In the mornings it is good to have time to meet together with the children and welcome them to the centre for the day. As part of the daily routine children usually look forward to this group time. If you have younger children that will not sit still in a group sometimes it is best to do at the table before morning tea. This is a good chance for you to teach children some welcome songs/prayers – nga karakia timatanga. Today I will go over a few that you can sing or say with children.
Tēnā koe.
Tēnā Koe hello to one
Tēnā Kōrua hello to two
Tēnā Koutou hello to all
Haere mai everyone
Welcome everyone.
E te atua tenei matou
e inoi ana ki a koe
mo ngā mahi o tēnei ra
Amine.
He Karakia Timatanga
He Hōnore he korōia ki te Atua
He maungārongo ki te whenua
Whakāro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Hanga e te Atua he ngākau hou
ki roto ki tēna, ki tēna o mātou
Whakatōngia tōu wairua tapu
Hei awhina hei tohu tohu i a mātou
hei ako hoki i ngā kupu
I roto i tēnei Atarangi
Ake ake ake Amine
Mōrena ki a koe
Mōrena ki a koe
Mōrena ki a ……………………….(child’s name)
Kia pai to ra
(tune of happy birthday)
I hope these are of use to you this week. The more you repeat them the more the children will start repeating them with you. After a while you can change to a different one to learn.