence and self-esteem, grow as infants explore and discover in their own way. Teachers support this development by being calm, present, empathetic and responsive to each child’s needs.
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We believe that giving children our full attention during interactions is a sign of respect and helps them feel valued and understood. Everyday caregiving routines are an important part of learning for infants and toddlers and provide meaningful opportunities to build strong, nurturing relationships.
During these moments, teachers communicate with children about what is happening and gently invite them to participate in their own care. Our aim is for each child to be an active participant rather than a passive recipient. By slowing down and allowing time for children to respond, we help them develop self awareness, confidence and the ability to recognise and express their own needs.
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We believe every infant and young toddler is a unique individual. By noticing and responding to the cues children share with us, we help strengthen their sense of security and self-worth. This responsiveness also builds trust in their relationships with teachers and confidence in their own ability to communicate. Taking the time to truly tune in to each child helps us understand their needs and work alongside them in a respectful partnership. In doing so, we support their development while nurturing a strong sense of identity, confidence and belonging.
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Emotionally nurturing relationships between infants, young toddlers and their teachers are essential for healthy development. In a group care setting, consistency in caregiving helps children feel secure and build trusting relationships.
We recognise that infants experience a wide range of emotions. When a child is distressed, we respond with empathy and comfort, supporting them through their feelings rather than distracting or dismissing them. This approach helps children feel understood, safe and supported.
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Given the right environment, infants and young toddlers naturally flourish. They have a strong inbuilt drive to learn and develop, and our role as adults is to support this by providing enriching, thoughtfully prepared environments.
Rather than rushing to teach skills, we allow children the time and space to discover them independently. With patience and gentle guidance, we encourage infants and young children to explore, think and solve problems in their own way, building confidence and independence along the way.
CoKids provides a rich tapestry of theories, approaches and community for each child to develop into the best version of themselves.
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Older children place great value on their play, and we respect this by giving them the time and space for sustained, uninterrupted exploration. These moments allow children to become confident, adventurous learners.
Our teaching teams are thoughtful, intentional and responsive in their interactions with children. We carefully plan environments based on children’s interests, embracing the spirit of ako where we teach to learn and learn to teach. Through this approach, children develop independence, problem solving abilities and strong gross motor skills.
We provide rich and engaging learning experiences that nurture creativity while supporting the development of communication, confidence and curiosity.
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We provide consistent routines that help children feel safe, settled and confident in their environment. These routines also create valuable opportunities for children to develop important life skills. For example, tidy up time encourages children to respect their environment and take responsibility for caring for their space. Mat times provide opportunities to practise listening, sharing ideas and building conversation skills with their teachers and peers.
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Taking the time to tune into a child can provide us with the insight we need to work effectively and in partnership with them, supporting their development and enhancing their sense of self-esteem and identity.
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We recognise that children experience a wide range of emotions. Rather than minimising their feelings, we acknowledge them and support children by talking through what they are experiencing, helping them understand and manage their emotions in a caring and supportive way.
WHAT OUR PHILOSOPHY LOOKS LIKE FOR…
Preschool Children
Transition to School
Starting school is an exciting milestone for children and their families. There are many small but important skills that help children feel confident as they take this next step, from holding a pen and managing their lunchbox to interacting with teachers and participating in group learning.
Through our Transition to School programme and our strong connections with local schools and families, we support children to build these skills and confidence. Our goal is to help make the move to school a positive, enjoyable and smooth experience for every child.
Contact Us
Get in touch with us or click on the frequently asked questions to find out more.
Join the team
Want to join our vibrant and experienced team? We love expanding our community so more children can have access to skilled teachers and top-quality care. Plus, we have a lot of fun whilst we’re at it.
