Introduction

The aim of Amazing ME is to nurture and support the development of life skills that enhance self esteem and confidence while providing children with opportunities for having lots of fun and participating in shared activities.

Amazing ME is based around a series of five tracks presented by Suzy Cato the well known presenter of the New Zealand children's television programme You and Me. The format of Amazing ME is very similar to You and Me in its use of dance, song, stories, written dialogue and individual interaction with the presenter. The overall outcome for children is the reinforcement of the idea that they are amazing and worthwhile.

Background to Amazing ME

The scripts for the programme were developed by a team of parents who are also professionals in various child related fields; police youth education, public health nursing, early childhood education, social work within the Children, Young Persons and their Families Service, child protection, and child research.

This group decided that the essential components of a programme that enhances a child's self esteem and confidence, include:

• Valuing the building of self esteem and confidence
• Encouraging children to voice their feelings
• Teaching children that the genital area is special and private and encouraging them to attend to their own hygiene
• Teaching young children simple plans of action in a supportive environment.

There are also essential components for a television programme which young children will respond to including that it:

• Is fun
• Incorporates warm and caring adult interaction
• Provides opportunities for children to practise both familiar and new skills
• Is positive, includes humorous situations which are engaging for young viewers
• Provide a format where children can identify with some characters and situations

Amazing ME uses the New Zealand early childhood curriculum Te Whaariki¹ as a foundation building on the principles of: empowerment, holistic development, relationships and family and community, and the strands (aims) of: well-being, belonging, contribution, communication and exploration.

Amazing ME provides opportunities for services to meet a number of DOPs including:

DOP 3, Educators should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the learning and development of each child, identify learning goals for individual children, and use this information as a basis for planning, evaluating and improving curriculum programmes.

Amazing ME supports the healthy development of a child's well-being. Children's well-being is specifically referred to in DOP 5².

DOP 5, Educators should plan, implement and evaluate curriculum for children in which: (a) their health is promoted and emotional well-being nurtured; and they are kept safe from harm...

One of the main aims of Amazing ME is to promote children's self esteem and confidence, and help them develop important skills to improve their health and safety. The first two tracks support children being able to care for parts of their bodies, and learn simple rules for keeping safe using a message of Stop, Think, and Act. DOP 5 (b) also refers to educators providing a curriculum in which 'connecting links with families and the wider world are affirmed'. In track 3 of Amazing ME family life in New Zealand, in all its variety, is celebrated. Track 5 focuses on getting along with others by providing some strategies that children can use. This builds on DOP 5 (c) as "...children are encouraged to work with and alongside others".

Amazing ME is designed with the idea of parents and educators working closely together when the programme is implemented. This would include sharing observations of how it is helping the children to build their self esteem and develop new skills. This working together to support children's learning is a key feature of DOP 4.

DOP 4, Educators should implement curriculum and assessment practices, which involve parents / guardians and, where appropriate whaanau: and enhance children's sense of themselves as capable people and competent learners.

This theme of parents and educators working together is repeated again in DOP 6 and 8 within the section on communication and consultation.

For more information on DOPs please refer to Quality in Action, published for the Ministry of Education by Learning Media.

¹ Ministry of Education (1996) Te Whaariki: He Whaariki Maatauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa / Early Childhood Curriculum: Learning Media.

² Statement 5 of the Revised Statement of Desirable Objectives and Practices describes the five strands of Te Whariki: well-being, belonging, contribution, communication and exploration.