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Play
"Play can serve as a window on the child's developmental status, personality and well-being"
(Johnson, 1990; Pellegrini and Boyd 1993)
Play ideas that can be enjoyed by all nursery and primary aged children
Making Playdough
Why not make your own batch of Playdough!
There is so much learning in self-service dough making such as measuring (standard with scales or non-standard with cups) Physical development with the stirring efforts and creativity with adding colour and scent.
Following this you get to have hours of fun moulding using a variety of tools and whats more it builds up those all important hand muscles in preparation for writing.
I usually use the following amounts but there is lots online about how to make playdough:
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water
Splash of oil
You may need to add more flour if it turns out sticky!
Add colouring or paint to add colour.
There is so much learning in self-service dough making such as measuring (standard with scales or non-standard with cups) Physical development with the stirring efforts and creativity with adding colour and scent.
Following this you get to have hours of fun moulding using a variety of tools and whats more it builds up those all important hand muscles in preparation for writing.
I usually use the following amounts but there is lots online about how to make playdough:
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water
Splash of oil
You may need to add more flour if it turns out sticky!
Add colouring or paint to add colour.
Seasons
Explore the seasons and get creative.
Sequencing and ordering the seasons is a good mathematical skill alongside learning about the world around us.
Explore the colours we see around us in the different seasons and use arts and craft materials to display your child's ideas.
Here we decided to make trees to show the changes throughout the year.
We had lots of conversation introducing vocabulary such as Spring, Summer, Autumn, leaves, crisp, time, year, order, first, last, cold and warm.
This conversation can lead onto other topics such as life cycles and time zones.
Sequencing and ordering the seasons is a good mathematical skill alongside learning about the world around us.
Explore the colours we see around us in the different seasons and use arts and craft materials to display your child's ideas.
Here we decided to make trees to show the changes throughout the year.
We had lots of conversation introducing vocabulary such as Spring, Summer, Autumn, leaves, crisp, time, year, order, first, last, cold and warm.
This conversation can lead onto other topics such as life cycles and time zones.
Art in the Woods
When you go for a walk in nature why not go equipped with art equipment. It doesn't need to be expensive or extensive - some crayons, paper and a clipboard is enough.
From tree rubbings to observational drawing it will focus and calm your child without them even knowing.
From tree rubbings to observational drawing it will focus and calm your child without them even knowing.
Pom Pom Collecting
Invite your children to collect as many pom poms as they can but with their toes!
Here we were pretending to collect nuts for the mouse in The Gruffalo as we had just read the story, you can include it in the stories you are reading too.
Invite the children to collect as many as they can, placing them in their own designated container. Use smaller containers for older children to challenge them.
When 1 minute is up (use a sand timer so that the children can see the time going) invite them to count their pom poms and discuss who has the most.
Great for strength, focus and maths!
Here we were pretending to collect nuts for the mouse in The Gruffalo as we had just read the story, you can include it in the stories you are reading too.
Invite the children to collect as many as they can, placing them in their own designated container. Use smaller containers for older children to challenge them.
When 1 minute is up (use a sand timer so that the children can see the time going) invite them to count their pom poms and discuss who has the most.
Great for strength, focus and maths!
Sorting and Labelling
Sometimes children can feel overwhelmed being surrounded by lots of toys, making it difficult to choose and get deeply focused in play.
Invite your children to sort their toys and create labels for them. This is a really fun way to get your child's toys organised and accessible, allowing your child to find exactly what they want when they need it!
Listen to Amelia, an experienced Early Years Practitioner chat play in the Early years Foundation Stage using the link below.
Invite your children to sort their toys and create labels for them. This is a really fun way to get your child's toys organised and accessible, allowing your child to find exactly what they want when they need it!
Listen to Amelia, an experienced Early Years Practitioner chat play in the Early years Foundation Stage using the link below.
Favourite Book Illustrations
Invite your child to choose their favourite illustration from one of their story books.
Take your time to go through some of your favourite stories, talk about your favourite characters, parts of the plot, setting and come to a decision.
