Why do it?

Why do it? — He aha e mahi ai?

Playing with and in water is a great way for tamariki to:

  • participate safely in an activity that can be enjoyed in a variety of places by a range of whānau members of different ages
  • enjoy being outside with whānau at the beach, river or lake, which is sure to be a rich sensory experience that they will remember vividly
  • participate in and learn about traditional practices with whānau
  • strengthen language by expanding vocabulary, asking and answering questions, and sharing and discussing ideas
  • build their physical fitness and strength at the same time as their skills and confidence.

How to do it

How to do it — Te tikanga mō tēnei mahi

  • Ensure tamariki are always safe when playing near or with water, through careful supervision.
  • Involve tamariki in the whānau tikanga for the moana, awa and ngahere, especially where safety is concerned.
  • Talk about what tamariki show an interest in and what you are both doing together.
  • Explore rock pools and talk about the different children of Tangaroa who live there.
  • Paddle in the shallow waters at the beach, chasing the waves in and running away from them as they return again.
  • Build sand banks to create small pools or to direct the flow of the water. Float or race sticks or seaweed along your water track.
  • Show tamariki how to skim stones across the surface of the water.

Other ideas — Ētahi atu whakaaro

  • For ideas for playing and learning at the awa or moana, see Whakatipu booklet Te Māhuri 1, pages 10 and 11.
  • For ideas for playing and learning with water at home, see Te Māhuri 1, page 15, and Te Māhuri 2, pages 12 and 13.
  • Use open-ended questions that start with ‘what’, ‘who’, ‘where’, ‘why’ and ‘how’. This helps tamariki to develop their kōrero.

Using more reo Māori

Beach

Tātahi

Tide

Tai

Wave

Ngaru

Rock

Kōhatu

Smooth

Mania

Rough

Taratara

Sand

Kirikiri/Onepū

Seagull

Karoro

Shell

Anga

Sea food

Kai moana

Fish

Ika

Starfish

Pātangaroa

Seaweed

Rimurimu

Sea urchin

Kina

Crabs

Pāpaka

Salty

Mātaitai

We’re going to the beach to get seafood

E haere ana mātou ki te tātahi ki te kohi kai moana

I found some shells

Nāku i kite ētahi anga

River

Awa

Stream

Haemanga

Creek

Manga

Pool

Hōpua

Bank

Taha

Slippery

Māniania

To slide

Mania

Shallow

Pāpaku

Stay in shallow water

E noho kei roto i te wai pāpaku