Storytime Foundation and Taonga mō ngā Tamariki

In August 2024, the Storytime Foundation updated its website. An excerpt from the home page:

Storytime Foundation helps to strengthen whānau facing adversity in Aotearoa by supporting the building of bonds between a parent and child.

Early attachment can significantly improve outcomes in life for tamariki and their wider family and is especially important during the first 1000 days.

Reading together is one of the most effective ways to create these bonds and has positive effects on literacy and communication.

Storytime Foundation provides free books, education, and resources to New Zealand’s most vulnerable families in partnership with Well Child Tamariki Ora/Pēpi Ora and Family Start providers, Ministry of Education, and Department of Corrections.

An excerpt from Taonga mō ngā Tamariki:

Taonga mō ngā Tamariki (Treasures for our Children)

This programme extends Storytime Foundation’s reach to parents under the care or management of Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections who have children aged 0-12 years.

The Taonga mō ngā Tamariki programme shares with parents and caregivers the benefits of reading, storytelling, singing and playing with children. It gives whānau access to a choice of books and resources tailored to their languages and interests, and that support their culture and identity.

It provides them with the skills, confidence, and encouragement to play with and read to their tamariki.

It is argued that building these skills will lead to parents and caregivers enjoying time reading with their children, which serves to strengthen the attachment and connection between children and their parents, thereby reducing the likelihood of recidivism.

Ultimately, the evidence suggests that these conditions support and positively impact the wellbeing of parents and tamariki, including generating educational benefits, and that these lasting effects can help disrupt the cycle of offending.

Taonga mō ngā Tamariki in action

Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is based on an adaptation of the Early Reading Together® and Reading Together® Te Pānui Ngātahi programmes and combines books, games and resources with workshops.

It is designed to inform and foster positive whānau-tamariki relationships and is delivered to parents currently under the care or management of Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections. Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is delivered nationwide both in secure Corrections facilities as well as Community Corrections facilities.

2026

In April 2026, the Storytime Foundation published a release titled 'Non-Profit Storytime Foundation To Hit Major Milestone In Its Support Of Vulnerable Families'. Excerpts follow from the Fact Sheet:

With Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections, Storytime Foundation's Taonga mō ngā Tamariki [which is based on the Early Reading Together® and Reading Together® Te Pānui Ngātahi programmes] has delivered:

• 50 child-centric visits using books and activities to enrich prison visiting days for parents and tamariki with whānau.
• 350 programmes sharing reading, storytelling, singing, and play benefits, with culturally relevant books building skills and identity.
• 4,500 care packs for tamariki in vulnerable situations.
• Across 19 prisons and their probation services, including using books and activities to enhance the experience of Visiting Day in prison between parent and child when visiting with whānau.
• Taonga mō ngā Tamariki is focused on the ages of 0 to 12 years and delivered to parents/caregivers (which may include grandparents, stepparents, other caregivers) who are under the care of Ara Poutama Aotearoa/Department of Corrections. The initiative shares with parents and caregivers the benefits of reading, storytelling, singing and playing with children. It gives whānau access to a choice of books and resources tailored to their languages and interests, and that support their culture and identity. It provides them with the skills, confidence, and encouragement to play with and read to their tamariki.

Further excerpts from the Fact Sheet:

The extensive evidence base underpinning the work of the Storytime Foundation shows that regularly reading aloud to babies and young children results in significant development in children’s language skills and future literacy, because the language in books is richer and more diverse than in everyday conversations.

• Being read to also extends a range of children’s cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. It helps develop vital social and emotional skills and self-esteem in children.
• A caregiver taking time to read to their child – especially as a baby – is a key driver of early attachment. While ongoing experiences of neglect, stress or trauma can seriously impede development, early attachment can return children who have experienced adversity to normal biological function, creating equal opportunities in life for all tamariki in Aotearoa.

People who have engaged with the programme have said:

• “The Storytime sessions give our parents something positive to focus on. You can see the pride in them when they read to their children.” – Corrections officer
• “I’ve seen parents transform from feeling disconnected to genuinely enjoying their time with their children.” – Clinician

Additional Information:

• Evaluation of Taonga mō ngā Tamariki