Invite your child to discuss the textures and colours used in the chosen illustration and what they might need to recreate it. They might like to put their own spin on it and change the colours and textures used.
Here we bought a cheap canvas for him to recreate the illustration on but scrap paper is perfect too!
Invite your child to recreate the illustration. If they want to they can put it up on the wall, a true piece of art!
Take your time to go through some of your favourite stories, talk about your favourite characters, parts of the plot, setting and come to a decision.
Invite your child to discuss the textures and colours used in the chosen illustration and what they might need to recreate it. They might like to put their own spin on it and change the colours and textures used.
Here we bought a cheap canvas for him to recreate the illustration on but scrap paper is perfect too!
Invite your child to recreate the illustration. If they want to they can put it up on the wall, a true piece of art!
Sand Timers
Sand timers offer a variety of learning opportunities including mathematical concepts and personal and emotional growth.
Use the timers to enable children to gain an understanding of time, an extremely abstract concept.
When you say to a child that they have 10 minutes until they can have their snack you may find they keep asking and struggle to be settled by you giving this amount of time. Using a sand timer in this situation enables a child to physically see the amount of time they have to wait, watch it go by if they want to and be comforted by knowing how much time they need to wait.
You can use the sand timers to enable siblings or friends to share toys giving them a set amount of time before asking them to give somebody else a turn.
Invite your children to use sand timers to brush teeth or wash their hair.
In this photo my daughter decided to order the timers, to do this she decided to watch to see which one finished first, she then confirmed this by looking at the numbers on top - an opportunity to facilitate critical thinking and problem solve.
Use the timers to enable children to gain an understanding of time, an extremely abstract concept.
When you say to a child that they have 10 minutes until they can have their snack you may find they keep asking and struggle to be settled by you giving this amount of time. Using a sand timer in this situation enables a child to physically see the amount of time they have to wait, watch it go by if they want to and be comforted by knowing how much time they need to wait.
You can use the sand timers to enable siblings or friends to share toys giving them a set amount of time before asking them to give somebody else a turn.
Invite your children to use sand timers to brush teeth or wash their hair.
In this photo my daughter decided to order the timers, to do this she decided to watch to see which one finished first, she then confirmed this by looking at the numbers on top - an opportunity to facilitate critical thinking and problem solve.
Sand Play
Order some play sand.
Using a small tray (this one is a play tray but you can use an ordinary washing up bowl or dining tray).
Invite your child to choose a few bits to put in the tray ranging from toy animals to a tea set.
If your child is really little you may want to choose resources for them so it doesn't become overwhelming.
Maybe think about what resources they have been interested in over the past few days and follow their lead.
Invite them to fill and empty containers and use their fingers to explore the sand.
Place a towel or mat underneath to ensure the mess is easy to clear up.
Using a small tray (this one is a play tray but you can use an ordinary washing up bowl or dining tray).
Invite your child to choose a few bits to put in the tray ranging from toy animals to a tea set.
If your child is really little you may want to choose resources for them so it doesn't become overwhelming.
Maybe think about what resources they have been interested in over the past few days and follow their lead.
Invite them to fill and empty containers and use their fingers to explore the sand.
Place a towel or mat underneath to ensure the mess is easy to clear up.
Bubble Wrap Painting
Keep hold of small and large pieces of bubble wrap from your deliveries. Bubble wrap bags are especially good as kids can fit their little hands inside them!
Invite your child to choose a few different colours and pop some paint onto a tray.
Press the bubble wrap firmly onto the paint. Laying the wrap across all colours will look really nice once printed onto the paper but allow your child to experiment.
Press the paint covered bubble wrap onto some large paper or cardboard.
After you have explored a bit you can wait for the paint to dry and draw some pictures with a black pen (such as fish, dinosaurs or houses) over the top and cut the drawings out.
Explore and discuss the patterns, colours and shapes!
Invite your child to choose a few different colours and pop some paint onto a tray.
Press the bubble wrap firmly onto the paint. Laying the wrap across all colours will look really nice once printed onto the paper but allow your child to experiment.
