Korero mai, korero atu – Mauri tu, mauri ora, Encourages us to speak openly, listen deeply and uplift the mana and hauora (wellbeing) of others through whanaunga and korero.
It is such a powerful whakaaro and one that we do not hear enough when working with our ataahua tamariki.
It is a powerful opportunity for our centre to reflect on how we taute (nurture) atawhai (kindness), inclusion and empathy and emotional wellbeing in our learning environment.
At BestStart Willowpark Road, we have been working with a Kaupapa that promotes both the Tapu and the Mana that our tamariki are born with and how we as their Kaiako promote and enhance that Mana.
Te Ara Whakamana is the Kaupapa that has given us the matauranga and the tools to give our tamariki a voice and a place where they are safe to share how they are feeling and the time and space to work through their emotions in their own way.
Te Ara Whakamana tautoko us to create an environment where the tamariki use Ngā Kaitiaki to recognise and associate their feelings with and a tool that gives Kaiako the matauranga of the tamaiti as a whole and how we can best tautoko them in their time of need.