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all_early_childhoodTheir health is promoted

joins healthy kai or hygiene routines with visible confidence

Observe whether the child: joins healthy kai or hygiene routines with visible confidence.

What it looks like

Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.

Emerging

Just starting

With familiar support, the child starts to care for body needs through a concrete routine during kai, rest, handwashing, dressing, or energetic play. Evidence is a small observable action, word, gesture, choice, or pause rather than a sustained pattern.

What you might see

  • At kai, the child points to the drink bottle and accepts help opening it.
  • The child copies one step of wiping a face or nose after seeing it modelled.
  • After a reminder, the child reaches for soap and rubs hands for a few seconds before looking back for help.

Expected

On track

The child carries the behaviour into real play or routine without waiting for every step to be named. One detail is adjusted when the situation changes.

What you might see

  • The child opens part of a lunchbox, chooses food, and puts rubbish or scraps in the agreed place.
  • The child pulls on a hat before going outside and checks that it stays on.
  • The child washes and dries hands before kai with only a brief cue about the next step.

Exceeding

Going further

The child checks the effect of the action and revises in view of others. The response shows ownership and flexibility.

What you might see

  • The child says the room is too hot, chooses water, and moves to a cooler space.
  • The child prepares a simple care item, such as a tissue or cup, before an adult suggests it.
  • The child notices a younger peer cannot reach the towel and passes it over without taking over the routine.

Try this at home

Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.

  • Set out drink bottle and hand towel for a short kai, rest, handwashing, dressing, or energetic play. Look for a reach, pause, word, repair, or choice linked to a body need or care step.

  • Repeat the setup later with one detail changed; compare whether the response becomes more independent or flexible.

Where this comes from

The dataset source and any supporting developmental research.

  • Ministry of Education. (2017). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum.

    The bicultural early childhood curriculum of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga (NZ Ministry of Education), 2017 revision.