Press the paint covered bubble wrap onto some large paper or cardboard.
After you have explored a bit you can wait for the paint to dry and draw some pictures with a black pen (such as fish, dinosaurs or houses) over the top and cut the drawings out.
Explore and discuss the patterns, colours and shapes!
Water Balloons
Water balloons are so much fun!
Filling them up using an outside tap is fun for little ones and requires some hand eye coordination and helps to strengthen the muscles in their hands, ready for writing!
Another fun idea is to put small toys inside the balloons before filling them, this is tricky but requires focus, patience and again helps to develop fine motor skills.
Once filled with water you can throw them to try to release the toys, kids love it! If you don't want anybody getting wet then encourage throwing at appropriate objects in your outdoor area such as brick walls.
If you are up for getting wet you can get dressed in waterproof onesies or swimwear in the warm weather!
If you don't have an outdoor space at home prepare the balloons and pack them into a bag and head off to the local fields/parks.
Model looking after our planet by picking up the broken balloons after your activity and explain the importance for local nature/wildlife.
Filling them up using an outside tap is fun for little ones and requires some hand eye coordination and helps to strengthen the muscles in their hands, ready for writing!
Another fun idea is to put small toys inside the balloons before filling them, this is tricky but requires focus, patience and again helps to develop fine motor skills.
Once filled with water you can throw them to try to release the toys, kids love it! If you don't want anybody getting wet then encourage throwing at appropriate objects in your outdoor area such as brick walls.
If you are up for getting wet you can get dressed in waterproof onesies or swimwear in the warm weather!
If you don't have an outdoor space at home prepare the balloons and pack them into a bag and head off to the local fields/parks.
Model looking after our planet by picking up the broken balloons after your activity and explain the importance for local nature/wildlife.
Fishing
Use a washing up bowl and fill it with warm water, placing it on a water proof mat. Add food colouring of your choice.
Surround the bowl with fishing nets, sieves, slotted spoons and water creatures or bath toys if you don't have any.
Encourage role play with the creatures/bath toys in the water.
Talk about what happens to the water when you use the sieve/nets and spoons. Discuss the colour of the water - Can you change the colour? Can you see the fish at the bottom of the bowl? Why not?
You can listen to our podcast episode with the Canal and River Trust, where we discuss water and wellbeing, using the link below.
Surround the bowl with fishing nets, sieves, slotted spoons and water creatures or bath toys if you don't have any.
Encourage role play with the creatures/bath toys in the water.
Talk about what happens to the water when you use the sieve/nets and spoons. Discuss the colour of the water - Can you change the colour? Can you see the fish at the bottom of the bowl? Why not?
You can listen to our podcast episode with the Canal and River Trust, where we discuss water and wellbeing, using the link below.
Match the Animal
Print out some photographs of animals (ones that you have a toy version of). You can even add a label underneath the photo to get them used to seeing the word/sounds.
Invite your child to pick an animal out of a bag/box with their eyes closed.
Once they have picked an animal invite them to match the animal to the correct photo card.
If you don't have time to make photo cards you could invite your child to make them remembering to celebrate all drawing and writing attempts.
The sorting element of this game is early maths and recognising the animals and animal names is developing their understanding of their world, communication and literacy!
Invite your child to pick an animal out of a bag/box with their eyes closed.
Once they have picked an animal invite them to match the animal to the correct photo card.
If you don't have time to make photo cards you could invite your child to make them remembering to celebrate all drawing and writing attempts.
The sorting element of this game is early maths and recognising the animals and animal names is developing their understanding of their world, communication and literacy!
Bring Baking to Them!
When cooking or baking with your child set up a mat on the floor so the utensils and experiences are all taking place on their level.
This way they can get fully involved and observe the bits that have to be done by the adults!
Pick something simple to cook and always put aside time so that cooking together is less pressured and stressful.
To find out more about cooking and eating with little ones you can book onto our Family Food and Eating online session using the link below!
This way they can get fully involved and observe the bits that have to be done by the adults!
