I’ve been wanting for a while to find a space where we can keep some of our art equipment for T to access independently. She is old enough now that I would trust her to be fairly responsible with using equipment in the right way and the right places, and since our arts and craft […]
learning
Baby Play: Balls!
T & A were given a tuff spot tray for Christmas and we’ve been enjoying putting it to use. In the last couple of months A has become increasingly engaged in playing and exploring the things around him. I love this age; it’s so fun to see what they enjoy and how they react to […]
Sweet Shop Role Play
Role play is a brilliant activity for children as it promotes the use of language; applying specific skills (such as counting or writing) in context; is great for social development; and best of all is lots of FUN! For T’s 4th birthday we gave her a ‘shop front’, and for one of her party activities, […]
Messy Play: Cloud Dough Sandcastles
Cloud dough is a lovely sensory material and really simple to make – just flour and oil! I know some people use baby oil, but I have always used vegetable oil because I have it to hand and it is also taste-safe! This is a lovely activity to do with babies once they are sitting […]
Glitter Snow Dough
Ok – you’d like an activity that is quick to prepare, cheap as chips (or possibly cheaper) and will keep your little ones entertained long enough for you to at least make and drink a cup of tea? Then you’re in the right place! Keep reading!
Make an Arctic Small World
Last week, I wrote about how to Make Your Own Small World Scene. Small worlds are SO much fun and can while away far too many hours on Pinterest and Instagram looking at ones which other people have put together – so many inviting scenes just waiting to be played with! This week, we have […]
Make Your Own Small World Scene
When I taught Reception, small world scenes were one of my favourite activities to prepare, and these days I love to do it for T. I think they make such a lovely activity, combining the creativity of fantasy and storytelling with the development of the child’s scientific and geographical understanding of the world around them. […]
Ocean Spaghetti Messy Play
I love doing messy play with T, although I definitely go through seasons of doing loads and then having a dry spell! Messy play is such a brilliant activity because it allows children to explore, experiment and create using all their senses. It provides so many learning opportunities! Before Christmas I challenged myself to do […]
Mechanical Play and the MAD Museum
A few weeks ago we visited The MAD Museum in Stratford upon Avon with some of my family. The MAD Museum showcases Mechanical Art & Design, or ‘kinetic art’ – a variety of artwork where movement is a intrinsic part of the piece. The museum is relatively small, but it’s really hands-on meaning that all […]
8 French Activities for Preschoolers
In the past T and I have often themed our week of play as I find it helps me to be a bit more intentional and creative about how we spend our time together. Recently though, I haven’t been great at getting my act together and taking the time to plan ahead. However, after reading […]