A petal of manaakitanga
Care doesn't always look like a big gesture or solving someone's problem. Sometimes it is as simple as noticing, listening, making room, or letting someone know they don't have to face something alone.
Firstly, the science...
Feeling cared for and connected to others is an important part of wellbeing. Positive relationships help tamariki feel a sense of belonging, build resilience, and know that there are people around them who will notice and support them when things are difficult.
Why this activity?
We can sometimes think of caring for others as doing something big or having the perfect thing to say. But care can be much simpler than that.
This activity invites tamariki to think about what care can look like in everyday moments and notice the care that is already happening around them.
You'll need
A whiteboard, large piece of paper or class poster
Paper you can cut into petal shapes
Pens or pencils
What to do
What can care look like?
Start with a kōrero with tamariki about what care can look like.
Ask them:
What does it mean to care for someone?
What are some small things we can do when someone is having a hard day?
How might we show someone they are noticed or that they belong?
Together create a class list of what care can look like with a few real examples.
Remind tamariki that caring doesn't mean we have to fix things for someone. Sometimes being there, listening, or helping someone find the right person to talk to is enough.
A petal of manaakitanga
Now invite your ākonga to reflect on a small act of care they have given, received or noticed.
They could think about something that happened at school, at home, on the playground, or somewhere in their community.
On a piece of paper draw a daffodil petal and ask them to draw or write about their moment.
Bring all the petals together to create a class daffodil or garden.
As you add the petals, kōrero about how each small act contributes to a classroom or community where people feel cared for and connected.
Whānau engagement
Invite tamariki to take the idea home by being intentional about noticing small acts of care in their whānau. They might also look for opportunities to show care themselves.
And to add to this...
To build on the kōrero around showing manaakitanga and care you could Random Acts of Kindness Bingo activity to explore kindness and how it positively affect us and those we're kind to.
Curriculum links
Personal Health and physical development: A1 - Personal growth and development
Relationships with other people: C1 - Relationships