6 Reasons Why Learning Te Reo Maori Benefits Kids

It would be fair to say that the subject of kids learning te reo Maori has been rather controversial over the past few years. Many politicians and education professionals have voiced their opinion in that it should be compulsory in schools. Then there’s been those who have been vocally against it, categorically stating that their children will never learn it.

Te reo Maori is one of two official languages in New Zealand. Our kids receive instruction and daily exposure to te reo at school or kindergarten, via TV and simply walking around town. It’s been shocking to find out that despite all of the efforts and publicity about the importance of our kids learning te reo, it continues to quietly fade away. One study showed that less than 5% of New Zealanders spoke te reo, and as a culture and it’s language go hand in hand, that’s a very sobering thought.

So, I’m all for kids learning te reo at any time and in any way. Learning a second language also has many benefits and I’m going to share six of them with you.

6 Benefits of Our Kids Learning Te Reo Maori

The New Zealand Curriculum has identified that learning a second language provides children benefits in:

• Cultural – provides a viewpoint from another world and way of thinking.
• Linguistic – understanding how languages work and develop new skills and understandings which can be transferred to other areas of learning.
• Economic – positive economic prospects and increased career opportunities.
• Social – an understanding about how culture can affect the way a person thinks and what they value and believe in.
• Cognitive – develop new ways of growing their knowledge and finding out more about themselves.
• Personal – a sense of pride in the New Zealand Maori culture.

As parents, anything we can do to encourage our children to learn a second language is a fantastic step in helping them grow. Let’s talk about how we can do that next.

3 Ways to Help Your Child Learn a Second Language

As parents, Mr Squoodles and I are always looking for ways to support and encourage our children to learn new skills, including a second language. Living in New Zealand we’re really fortunate to have a second official language, so we’re all for helping our kids learn te reo! Here are three ways you can help your child do the same:

1. Start early – it’s been thought that the earlier a child is exposed to a second language, the faster they’ll pick it up. You can even chat with your baby in te reo before moving on to blocks with te reo and English printed upon them.
2. Engage with cultural activities – there’s more than vocab to a language! Cultural activities also play a role, so bring out the NZ Maori Poi and have some fun.
3. Use it daily – even using greetings and commonly used phrases in te reo will help your child quickly grasp the language. Practise and exposure makes perfect, so don’t forget to keep Maori vocab around, such as with these Magnetic Maori Greetings on the fridge.  Kat Quin has also recently release her amazing Maori Picture Dictionary, which is perfect for everyday use at all ages.

Do you have any other suggestions or ways of helping kids learn a second language? We’d love to know, so please leave them in the comments below!