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On TKI: For Parents

On TKI: For Parents

For parents

Your important role
Ways you can get involved
Team-Up – helping you to help your child learn
Other TKI pages for parents
Useful links

Your important role

Parents, families, and whānau have an important part to play in their child’s learning. Research shows that parents, families, and whānau who support and encourage their child to learn can make a huge difference to their future.

  • It’s never too early to start, your child’s learning process begins before they are even born.
  • Once they are born, you are the main source of new information and experiences for your baby. Creating loving attachments with those who have a key role in their life helps your baby’s brain to develop.
  • As they grow and develop, it is your job to support and encourage your child’s learning, in little ways every day, to help them reach their full potential.
  • As they become teenagers, it is important you are actively involved in your teen’s learning to guide them towards a fulfilling and successful future. It’s never too late to start playing a part in your teen’s education.

Ways you can get involved

You can support your child’s learning through:

  • believing your child can do well in their education and encouraging them whenever possible
  • getting involved in your child’s learning at home every day
  • making time to get to know your child’s teachers at their early childhood education service or school, so that you can get their input and advice on your child’s progress and how you can help at home.

Team-Up – helping you to help your child learn

In 2004, the Ministry of Education set up the Team-Up information campaign for parents. The Team-Up programme – fronted by Team-Up Education Ambassador Tana Umaga – provides information, ideas, and materials to help parents of Young child 0-5 years, Child 5-13 years, and Teen 13-19 years support their children and get more involved in their education.

Team-Up aims to show parents that getting involved with their child’s learning is easy, doesn't require a lot of time, and can be fun through:

Other TKI pages for parents

Useful links

Check out the following website links for more information and advice.

Child, Youth and Family
Education Review Office – find a report on an early childhood education service or school
Families Commission
Family Start (Ministry of Social Development)
FamilyWeb (Ministry of Social Development)
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Youth Development
Mission-On – healthy, confident kids (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, SPARC)
NetSafe – keeping kids safe on the Internet
No Bully (New Zealand Police, Telecom)
SKIP – Strategies with kids, information for parents (Ministry of Social Development)
Sorted – financial advice (Retirement Commission)
SPARC – Sport and Recreation New Zealand
The DARE Foundation – educating your child about drugs and safety
Well Child (Ministry of Health)

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