Pick something simple to cook and always put aside time so that cooking together is less pressured and stressful.
To find out more about cooking and eating with little ones you can book onto our Family Food and Eating online session using the link below!
Shops
Use your child's toys to create your own toy shop.
Here we made our own Disney Store using any Disney toys we had and put on Disney music for atmosphere.
Invite your child to "set up". Maybe you could visit a shop first to get some ideas. Your shop can be anything you like, maybe it's a general toy store so you can use any toys you have.
You could also introduce sections in your shop to encourage your child to sort and organise, such as a dinosaur section or a soft toy section.
We turned over a box and placed a blanket over it to put our till on top of and used a stash of tote bags for the carrier bags. We used real money so if you choose to do the same make sure you are there to keep an eye on things due to the choking hazard!
Try to be the shopkeeper first, introducing them to the language needed to move the play forward and then swap and model the customer.
Here we made our own Disney Store using any Disney toys we had and put on Disney music for atmosphere.
Invite your child to "set up". Maybe you could visit a shop first to get some ideas. Your shop can be anything you like, maybe it's a general toy store so you can use any toys you have.
You could also introduce sections in your shop to encourage your child to sort and organise, such as a dinosaur section or a soft toy section.
We turned over a box and placed a blanket over it to put our till on top of and used a stash of tote bags for the carrier bags. We used real money so if you choose to do the same make sure you are there to keep an eye on things due to the choking hazard!
Try to be the shopkeeper first, introducing them to the language needed to move the play forward and then swap and model the customer.
Dinosaur Land
Using upturned boxes and an autumn nature collection create your own land for your toy dinosaurs.
Invite your children to follow your lead by carefully placing your objects.
Name the natural objects to introduce new vocabulary and use words such as "next to", "under" and "on top" to help develop positional language.
Play with your dinosaurs and add in some small world characters encouraging speech and language.
Invite your children to follow your lead by carefully placing your objects.
Name the natural objects to introduce new vocabulary and use words such as "next to", "under" and "on top" to help develop positional language.
Play with your dinosaurs and add in some small world characters encouraging speech and language.
Construction Designing and Labelling
When constructing with your little ones there a few ways to encourage writing for a purpose.
Pre-construction time invite your child to design a model first. Sometimes it's nice to just get creative on the spot but when the time is right you could draw what it is you both want to create first and label the different parts of your model design.
If your child is new to writing then they can "mark make". "Mark making" is when children "scribble" and then assign meaning to their marks - it's the beginning of their writing journey.
They may start to write the first sounds of a word or the first and last sounds. Whatever stage they are at at and whatever age all writing attempts should be celebrated not corrected.
Then make your model trying to get it as close to the design as possible. Do not expect perfection with this, it's all about the process.
Finally, label your construction model. In my picture it says "The Museum and a cinema".
You can attach your label or sign to your construction model and display it in your house for all to see!
Pre-construction time invite your child to design a model first. Sometimes it's nice to just get creative on the spot but when the time is right you could draw what it is you both want to create first and label the different parts of your model design.
If your child is new to writing then they can "mark make". "Mark making" is when children "scribble" and then assign meaning to their marks - it's the beginning of their writing journey.
They may start to write the first sounds of a word or the first and last sounds. Whatever stage they are at at and whatever age all writing attempts should be celebrated not corrected.
Then make your model trying to get it as close to the design as possible. Do not expect perfection with this, it's all about the process.
Finally, label your construction model. In my picture it says "The Museum and a cinema".
You can attach your label or sign to your construction model and display it in your house for all to see!
Making Clay Brains
Use a picture or a diagram (for brain images and references you can use some of the children's books we recommend exploring the brain).
Using the pictures create the shape out of clay and invite your children to notice and copy the different patterns and sections of the brain using different tools. You don't need clay tools, just use some utensils and play dough tools, if you have them.
Whilst you are making them you can discuss the names of the different parts and the jobs they do.
If your child is old enough they could make labels using small bits of paper and cocktail sticks or straws and put them into the correct parts of the brain.
