Cosy Direct Blog

This little wicker mirror circle has been very popular recently. It is small, and yet so versatile. How would you use one? It is not only a perfect natural mirror for role play, displaying natural treasures and viewing expressions but also a great reflective small world area. Have a go at collecting natural materials and creating patterns to create a...

The wicker tray is a beautiful, natural alternative to the standard plastic tray. Create an inspirational invitation to play with this natural wicker tray. Perfect for heuristic play resources, loose parts and wooden toys, it is easy for little ones to access. It works well on our wooden stand and equally as well on the floor. Hayley from @littlewiseowlschildminding loves...

The mini deep tuff spot tray was designed because you told us that you wanted a smaller, deeper tray. This tray fits through doors easily so can be moved indoors and outdoors without much trouble. It is also deeper to hold more water or sand. The circular tray is ideal for all the usual tray play from messy tray play...

Is play time limited? The COVID-19 pandemic and the implications for children’s learning, play and wellbeing has led us to think about childhood and whether play is time limited. At what age do children stop playing? Or do we always play? Perhaps because we understand the benefits of play, we do all we can to facilitate it at home, in settings...

Creating a loose parts play library can be simple and fun with a few hints and tips. Loose parts for play are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, constructed and deconstructed in multiple ways. They are materials with no specific direction. Big or small, natural or man made. The recognition of the power loose parts hold in...

https://youtu.be/WJfdyqyxa24 In 2018 Cosy Fund in partnership with Amber Valley School Sports Partnership employed three local Gambian coaches to undertake free sports coaching to schools, sports clubs and the community. Schools in Amber Valley raised funds that have provided equipment to coaches and schools with QuickPlay sport helping with their portable goals to assist in schools and teams being able...

From mixing and pouring, to measuring and baking, inspire children to get creative with a mud kitchen. Mud Kitchens are expensive, but with a bit of imagination you can create your own using old wooden pallets, plastic milk crates or wooden fruit crates with a wooden plank for a top or an old wooden table. Children will love creating, mixing...

Cosy in the Community The Cosy charitable fund is a really modest fund that has been operating informally and personally since 2002. We support small table top charities and voluntary organisations. Our target is the disadvantaged kids aged 3-11 and the good guys reaching them. We know some people focus on places such as Africa to offer support and others...

So what are the benefits of a mud kitchen? Mud Kitchens are more than just the chance to explore mud, get messy and have fun. They also provide a whole variety of different outdoor learning opportunities including sensory, imaginative, creative, mathematical, scientific and exploratory play. Children can spend hours outdoors in a mud kitchen in immersive messy play. Allow children...

Wooden crates and shelves can be so versatile. Particularly, Crates are ideal for storage and pack away settings – where they can be stacked on shelves. Stacked on their sides, crates make amazingly inviting self select Story shelves or ‘Shelfies’. Listed below are our best crate Shelfie ideas for children to give you some inspiration for using them in your...