Our under-twos tamariki at BestStart Oraha Road thrive in a print-rich environment, exploring stories with kaiako and peers. Using whanau photos, they create meaningful books that celebrate culture and language, building strong communication skills in line with Te Whāriki principles.
In the Explorer's Room at BestStart Oraha Road, our under-two tamariki love the chance to build their language and communication skills within their learning environment. With a range of books available at all times, and specially curated hui time resources, our tamariki enjoy hearing, reading, and re-telling stories in their own ways, inspired by the resources.
Whether reading stories one-to-one with kaiako, exploring books alongside peers or friends, or listening avidly to kaiako during hui times as they share stories or songs, our tamariki have many opportunities to develop language, communication, and literacy knowledge in a variety of ways.
As we focus on Communication and extend tamariki interest in books and storytelling, we are beginning a teaching journey of creating books especially relevant to our tamariki — using photos shared by whanau of family adventures, events, or traditions. This empowers tamariki to share special memories with peers.
Both Kōwhiti Whakapae and Te Whāriki highlight the importance of language and literacy. A well-planned, print-rich environment helps children learn how print works to convey meaning. It provides opportunities to see literacy’s role in everyday life and affirms children’s language, identity, and culture.
This aligns with the Communication Strand in Te Whāriki, which states children will experience an environment where they enjoy stories and symbols of their own and other cultures, recognising print symbols with enjoyment, meaning, and purpose.