A Year of Play eBook (Aotearoa New Zealand Early Childhood Planning Guide)

A Year of Play is a thoughtfully designed, Aotearoa New Zealand specific, year long play and planning guide created to support adults who are facilitating early learning through play.

Developed by a fully qualified and registered ECE teacher, this eBook is grounded in Te Whāriki and links directly to the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, making planning meaningful, intentional, and easy to justify.

Originally created for a parent led, half-day preschool, A Year of Play is intentionally flexible and can be confidently used by:

• parent run or cooperative preschools

• home-based and homeschool settings

• early childhood teachers wanting planning support or inspiration

The guide follows the natural rhythm of the year in Aotearoa, offering play ideas, provocations, and learning experiences that reflect our seasons, environment, and cultural context. Rather than prescribing rigid activities, it supports child led, play based learning while helping adults understand the learning behind the play.

Inside the eBook you’ll find:

• A full year-long play framework aligned with Te Whāriki

• Clear curriculum links to support documentation and intentional teaching

• Play ideas that are realistic, low pressure, and adaptable

• A focus on learning through play, not schoolification

• Planning support that works across multiple ages and settings

A Year of Play is ideal for anyone who believes that children learn best through play, but still wants structure, confidence, and curriculum alignment to guide their planning.