Once dry you can paint them!
Check out our recommended children's books including some about the brain using the link below.
Using the pictures create the shape out of clay and invite your children to notice and copy the different patterns and sections of the brain using different tools. You don't need clay tools, just use some utensils and play dough tools, if you have them.
Whilst you are making them you can discuss the names of the different parts and the jobs they do.
If your child is old enough they could make labels using small bits of paper and cocktail sticks or straws and put them into the correct parts of the brain.
Once dry you can paint them!
Check out our recommended children's books including some about the brain using the link below.
Family History
Explore your wider family by getting out some old pictures.
Invite your child to discuss what they think your family motto is, what is your approach to things, what connects you all, likes, dislikes etc....
Tell stories of your grandparents, parents, cousins, are there any connections and similarities to how your children live their lives. Things passed down - skills, passions, talents?
Once you have some ideas begin to put all your ideas into a large piece of art.
You can use an old flattened cardboard box or here we bought some white foam board from an art shop.
The children can add photos, mottos, sayings, words and magazine cut outs to make a piece of family history art.
This sense of belonging is great for wellbeing for everyone involved!
Invite your child to discuss what they think your family motto is, what is your approach to things, what connects you all, likes, dislikes etc....
Tell stories of your grandparents, parents, cousins, are there any connections and similarities to how your children live their lives. Things passed down - skills, passions, talents?
Once you have some ideas begin to put all your ideas into a large piece of art.
You can use an old flattened cardboard box or here we bought some white foam board from an art shop.
The children can add photos, mottos, sayings, words and magazine cut outs to make a piece of family history art.
This sense of belonging is great for wellbeing for everyone involved!
Drums
Get out a selection of pots and pans. A set for you and a set for your child.
Use some wooden spoons - a pair for you and a pair for your child.
Together drum away exploring the different sounds.
Ask them to follow you so when you play quietly they play quietly and the same for middle and loud.
Choose some of their favourite nursery rhymes and songs to play along to.
The final step is to apologise to your neighbours!
Use some wooden spoons - a pair for you and a pair for your child.
Together drum away exploring the different sounds.
Ask them to follow you so when you play quietly they play quietly and the same for middle and loud.
Choose some of their favourite nursery rhymes and songs to play along to.
The final step is to apologise to your neighbours!
Chalk Play
Get outside with some chalk!
You don't have to go far, just step outside of your home with a pot of chunky chalks and decorate the pavement.
Invite children to get creative and if they are not feeling that then a game of Hop Scotch is always a winner!
Encourage them to draw the squares and write the numbers (maybe you could take some number cards outside for them to copy!)
If they don't fancy that then model writing the numbers for them.
If it's raining you can predict what will happen to the chalk drawings in the water and watch as the results come in!
You don't have to go far, just step outside of your home with a pot of chunky chalks and decorate the pavement.
Invite children to get creative and if they are not feeling that then a game of Hop Scotch is always a winner!
Encourage them to draw the squares and write the numbers (maybe you could take some number cards outside for them to copy!)
If they don't fancy that then model writing the numbers for them.
If it's raining you can predict what will happen to the chalk drawings in the water and watch as the results come in!
Smell and Guess
Place 5 different foods into individual small bowls.
Invite your child to place something around their eyes or just cover them with their hands (if you can trust them!)
Place the small pot under their nose and ask them to guess the food by smelling it.
They can draw a picture of a nose and write down the answers (or draw them) too if they want, as we have done in the picture.
To make it a bit easier show them all the bowls first so they are guessing out of a smaller selection.
Talk about the 5 senses and how using our nose is one of them.
Invite your child to place something around their eyes or just cover them with their hands (if you can trust them!)
Place the small pot under their nose and ask them to guess the food by smelling it.
They can draw a picture of a nose and write down the answers (or draw them) too if they want, as we have done in the picture.
To make it a bit easier show them all the bowls first so they are guessing out of a smaller selection.
Talk about the 5 senses and how using our nose is one of them.
