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Kaitiakitanga at BestStart Totara Park
Over the last few weeks, our tamariki have been focusing on the concept of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) which is the concept of respecting and protecting people, places, and things, and guides our practice as it is outlined within our centre philosophy and values.
We have introduced a karakia which our tamariki voice alongside a kaiako, before they pick apples from our trees. We have then harvested these and incorporated them into our nutritious menu, giving the tamariki an opportunity to taste and be involved in the process of how some foods are grown and the importance of enabling our fruits to grow to their fullest potential prior to harvesting.
We have also created a culture in which tamariki are empowered to help protect papatuanuku, through watering and caring for our environment, creating new concepts such as a worm farm/compost garden, and planting new fruitful trees.
Through these concepts we have been exploring Maori atua, learning about their significance in our learning environment and in the wider world. This concept has extended into our classrooms, where our tamariki are encouraged to and have taken ownership of helping to tidy up and respecting our environments through setting our kai tables and helping with the clean up after these times.