Hamilton’s most eco-friendly daycare opens
Doors open onto bright, spacious rooms filled with wooden mats, furniture and toys. Fresh soil surrounds fruit and veggies blooming from planter boxes and in the distance, there’s the sound of laughter and, beyond that, soft music.
It’s not often a playcentre can be called zen.
Hamilton’s newest eco-friendly kindergarten Future Kids plays a trick on the senses.
Built in the middle of the industrial Te Rapa, one expects the centre to be bustling with outside noise, but creators Abbey Henry-Metcalfe, Shay Dixon, Leah Henry and Nicole Downie have succeeded in their goal to make Future Kids a relaxing environment.
‘‘We know children learn best when they interact with people and places and things, so we’ve tried to set up an environment that caters for everyone’s individual learning needs,’’ area man- ager Nicole Downie said.
‘‘Sustainability and ecofriendly practises are woven into everything we do. We’ve tried to create a home away from home.’’
Around 80 per cent of the trees planted on site are edible, there are plans to build an orchard and staff are also working on getting chickens.
The centre is also equipped with a full kitchen so children can learn how to bake and preserve fruits.
And while it may not be every- one’s cup of tea, Future Kids will offer children the chance to take part in yoga and mindfulness sessions.
Downie said there were moments for children to retreat into quiet areas and that teachers facilitate a programme that promotes mindfulness throughout periods of the day.
‘‘When they leave us, they leave us with a knowledge of not only how to be responsible people but to be responsible for the planet.’’
Henry-Metcalfe said the idea to introduce yoga and mindfulness was daunting as a business decision.
‘‘We wondered what will the public’s take on that be? Will people think we are hippies that don’t fit into society? Is it going to be a fit for the community?
‘‘But we found there were a lot of like-minded people out there. I think everyone’s going to have reservations about different things, but you’ve got to be true to the vision,’’ she said.