Tai Tamariki: An Introduction
Many people may not realise that here at Te Papa Tongarewa, we are home to Tai Tamariki, a unique early childhood centre. Tai Tamariki has been based at Te Papa on our ground floor since 2010, and is much more than a ‘tenant’. The children and staff are an integral part of the wider Te Papa whānau, with many of our staff having had their tamariki attend the kindergarten over the years.
Our long-standing relationship has seen us work closely together through shared visits, collaborative programmes, exhibition feedback, and learning experiences shaped by the unique perspectives their tamariki bring into our whare. Learning Specialist Martin Langdon has also had the pleasure of trialling new programmes and creative ideas with the tamariki, alongside supporting kaiako through PLD and further connections to taonga, collection item knowledge, and Te Papa experts.
As part of this ongoing relationship, he invited the Tai Tamariki kaiako team to contribute a series of blogs sharing how they experience and use Te Papa within their learning programme.
The first blog by Tai Tamariki was a collective effort written by the team of kaiako:
Observational drawing in our visits to ‘our place’ Te Papa
Our tamariki love to draw as a way of expressing themselves, communicating and simply exploring drawing tools and having fun, so taking this interest into Te Papa is a natural thing for us to do.
Observational drawing in Te Papa has long been a practice for our tamariki and another way we support tamariki in their interpreting, investigating, viewing, and learning from the many taonga housed within the whare.
Kaiako have booklets and pencils or simply clipboards at the ready to offer tamariki throughout our excursions, and tamariki let us know when they feel the need to draw.
As much as possible, the voice of the tamariki about their mahi is recorded by our kaiako to support revisiting their ideas back at kindy. The insights and particular moments they had in the museum help to reveal what was of particular interest, and how they are developing knowledge as well as providing tamariki-centred interpretation of the taonga.
Often, of course, tamariki will draw and incorporate objects or people from their own lives, seemingly unrelated to any Te Papa taonga, and this is all valued as we understand tamariki learn in a holistic manner.
Tamariki pukapuka reflections
One technique we use at kindy to help revisit these ideas is by creating copies of the original drawings for them to paint over. These are then collated into books of the tamariki with their drawings and ‘kaiako written’ statements.
We have noticed the trends of our tamariki’s interests and trips into Te Papa tend to focus around particular taonga such as: waka, manu in the Kohanga, and the many different creatures in Te Taiao Nature: pepeke, ngānara and ika, and the much-loved Whale heart. We use these collated tamariki books as tools to revisit past learning, and as objects that keep us connected to our place: Te Papa and all we experience there and inspire future excursions.
Photographs of the tamariki and particular taonga that interest them are also printed out at kindergarten, and kaiako and/or tamariki paste them into these ‘Te Papa trip booklets’,
also as an important tool for prompting kōrero with our tamariki to revisit their experiences and learning.
More than just drawing
We have noticed how much our tamariki feel connected to our unique setting by combining these trips with observational drawing. We also find that observational drawing is a great activity to support the development of the connection made between eye, brain, hand, and the marks on the paper. Regardless of how these marks appear, they are so valuable as evidence of these growing connections. The marks and drawings made by our tamariki provided valuable insights into the unique thinking and vision of each tamaiti.
These are just some of the skills observational drawing supports and builds over time:
- Individual perception: It encourages children to pay close attention to details, shapes, colours, and textures. In an age of simply ‘taking a photo’, this is an exercise that values what and how the individual sees.
- Communication and expression: Drawing allows children to express their understanding of the world and communicate their ideas visually.
- Fine motor skills: Drawing involves small, precise movements that strengthen fine motor skills and the small muscles of the hands necessary for the ability to execute more difficult tasks.
- Hand-eye coordination: Observing an object and then translating it onto paper requires coordination between what is seen and what is drawn.
- Problem-solving and creative thinking: Figuring out how to represent what is seen in a drawing promotes problem-solving and creative thinking as well as confidence and a sense of validity in one’s own chosen way of expression.
- Cognitive development: Observational drawing can aid in cognitive development by fostering ‘learning to see’ and encouraging critical thinking.
We’ll continue to use observational drawing as a key activity on our Te Papa visits, as we see the amazing result it provides our tamariki. We hope to share more of our ECE-focused tips and insights for connecting with museums and galleries.
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