Men's Support Group provides a bright light

Special Board Award Winner – Kidsfirst Hawthornden

Having a strong mesh of social support can make a big difference between coping through a crisis and feeling isolated, and our kindergartens are often hubs for connection over hard times.

Kidsfirst Hawthornden found a unique way to support its community after last year’s lockdown, with the establishment of a men’s support group.

“The pandemic hit our community really hard,” says Kidsfirst Hawthornden Head Teacher, Kerry Smith, “We care deeply about our men and the vital role they play in the life of tamariki. We were researching mental health, and became aware of the concerning statistics relating to men’s mental health in New Zealand. We knew how important it was for our men to have a voice, be heard, make new friends, talk, and support each other with parenting.”

Upon returning to kindergarten, the ‘Men of Hawthornden’ group was officially set-up, meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at a local bar.

“Men could go and discuss issues and concerns that were troubling them. It was an opportunity to engage our whānau in the community, and broaden their perspective of the wider world, especially during such isolating times.”

The aim was to create an inclusive environment for engagement and connection, and it worked.

“Our men showed increased self-esteem and confidence. They started having long conversations with each other, which was something we never saw happening before. They took more of an active role at kindergarten – staying to play, being engaged, supporting children, and stepping out of their comfort zones to help other families. Our men started to show a sense of purpose in their interactions with kaiako, tamariki, and whānau.”

The group started off with four dads, but word spread quickly, and there are now twenty-plus members. Monthly meetups evolved from drinks and chats, to exploring new hobbies; ranging from mini golf and pool, to bowling, and even taking flight simulations.

Kaiako say this was widely impactful for the men, but also caused a ripple effect amongst the rest of their kindergarten whānau.

“The dads started positively engaging, teaming up and supporting each other. This, in turn, had a positive influence on our families – children were happy, responsive, active, and eager to learn. We’ve seen greater enthusiasm from whānau to be involved in the running of the kindergarten, further developing and strengthening relationships with tamariki. There is also an increased understanding of our philosophy and education practices.”

Kerry says the group turned their kindergarten into a more cohesive community, reflected by the interest in building relationships and getting involved in day-to-day activities.

“This has created strong inclusive partnerships, and increasing participation amongst families and whānau in our wider community.”

Our thanks to Powershop for their generous support of this year’s Kidsfirst Board Special award.

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