Overview
November 2012: Aariel Naidu is growing up understanding Hindi as well as English, and surrounded by the Indian culture and heritage of her family.
Aariel is the youngest daughter of Vijay Naidu and Archana Kumar. Her father, Vijay, came to New Zealand from Fiji in 1992. His cultural background is South Indian. Aariel’s mother was also from Fiji. She came to New Zealand in 1996 and her family were originally from North India. Vijay works as a lawyer and Archana works part-time as a pharmacist. Aariel has one sister, Aahya.
Respect for tradition and language
The family’s culture and heritage is central to their life. As Hindus, the family have a prayer room and Archana is teaching the children traditional prayers and songs which they recite at bed-time. Archana speaks Hindi to her children at home. The family also wear traditional Indian clothing for special occasions and take part in traditional Indian festivals like Diwali.
Local groups
Aariel has been involved in many activities and groups offered in the local area, including ‘Mainly Music’ and a local playgroup. At present she goes to a private kindergarten called ‘The Kids Studio’ and sometimes her grandmother looks after her when Archana is at work.
Favourite activities
Three-year-old Aariel loves doing puzzles,drawing, colouring in, and painting. She likes to play being a mummy with a baby in her tummy. She enjoys books and being read to, baking with her mother and watching TV programmes like Dora the Explorer and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. She has a cuddly rabbit that she always sleeps with. Her favourite food is meat and okra fried with garlic - she doesn't like any other green vegetables so her mother makes a large batch of okra for her to eat every week.