Howick

Our vision

Howick Playcentre is a family co-operative with a holistic approach to early childhood education. Child initiated play and parents as first educators are of paramount importance. Our centre prides itself on being a welcoming, friendly, culturally diverse centre. We provide a safe, nurturing and creative environment for tamariki and whānau, and are committed to biculturalism. This means that our children’s education is at the heart of our centre community.

Howick Playcentre offers you

• Fun & friendship in your community
• A supportive village for parents and caregivers
• Learning through play with your children
• Licensed early childhood education
• Quality play environment
• High adult : Child ratios (1:3)
• Free adult education (NZQA)
• Mixed aged sessions – birth to age 6
• Big Kids session for age 3.5+ on Fridays 
• 3 Free visits for your family

Our sessions

We are open from 9am-12pm at centre on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Tuesdays, we have our Nature Day, and explore different parts of our community week to week. 

We strongly value the Playcentre philosophy of families growing together, so require all preschool children in the family attend a minimum of two sessions per week. 

Our tamariki (children)

Children learn through play! On any given session at Howick Playcentre, you will find a nurturing environment where our tamariki are supported to play, explore, discover, create, and grow. We believe that child-initiated play allows children to become confident and competent self-directed learners. Our dedication to the Playcentre philosophy means that our children are continually making and strengthening warm relationships with adults and their peers.

Our family cooperative

Our parents and families are actively involved with the running of our centre and our sessions. Adults are supported on their Playcentre journey as they grow their knowledge of early childhood education through the Playcentre Adult Education programme, which enables us to run high quality sessions and to self-license our centre some days.

When you step inside Howick Playcentre you are no longer just a parent, you are an educator to all of the children. Each family/parent holds a role to help run the centre efficiently, and is offered a wealth of support during their journey being a part of a parent co-operative.

We have a yearly summer camp, attended by past and present members, and many fun and relaxed social events for the whole family throughout the year. Come be a part of our village.

Find out more or contact us Email: [email protected]

At Playcentre, early childhood education is a shared journey. We value parents as the first and best educators for their tamariki, which is why parents attend alongside their tamariki – to play, learn and grow together.

Whether you have a new pēpī, preschooler, or are new to a community, Playcentre provides a place for whānau and communities to come together.

If you care for tamariki aged 0-6, we invite you to visit and experience our affordable, unique, and child-led environment. Our centres encourage learning through free play and nurture imagination, confidence, and connection.

Our licensed early learning centres follow the Ministry of Education’s world-leading bicultural curriculum, Te Whāriki, offering 16 different areas of play set up to cater for different interests, skills, ages and abilities.

We also provide a free, NZQA-approved, adult education programme for enrolled whānau to add practical strategies and skills to your parenting toolbox.

We offer three visits before you enrol. Arrange a visit today and experience our supportive, fun and friendly community for yourself!