Use items from around the house to make a discovery box. It's an easy way for parents to connect and communicate with their pēpi.

Why do it?

  • A box of objects provides a way of focusing on certain characteristics — for example, colour, shape, texture or material.
  • It’s an opportunity to widen your child’s vocabulary.
  • Notice and talk about the similarities and differences between objects.

How to do it

You need: a box or a basket and a set of objects e.g. round, metal, wooden, blue or smelly things.

  • Let your child explore the contents of the discovery box with one set of things in it.
  • Name the things she picks up — for example, a wooden set may include a peg, bowl, stick, spoon and a block.
  • Notice what they do with things and use parallel talk like ‘you’ve put the spoon in the bowl’.
  • Try tapping things together so they make sounds.
  • On another day, explore a different set of things.



Using more te reo Māori

Kohikohi(a) Collect, gather together
Te tae The colour
Kakano Texture
Āhuahanga Shape
Aro(hia) Notice, pay attention to
Kōrero mai Talk to me
Rite tonu, ōrite Same
Rerekē Different
Maitai Metal
Kakara Fragrant, scented
Pīataata Shiny, bright
Tangohia Pick up
Waihotia Put down
Whakahokia Put back
Homai te... Give me the...
Mātiti Peg
Kūmete Bowl
Rakau Stick
Koko Spoon
Awe Feather
Rakau whero Red block
Titiro mai Look here
He aha tēnei? What is this?
Whakaaturia mai te pōro kōwhai iti Show me the little yellow bal
Hōmai te rau nui Give me the big leaf
He rerekē ngā āhua They are different shapes