What’s the best way to hold a pencil? The answer varies depending on age but it’s helpful to develop a functional grip by the time school starts. For a toddler, it’s often with a balled fist or all five fingers arranged in an impromptu combination. Exactly how they hold it doesn’t matter at this stage. […]
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It’s easy to get caught up in the academic preparations for starting school, but just as important as literacy and numeracy is the idea of self-care. What we mean by that, in this early-years context, is does your child have the skills and know-how they need to face the challenges a school day presents? This
Self care for preschoolers | Help your child become independent Read More »
Being able to guide hand movements with your eyes is a vital skill, and not just in sport. Hand-writing, reading, playing with construction toys and making almost anything, requires hand-eye co-ordination. The more you can work on developing this key skill, the more confidence your pre-schooler will have in their own ability to master new
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Find it hard to believe an easel is essential? It’s actually a brilliant piece of equipment to have around, for many more reasons than painting. Easels encouage children’s wrists to bend upwards, in the same way they do for writing. Standing at an easel is also good for upper arm and shoulder strength, which in
Easels and the magic of the vertical surface for writing Read More »
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
Why are toddlers obsessed with toy cars? Read More »
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
The wonder of woodworking with preschoolers Read More »
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
Exploring nature play Read More »