People have been making toys long before shops existed to buy them. It’s not all just marketing. Children need toys to help them tell stories, to make sense of the world. The toys that survive from pre-history are often little figures, carved from stone or shaped from clay. Stick figures would also have been used. […]
In defence of toys Read More »
Did you know that many of the classic games you played as a child can help lay the foundations for reading, writing, maths and much more? If you want to give your child a leg-up with some of the basics before school starts, but don’t much fancy boring practice books, these games strike a great
10 games to get set for school Read More »
Have you ever wanted a guide to help you educate your baby or pre-schooler? Something comprehensive and empowering but easy to digest? As a former nursery and primary school teacher, I’ve often thought about writing such a book. Once I even made a list of everything I wanted to include, and then set about editing
The secret to education that every Zen master knows Read More »
How many toys does your child have? How did they end up in your home? Were they wanted or are they stowaways? However many you have, I’m willing to bet you have too many. And that’s bad. Bad because children don’t need them and because it’s impossible to store them. Fortunately, it’s easier to cut
Having Fewer, Better Toys Read More »
Grimm’s toys are easy to love. The beautiful colours, the natural feel, the endless play possibilities. But where to start? If you’re planning your first purchase, it can be hard to decide. Much depends on what’s already in your toy box. A set of blocks is essential, and you’ll need some figures. Beyond that, you
Grimm’s Gift Guide Read More »
How many toys does your child actually need? If you’ve read our toy guides for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, you’ll know that there are a lot to choose from. But how many are really necessary? After all, how many toys did Socrates have? Or our palaeolithic ancestors? Toys help to break down complicated concepts into
Toy box essentials Read More »
You played it in the womb. It was right there at the very beginning, millions of years ago, when life began. Without it, no other learning would be possible. It’s the most fundamental skill. Pre-schoolers love to play it. You’ll find it in every children’s magazine. Have you guessed? Spot the difference. Light and dark;
What was the first game you ever played? Read More »
How much of your child’s playtime do you control? Do you spend lots of time together, making collages or working on interesting projects? Or does your child come and go as she pleases? Free-flow play is something you’ll encounter in many nurseries and is considered good practice. But it’s hard to get right. The idea
Do you think children should have a childhood? Of course you do. Who wouldn’t? Here in the west we take it for granted that a child’s first few years are sacred, a place for play and discovery, before the pressures of work and responsibility are felt. We are horrified by stories of child labour in
What is childhood? Read More »
Just like us, babies have a mental model of how they think the world works. When something unexpected happens, it challenges what they’d previously believed. So they have to take in new information that will enable them to piece together a more accurate picture. It’s why you’ll see them repeat actions many times. They’re testing
Babies learn by looking for the unexpected. Read More »