Cosy Direct Blog

Play in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can involve mess – whether that’s mud, paint, glue or baking ingredients.  Sometimes, just the term ‘mess’ and conjure up negative images of this type of play, making it seem chaotic and out of control.  However, the truth is that mess can be a sensory, hands on, practical experience.  It holds immense...

Welcome to the realm of the fairies, pixies and elves. If you're close enough you may even spot a mischievous tree troll! Below we explore creativity, imagination and share ideas on how to create a fairy garden. This is the beauty of imaginative play like that of a fairy garden - it allows children to explore their own imaginations. It’s...

Get stuck into experiential play with these sand and water play ideas. Set up a water wall and sand area for children to explore and experiment. Below we share our best sand and water play ideas to inspire you: Water Play Ideas A water wall is perfect for experimenting with the forces and flow of water. Children love playing with...

Small world play can be a creative, inspiring way to support the learning and development of young children through play.  Through this type of play, rich opportunities can evolve which impact on development across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  This makes small world play a valuable part of provision, not to mention a versatile way to build on children's...

Our best outdoor storage shed solutions all in one place! Some great solutions to keep your resources nice and tidy and to access them easily. Children love to have the independence to self-select their own resources and to tidy them all away. We have designed sheds which can be used as storage and at the same time can be used...

There is an ever-increasing worry around plastics; in our oceans, polluting our environment, animal habitats and taking 100s of years to decompose. Single-use plastics need to be eradicated for good and children can get behind this movement for change by becoming a plastic free school. Small changes can make a big difference! The education secretary has called for schools to...

Enjoying an interest in minibeasts and learning through play, whether in a setting or at home, is a great way to embrace hands-on, practical learning in a playful way. What’s great is that to hunt for minibeasts, we need to be outside so not only are we enjoying this focus but getting fresh air at the same time. This means...

Constructing a den can be a magical learning experience as well as being a lot of fun.  It's one of those activities where the process is just as much fun as the end product!  Our role as educators is to facilitate the play by providing suitable resources and spaces for den building.  Children also need responsive, tuned in adults to...

In these COVID times, the power of outdoor play is becoming even more widely recognised.  Settings are spending more and more time outdoors, with some becoming fully outdoors based.  Not only does being outdoors reduce the risk of COVID transmitting, but it’s also an empowering space to play in it’s own right.  However, outdoor play is not merely a matter...

The humble cardboard box is actually a powerful tool for play and learning.  By saving them from the recycling, we are not only repurposing but facilitating a magical opportunity to enhance children’s play.  A box is far from being ‘just a cardboard box’! (Photo credit above to @teameyfs) By offering children the opportunity to play and explore with boxes, we...