Haututū
A haututū pēpi is a playful explorer and loves to test everything, including their parents’ patience. Tamariki at this stage are growing in self-worth, identity, and confidence.
Haututū is a kaupapa that was first introduced in the 7–12 months section of this website. It’s important to reinforce these messages as the tamaiti grows and their behaviour creates different challenges for their whānau.
Haututū – being inquisitive
On page 8 of the Whakatipu booklet Te Kōhuri 1, haututū is a term used to describe someone who is very inquisitive and sometimes annoying. Tamariki at this stage are continuously discovering new things to touch, taste, throw and break! Sometimes we might call them haututū.
A haututū pēpi is a playful explorer and loves to test everything, including their parents’ patience. But it’s through all this touching and pulling things apart that pēpi learns. Whānau will need to keep a close eye on their little one during this stage – to keep them safe and to keep things safe from them.
The cartoon on page 16 of the booklet shows the exploring, enquiring nature of the tamaiti at this stage. The text refers to the similarity with Kupe, the great navigator, who made his way across the Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa.
Throughout the Whakatipu booklet Te Kōhuri 1 there are references to the activity level of the tamaiti at this stage. This includes their physical abilities, language growth, thirst for learning, enjoyment of books, love of music and movement, growing imagination and independence. It’s therefore important to find ways to keep them safe while encouraging their explorations, so that whānau view their haututū child as a blessing and not a hōhā.
Mana Aotūroa, Āhuru Mōwai
Aotūroa relates to the immensity of the universe and our connection in and to it. There are many references to our ancestors connecting physically and spiritually with the universe.
Āhuru Mōwai maintains the traditional view of fostering explorations and discovering the universe and all its elements. Babies and young children should experience guided yet free exploration and play in an environment of consistent warm relationships.
Āhuru Mōwai [PDF, 460 KB] (pages 24–25)
Individuality and identity
Their individuality will be fostered as they are permitted to probe and seek, and understand for themselves. They will explore and discover their own individual learning and creativity.
In this way tamariki will be supported to grow in self-worth, identity, confidence and enjoyment. This will occur within the homes of whānau, from a foundation (a whāriki) of strength that supports them towards their eventual ability to appreciate and conquer the multitude of challenges that abound in the universe.
Helpful resources for whānau
