Out and about – Te haerenga
Walking and exploring nature with whānau is a fun way to learn.
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Walking and growing
Going out doesn’t always mean spending money. There are plenty of free and interesting things for a young child to explore on a short walk with an engaged adult.
Meanwhile, safety is always a subject to talk about with tamariki when we are outdoors.
Pātai atu ki te whānau:
- What have you noticed about your tamaiti when you visit places outside?
- What sorts of things are they interested in?
- What sorts of environments do they enjoy?
Look at Whakatipu booklet Te Māhuri 1, page 16. It suggests taking notice of the environment while you’re walking outside.
The best learning happens when adults let themselves slow down and enjoy the trip too. Letting tamaiti stop, look, climb steps, jump in puddles, balance on low walls and swing around poles makes a simple walk lots of fun, with active learning.
Pātai atu ki te whānau:
- Where have you and your tamaiti walked to before?
- What sorts of things did you notice on your walk?
- What did your tamaiti seem most interested in?
- Can we see people working as we walk along the street?
- What sorts of questions or comments might you make to get them exploring particular ideas? They could be about colours, differences, animals, people, cars, numbers, shapes or smells.
Te Māhuri 2, pages 14–15, reminds us of all the learning that takes place at te papa tākaro.
Mahi pāngarau
Activities at the playground help tamariki develop motor skills and confidence, but also provide real-life examples of mathematical concepts.
Height, distance, length, speed, counting and balance are all at the playground through fun at te papa tākaro. Whānau could ask questions like:
- How many steps up the slide?
- Why are you up on the see-saw and I’m down?
Mahi pūtaiao
Early science learning can be as easy as talking about nature as we walk. Ask tamaiti questions like:
- Can we find houses that have flowers or trees in the yard?
- What birds can we see?
- What’s different about the sky today?
Perhaps you’re raising a little scientist!
Haere ki tātahi
Places like the beach have endless opportunities for exploring nature. Tamariki also learn about science, maths and language at the beach by naming objects, being able to describe them and seeing the differences and similarities between items they discover.
Beach walks are great for collecting things too, and the conversations can then be continued back at home.
Pātai atu ki te whānau:
- What do they need from you when they’re absorbed in outside play?
- How could you encourage or extend their play?
Helpful resources for whānau
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Ministry of Education: Visits and outings
Play ideas from the Ministry of Education. Trips to places or visits from people can provide children with new experiences and increase their understanding of the world around them.
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Ministry of Education: Science and nature play ideas
Children are engaged in science whenever they are learning about the world around them. Here are some science play ideas from the Ministry of Education.
