Little Darlings Childcare Centre is an early learning centre in Western Heights, Rotorua, at 23 Park Road. It takes pēpi under two in one part of the centre and tamariki over two in another, up to school age. The centre follows Te Whāriki, and its play-based programme starts from each child's own interests, with the outdoor space as a main place for learning. For pēpi, the centre follows each baby's sleep, feeding and comfort rhythm as it is at home, and records every sleep, bottle and nappy change for the family. The centre says it is currently offering the first month free for families who enrol now, and visits can be booked through the website.
Parents who wrote reviews describe the teachers as kind, calm and soft-spoken, and say their children come home happy and telling stories. One parent of a daughter says they have seen real growth in her since starting. Another says the staff are good at keeping parents updated if a child struggles at morning drop-off. The centre is also described as creative, with staff doing hands-on activities with the children. Because the programme is built around each child's interests, a child who loves finding treasures in nature has room to follow that interest here.