Creative Therapies within Early Childhood Education
We run therapy sessions within kindergartens, kohanga reo, ECE centres, daycares, home-based childcare services, and play centres. We work with each centre to develop an approach that supports their kaupapa, from whole centre mahi, including workshops for kaiako and whānau, to a therapist working flexibly within the centre, to individualised support for specific learners.
For:
Kindergartens, kohanga reo, ECE centres, daycares, home-based childcare services, play centres
Mauri Tui Tuia is an approved Ministry of Education Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities provider.
Our model of work
We provide a combination of the following, tailored to each early childhood education (ECE) centre we work with:
1. Individual or Small Group Therapy Sessions
One of our registered therapists will work on site with specific children in individual sessions or small groups (3-5 tamariki). Therapy sessions may focus on goals such as:
· supporting relationship building
· developmental support (language, social, cognitive, physical)
· sensory integration
· regulation after trauma
· supporting self-expression and confidence
· managing anxiety
2. Whānau Support
Our therapists can offer whānau-based, individualised support for identified tamariki. We often facilitate tailored, fun workshops for whānau (we have found these successful timed around drop-off or pick-up time). We also offer access to our Resilience and Calm Connection library of 2–3-minute videos with ideas they can use at home, and/or connecting personally to review what's happening in therapy sessions and support whānau to integrate resonant strategies at home.
3. Workshops for Teaching Staff
Two of our trained & experienced therapists can come to your ECE centre (or host your kaimahi online) and run 2-2.5-hour workshops for staff. Our workshops resource teachers to manage trauma and anxiety within your centre, with simple & usable creative therapy tools. We also resource our ECE teams with tailored videos, pdf resources and more as needed.
4. Centre Support Visits
One of our therapists will visit your centre, to support teachers in their trauma-informed use of creative tools. This gives kaiako an opportunity to discuss challenges, receive tailored support and ideas around supporting their specific tamariki, and see our therapists model approaches/strategies with the tamariki.
How we work
Our practical tools are grounded in trauma-informed dance, arts and music therapy research and knowledge, and support child and adolescent development and wellbeing across diverse populations.
Underpinned by Te Tiriti, we strive to be an active collaborator of mana-enhancing practice alongside our communities. Our approaches in using waiata, movement, sound, rhythm, and arts within a therapeutic context are tools that find resonance in a wide variety of cultures, while Te Ao Māori frameworks underpin our bicultural practice model. To read more about our values and bicultural approach, please click here.
Our areas of expertise are in trauma-informed care and education, and supporting learners with diverse needs. We use creative therapy approaches to skill-share simple, practical tools in music, arts and movement that support child development and relational wellbeing. We work ecologically, looking at how we can support not only the child in therapy sessions, but their peer group, classroom setting, kaiako, ECE centre and whānau.
Our workshops engage kaiako in practical ‘doings’ that support tamariki, including those with different learning needs, speech-language delays, neurodiversity, or developmental challenges. We use a strengths-based focus and the shared language of rhythm, sound, creativity and movement to bridge and enhance communication, connection, and community.
Working with trauma
Trauma and the management of trauma in children through dance, arts and music therapy tools is a specialised area that requires extensive and specific training. Our focus remains on the use of creativity for calm connection allowing integration of learning and flourishing for our tamariki. We also use a tools-based approach that empowers our kaiako in complex situations, and to support wellbeing in their whare through simple practices that are woven into their existing schedules.
Our team have a deep understanding of the psychotherapeutic process of music, arts, and dance movement therapy in relation to adverse experiences and trauma. Without this understanding, well-intentioned practice has the potential to do further harm. Our kaupapa relies on current research-based practice and developmental understanding of the effect of trauma and adversity on children and whānau.
Working with a variety of ages
Our therapists are experienced in supporting a full range of ages, from babies to tamariki preparing to transition to kura. Our creative therapy approaches lean naturally to both supporting tamariki without relying on verbal processing (ideal for young tamariki, for neurodiverse learners or tamariki experiencing anxiety or trauma). Our creative, music, arts, and dance approaches are easily accessible and supportive for young children.
Referral and consent process
We work collaboratively with centres to identify tamariki in need of support, and then design the therapeutic offerings to suit them. Obtaining informed consent is important, and we use colourful, visually accessible consent forms to support whānau in this process, prior to commencing individual therapy sessions.
For large group work, such as centre-wide approaches, individual consent is not required, but we are happy to support centres in communicating about our programmes with whānau.
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Child protection
Mauri Tui Tuia is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of children by identifying and responding to vulnerability, child abuse and neglect in an effective and efficient manner. Our therapists are registered, trained professionals, and have been vetted in full compliance with the Vulnerable Children’s Act. A copy of our Child Protection Policy can be found here.
If a disclosure is made by a young person, the therapist will let the ākonga know that the therapist will talk to someone else about it, then complete a Mauri Tui Tuia Child Concern form.
Mauri Tui Tuia has a Child Protection Lead, who will work with the therapist to notify the centre of the contents of the Child Concern form. Appropriate further action will be taken in partnership and discussion with the centre and whānau.
If any concerns arise around the therapist’s actions or behaviours, please immediately contact Katie Pureti, Mauri Tui Tuia's Child Protection Lead and Executive Director at katie@maurituituia.com.
Contact
To inquire about having us work in your ECE centre, please contact us, and one of our directors will discuss with you.
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Contact Us