Doing things together at home Activity
There are lots of simple, everyday activities you can do with your tamariki at home. All of them are opportunities for them to learn in a familiar environment.
Why do it?
- Home is the first learning place and the whānau are the first teachers a child has.
- A young child doesn’t always need special learning activities. Simple everyday household activities and routines can provide learning experiences in a familiar environment.
- Having someone who loves them caring and nurturing them is exactly what they need, as it gives them a sense of belonging.
- By learning what adults do, children learn these skills too.
- Involvement in family activities is the beginning of creativity and imaginative play.
- It provides opportunities for language, maths and social learning.
How to do it
- Ask your child to pass pegs to you when hanging up washing, ‘Two green pegs please’.
- Match socks while sorting the clean washing.
- Water the garden using a hose, or a bucket with plastic cups.
- Wash the car.
- Put some of the shopping away.
- Read the junk mail and write a shopping list together.
- Put away toys together. ‘I’ll pick up the blue things and put them away. What colour would you like to pick up? Then you can choose a story for us.’
- Wash vegetables for a meal (standing at the sink on a chair).
- Help set the table for the family meal.
- Help with sweeping — with their own small broom or a brush and shovel.
- Write letters and post them.
- Make birthday and Christmas cards.
- Help with cooking and baking.
Using more te reo Māori
| Kāinga | Home |
| Kaiako | Teacher |
| Kia ngāwari | Make it easy |
| Pārekareka | Fun |
| Me horoi tāua ngā pereti | Let's do the dishes |
| Māku koe e āwhina | I will help you |
| He tino pai tō mahi | You've done a good job |
| Me haere tāua titro atu... | Let's you and me go and look at... |
| Tunu kai | Cooking food |
| Ehuehungia te māra | Water the garden |
| Horoia te motokā | Wash the car |
| Homai e rua ngā mātiti kākāriki | Give me two green pegs |
| Whakapokohia te ngongo wai | Turn off the hose |
| Whakatikahia tō rūma | Tidy up your room |
| Kino kē koe, e te tau! | You're awesome, my darling! |
| Me haere tāua ki te tikina ngā reta | Let's you and I go and collect the mail |
| Rārangi kai | Groceries |
| Hua whenua | Vegetables |
| Hua rākau | Fruit |
| Mīti | Meat |
| Ika | Fish |
| Huakina te pouaka | Open up the box |
| He aha kei roto i te pēke? | What's inside the bag? |
| Whakahokia ngā riki | Put the onions away |
| Purua ngā rīwai ki roto i te kōhua | Put the potatoes in the pot |
| He kai māu? | Do you want something to eat? |
| Kua reri te kai | The food is ready |
| Homai tō pereti | Give me your plate |
| Tino reka tēnei kai | This food is delicious |
| He inu māu? | Would you like a drink? |
| He aha to hiahia? | What would you like? |
| He inu miraka wai māori rānei? | Milk or water? |
| Whiua ki te ipupara | Throw it in the rubbish bin |
| Horoia ō ringaringa | Wash your hands |
| He rawe tō āwhina mai | You're a great helper |
