A child playing with loose parts

The Four Types of Play

How does your child play?

If you ever have the chance to sit down and observe, have you noticed the kinds of play they engage in?

There are lots of theories about play and, like relativity and quantum mechanics, they make sense on their own but no-one has yet come up with a way to unify them – not even me 😉

One of the theories I’m particularly fond of is Sara Smilansky’s Four Types of Play.

Working with disadvantaged children back in the 1960s, Smilansky noticed that children’s play developed through four stages:

Click on the links above to explore the types in more depth.

Are you ready for school?

Do you have a preschooler? Would you like them to develop some key skills before starting school? How wonderful to go into school on that first day feeling like you belong.

Get Set Five is a year-long course full of fun and free activities to do with your child.