What does my child need to bring?
Please come dressed for a range of learning experiences, some of which are messy but loads of fun and are a valuable part of preschool. We advise dressing your child in clothing that is comfortable and suitable for active play.
- A named school bag
- A change of clothes (please name each item)
- Sunhat for summer; warm hat and gumboots for winter; rain jacket and slippers for inside
- If your child isn’t yet toilet trained, please pack enough pullups or nappies for the session
- A lunchbox containing enough food for the session/day. Please avoid packing nuts, even if your child is not allergic to them (children like to share)
- A named drink bottle (we provide water for refills)
What if my child is unwell?
We keep a very close eye on our children and always alert parents immediately to any signs of illness. However we ask that you keep your child home if they display the following symptoms:
- Has a temperature (more than 38°C)
- Coloured discharge from the nose
- An unidentified rash or spots
- Sore or inflamed throat or eyes
- Severe cough not linked to asthma
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Headlice.
If your child becomes sick while at The Toy Maker’s Cottage, we’ll let you know immediately.
Our teachers are all first aid trained. We have a fully equiped first aid kit, along side our BooHoo Box – www.boohoobox.co.nz
We also keep at preschool the following items in our healing basket:
Bruising, sprains and strains
Weleda Arnica cream (not applied to broken skin)
Burns, insect bites and stings:
Weleda Combudoron lotion; cool burns with a solution of Combudoron and water – then apply Combudoron gel
Cuts, grazes and wounds:
To clean wounds, we use Weleda Hypercal lotion, then apply Hypercal cream, especially for grazes
Weleda Calendula healing cream for cuts (the wound must be clean)
Monster Spray – magical tear stopping remedy from BooHoo Box. A magical mix of H2O, children love to spray away their bumps and bruises.
Balloons, bubbles and ‘Boohoo’s’ wonderful Monster Spray to whisk away the tears.
Toilet Training
The teachers at The Toy Maker’s Cottage Pre School work with you to support any toilet training that is happening at home.
We have a purpose built nappy changing area. We will fully support you in your endeavours to toilet train your child. Ask us about our toilet training tips and trick sheet! Please pack plenty of extra clothes for the likely accidents which are a normal part of the process.
What’s the best way to say goodbye?
When your child first starts at The Toy Maker’s Cottage, be prepared to stay for a little while. We encourage you to explore the centre with your child and meet the teachers.
Once your child is familiar with the centre, you can say a quick goodbye. Our teachers will be ready to reassure your child and assist them to settle quickly, confidently and happily.
Some children settle straight away while it can take other children longer, we will be there with perseverance, patience and love to support your child.
If you’re worried about how your child is settling in, give us a call. We want you to feel comfortable with leaving your child with us.
Any other questions?
Please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re here to listen and help.