Te Whāriki
Te Whāriki is Aotearoa New Zealand's early childhood curriculum. All licenced early childhood centres in New Zealand, including kindergartens, use this document as the basis for their programmes. Te Whāriki recognises the importance of a child's home and immediate community in early learning and it encourages connections to be made between the people and settings in the child's life.
A copy of Te Whāriki is available from the Ministry of Education: http://www.educate.ece.govt.nz/learning/curriculumAndLearning/TeWhariki.aspx
The Principles
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Empowerment
Whakamana
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The early childhood Curriculum will empower the child to learn and grow
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Holistic Development
Kotahitanga
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The early childhood curriculum will reflect the holistic way children learn and grow
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Family & Community
Whanau-tangata
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The wider world of family and community is an integral part of the early childhood curriculum
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Relationships
Nga Honotanga
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Children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things
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Aims
Well-Being - Mana Atua
The health and well-being of the child is protected and nurtured. Children will experience an environment in which:
* Their health is promoted
* Their emotional well-being is nurtured
* They are protected and safe
Belonging - Mana Whenua
Children and their families feel a sense of belonging. Children and their families will experience and environment in which:
* Connecting links with the family and the wider world are affirmed and extended
* They know that they have a place
* They feel comfortable with the routines, rituals and regular events.
* They know the limits and boundaries of acceptable behaviour.
Contribution - Mana Tangata
Opportunities for learning are equitable and each child’s contribution is valued. Children will experience an environment in which:
* There are equitable opportunities for learning, irrespective of gender, disability, age, ethnicity or background.
* They are affirmed as individuals.
* Opportunities to learn with and alongside others are encouraged.
Communication - Mana Reo
The languages and symbols of their own and other cultures are promoted and protected. Children will experience an environment which:
* They develop non-verbal communication skills for a range of purposes.
* They develop verbal communication skills for a range of purposes.
* They experience the stories and symbols of their own and other cultures.
* They discover and develop different ways to be creative and expressive.
Exploration - Mana Aoturoa
The child learns through active exploration of the environment. Children will experience an environment in which:
* Their play is valued as meaningful learning and the importance of spontaneous play is recognised.
* They gain confidence in and control of their bodies.
* They learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning.
* They develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material world.