Kaiako we spoke with in relation to this ‘Menemene Mai’ oral health toolkit, wanted strategies to use in their settings. Below are some ‘Top Pick’ Strategies.
We emphasise the following key messages in our mahi (work):
Frame oral health work within a Te Whare Tapa Whā model and/or Fonofale model, so discussed in an holistic context of whole body health, protecting our body dignity, connection between whole self, body and spirit- impact on wellbeing of good (and poor) oral health.
Snippets are key messages in a downloadable poster format. They are available here in Māori, Samoan, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Tongan and English.
Teeth Tools is the first component of Menemene Mai, an early childhood oral health toolkit for kaiako (teachers) in Waitaha Canterbury.
It is a physical set of teaching tools and resources that can be loaned to you from Community and Public Health.
To borrow Teeth Tools (for free) contact laura.brown@tewhatuora.govt.nz
The second component of Menemene Mai are the online resources found on this page.
For any queries about Teeth Tools:
Note: You will need to sign a borrower’s form saying you agree to take care of this kit. Tamariki need to be supervised when using these teeth tools.
Contact: Modern Teaching Aids, Auckland
Imera: sales@teaching.co.nz
Waea pūkoro: 0800 80 80 44
Price: $56.45 + GST + shipping
Contact: ‘Teacher Talk’, Plimmerton
Imera: info@teachertalk.org.nz
Waea pūkoro: 04 232 7858
Price: $16.95 + shipping
Website: Felt teeth package - Etsy (external link)
Price: $44.46 + shipping
Story books can be purchased from a supplier or could be borrowed from Christchurch City Libraries (external link).
Unfortunately, all other items included in ‘Teeth Tools’ are no longer available for purchase.
Note: These prices are accurate as of September 2023.
Many oral health teaching resources are available to download or order on the Community Health Information Centre website.
Community Health Information Centre (external link)
You can access or download these oral health resources now:
This programme focused on encouraging tamariki to engage in learning about oral health and brushing their own teeth is being started within the Waitaha region. This has been created to work alongside the Menemene Mai kits. This programme was developed by Te Whatu Ora Waitaha health promoters Laura Brown and Nicola Fraher.
We would like to acknowledge the South Canterbury WAVE team (external link) for allowing us to adapt their resources.
For more information on this programme, please email laura.brown@tewhatuora.govt.nz
The use of this whakatauākī, is to indicate what the teeth are and how they contribute to the well-being of an individual. Used in this context the teeth contribute to the strength of the shark, as the strength of the shark is its teeth.
Under Te Whare Tapa Whā, the four cornerstones of Māori health, oral health comes under Te Taha Tinana, however, the other three Taha are also encompassed within Te Taha Tinana. Te Taha Tinana becomes the vessel for which health is epitomised, and the teeth are a healthy reflection of the individual.
by Ruru Hona, Pou Whirinaki, Canterbury District Health Board
Menemene Mai has been created for and with kaiako of early childhood education settings in Waitaha Canterbury. Menemene Mai supports kaiako promote oral health so that children (with their whānau) are increasingly capable of:
This purpose aligns with the role of kaiako in Te Whāriki Strand 1, and in Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo.
Menemene Mai is a collaborative response by Community and Public Health (CPH) and Community Dental Service (CDS) to:
Good oral health supports not only physical health, but also psychological and social wellbeing. The models of health below illustrate this holistic approach.
Establishing good oral health habits in the home early, benefits children over their whole lifetime. Developing good oral health practices in early childhood will increase the likehood that they will be maintained into school age and continue in the home environment.
Sadly, some oral health statistics don’t make happy reading. 37% children (59% Maori, 68% Pacific) aged 5 in Canterbury DHB region have dental cavities. They have an average of 1.7 (3.0 for Maori, 3.8 for Pacific) decayed, missing or filled teeth. [1] https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/age-5-and-year-8-oral-health-data (external link)
Menemene Mai is designed to support your inquiry processes as kaiako, providing some ‘top picks’ as starters for the particular focus you, your tamariki and whānau want to take.
Acknowledgements from The Canterbury District Health Board (Community Dental Services & Community and Public Health) June 2019
We would like to thank tamariki, whānau and kaiako at Early Childhood Education settings in Waitaha Canterbury for their energy, patience, and guidance in developing Menemene Mai, in particular Aratupu Preschool & Nursery, Kidditech Early Learning Centre, Kidsfirst Kindergartens Edmonds Smith Street, Hagley Community Pre-school, New Beginnings Preschool, Tino e Tasi Preschool and Rangi Ruru Pre-School.
Particular thanks to tamariki, whānau and kaiako from Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Whānau Tahi, Tino e Tasi Preschool, Aratupu Preschool & Nursery, and BestStart Montessori MonaVale who generously gave their support and permission for these photos to be used in Menemene Mai. We think you’ll agree they are stunning advocates for smiling and taking good care of our teeth!
Kia ora also to Awarua Whānau Services, Toi Te Ora Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, Te Wahaora Roopu (Northland Oral Health Promoters Group), and South Canterbury District Health Board for sharing their oral health education materials.
The Menemene Mai Toolkit was designed for and with kaiako in Waitaha/Canterbury New Zealand. Kaiako in other places are welcome to download the activities and use the site, but please do not copy or reproduce the Menemene Mail toolkit content without permission.
Email: Community Dental Service and Community and Public Health.