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Kōrero: Childhood

Minding siblings, around 1900

Minding siblings, around 1900

Older children often act as child minders for their younger siblings. Once they turn 14, they can legally look after children without adult supervision. This boy is minding his young brother and sister while their parents do other things, about 1900. He is keeping them occupied with paint and paper.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, A. C. Gifford Collection

Reference: 1/2-060438-G

by Algernon Charles Gifford

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Kerryn Pollock, Childhood – Family, school and work responsibilities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/26281/minding-siblings-around-1900 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Kerryn Pollock, i tāngia i te 22 March 2011.