I signed up to do "Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori - The Māori Language Moment" to kick off Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week. I was going to do a fun activity with the kids I was working with. But...I was in a hui instead! I was so disappointed to miss Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori! BUT then, when I thought about it, it was even better than a moment! I was in a hui - using Te Reo Māori with several Māori kaiako (teachers) who were naturally incorporating Te Reo Māori and, even more exciting, I UNDERSTOOD THE KUPU (words) they were using!! This reflection nearly made me cry! I didn't have to create a M ..read more

Everytime I create a new FREE resource for anyone to use for NZSL and Te Reo Māori, someone, (we shall call her Karen for arguments sake) says "you can just download these images from NZSL Online Dictionary and do it yourself!" to which I want to scream "So do it then!" What is it with Karens? Why can't they just shhh or DO IT THEMSELVES! I know you can download images and make your own, because that is WHAT I DID! But, and here's the rub, then I make it a usable resource, with instructions and links, so that hopefully parents and teachers will be encouraged to try new ways of exploring NZSL ..read more

This lockdown gig requires all my parenting talents. Even the ones stuck under the kitchen sink behind the draino. Even the ones I made up and brought to the table just today. Day 1 of Level 3 Lockdown after 34 days at level 4. It's not easy whānau. I'm a bit envious of the ones who say it's the best thing ever. I'm ok, but I'm working hard at being OK. As in I'm working hard at being an OK mum. I have to bite my tongue a lot and remember that the kids are coping too and managing some pretty big things; complete change of education, missing friends, lack of independence, being with me 24/7 The ..read more

Covid19 has turned our world upside down. Connecting with your children is more important than ever. Tonight my husband, four daughters, our dog and I go into a Level 4 Lock-down along with all other New Zealanders. This is massive. Our whole lives will be completely different. Home school for the big kids and home play for the little ones. Speaking, listening, laughing, playing and reading together are more important than ever to keep your child's anxiety down and enjoyment in everyday up. Creating meaningful and positive times together will also make for a wonderful distraction for you as a ..read more

I've worked with hundreds of kids, sharing Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language and I have never once had a child say "nah, not for me." "I can't learn languages" "I don't have a language brain" "I don't need that." But I hear it from adults all the time! What changes in us? Is it that our brains are so full of other stuff we can't cope with the thought of learning one more thing? Or is it fear of making a mistake? Or plain old racism, cynicism and ignorance? I think it's different things for different people, a mixture of all those things, and probably a whole lot more. What worries me ..read more

Using sign language with babies gives them massive advantages in language learning! My mum (who is a Dr of Psychology...not just "my mum!") synthesized the research for me a wee while ago. Here's 19 reasons to use NZSL with your baby! Signing babies... frequently talk sooner than non-signing peers  have better word comprehension are spoken to more by their parents have accelerated language development have larger vocabularies when toddlers show a greater understanding of language and syntax when they begin speaking (i.e., the way in which words are put together to make a grammatically corr ..read more

I'm going to take a leap and share something from my heart. I often share our NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) journey with Hope as a baby and toddler but we actually used NZSL for the first time when our precious second daughter, Tara, lost her ability to speak because of a terminal brain tumour. She reckoned she only needed five signs to get by; ,please, ,thank you, ,food,, ,drink and ,I love you. She was amazing and sharing just a few simple signs with her gave her the ability to connect with all of us. Tara ",I love you" Hope "ngeru/cat" There are loads of people who use NZSL who aren't ..read more

2018 has been pretty exciting so far! Growing Pēpi Rima (Baby #5!) and creating my other "baby," my board book series called "Kōrero Mai - Speak to Me." Sharing my love of New Zealand's languages is so close to my heart. Connecting with little people in Te Reo Māori, New Zealand Sign Language and English is totally do-able for everyone, from baby's day dot, and I wanted to create some books that anyone could pick up and use to give it a go. You don't need to be an expert to get started. I'm not qualified in Te Reo Māori or NZSL, I'm a mum and a teacher who loves language and learns alongside ..read more

Having a communicative baby can be hilarious! Hope is 20 months now and knowing what she is thinking blows my mind. Being our 4th, but only one we've made a real effort to use sign language with, you'd think I'd have some idea of just how much goes on in a little head but it has really surprised me. On Sunday at church Hope was full if energy, which when you're hoping for a bit of peaceful contemplation isn't so helpful. She was pretty quiet but she was signing flat out and had her sisters and me trying our utmost to not burst into hysterics. She told us that she wanted to; Have milk have fu ..read more

Baby Hope uses New Zealand Sign Language to chat away with me and when people see this they often ask, "will using sign language slow down her speaking?" I'm so stoked that the research backs me up when I respond that the opposite is in fact true! Babies who use sign language learn to speak at the same rate if not slightly better. But even more amazing, is that they understand how communication works from a younger age so they are less frustrated because they know how to make their world work for them. This is why I was so interested in creating resources that empowered parents to communicate ..read more