Rangimārie: 1. (noun) a state of peacefulness, harmony and acceptance.
Te Kete: 1. (noun) the basket or kit.
Tōtara Kids Early Learning Centre is the realisation of Elise’s lifelong dream to own an Early Childhood Centre; a vision she’s held since just 15 years old. That dream came to life in 2024 when Elise, alongside husband James and then four-year-old son Fletcher, opened Tōtara Kids in Stoke, Nelson.
Tōtara Kids is the result of over a decade of planning and learning. Each element within the centre is intentionally curated to support children’s developmental stages and natural urges; from classic New Zealand wool blankets, cosy couches and a welcoming china cabinet like you might see at Nana’s house, to open-ended loose parts, a custom-designed family care system and mixed-age setting. We even employ a dedicated Social Emotional Leader, Erin Rush, co-creator of Te Kete Rangimārie. Erin’s responsibilities as Social Emotional Leader include overseeing the use of Te Kete Rangimārie as the positive guidance strategy in the centre, and ensuring the physical environment, routines and rituals not only align and support Tōtara Kids philosophy but promote rangimārie.
Te Kete Rangimārie is an open, neutral space for regulating and processing emotions with the goal of finding rangimārie. Choosing to use the phrase “finding rangimārie” with tamariki allows space for the initial big emotion to remain, but be accepted, as children go about their day; much like living with grief. This means children can safely feel and explore their emotions but are not as overwhelmed by them. For example, it is okay to feel angry that you have been dropped off, but it is not okay to hit your friend out of that anger.
Te Kete Rangimārie includes a variety of carefully selected textiles, fidget toys and emotional learning resources to help tamariki “find rangimārie”. A red blanket is available to children and signifies “give me space” to other learners and teachers. It is vital that children are given time to find rangimārie before they have conversations to unpack their feelings and actions. This space at Tōtara Kids is always accessible; it isn’t a play space but treated as an area with specific tools and designed for a purpose, much like the carpentry area.
Based on neuroscience, particularly the work of Kathryn Berkett and her concept of red and green brain states, Te Kete Rangimārie prepares children to recognise and experience emotions in a protected environment. At no point are children directed to stop feeling an emotion or be calm to leave the space; using the tools in the kete allow children to find rangimārie in their own time and begin to learn how their mind and body can regulate.
It is important to note Te Kete Rangimārie does not excuse socially unacceptable actions. Children are supported to ‘make things right’ when they are back in ‘green brain’ and are able to truly understand the cause and effect of their behaviour. Negative behaviours that hurt oneself or others usually require adult support to work through, and our ratios intentionally allow for working in Te Kete Rangimārie to be a priority for kaiako.
Children need to be taught how to regulate; as trusted adults we can role model how to respond to the urges that emotions can bring, in a socially acceptable way. At Tōtara Kids there is also an expectation for Kaiako to teach from a state of rangimārie; this is very different from the ‘leave personal life at the door’ approach many ECEs use. The centre is managed in a style which makes room for this to happen, including Kaiako only working on the floor four days a week to enhance their work life balance and overall well-being. Te Kete Rangimārie is not just a teaching strategy, but a philosophy that underpins everything we do at Tōtara Kids.
Elise and Erin have worked together for over 6 years, sharing a passion for teaching social and emotional regulation and handing this power back to tamariki. They now present in-person Te Kete Rangimārie workshops to ECEs and parents and are working on an online version for national reach. Together they hope Te Kete Rangimārie and their continued work growing children’s emotional literacy will also have positive flow on effects for the mental health and resilience of our teens and adults. To learn more about workshop opportunities, email growing@totarakids.co.nz.
