Learning through Play
On the Blog...
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...
Feed the birds
Auggie loves to throw things but it’s not always ideal - especially in the house! I wanted to do an activity that would let him practice the motor-planning and big...
Exploring Colours: Red Bath
Bath time is a great time to explore colours. I had some beetroot juice left over from our summer soup activity so I added it to August's bath for something...
Summer Soup: Imaginative Water Play
The best activities are the ones where you already have all the stuff at home. Here's a new one for you - soup making. Or tea. Or coffee. Or anything...
Peg Peg Peg – Practical Life Tasks
Auggie got a little peg apron for Christmas and since then he's loving helping to peg out some of his smaller pieces like bibs and socks.WHY?Kids love helping out with...
Exploring Wet and Dry – Pet Rescue | Play Tray Activity
Today we explored textures in a fun way - August enjoyed this for ages! I filled the play tray, half with flour (he's really enjoyed baking recently) and the other...
Backyard Pond
One of Auggie's favourite things to do with his Nana and Granda was to throw stones into any body of water on their outings! My parents did a fantastic job...
Phone Home
I picked up this old school phone from a charity shop for $2 and it's August's new fave. This wasn't a random purchase - I've wanted one for a while...
Play in Nature
We very very rarely take toys out with us when we have adventures because there's so much to engage with in the environment. Auggie is in to counting and giving...
