
Water play outdoors – Tākaro wai ki te taiao Activity
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 |