Learning through Play
On the Blog...
Fine Motor Hack: Cutting and Sticking ✂️
Tape paper to the tables so your little one can focus on learning how to use their scissors. Draw lines on the paper for them to try and follow, or...
Making Potions: Playtime Hack
Making potions together is so much fun. Especially if you read 'Room on the Broom'.Find a big tub or bowl to be your cauldron and explore the garden to find...
DIY Chalk Paint
Thank me tomorrow- this is the easiest summer activity and it’s so fun! Plus it’s taste safe for little hands. Easy to clean messy-play is always a winner. Tag us...
Fly a Kite: Easy Toddler Activity
Has your toddler ever flown a kite?Kites are pretty inexpensive and make for a fantastic windy day activity.Not only will it get your child moving their body, this sensory activity...
Christmas Cutting
This afternoon I involved August in my Christmas wrapping by letting him practice his scissor skills. These are just kids scissors I picked up in the stationary section. He was...
Minimal Effort Messy Play
When toys get boring - you have to get creative. Instagram is full of glossy images of the perfect play set ups for kids but in reality - they don't...
Mini-Me Makeover
Full disclosure: Today I did some basic make up then August came in and wanted to do his - so I handed him stuff item by item until he was...
Pouring Practice
I sometimes think mums feel overwhelmed about doing activities with their kids when insta accounts show perfectly colourful wooden play set ups with posh resources and autumnal lighting 😂 Reality...
Outdoor Painting
Our simple play activity yesterday was some painting. I didn't want to have to worry about a big clean up so we got some warm gears on and headed outdoors....
Exploring Stickers
We're really into stickers at the moment. I even took them in my bag of tricks to entertain August on the flight to Christchurch. They're a sticky, colourful novelty and...
Imagine there's food
I’ve modelled this strategy for so many early childhood teachers - I figured you guys might want in on it.I see it all the time - the kids with the...
Autumn Art
It's free to crunch in the autumn leaves, so we've been doing loads of it. We talk about autumn every day, pointing out the bare trees and the different...
Colour Detective
August and I are sick, so I needed to come up with some super simple activities that didn’t zap energy from either of us. Colour detective was born!HOW?I found a...
Indoor Camping
Here's a gentle reminder to pitch a tent indoors! Especially if you're not a camping person (like me!). Kids love enclosed spaces - even when it's not all that enclosed...
Connetix Creations
We’re loving these at the moment so I had to do a post about them. Magnetic tiles are fab for so many reasons:🧐 fine motor skills - holding and manipulating...
Texture Transfer
For those of you who've wondered why there's been birdseed all over my carpet - here you go. I set up this dry sensory play experience for August and gave...
Tidy-up Tongs
I’m sure you’ve all seen tongs used in sensory play and Montessori activities to develop a child’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. I’m here to remind you it doesn’t...
Masking Tape Motorway
No road? No problem! Just make one out of tape! Auggie is showing more interest in driving his vehicles. In the absence of one of those road map rugs, I...
Dolls are for everyone
If you think dolls are just for girls then you’re very sadly mistaken. Men care for babies. Men are dads. Men teach children. Men work in kindergartens. Men are nurses....
Sensory Play: Backyard Beach
We FaceTimed August’s grandparents and they were lying on the beach on Waiheke island. Through my jealousy that they are on holiday and I’m not, I had an idea! We...