A gossip or a good yack? Reconceptualizing parent support in New Zealand early childhood centre based programmes¹

1. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 24–26 November 2004.

Abstract

Parental support has been an increasingly essential part of New Zealand early childhood (EC) education services over the last 20 years. This support has taken many shapes and forms over this time period, and has depended on the differing philosophies of the EC education services. What this support ‘looks like’ and how it is delivered is directly connected to the goals and aims of these services. This paper will discuss the results from a small qualitative study that looked at how three New Zealand EC centres—two kindergartens and one child care centre—supported family resilience; that is, the ability of an individual and family to ‘cope’ with and ‘recover’ from significant adversity or stress, in ways that are not only effective but may result in increased ability to ‘respond’ to and ‘protect’ their families from future adversity. From semi‐structured interviews with teachers, parents, and family support services associated with each of the three centres, the concept of planned parent education programmes, as meaningful support, is re‐examined in the light of the ideas of a ‘gossip’ or a ‘good yack’. This research was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development.

Notes

1. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 24–26 November 2004.

2. The full report is to become available on the Ministry of Social Development web site in the next few months (www.msd.govt.nz).

3. Whānau is the Māori term used to signify family, but it is inclusive of a wider range of relations and kinsfolk compared with other definitions of family.

4. Kindergartens in New Zealand are session‐based programmes for children aged two to five. In New Zealand children begin compulsory schooling at the age of five.

5. Child care centres in New Zealand provide a range of full‐day and sessional programmes for children from birth to five years of age.

6. Fish ‘n’ chip evenings are held in EC centres as a way for families to meet and share a meal together. Each family brings its own food (usually a parcel of hot cooked fish and chips—a favourite New Zealand fast food).