outdoor play

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...

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...

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...