Frequently asked questions
Do you really go outside when it rains??!
FAQ
Are you really outside in all weathers?
With the possible exception of an extreme weather warning, yes we play outside in all weathers. We use the permanent shelters that are available in the park on rainy days. When it is raining horizontally we put up tarps to act as walls. We will always strive to have a dry space out of the weather to keep our gear and change if need be (though there are always the toilets for changing). What we do ask of parents is to ensure to send multiple changes of (labeled!) dry clothes and depending on the day, thermals, rain gear (jackets and pants) and hats.
In the case of an extreme weather warning, we may cancel (absolute last resort!) or we may move to the local scout hall. This way we can still play outside, but duck in to warm up if needed.
What ages do you cater to?
Muddy Kids enrols children from the ages of 5-12 in our One Day Programme, Holiday Play Days and Muddy Camps. Our older children have the opportunity to come back as Youth Leaders when they age out. We have our specialised pre-teen/teen programme, Adventure Kids for ages those ages 10-14.
For those 3 and 4 years old we have a limited availability in our Muddy Feet programme which plays along side our Muddy Kids for mixed age play, but with their own dedicated ratios of teachers to give them the extra help and guidance they need.
Children who are younger than 5 may want to check out Play and Learn’s Nature Kindergarten which also operates in Long Bay Park.
What are your teacher ratios?
The health, safety and well being of your children are at the heart of everything we do. Our ratio is 1:8 for all our programmes except Muddy Feet, which runs at a 1:5 ratio for our youngest friends.
The Muddy kids team spend time building relationship with our children to ensure play is safe, whilst being free to be involved in informed risky play. Please note for our One Day Programme and Holiday Play Days we will have a maximum of 24 children.
My child is at school, how does a one day programme work for them?
Joining Muddy Kids gives some kids a break from the rigidity of the classroom. That is not to say they aren’t learning when they are with us, rather that they are learning the ‘soft skills’ that schools sometime struggle with; social interaction, empathizing, listening, negotiating, resilience and independence.
For the school, our One Day Programme follows the same process as if your child was attending a specialised class. The school needs know where your child is and can either be marked as an excused absence or a known absence. If this is a concern for you, please reach out. We have a letter template we can share for approaching your school. There may already be students from your school with us!
We have had children attend from many different schools around Auckland. Overall the response from administrations and teachers has been positive. Attending Muddy Kids has helped many students grow, mature and settle into classroom environments that they may have previously struggled with.
What are your Health and Safety policies?
Having a safe space for our children to play is our number one priority. Our Health and Safety policy over our many years of experience working in outdoor freeplay environment and is guided by MOE and Workplace Health and Safety requirements. It is always under review as our environment, families and requirements change. Please email us if you would like to know more. 
muddykidsnz@gmail.com
Cyber Safety Policy
Muddy Kids uses separate private Facebook groups to share photos of play at our programmes with our families. Parents can chose whether or not to include their child’s image in these groups and/or social media, promotions or the Muddy Kids website. We ask that electronic devices are not brought to our programmes as their use is not permitted.
What do we need to bring?
For our One Day Programmes and Holiday Play Days we ask our children to bring, labelled with their names:
- Three changes of clothes appropriate to the temperature
- Jumper
- Rain gear – this includes a rain jacket and rain pants
- Sun Hat
- Water bottle – there will be places to refill when necessary
- Sun cream – we will have some available, but please include
- Gum Boots and another pair of shoes
- Towel
- Togs and/or wetsuit
- Wet bag for packing up
- Warm hat if needed
- Morning tea, Lunch and a little extra – Playing all day is hungry work.
In the colder months, additional thermal layers are required. Please do not bring electronic devices or toys. Sporting equipment such as boogie boards are permitted, but we are not responsible for any lost or damaged items
For our overnight Muddy Camps, a similar list will be provided with the addition of sleeping gear and toiletries. All food is provided at Muddy Camps.
What experience do your educators have?
- Jo is a trained and registered teacher with 10 years+ experience in the outdoor freeplay space. She is also a teacher with Nature Kindergarten.
- Lexi has been a leader in outdoor education for 10+ years through Scouts, Conscious Kids, Nature Kindergarten and PHAB.
- Claire has Youthwork, and Forest School qualifications as well as many years working and volunteering in outdoor education and ECE groups.
- Eleanore has experience coaching with the Special Olympics Basketball club and has been learning the Muddy Kids way for over a year.
- Laura has a background in marine ecology and 9+ years experience working and volunteering with outdoor freeplay groups and relief teaches with Nature Kindergarten.
Interested? Join us outside!
Come play with us!