Educational Gifts for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers

Search in Teacher
presents and gifts in early childhood

In the commercial world we live in it is easy to forget that sometimes the best presents or gifts for children do not cost a lot of money. 

The 5 Best “I Love You” and “You are Special” Gifts

An own plate and cup set decorated with a Disney scene or otherA scooter or new bike or outdoor play toyA first wrist watch or named item of jewell

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.
Already a Teacher Member?

Are you teaching and caring for children or studying for an ECE qualification?

If you are, that’s great!   Join us now, and become a teacher member.

Five Reasons to Join Us
1. Professional recognition

It is prestigious to belong to the OECE – you can skite about it! 

Ask us for an OECE Member Certificate, to include in your professional portfolio as proof you are engaged in reading and professional learning that advances your understanding of the relationship between practice and outcomes for children.

2. Extra benefits

No need to pay a subscription fee for access to NZ’s specialist ECE Newsroom – your member login will let you view everything in the ECE Newsroom. 

No need to pay to access the best NZ and international research – your member login gives you free access to the Research Library and support. 

3. Professional growth and no-judgement help

Teaching resources and advice on probably everything you can think of, including what to wear as a teacher, how to ask for a pay raise, identifying child behaviour causes and responding to needs, new play activity ideas, etc., etc.  all of this is at your finger-tips 24/7 whenever you need help or advice – login to view. 

4. Representation

Did you know that the OECE meets personally and regularly with the Ministry of Education national team, and the regulations committee and other forums? 

Political leaders and journalists are able to use the OECE to gain deeper knowledge on a topic or issue, and we provide a sounding board for ideas and feedback.

The OECE promotes safe working environments for teachers.  We also promote the absolute need for full pay parity with school teachers for all certificated teaching staff working in teacher-led centres and in home-based, and whether permanently or casually employed. 

5. Value for Money

We are committed to keeping membership prices affordable and providing value for money. 

Teacher membership is just $89 for a full year, or save by joining for 2 years.

Has this been useful?  Give us your feedback.

You are welcome to add a link to this page on your website. Copyright belongs to the OECE so please do not copy any content without our written permission.

Information provided is of a general nature. It is provided ‘as is’, and we accept no liability for its accuracy or completeness. See our Terms and Conditions.

Related Posts

cctv policy for early childhood education services

CCTV and Security Camera Policy

The Office of ECE provides this CCTV policy template and guidance to help services using indoor or outdoor security cameras meet their legal obligations under the Privacy Act, the Children’s Act, and other key legislation.

With camera use under increasing scrutiny, every service that operates CCTV in areas where children or staff may be present needs clear, transparent procedures to ensure lawful, ethical, and defensible practice. Gaps in your policy can put your service and the trust of families, at risk.

Log in with your member details to access the full guidance and template. If your service’s membership has lapsed or you’d like to join, get in touch and we’ll help you get set up quickly.

Home‑based providers may also use this template to develop a policy for educators who have security cameras operating in their family homes.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
Over stimulation. Screaming child

Children Screaming – Risk to Adult and Child Hearing

How a child screaming can hurt adult ears

What did you say? I can’t hear you. I’m cuddling a circular saw!

By James Lochead-Macmillan.

Most research into screaming children focuses on the production of the stress hormone Cortisol.

What is significantly less reported is how dangerous that screaming child is to their car

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
Appropriate food to reduce choking risk. Free ECE food programme.

Our Position on Food Safety and Safe Eating

We explain why strict attention to choking and allergy risks is essential, and how gaps in current regulations have led to preventable harm. Every educator and service leader must understand and apply these guidelines to keep children safe.

Read More »
books children reading to each other

The Books Children Like Best

The Type of Books Young Children Like Best.

Books are an integral part of a child’s education but getting them to sit down and look at books can be difficult when there are so many other things competing for a child’s attention.

Often books are chosen by adults, particularly for younger children and babies, but even young children

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
toy train back on track

What’s all this rumble about train noise in ECE? – Where David Seymour’s go-to anecdote came from

Can a centre really be closed because of a train driver honking his horn?

ANALYSIS/OPINION. 5 June 2025.

When justifying the incoming changes to ECE regulations, Associate Education Minister David Seymour has repeatedly used a service provider having to try to mitigate train noise as an example of “arbitrary” rules services are expected

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »

Share This Information

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The Office of ECE Login

Take Action!

Help spread this vital ECE information, join our free social and email groups and become a member of OECE.

pay parity funding policy

1. Share This Information

2. Follow Our Social Pages

3. Get Regular Updates

Sign up to our free newsletters.

4. Become a Member