Human beings, especially children, are drawn to light. The way it changes colour and creates shadows, emphasises shape and form can be mesmerising. Playing with light and shadow can help children create new ideas, ask questions and test theories. It’s also a good way to develop focus and concentration, that sense of being lost in […]
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Painting teaches us to see, to look more closely. Is water really blue? If not, what colours can you actually see? What about black? We very rarely see true black in nature. How else could you represent that colour on the page?
Painting with preschoolers: encouraging artistic expression Read More »
Vroom! Vroom! Beep! Beep! Nee-naw! Nee-naw Vehicle play can seem pretty one-dimensional at first glance. But look more closely and you’ll see a world every bit as rich and subtle as the doll’s house. Language, science, co-operation. Vehicle play has got it all. Heuristic play, also known as discovery play, is central to how young
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Nothing gives children a greater thrill and sense of achievement than completing a grown-up task. And with its slightly dangerous edge, what could be more grown up than carpentry? It might seem counter-intuitive to give a child a blade, but as with needlework, experience (backed up plenty of research) tells us that it is far
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I’ll let you into a secret. Sometimes the toys and magazines in the 100 Toys house are not very on-message. It’s not all wooden toys and craft materials. As I write this, my six-year-old is cutting a spinner game out of a magazine. She has to cut out two circles, one large, one small, and
Collage activities | Why do teachers love them? Read More »
Is there anything more enchanting than watching a child discover the wonders of nature? The crunch of leaves underfoot, the charm of a ladybug landing on a finger, the joy of a freshly woven daisy chain; nature play is a truly magical part of childhood. It is an essential part of your child’s development, tapping
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Getting children to tidy up isn’t just about establishing good habits – although the joy of having a child who tidies up after themselves must not be underestimated. Beyond this, it provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop organising and sorting skills as they work out where items go and which group toys belong
As a child, you remember sitting for hours, making your own fun, without the constant supervision or attention of your parents. You recall a sense of deep absorption in your games and how powerful and vivid your imagination had been during these hours spent happily at home or in the garden. But your own children
Would you like to help your child learn some maths but don’t know where to begin? Or do you think that maths is something that happens once children start school? In early years teaching, there are two main branches of maths: number and shape. At first glance they don’t seem to have too much in
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Learning to distinguish between shapes is essentially an early form of reading. Children who can tell which shapes are which, can better differentiate between different letters when they progress on to reading. Being able to recreate shapes also helps with writing. Most letters are based on a combination of circles and squares, or lines at