Muddy Toes ELC Warkworth

“🌿 5 Stars – A Truly Special Place for Children to Grow and Explore 🌿 Muddy Toes is so much more than a daycare – it’s a magical place where children get to be children! My son absolutely loves it here. Every day is an adventure filled with nature, creativity, and joy. The teachers and owner, Levonne, are caring, compassionate, and truly dedicated to every child’s wellbeing and development. They create such a warm, inclusive environment where kids feel safe, valued, and excited to learn. One of the things I love most about Muddy Toes is their forest philosophy – the focus on our natural environment is incredible. The children spend their days outdoors exploring, playing with water and mud, and engaging in rich sensory play that helps them connect deeply with nature. They go on amazing walks around Warkworth, bus trips to the beach, local parks, and reserves – every experience is hands-on and full of discovery. Cultural diversity is celebrated beautifully. From festivals and holidays to dress-up days, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and special cultural observances, every event is honoured and shared in such a fun, meaningful way. And of course, the Warkworth Santa Parade is always a highlight – Muddy Toes families come together to create the most amazing floats (we’ve even won Best Float every year my son has attended!). We feel incredibly lucky to be part of the Muddy Toes whānau. It’s a place that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and kindness – a place where children grow confident, connected, and happy. Highly recommend! 💚”

“My daughter has been attending Muddy Toes for a few months now and I could not be happier with the care, respect, and kindness that she has been receiving from the team of teachers. Shristi has gone above and beyond to ensure that my daughter feels comfortable, understood, and happy in their environment by taking the time to really get to know her and ensuring that the team of teachers do too. Muddy Toes have taken us on like family from the moment that we enrolled, from administration staff to teachers, each person we have come into contact with has been nothing short of amazing.”

“A fantastic daycare facility with teachers who really do love their jobs/professions and each bring something magical to the centre. They really are a dream team there. My two kids love it- daily walks and outdoor adventures, weekly bus trips and special outings to the beach, donkey farms, playgrounds. A very nurturing environment and you feel comfortable discussing anything with them. They never ever seem stressed out (which I’ve seen from other centres) and it’s just such a fun vibe. They love to embrace and celebrate all cultures and I love that my little ones are already learning about different cultures and diversity - we love that. Keep it up guys, you really are amazing.”

“Muddy Toes holds a special place in our hearts, as it's where my daughter spends her time each week, and I couldn't be happier with our choice. This unique outdoor learning centre has truly captured our hearts with its incredible teaching team and refreshing educational philosophy. The teachers at Muddy Toes are nothing short of exceptional. Their dedication, passion, and genuine love for what they do shine through in every interaction. They don't just educate; they nurture, inspire, and encourage each child to explore the world around them. What sets Muddy Toes apart is its philosophy of embracing the great outdoors as a classroom. It's more than just a place for play; it's a haven for discovery, imagination, and connection with nature. The emphasis on experiential learning, curiosity-driven exploration, and fostering a sense of wonder is a breath of fresh air in today's education landscape. I love how Muddy Toes encourages children to get their hands muddy, discover bugs, build forts, and immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world. It's a holistic approach that not only develops their academic skills but also instills a deep respect and love for the environment. It's not just a place for our daughter to learn; it's a community where she thrives, surrounded by caring educators who nurture her individuality and a philosophy that aligns perfectly with our values. We couldn't be more grateful for this incredible place and its wonderful teachers. Thank you, Muddy Toes, for making learning an adventure!”

“Love this day care for my children. Amazing opportunities to learn through nature and at their own pace. Daily walks/adventures was a huge draw card for us. As well as child lead learning. It is small and all children are together most of the time which is the main reason why I have my two kids going on separate days. But now they are both settled they did enjoy going together when I needed extra care and the center was very helpful to accommodate the extra child. The teachers are super approachable and do their very best to make learning and being a child fun!!”