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Physical and mental health for young children
Physical and mental health for young children

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3.1 Examples from around the world

Around the world, many countries include health education aimed at promoting good health in the curriculum. Ghana is one example of a national curriculum that has a statutory requirement for 10 minutes of health education each day.

Many high-income countries have a curriculum that is specifically designed for the care and education of infants and pre-school children. In 1996, New Zealand was one of the first countries to create its curriculum for the education and care of very young children. Te Whariki is Maori for ‘woven mat’. Te Whariki is underpinned by a vision for children who are competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.

The Te Whariki document (Ministry of Education, 2017) goes on to emphasise the importance of developing good wellbeing in children by promoting their sense of belonging, providing routines and giving opportunities for communication.