Close your eyes. Now imagine a ‘classic’ children’s toy, something educational, something iconic. There’s a good chance the toy you imagined was a set of stacking rings. These conical towers of concentric rings are perhaps the quintessential toy. Stacking toys have been a cornerstone in children’s playrooms for generations, fascinating young minds with their simple […]
Uncovering the Mysteries of Stacking Toys Read More »
Does your child have a corner all to herself where she can go and write? She may only be a toddler whose mark-making consists of little more than a few horizontal sweeps of a chunky crayon. Or she may be a confident seven-year-old, writing stories and and cards, joining letters with confidence and precision. It
Encourage mark-making with a writing corner Read More »
Does your child love to play in the dirt? If so, a mud kitchen might be the perfect addition to your outdoor space. A mud kitchen is an outdoor play station that allows children to engage with nature while fostering creativity, learning, and motor skills. This guide will walk you through the process of making
How to create a mud kitchen Read More »
Setting goals, winning and losing, taking turns, counting, and sharing are just some of the great skills a board game can encourage. And making your own game, as well as playing it, means double the fun. Creating a personalised board game is an excellent way to bond with your preschooler while fostering their creativity and
Make-your-own board game Read More »
The enclosing schema is a cognitive pattern that is commonly observed in young children’s play. It involves creating an enclosed space or structure using objects or materials, such as building a fort out of pillows and blankets or using blocks to create a castle. This schema reflects the child’s desire to create a sense of
The enclosing schema Read More »
Children find water play endlessly fascinating and will happily spend hours experimenting with the materials. Which slope works best? What happens if you add mud to the water? What about stones? To build your own ‘water-park’, start with a length of guttering and a jug of water. Later on, you can add further lengths of guttering, drainpipes,
Water Play with Pipes and Guttering Read More »
Make tissue paper stained glass in any shape you like, but the natural symmetry of a butterfly is helpful for problem solving and mathematics. Children exploring their positioning schema can really get behind the challenge of creating wings that mirror each other perfectly. And there’s plenty to learn in terms of colour, size, language, using scissors and
Tissue Paper Stained Glass Butterfly Read More »
Most of us has our own way of making a paper airplane, usually passed down from a parent or grandparent. Some of us make pointy jet-style aircraft, others fashion planes with snubby noses and wider wings. Some plummet headfirst to the ground, others seem to float more gracefully. The permutations are literally manifold. This makes
It’s easy to make your own non-toxic finger paints at home. You will need: To make the paint: 1. Mix the cornflour with 100 ml of boiling water. 2. Stir together, adding the remaining water a little at a time. The cornflour resists mixing with the water to begin with and needs coaxing. Consistency is
Finger-paint recipe Read More »
For an interesting variation on traditional building blocks, try making your own using natural materials. To do this you’ll need branches of varying sizes. Remember you’ll be cutting through these so don’t choose anything too thick. Pieces of bark are also very useful and don’t forget to include conkers and pine cones as these make
Construction with natural materials Read More »