The capabilities included within the social and emotional area of emotional awareness, regulation and spiritual connectedness are drawn from the values and concepts of kare-ā-roto and wairuatanga.
Through kare-ā-roto and wairuatanga, mokopuna develop and have reciprocal relationships in which they have responsibilities to support and strengthen the collective.
Kare-ā-roto
Pihama et al (2019) describe kare-ā-roto “as the ‘ripples within’ self that are the physical and spiritual manifestations of how we understand and feel emotions” (p. iii). Within this view, emotions and the ripples they extend can move beyond the individual and be felt, experienced and understood in the collective. Emotions are unique ways of feeling grounded in cultural ways of being and understanding. Kare-ā-roto supports understanding, expression and relating to the emotions of ourselves and each other.
Wairuatanga
From a te ao Māori perspective, te ao wairua refers to the unseen world and encourages nurturing the spirit and spiritual resources of all living beings. Wairua or spiritual essence of a living being is viewed as being interrelated to everything and is a fundamental aspect of health and wellbeing. Wairuatanga can support children’s sense of self and their awareness and connections with the collective and the environment.
