Understanding Te Whariki: How Small Sprouts Brings New Zealand’s Early Childhood Curriculum to Life
If you’ve been researching early learning centres in New Zealand, you’ve probably heard about Te Whāriki—our national early childhood education (ECE) curriculum. But what exactly is it, and how does it shape your child’s experiences at Small Sprouts? In this blog, we’ll break down Te Whāriki in a way that’s easy to understand and explain how we incorporate it into our daily practices, play-based learning, and teaching philosophy.
What is Te Whāriki?
Te Whāriki is New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, designed to guide early learning centres, preschools, and daycare providers. It is unique because it is bicultural, holistic, and play-based, supporting tamariki in developing into confident, capable learners.
The name Te Whāriki means ‘woven mat’, symbolising how different strands of learning come together to form a strong foundation for each child.
Unlike traditional academic curriculums, Te Whāriki is not about rigid lesson plans or set outcomes. Instead, it encourages child-led learning, where tamariki develop skills, independence, and knowledge through play, exploration, and relationships.
The Four Principles of Te Whāriki
At Small Sprouts, we use Te Whāriki as the foundation for everything we do. It is based on four guiding principles, which shape our approach to learning:
🌱 1. Whakamana | Empowerment 🌱
Children are strong, capable learners who develop confidence when given opportunities to explore and make choices.
How We Support This at Small Sprouts:
We encourage tamariki to lead their own learning through hands-on experiences.
We provide open-ended play, allowing children to test ideas and solve problems.
Our kaiako (teachers) act as guides, not directors, empowering children to think critically and independently.
🏡 2. Whānau Tangata | Family and Community 🏡
Learning is connected to home, whānau, and community. Parents, caregivers, and kaiako all work together to support a child’s development.
How We Support This at Small Sprouts:
We partner with whānau—regular updates, open-door policies, and invitations to events.
We celebrate diverse cultures and languages, including te reo Māori.
We encourage tamariki to share their home experiences through storytelling and play.
🌍 3. Kotahitanga | Holistic Development🌍
Tamariki learn best when their emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development is nurtured together.
How We Support This at Small Sprouts:
Our activities focus on the whole child, not just academic skills.
We prioritise social-emotional learning, helping tamariki build confidence, kindness, and resilience.
We encourage tamariki to develop physical coordination through active outdoor play.
🤝 4. Ngā Hononga | Relationships 🤝
Relationships with people, places, and things are central to learning.
How We Support This at Small Sprouts:
We foster strong relationships between kaiako, children, and whānau.
Our tamariki learn through group play, storytelling, and collaboration.
We connect with nature and our local community to extend learning beyond the centre.
How Te Whāriki Shapes Our Daily Practices at Small Sprouts
Te Whāriki is not just a philosophy—it’s something we actively incorporate into our daily routine. Here’s how it plays out in real-life learning experiences at Small Sprouts.
1. Play-Based Learning
At Small Sprouts, we follow a child-led, play-based approach. This means:
No rigid academic lessons—learning happens naturally through play.
Children develop early literacy and numeracy through storytelling, songs, and problem-solving.
Activities are tailored to each child’s interests—whether it’s building, painting, gardening, or exploring.
2. Outdoor Exploration & Nature-Based Learning
We embrace te taiao (the natural world) in our curriculum.
Daily outdoor play strengthens coordination, creativity, and resilience.
Our tamariki engage in gardening, bug hunting, and weather observation to connect with nature.
We foster sustainability by teaching children to respect Papatuānuku (Mother Earth).
3. Social-Emotional Development Through Relationships
We teach tamariki kindness, patience, and communication through group play.
Our kaiako help children develop emotional resilience—learning to express feelings and solve conflicts peacefully.
Daily group discussions build confidence and self-expression.
4. Cultural Identity & Bicultural Learning
Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are woven into our daily routines.
We celebrate diverse cultures through songs, stories, and celebrations.
Tamariki learn about whakapapa (heritage) and connections to Aotearoa.
Why Te Whāriki Prepares Children for School & Beyond
Because Te Whāriki is play-based and holistic, it helps tamariki develop real-world skills that set them up for success in school and life. Key Skills Children Gain from a Te Whāriki-Based Programme:
Independence & Confidence – Being active participants in learning.
Problem-Solving & Creativity – Finding solutions through play and exploration.
Resilience & Emotional Regulation – Learning to manage emotions and social interactions.
Curiosity & Lifelong Learning – Developing a love for discovery.
When tamariki transition to school, they are better prepared to handle structured learning, social interactions, and challenges because of their strong foundation in self-regulation, communication, and critical thinking.
Final Thoughts: A Curriculum for Happy, Confident Learners
At Small Sprouts, we don’t just teach from Te Whāriki—we incorporate it throughout our day.
Our play-based approach fosters confidence, creativity, and curiosity.
We prioritise relationships, emotional well-being, and cultural identity.
We partner with parents to support each child’s unique learning journey.
Hopefully this has given you an insight into Te Whāriki. If you are in the Whangapararoa area we’d love to invite you for a visit! Come and experience how we nurture happy, engaged learners in a playful, loving environment.