Building a brighter future for our Mokopuna
ENGAGE™ is a Play-based Approach
to Teaching Self-regulation
Self-regulation is a core skill that is strongly associated with a variety of outcomes and everyday functioning in the social, learning and emotional aspects of our lives.
Decades of research have shown that poor self-regulation skills in the early childhood years are predictive of a wide array of adverse outcomes, covering a spectrum such as:
- Academic and social difficulties in childhood
- Poorer work functioning
- Higher rates of unemployment and criminality
- Poorer mental health and more relationship difficulties
“Studies have proved that playing games can lead to major improvements in children’s self-regulation skills.”
Jimmy McLauchan
Chief Development Officer
Methodist Mission Southern
ENGAGE aims to improve children’s self-regulation skills within a structured play-based approach. In research trials with a diverse range of whānau, early childhood education centres (ECE), and primary school participants both in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas, ENGAGE has consistently been associated with statistically significant improvements in children’s self-regulation skills.
It encompasses:
Emotional skills
For Example: recognising and regulating emotions, calming through breathing and movement, mindfulness, perspective-taking and tolerating frustration
Cognitive/thinking skills
For Example: listening and paying attention, persistence, remembering instructions and filtering out distractions
Behavioural skills
For Example: controlling impulses, turn-taking, fine and gross motor skills, and controlling speed of movement
Mokopuna use their Self-regulation Skills Every Day by:
Mokopuna rely on their self-regulation skills daily in many aspects of life. These skills help them sit and focus during a story, remember and follow a list of instructions, navigate social interactions like sharing, and manage strong emotions such as frustration or anger. Self-regulation empowers them to calm themselves when needed and engage positively with the world around them.
Get Started with ENGAGE™
What is ENGAGE™
ENGAGE is focused on fostering mokopuna’s skills, attitudes, learning dispositions, and working theories within a fun play-based framework.
The framework has a strong focus on relationships, working together, and belonging.
ENGAGE is fully emersed in AKO (teaching and learning) as self-regulation is a skill that children develop together with adults and others in their environment.
Funders and Collaborators
ENGAGE would not have been possible without the invaluable support and collaboration of these organisations:
