New preschool offers animals and meditation
A kindergarten that offers yoga and meditation for its students will be Hamilton’s first completely green and sustainable preschool.
Future Kids is scheduled to open at 75 Church Rd in July and embodies eco-living from the ground up.
It has been designed by sisters Abbey Henry-Metcalfe, Shay Dixon and Leah Henry and area manager Nicole Downie.
As well as their zero plastic bag policy, an orchard and purified drinking water, the centre will also have a range of animals on site.
A goat, rabbit, dog, chickens, worms and lambs are all on the cards and will be part of the students’ everyday programme.
Not only that, but Future Kids will offer children the chance to take part in yoga and meditation sessions.
‘‘We’ll have areas for retreat, so that if children want a quiet space they can retreat into an area and sit on their own and read
‘‘It's not just the physicality of yoga, it's that connection with the body.’’
a book or have a mindful moment. It’s not just the physicality of yoga, it’s that connection with the body,’’ Downie said.
Downie is a qualified teacher and also trained in natural therapies such as yoga and meditation. She said the relaxation techniques will not only be fun but will help children with selfawareness.
‘‘If you’re an adult at a yoga class, how hard is it to still your mind? We’ve learned not to do it.
‘‘Whereas if we can teach children to do that now, then they’re going to grow up a lot more connected to their bodies.’’
Downie, Henry-Metcalfe and Dixon said they’ve been environmentally-focused since a young age.
They have filled four of up to 20 teaching positions at Future Kids.
And although Henry-Metcalfe said there was a lot of competition around the area, many of the education centres had no connection back to the earth.
Future Kids will have recycle stations in each room and up to 50 per cent of the food at the centre will be organic.
The sisters may be selfconfessed ‘‘new-age hippies’’, but they believe educating children about the environment is a nobrainer. Especially, if we still want to have human beings on this earth, Dixon said.
For more information, visit: futurekids.co.nz