Nathan Mikaere-Wallis Professional Development

Nathan Wallis, is an international speaker, as well an child psychologist, father, and teacher. He was asked to come and speck to our school today and give us some insight to the importance of  one on one relationships in the first 1000 days of a childs life but also the continued importance of  a relationship and the strengths it brings.

Some of the main points that I took away from the day were:

•  Don't rush, be present in every childs life. Take time to make a connection/relationship. Positive, truth is critical to fostering the relationship needed for a child to prosper intellectually and emotionally I think what came through loud and clear was that warm, positive relationships with children is critical.
•  Boys and there later developmental rate than girls of the same chronological age. That children under the age of 5 are not developmentally ready to learn. Play based learning is a essential tool in the early stages of their schooling. As it fosters relationships, real based learning, and structure of peers.
• That the most important thing that makes a brain development healthy and develops intelligence is a strong relationship with one person, schools can help foster this by having children spend two years with a teacher.. This relationship is called a 'dyadic relationship' where a young person develops a mutual trusting relationship with the person as they know they are safe and don't have to protect themselves. 
•  He spoke about how some countries have brought in a programme that allowed a parent to stay at home once having children as a result both youth anxiety, depression and failure in childhood decreased. NZ has one of the highest rates of suicide in youth and that we were opening prisons rather than closing them. By fostering strong relationships with the dyadic these results would decrease.
• I thought his comment about using Te Reo Kori in the classroom was also very valid. Even though we don't have the largest Maori speaking group of children it plays in with the importance of embracing the full NZ culture that we live in. I do try to use it in the classroom but often tend to use only words I know I pronounce properly. I need to move out of my comfort zone and try and incorporate it. I will look to find some professional development around Te Reo to allow my teaching practices to grow.

Further INFO into the first 1000days

Nathan Wallis Power Point