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Poi in the Nursery
Today the tamariki were interested in participating in a music time. We decided to get out the poi and they were so excited. Kerri-Anne role modelled how to swing the poi and we all sang together, made poi awhiowhio and danced. We use the poi to move to traditional songs, and even to our other favourite music.
For the children this helps making connections between people, places and things in their world, discover different ways to be creative and expressive and gain confidence in and control of their bodies. They also experience the stories and symbols of their own and other cultures and use gesture and movement to express themselves. We are learning co-ordination, balance, social skills and turn taking and how to have fun and joy through expressing ourselves.
As we play and learn we talk about how to be respectful of the poi and we speak and learn te reo Māori as we use the poi. Since we have begun introducing poi the children will often take me to the cupboard and ask for them to be bought out so we can dance, learn and enjoy ourselves together!