NZTC lecturers share expertise at NZ-China Early Childhood Education Symposium

Hosted by Education New Zealand and the New Zealand Embassy in China, early childhood academics, researchers and education specialists gathered virtually last month for the NZ-China Early Childhood Symposium.

Four NZTC lecturers, Dr Sean Dolan, Shu-Yen Law, Phoebe Tong and Christine Vincent-Snow, shared their ECE expertise with a global audience of over 140,000 from China and beyond.

This year’s symposium included discussions on ECE trends in New Zealand and China, with a particular focus on sustainable development in early childhood education.

In their presentation, Christine Vincent-Snow and Phoebe Tong, shared insights on sustainability and guardianship in rural childcare services in Aotearoa New Zealand. They explored how ecological sustainability through games and play-based learning also sustains children’s physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Examples were shared of how rural New Zealand kindergartens teach sustainability through a rich combination of Māori values and beliefs, traditional concepts of care, strong relationships between land and people, and a play-based curriculum.

“The importance and value of play-based learning is embedded in the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, which recognises the deep, holistic, sustainable education and development that occurs through play-based learning,” says Vincent-Snow.

Te Whāriki also recognises that when children are connected to their local environment, their sense of identity and belonging is strengthened.

“Children are taught to be kaitiaki (guardians), protectors and preservers of the natural environment. Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is a Māori value that establishes relationships between people and the environment, and when children learn this they learn to respect, care for and protect people, places and things.

“Through play-based learning, children are taught reciprocity, they respect and tend to the needs of the land and its creatures, and the land tends to their needs with lush gardens, bird songs, fresh ripe fruit and vegetables, and peaceful green spaces in their daily environment.”