Children from birth through to eight years of age have developmental needs and capacities that differ from those in any subsequent time of their lives. The early childhood curriculum is therefore different in its approach from the curriculum for older children. The curriculum for early childhood emphasises reciprocal and responsive interaction with others, both adults and peers, who can respond to children’s development and changing capabilities. Although these needs can be met in either mixed age or separate age programmes, it is important that programmes meet the needs of the full range of children they cater for.
The early childhood curriculum recognises that there can be wide variations in the rate and timing of children’s growth and development and in their capacity to learn new things in new places.
Each child learns in his or her own way. The curriculum builds on a child’s current needs, strengths, and interests by allowing children choices and by encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning.
Te Whāriki covers the years from birth to school entry age and identifies three broad age groups for consideration within the early childhood curriculum. At the same time, it acknowledges that there is considerable variation between individual children as well as different cultural perspectives about appropriate age arrangements. Infants, toddlers, and young children have distinctive and different needs and characteristics. These will determine the focus of the curriculum as it applies for each learner. The programme must be flexible enough to take into account the varying needs and characteristics of individual children.
The overlapping age categories used are:
- infant – birth to eighteen months
- toddler – one year to three years
- young child – two and a half years to school entry age.
Ngā Mokopuna
I roto i ēnei whakahaere e toru ngā reanga mokopuna:
- ngā pēpi – 0 - 18 marama
- ngā mokopuna kei te hāereere – 1- 3 tau
- ngā mokopuna i mua o te haerenga ki te kura – 2 1/2 - 5 tau.
Ko ngā whakahaere mō ngā mokopuna kia tika tonu mā rātou, kia eke ki ngā mahi ka taea e rātou.
Heoi kia maumahara, he nui ngā rerekētanga kei roto i tēnā reanga, i tēnā reanga.
He nui ano hoki ngā rerekētanga kei waenganui i tēnā mokopuna, i tēnā mokopuna. He mana motuhake tonu to tēnā, to tēnā .
I te mutunga kia tino ngāwari ngā whakahaere mō ngā pēpi, me ngā mokopuna kei te hāereere, ā, kia aroha pai ki te marae-ātea o ia mokopuna, o ia mokopuna o ēnei reanga.