The phrase “cultural competence” might sound like something more relevant to a boardroom than an early childhood centre, but at Koru Kids, it’s woven through much of our practice, in ways that aren’t always immediately obvious.
Cultural competence is about recognising that every one of our tamariki carries their culture, language, values, and family experiences with them to our centre, and it’s our role to make sure those elements are welcomed and celebrated within our setting.
This approach fits naturally with Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, where children’s language, culture, identity, and relationships with whānau are all part of their learning.
Why cultural responsiveness matters in early childhood
Imagine spending your days somewhere that was completely foreign to the way you lived at home. For a young child, seeing familiar parts of home reflected at their early learning centre can help ease their transition into childcare and show them that this is a place they belong.
It also gives tamariki the chance to learn about lives that look different from their own. Papatoetoe is home to families from lots of different cultural backgrounds, so it’s beneficial for our children to spend time with people who may speak another language or have different customs and traditions.
When those differences are met with curiosity, they become something to ask about and enjoy together.
If you’re raising your child with more than one language, we talk more about keeping their home language alive alongside English in Raising Multilingual Children.
What culturally responsive teaching looks like
Culturally responsive teaching puts all of this into practice. You might see kaiako using words from a child’s home language, or including music and books that children recognise from home.
Whānau have an important part to play here too. Parents and extended family know their child’s culture best, and we encourage you to share a favourite story, song, celebration, or family tradition to help kaiako bring home and centre life together.
In Power of Storytelling in Teaching Children Values, we share how Māori pūrākau (traditional stories) and stories from other cultures can help children explore different ideas and values.
Cultural competence and Te Whāriki at Koru Kids
Of course, alongside cultures from other lands, in Aotearoa, cultural responsiveness also includes recognising the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua (people of the land).
At Koru Kids, te reo Māori (Māori language), tikanga (customs), waiata, and stories aren’t saved for special occasions; they’re daily practice. For us, cultural competence is much more than a policy, it’s how we get to know our tamariki and families on a deeper level.
Give your child an early learning environment where who they are and where they come from is celebrated. Discover more about Koru Kids Early Learning Centre or book a tour of our Papatoetoe centre today.