Green, organic preschool for Bell Block
Three Waikato farm girls are hoping to recreate their childhood for the next generation.
Abbey Henry-Metcalfe, Shay Dixon and Leah Henry want city kids to be able to experience animals and the outdoors and are opening a second branch of their Future Kids childcare centre in Bell Block, New Plymouth.
‘‘We were brought up on farms so we grew up with this great outdoors, having lots of animals around, lots of vegetables and just really having the freedom to be children,’’ Henry-Metcalfe said.
As children they could go off onto the farm and play for hours, she said. ‘‘Then we went to school and it’s a whole lot different, and being in town it’s very structured.’’
The sisters set up Future Kids preschool in Hamilton as a way to connect kids with their environment. The centre caters for children from six weeks to six years and has large open spaces, organic fruit and vegetable gardens and a recycling centre, as well as an animal farmhouse.
‘‘Children who live in the city may not have had any connection with farming or outdoor areas so we’re trying to bring that back.
‘‘Some people may never have had an animal.’’
They also have a big focus on taking care of the earth and teaching the children those values at a young age.
Henry-Metcalfe said they had had about 40 enquiries and approximately 10 enrolments so far. They are unsure of an exact opening date but it is likely to be August – September.
It is the second Future Kids preschool after a centre opened in Te Rapa, near Hamilton, in July 2017.