Play (Tākaro) and Primary Schools
Playful environments help children learn, connect, and thrive.
Play is essential for healthy youth development and wellbeing.
Our Play (Tākaro) and Primary Schools team is dedicated to advocating, educating, and fostering opportunities for our children and young people (tamariki and rangatahi) to actively engage in enriching play experiences that contribute to their holistic development in social, physical, mental, and cognitive aspects.
We actively promote the creation of playful communities, while also educating schools and whānau about the significance of play in both home and school environments for our tamariki.
Find Out More
Discover a wealth of valuable resources and learning opportunities designed to broaden your awareness and deepen your understanding of the inherent value and numerous benefits associated with play.
Play Resources
Playful Childhoods https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/ Adventure and Junk Play https://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Early-Childhood/Play-ideas/Play-ideas-complete-collection.pdf
Top tips for parenting playfully https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=f0c1f79f-1f32-4822-82a5-b274c1b9ff45
Tips for rainy day play https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=769a28af-88ae-491f-b551-3ca0de927cfb
https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=22d94216-0267-4a19-b600-e3c8cc0bdf54
https://www.aucklandforkids.co.nz/playgrounds/north-aucklands-best-playgrounds/
Tākai – Parenting info for whānau https://www.takai.nz/find-resources/activities/
Play ideas around your home https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/ideas-for-play-around-your-home
Teacher resources Halswell School – Learning Through Play https://www.growwaitaha.co.nz/our-stories/halswell-school-learning-through-play/
Kaimai School – Play Based Learning https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/School-snapshots/Kaimai-School
Grant Schofield: Movement is crucial to learning https://vimeo.com/740620221
Play in schools https://youtu.be/4BDar7tjFA0
Genius of Play – Play Ideas and Games https://thegeniusofplay.org/genius/play-ideas-tips/play-ideas-and-tips.aspx
Podcasts
‘Play it Forward’ Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2bUj4635bjct6yf96ExnK6?si=63feeaeaf7f74ed1
‘Play Conversations’ Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2dzy2y5bIhGTt5HNUaJK1M?si=7e0f7999cb964b85
‘The Play-Based Learning’ Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/0QloFljydlM0JwQCadOR6y?si=03ee38c33ecb40ac
Instagram Accounts
@aucklandplaygrounds or https://www.instagram.com/aucklandplaygrounds/
Play Opportunities
Play Aotearoa Workshops and webinars https://playaotearoa.org.nz/play-dates/
Sport New Zealand Play Workshop through Sports Tutor
‘Say Yes to Play’ is a series of three short online learning modules to support parents and caregivers to grow their knowledge of play and inspire more play. Every adult has the potential to create more play for their whānau and these modules will support you to do that. https://sporttutor.nz/pages/description.jsf?menuId=1104#/users/@self/catalogues/110468/courses/3157517/description
Local Play Deliverers – Pop Up Play https://www.popupplay.co.nz/
– Conscious Kids https://www.consciouskids.co.nz/
– The Open Fort http://theopenfort.com/
– Auckland Council ‘Out & About’ Series https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2022/10/get-out-and-about-on-the-shore-this-summer/
– Kelly Sports Hibiscus Coast https://kellysports.co.nz/hibiscus-coast
– Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust (KCFT) https://kcft.org.nz/
Play Funding
Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa provides funding for programmes or projects delivering play, active recreation, and sport experiences for tamariki and rangatahi. These may be new or already operating.
Tū Manawa play projects currently happening:
– Conscious Kids – Junk Play and Loose Part Play Community Days
– Kelly Sports ‘Play Your Way’
– Onepoto School
– Beach Haven School
– Helensville School
– Glenfield School
– Sunnybrae School
Neighbourhood Play System
Case Studies
Harbour Sport Play Trailer
Bring the fun to your community with the Harbour Sport Play Trailer!
Available for hire, our trailer is packed with a wide range of play equipment to make your events or school days unforgettable. From tug-of-war, Parachutes, balls and backyard cricket – we’ve got everything you need for a day full of active fun.
Perfect for community events and schools, the Harbour Sport Play Trailer is your go-to resource for promoting play and supporting a healthy, active community. Book the Play Trailer today and let the fun begin!
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