Play Centres

Te Ao Hou, September 1963, Page 2

Play Centres The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’. In the March issue of our ‘Te Ao Hou’ I took particular notice of Mr Grey's article on the success the co-operative Mangakino Play Centre is having. No doubt they are aware of the great move they are taking towards a more understanding Maori society for tomorrow. I myself am very proud of this progress, but I ask how many Maori mothers in Auckland, for instance, take part in the Play Centre movement. There are not nearly enough who do so. I feel that the need for this organised free play is far greater in the city, with the mother having to bring up her infant in such a confined space; it is essential surely that she have some corner where the child's movements are not restricted. In the country the mother's task is not so heavy. The Maori who lives in the country has a more relaxed and friendly attitude towards his family and neighbours than the city Maori, who has a higher standard to live up to if he wants to be recognised as a good citizen, e.g. a nice clean home and all the luxuries to go with it, and nice clean well behaved children with nice manners and refined speech. This is all very well but with all this pretence of a higher social level something has to suffer and it is usually the most valuable thing, our children. I do not think we, the Maori, fully realise the importance of outside social contacts, such as Play Centres or Nursery Schools, for the pre-school child. Mr Grey has done much to emphasise the importance of providing for pre-school children in their mental as well as their physical health and I think we Maoris would benefit greatly by heeding his words. MRS A. HAKOROIA (Auckland)