It helps children learn new skills when the whānau join in with fun activities.

Look at Whakatipu booklet Te Māhuri 1, page 10, ‘Ngā mahi a whānau’.

Joining in the fun

We keep talking about the importance of play. On these pages, we see kids playing – they’re catching fish and collecting kaimoana with an adult.

It reminds us just how much fun it can be when whānau join in too.

Pātai atu ki te whānau:

  • What can you remember enjoying with your whānau when you were young?
  • What was it about having parents and whānau joining in that made it feel special?
  • Look at the pictures on these pages. What’s happening?
  • What do you think these tamariki might be learning?
  • What role do you think the adult has on page 10?

The pictures suggest that tamariki are learning about process, skill and patience.

  • What do you think this means?

A process has been described as a journey: a learning journey. First we do this and then we do the next thing, and so on. And when we want to do it again, we try to follow the same process.

  • What’s this journey about?
  • What are these tamariki learning about the process of kohi kaimoana?
  • What other processes might a child learn through whānau activities?
  • What skills are they using?
  • And what about patience?

At the top of page 11, it talks about water confidence and safety awareness. We see the adult is nearby – not directly involved, but close enough to provide supervision.

  • How do you think a child learns water confidence?
  • What might they learn about water safety from playing at the beach?