Why do it?

  • We want the best for our children.
  • Pregnancy is a good time to think about what we want for their future.
  • If we have ideas and dreams for baby, we can think about how we raise them to make those dreams become reality.
  • Baby’s future depends on the way their brain ‘wires up’ in response to experiences of the world — especially experiences with familiar people.
  • Parents influence the way a baby’s brain connects up because they provide the experiences — they’re the architects of their baby’s brain.

How to do it

  • Read Tākai resource Thinking about parenting, page 2.
  • Think and talk about what you’d like baby to be like when they’re 5, 15 and 25 years old.
  • Talk with your partner, whānau or friends about your dreams for baby and what you’ll do to make them happen.
  • You could also write these thoughts down and put them in baby’s treasure box.

Using more reo Māori

Te reo Māori English
Ngā moemoeā Dreams
Ngā wawata Dreams, wishes
Ā tōna wā A time in the future
Talk, communicate
Friend
Family group
Writing
Paper
Pen or pencil
Thoughts
Treasure box
Carefully/purposefully
Kia āta whakaaro he aha ngā wawata mō to tamaiti
Carefully consider what are your dreams/wishes for your child