Calming rituals
This resource contains ideas for calming your tamariki.
He purapura i ruia mai i Rangiātea e kore e ngaro.
A seed sown in Rangiātea will never be lost.
In Māori tradition, the child was a valued member of the Māori worlds before conception, before birth, and before time. They began their journey in Rangiātea, the homeland of the gods. Born into this world, they were nurtured like a precious seed to ensure their survival.
Ideas for calming your tamariki
You can help children understand that they have choices that can help them manage their emotions. Below are some ideas to help them learn some calming rituals.
Encourage and make space for the use of rituals that soothe, calm, and distract, for example:
- singing waiata, for example, Te Kōtare
- rhythmic movements such as rocking or swinging
- breathing exercises, for example, tummy breathing
- using a hand-held fan to cool down
- blowing bubbles
- going to a quiet space to relax
- gentle touch or massage
- listening to music
- kanikani for dancing away troubled feelings
- tactile experiences such as water play or modelling with dough
- a cuddle and a story.
See Materials that come with this resource to download He māpuna te tamaiti complete book (.pdf), Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Early Learning (content adapted from page 39).
About this resource
This resource gives parents and whānau ideas to support them to help their children to manage their emotions and learn some calming rituals.