Ngā Whakawhitinga
Supporting Early Transitions
A resource for kaiako in Aotearoa NZ
Just as the koru fern frond unfurls at its own pace, so too does the tamaiti. This process cannot be forced or hurried, but with the right conditions enables tamariki to flourish.
Early transitions are an event of becoming. They take place at the most important time of life for forging relationships, developing a sense of self and wiring the brain for learning success. How these transitions take place will shape future wellbeing and belonging.
Transitions can be underestimated in terms of their impact on tamariki, but our research has shown that small things matter.
Transitions do not look the same for every tamaiti, whānau, kaiako, Early Childhood Education (ECE) context, or country. This resource looks in depth at three sites of transition: from home into ECE, between ECE spaces, and out of ECE into kura/school.
What are transitions in ECE?
E tipu e rea mō ngā rā ō tōu ao"
"Grow up oh tender shoot and fulfil the needs of your generation”
- Sir Apirana Ngata
In Aotearoa New Zealand, as in many other parts of the world, transitions are happening at younger ages than ever before. Transitions to ECE can start well before the first birthday and often occur at regular intervals as tamariki move through different spaces, years prior to starting kura/school.
These transitions represent a very unique and special journey in the lifespan where physical, emotional and even relationship changes occur for tamariki, their whānau and the contexts they are moving from and into. There is no single moment when we can say for all with certainty that a successful transition has taken place, because it is an individual event of becoming over time and space.
As such, it is also a big part of learning in the early years. Paying attention to the emotional and social wellbeing of tamariki plays a significant role in this process, as kaiako ‘learn the learner’ - creating a valued space in the ECE setting for them and all accompany them (past and present/visible and spiritual).
Across early years transitions, threads of significance are unique to each tamaiti - seemingly small things that stay the same, or things that change. Knowing tamariki and their whānau well, engaging in dialogues across contexts and creating processes that celebrate each step along the way will nurture and enhance the strengths that they bring to their learning over time.
“Ka moroki tonu ngā whakawhitinga"
"Transitions are a journey not a destination”.
As kaiako, you play a significant role in creating the conditions that support positive transitions for tamariki alongside their whānau. When tamariki and their whānau know they are valued members of the ECE community, they are more likely to see a place for themselves. This can make them feel equipped to contribute to the ECE setting on their own terms, in their own time and in their own way.
Placing tamariki as much as possible as rangatira of their transition calls upon kaiako to tune in carefully to each tamaiti and their whānau at every stage of their journey - recognising that it is not always a linear or universal process. Honest dialogues are essential as priorities are negotiated and relationships formed.
You can ensure that each transition journey is mana-enhancing for all concerned. Asking a series of questions that draw from the perspectives of tamariki (and their whānau) into, between and out of ECE transition events will ensure that these mana enhancing for all. This means that you can support the wairua and mauri of each tamaiti to be:
“nurtured in the knowledge that they are loved and respected; that their physical, mental, spiritual and emotional strength will build mana, influence and control; that having mana is the enabling and empowering tool to controlling their own destiny”
- Tilly Reedy
Throughout this website these questions are reflected in a series of processes and practices that work to grant tamariki rangatira status as much as possible in their transitions into, between, and out of ECE. They are based on many hours of interviewing, observing and filming in NZ ECE services.
You can navigate your way through this website by clicking on the below button as a starting place. Don’t miss the arrows on either side of the images that light your path.
Video examples to show what practices look like across diverse ECE contexts can be accessed by clicking on the highlighted links. (Please note that these videos are not intended to be used as exemplars. They provide provocations for dialogue about 'what works', drawn from the research that underpins our work).
