Calling Kind Nanas & Poppas – Join Our Village
It Takes a Village — Want to Join Ours?
At Wondernauts, our early childhood centre in Ruakura, we’ve created a special kind of place — a warm, lively space where little ones explore the world through play, stories, and imagination. It’s noisy, joyful, sometimes messy, and always full of heart.
We’re looking for caring older people — Nanas & Poppas to become part of our extended whaanau as “Adopted Grandparents.” If you enjoy being around young children and have an hour or two to spare each week, we’d love to welcome you in.
You don’t need any special skills — just a warm heart and a bit of time to share. Whether you’re retired, semi-retired, or simply missing the fun and wonder of little ones, this might be just what you’re looking for.
Here are some of the things our volunteers enjoy:
- Sharing a picture book with a child curled up next to you
- Playing a board game, helping with a puzzle, or building a block tower
- Sitting at the craft table, elbows deep in glue and glitter
- Baking something simple together and enjoying it as a group
- Sharing your woodworking or gardening skills
- Sharing a hobby, singing a song, or simply having a yarn
- Working together on a small carpentry project with real tools
- Or just being nearby — a calm, steady presence in their busy little world
There’s no pressure to lead or perform. What matters most is that you’re there.
What you can expect when you join us:
- A cheerful, welcoming space where you’ll be part of the whaanau
- Friendly support from our teaching team, you’ll never be left on your own
- Real, joyful connections with children who will look forward to seeing you
- No experience needed, just kindness, patience, and a sense of humour
- We’ll work with you to find a time that fits — even an hour a week makes a difference.
If this sounds like something that would bring a little light into your week, give us a ring or stop by for a cuppa. We’d love to meet you.
Requirements:
- We don’t need formal qualifications or long resumes, just good people with kind hearts. If you see yourself in the list below, we’d love to hear from you:
- A genuine love for little ones, and an interest in building caring, positive relationships with them
- A willingness to come in once a week for an hour or more, we’re flexible and happy to work around what suits you
- Patience, warmth, and a good sense of humour, the kind that helps when shoes are on the wrong feet or glitter ends up everywhere
- An openness to join in whether it’s reading a story, kneading dough, planting seeds, or simply sitting and chatting
- A respectful, open-minded attitude toward the many cultures and backgrounds that make up our Wondernauts whaanau
- A willingness to be guided by our teachers to help create a safe and nurturing space for the children
- Police vetting is required for all volunteers - we’ll walk you through it and make the process easy
A Police background check is required for this role.
Time commitment:
- We ask for a regular weekly visit (1 - 3hrs)
- Even just one hour a week makes a real difference
- Days and times are completely flexible — we’ll work with you to find what suits you best
- Commitment of at least 3 months
Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Ref: 3039
Youth & Children
Apply for this role:
