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One of the theoretical principles of Tikanga, the Māori way of doing things, is whanaungatanga. In this musing, I look at how this perspective can be identified in an early childhood setting.

The online Māori dictionary defines “whanaungatanga” as: (noun) relationship, kinship, sense of family connection - a relationship through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging. It develops as a result of kinship rights and obligations, which also serve to strengthen each member of the kin group.

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Early childhood establishments in New Zealand tend to have different leadership models. Many of these are based around a hierarchical model, where there is possibly a centre manager, assistant centre manager, head teachers in each room, assistant head teachers, and the rest of the teachers down the line. “The services available are very diverse. They have a wide range of ownership and governance structures as well as different philosophies and operating models” (Ministry of Education, p. 8, 2017).

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Our early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki states that learning dispositions have been identified as valuable to support lifelong learning. Resilience is a disposition that is mentioned in the curriculum. Evidence of learning and development is demonstrated when children show a “Capacity for self-regulation and resilience in the face of challenges” (Ministry of Education, p. 27, 2017). So, the question is, how do we as kaiako role model resilience? 

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I recently viewed a ‘Te Whāriki Early Childhood Curriculum Introductory Workshop’ webinar to get a better understanding of the new document launched on 13 April 2017. I had been following a number of forum comments prior to the launch of the revised and updated curriculum, where there had been a few voices of dissent because the general opinion was that the consultation process was rushed. The webinar itself was dull in presentation which was of no help at all. 

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EC-MENz is a New Zealand-based national network for men in early childhood education. Every year a summit is held in different parts of the country, a get-together for men in the profession to share and acknowledge the importance of gender balance and role modelling for children during their early years.

  1. Gun Play - An early childhood perspective
  2. Learning from excursions outside the early childhood centre
  3. EC-MENz Hui 2016
  4. Assessment practices – an early childhood perspective
  5. Hauora - well-being from an early childhood perspective
  6. Bullying - A misnomer in preschool terminology
  7. Rangatiratanga – an early childhood perspective
  8. A reflection on Rudolf Steiner-inspired early childhood education
  9. Multiple Intelligences Theory - An ECE perspective
  10. Gross Motor Skills
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