Our Initiatives | Ō mātou mahi Building Blocks for Under 5s

Building Blocks for Under 5s

Improving the health and wellbeing of children is an effective way to improve learning outcomes and nurture a healthy community.

At Toi Te Ora Public Health our vision is for all schools, early childhood centres and kohanga reo to become health promoting environments, involving the whole school community in activities that promote health and wellbeing.

Toi Te Ora Public Health's Building Blocks for Under 5s (Building Blocks) is a comprehensive tool developed to support early childhood education (ECE) services to improve and sustain health and wellbeing.  It is designed to complement existing structures and resources within ECE services, including weaving the principles and strands of Te Whāriki and the four cornerstones of Te Whare Tapa Wha.

Building Blocks was developed collaboratively with key stakeholders and was pilot-tested in eight ECEs.  This co-design process ensured we developed a quality and sustainable resource that will meet the needs of ECEs and ultimately support the health and wellbeing of children, parents and whānau.

Building Blocks uses a fun and interactive building frame to achieve each Block that make up the tool, with each Block representing a key aspect of health.     

The Blocks included in the tool are:

  • Kai Time - Wā Kai
  • Breastfeeding Friendly - He Pai te Wai Ū
  • Smile - Menemene
  • Let’s Move - Hūnuku Tāua
  • Keep the Bugs at Bay – Kia Tūraha ai ngā Ngāngara
  • Smokefree, 1, 2, 3 – Auahi Kore 1, 2, 3
  • Fun in the Sun - Kia Koa i te Rā e Whiti ana
  • Safe Play the Best Way - Kia Haumaru i te Ara Tōtika

For more information please view the Building Blocks for Under 5’s fact sheet and process overview.

Contact us if you would like to find our more about Building Blocks for Under 5s.

Updated 11 Mar, 2021