Talking Matters is all about building Language Rich Environments (LRE) for tamariki in the first 1000 days. We know that when tamariki participate in LRE in their early years, their innate potential as competent, confident and creative communicators can be realised. The importance of LRE is backed not only by Western science, but is also grounded in indigenous knowledge.

Talking Matters draws on diverse sources of knowledge, strategies, resources and data to support everyone to play their part in building LREs for tamariki in Aotearoa. We partner with whānau, communities, practitioners, ECEs, iwi and government to co-design strategies that are specific and relevant to each context.

Alongside whānau, early childhood teachers are in a privileged position to make a huge difference in the lives of tamariki. Kaiako already know a lot about responsive interactions and have access to some awesome resources like Te Whāriki, Te Kōrerorero and others, offering science-based, accessible guidelines for promoting rich language. Talking Matters' contribution in ECE spaces is helping teachers ground the theory in their everyday practice, find strategies that work in their context, and measure the results of their mahi for continuous improvement.