
Using te reo Māori with the play activities
Kupu and encouragement for whānau who would like to use te reo Māori with tamariki as part of play.
Learning language
There are many articles from Tākai that help us understand the process of learning language. Children learn incidentally – we don’t have to drill or teach them. Like everyone, they learn by repetition. We’ve learned about the need for repetition to make and strengthen brain connections. Also, learning happens easily when we are stress-free and enjoying ourselves.
We have created a pūtea of kupu Māori within the play activities. This means that whānau can regularly inject te reo Māori into their play with their tamariki. It’s not a full scale programme for learning te reo Māori, but it encourages the use of te reo Māori in an enjoyable and natural way. Whānau can also build on their reo learning through play, by keeping it fun and lively.
Little and often
Relevant kupu are provided with many of the play activities, with a few simple phrases to encourage their use.
Here are some words and phrases that might be useful to help the vocabulary lists in the play activities come to life.
Kia ora – Hello, thanks
Ka pai – That’s good
Tino pai – Very good
Mīharo – Wonderful, amazing
Haere mai ki konei – Come over here
Ko wai? – Who?
He aha? – What?
He aha tēnei? – What’s this?
He … – It’s a …
Kei hea? – Where?
Me tākaro tāua – Let’s (us two) play
Me tākaro tātou – Let’s (all of us) play
Me tīmata tāua? – Shall we (you and me) start?
Me tīmata tātou? – Shall we all start?
Anei te … – Here’s the …
Homai te … – Give me the …
Iti – Small
Nui – big
Whakarongo mai – Listen here
Kōrero mai – Talk to me
Titiro mai – Look this way
E noho – Sit down
Kia tau – Settle down
Kimihia – Look for it
Taihoa – Wait
Ka taea e koe – You can do it
Kua mārama koe? – Do you understand?
Kua mutu? – Are you finished?
Aroha mai – I’m sorry
Kei te pēhea koe? – How are you?
Māku e āwhina – I will help
He aha māu? – What would you like?
Horoia ō ringaringa – Wash your hands
Me kai tāua – Let’s (us two) eat
Me kai tātou – Let’s (all of us) eat