Shape Patterns
Draw and cut out some shapes in lots of different colours (I did this whilst watching my favourite TV show the night before but if you don't fancy this then get your children to do it!)
Cut out a strip of paper and divide it into sections by folding it (in this picture I made 5 sections) Children who can focus for longer may be able to have more sections.
Invite them to make a pattern, maybe make one yourself first so they can see what you mean by pattern.
For younger children keep it to either a colour or shape pattern with two possibilities. For example "square, circle, square circle" OR "red, green, red, green"
For older children they may be able to make the pattern more complicated such as "red, green, yellow, blue OR "square, circle, triangle, square, circle, triangle".
It helps to say the pattern out loud so that they can hear the rhythm of the words.
Cut out a strip of paper and divide it into sections by folding it (in this picture I made 5 sections) Children who can focus for longer may be able to have more sections.
Invite them to make a pattern, maybe make one yourself first so they can see what you mean by pattern.
For younger children keep it to either a colour or shape pattern with two possibilities. For example "square, circle, square circle" OR "red, green, red, green"
For older children they may be able to make the pattern more complicated such as "red, green, yellow, blue OR "square, circle, triangle, square, circle, triangle".
It helps to say the pattern out loud so that they can hear the rhythm of the words.
Host a Not So Giant Jam Sandwich Picnic
Read the book 'The Giant Jam Sandwich'.
Invite your child to choose some of their soft toys to join them at their own jam sandwich picnic.
Make a list of ingredients you need (if your child is not ready to write then you can scribe for them). Ensure that you celebrate any writing attempts - this is about the process not the end result.
Discuss what resources you need to set up a picnic.
Invite your child to make the sandwiches with your help. Ensure you use blunt knives suitable for little hands and stay with your child whilst they are spreading.
Invite them to think about how many plates, cups, bread etc they will need, this adds in a bit of maths too.
Sit and enjoy your picnic together and discuss the process - What did they enjoy? What did they find difficult? How did they overcome any challenges?
For tips on how to cook and eat with little ones check out the information and podcast episode using the link below.
Invite your child to choose some of their soft toys to join them at their own jam sandwich picnic.
Make a list of ingredients you need (if your child is not ready to write then you can scribe for them). Ensure that you celebrate any writing attempts - this is about the process not the end result.
Discuss what resources you need to set up a picnic.
Invite your child to make the sandwiches with your help. Ensure you use blunt knives suitable for little hands and stay with your child whilst they are spreading.
Invite them to think about how many plates, cups, bread etc they will need, this adds in a bit of maths too.
Sit and enjoy your picnic together and discuss the process - What did they enjoy? What did they find difficult? How did they overcome any challenges?
For tips on how to cook and eat with little ones check out the information and podcast episode using the link below.
Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me
Read 'Papa, Please get the Moon for me' by Eric Carle.
Get some large paper and draw a large circle for the moon and some different length ladders to different parts of the moon in pencil.
Invite your child to decorate the moon. We decided to use collage in similar colours.
Cut out small rectangles for your child to stick for the ladder steps. We counted how many steps we stuck in and talked about the different lengths of the ladders.
Encourage your child to create themselves, they can stick themselves down or use the little person to play and imagine themselves climbing to the moon.
Get some large paper and draw a large circle for the moon and some different length ladders to different parts of the moon in pencil.
Invite your child to decorate the moon. We decided to use collage in similar colours.
Cut out small rectangles for your child to stick for the ladder steps. We counted how many steps we stuck in and talked about the different lengths of the ladders.
Encourage your child to create themselves, they can stick themselves down or use the little person to play and imagine themselves climbing to the moon.
Letter Play
Display your Scrabble letters on a tray and leave them out with a Scrabble Tile holder. I displayed them by grouping them so each letter was easy to find but this isn't necessary.
Next, print or write some high frequency words (words we use most) onto paper and leave them out for your child to recreate in tiles. A list of high frequency words can be found using the link below.
Next, print or write some high frequency words (words we use most) onto paper and leave them out for your child to recreate in tiles. A list of high frequency words can be found using the link below.
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