Tikanga Maori

Stop:
The centre where I am doing my work experience does not really implement Tikanga Maori in some aspects. When I first started at the centre I only noticed a few protocols that all the children had to abide by in their everyday routine. Taking off their shoes and socks inside as soon as they come into the centre early in the morning or from outside play. The centre also has songs, book and signs designed to promote and teach the children Maori language and culture. Running inside the centre isn’t permitted as it is dangerous and the children may hurt themselves, also that sitting on the table is not allowed as they are used to eat food off. The way the centre doesn’t always use Tikanga is when they allow children to use pasta or food as a creative art activity (I made jewellery with the children as I did not know we are not allowed to use food, and the other staff members said that it is fine, so I’m a little confused about that situation, but I can see why it is not allowed now). Touching children on the head and also having the children not eat at the same time. With the touching of a child’s head, it only seems natural to do it, I have noticed that all the teachers/ staff in my centre do touch the children’s head and it doesn’t look like it’s on purpose. I feel that parents or community do not have much input into what is done or said at the centre. This may be because I do not see the parents at all when I am working.The centre has had major adjustments to staffing and management as they are leaving and new ones are coming in so I have only seen the Maori language being used only a few times through songs, words being spoken and signage. There is one teacher who is Maori and tries to use the language as much as she can, I have noticed the other staff members have minimal or no Te Reo knowledge what so ever. I try to implement my knowledge as well but feel its not enough. Having staff changes seems to be making things harder for the new manager who has so much to organise with staff as well as children.



Think:
I don’t think that my centre has been fully successful in implementing Tikanga Maori as not all protocols are met. I believe that this is because the cultures of the staff and their beliefs are different from each other as well as their knowledge of The Treaty and Maori culture. Even though the Protocols they do implement for example; when the children take their shoes off, teachers do persist with this and it is apart of everyday routine so the children are quite used to this and some do it automatically. Children tend to run inside and are then told to not run because it is dangerous and that they might hurt themselves, which lets them know what they are doing and why they should stop. Even outside children still run around and fall over but they will get up and run more. Teachers try to tell the children the same thing when they are outside, but I feel that it is what outside is for, to enjoy, run around and have fun! Another reason why I think Tikanga Maori is not implemented properly is that my centre is more for the children. To let them enjoy themselves and let the staff enjoy looking after the children. From the parents I have met they truly trust the staff at my centre to care for their children in a way the staff think is best. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to talk to parents or others that are involved in the centre in other ways.  I don’t really think the parents care in terms of protocols. There are a few issues about parents and their children but staff try to keep things moving and do their job, by looking after the children as best they can. The centre has had many changes in the last 6 or 7 months as it used to be Kohunga Reo until a new owner came along and changed that. I think this had a big impact on how Tikanga Maori has been implemented in the centre or hasn’t.

Change:
I think that implementing Tikanga Maori more into the centres programme would make things more difficult at this time as many changes have been made within staff and management, maybe giving the centre more time to organise and set up a well run centre will help sort out what needs to be implemented through Tikanga Maori. Also as teachers being able to learn more about the Maori or other cultural protocols and aspects that we can or have to implement in our centre will give a better idea of what is needed as well as expand our knowledge and give us a chance to better the centre.I also want to be able to teach children more about the Maori Language but to do that I need to expand my knowledge of it as well.

Establishing and Maintaining relationships with children.

Stop:
From the very beginning the children at the centre I work at have always been really bubbly, fun and loveable. For the first few weeks being a Monday or a Friday there were usually only about 20 children or under because the two days I go there are the quietest. Plus it was winter and colds were going around. I got to know the children that were at the centre very well within the first few weeks, which is cool because it made it so much easier for me to work and play with them. I have been called whaea from the first day and now get called Nana, Mum and Aunty. I now have a group of children who will follow me everywhere or ask me to join them in their games. It’s pretty awesome to be with these children I have learnt so much about how they should be treated and what makes them tick. On my first few days I learnt all the children’s names and even got a few girls talking about the movie Boy. They liked the part where Boy calls his brother different kinds of eggs like; you’re a rotten egg, scrambled egg, poached etc. I told them I liked that part to and we had a good laugh,we started to talk about what kind of eggs we like. I think being younger I can get along with the children a lot easier. I now have a group of children who will follow me everywhere or ask me to join them in their games. It’s pretty awesome to be with these children I have learnt so much about how they should be treated and what makes them tick.

Think:
I feel the children trust me a lot more now then when I first came in, though they were a little trusting to start off with, making me feel welcomed and like I belonged. The children at my centre taught me that relationships with children can be a lot easier with children than with adults. Since spending so much time with the children I feel that I know a lot about them as a person, what they like to play with, what they enjoy the most when they are at the centre. They taught me that even though they are little ratbags, they try their best to be good and are prepared for their journey of growing older. When the two girls and I talked about The movie Boy, I should have talked about how calling others names isn’t funny or very nice and can hurt peoples feelings. The children do have a tendency to call each other names but soon stop when they get called something not very nice. I think its important that I should have told the children that calling people names is mean and tried to make it a lesson as well as fun, this is one thing I would like to learn while I am at my centre.

Change:
I think the one thing I would change is to be more confident in being able to talk to children about serious things or situations that arise when they talk to eachother as well as talking with me or any of the staff. Letting them know what is wrong and right about what they do and how they could treat another person. I want to be able to give sound advice that they can take away and learn from.

Establishing and Maintaining Relationships with Staff

Stop:
In the centre I work at, the staff have always been welcoming and kind towards me. My very first day was a blast! My supervisor introduced me to a woman that I would be working with and all the children introduced themselves to me. After a few times of being at the centre I established a relationship with staff members by learning their names. Later down the track I began to ask questions about the centre and what the purpose of some of their resources were. I started to feel more confident in myself to enquire about things I didn't know or wanted to know about for example explanations or answers that were given were easy for me to understand and made it easier to talk to staff, I tried and was willing to give a helping hand to do anything such as help clean up or read stories to the children. I also had opportunities where I could support my supervisor within an activity for example when she needed a few of the children to do something else I took them to do some scissor activities and taught them how to make patterns. From the beginning I have tried to maintain relationships with staff by greeted everyone with a smile, say hello and I also always ask how they are and how their weekend/week went.


Think:
I think I have been quite successful with establishing and maintaining a good relationship with those I work with, as I am always happy to go to the centre. The staff are easy to get along with and are always willing to help me as a student learn new strategies and grow as a caregiver/teacher. I enjoy working at my centre because the staff are fun, enthusiastic about taking care of children and seem to really enjoy working at the centre. I feel a great amount of belonging when I am at the centre. I can go in and learn so much about what it takes to be a good caregiver/teacher. I have learnt that it takes a lot to maintain and establish a really good relationship, having more children then staff makes it difficult to have enough time to socialise and interact with staff members. Making it harder to understand each staff member as an individual. Remembering names and personalities is very difficult as well, but I deal with this by always talking to each staff member and learning about their Early Childhood experiences as well as jobs they have had or want to pursue. I have tried to get time to talk to staff when children are asleep or when I am working in the same area as them. The teachers know me well now and will ask me to do something and I will do it if there is nothing else to be done. I'd rather be told to do something rather than walk around not knowing what to do. Especially if the children are having naps.


Change:

As I am a very social person I wouldn't change how I approach people. If I do change my centre when I start the degree, I will be able to start by asking questions at the beginning when I start at the centre and not later down the track.