The antidote to boredom is not more toys – it’s fewer. Organise your playspace, rotate the toys you put out and offer materials that demand focus and extend thinking. You already have everything you need at home. The trick is knowing how to present it.
Is your child by your side all day? Do you long for just five minutes’ peace? Independent play is the answer. Help your child to become a confident self-starter who makes her own fun.
What are the essential experiences that all babies should enjoy? How does physical strength and co-ordination help learning? Read our guide to find out.
The toddler years are a time when children learn to separate from their parents and head off in search of new experiences. It’s a time of fun and discovery but it’s not complicated. All you need are simple materials, carefully presented.
Preschoolers are getting ready to go out into the world. The goal is to arrive at school, in Stig Brostrom’s words, ‘feeling suitable’, feeling like they belong, like they are ready. They need a toolset of simple skills. The good news is that it can all be done through play.
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[Even though] I am also a teacher, I am learning so much from each email.“
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Caroline
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Annabelle
“I’m a secondary teacher (Classics) but wish I could delay my children starting school. I love your play ethos – it really resounds with what I want childhood to be about. And I love the way you balance pedagogy with child psychology and parenting ideas. I’m learning a lot and thinking a lot. You’re doing a fantastic job, thank you!“
Jessica
“I was so happy to find your email course! My daughter has [been unwell] and not been able to attend preschool. I have felt an incredible pressure to learn about early childhood development and create meaningful opportunities for her just within our home. In my search to learn, I easily became overwhelmed with too many voices and ideas found on social media. This year I have dedicated myself to seeking fewer and better experts to more reliably take away what I need to understand and assist her development and move on to playing with her more. Finding your weekly email course has been so meaningful and empowering.“
Mia
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Helen
“I’ll use this opportunity to just say how much I adore your content. I also have a Lifetime subscription to Get Set Five, and am finding it so helpful in simplifying my “survivalist homeschool” experience right now. (Homeschooling due to the pandemic, and moving abroad in 5 months, so the meticulous school planning I was doing months ago has had to take a backseat while we downsize all our worldly possessions to gear up for the move). I’m a teacher (but high school) and I love love love the theory behind all I’m learning in your courses and the inquiry-based approach. I’m also a big fan of your 100 Toys content and have gotten some really wonderful ideas from your posts there. Especially love the “shop your closet” toy rotation chart! Thanks for all you do. Your writing style is so direct, no-nonsense, informed, and lighthearted – it’s clear you’re a gifted educator, be it for children or their parents!”
Bronwen
“Thanks for this email, the resources page is absolutely brilliant. I’ve been trying to get into this type of play learning with my kids but haven’t known where to start or what age to do these things, and this page has completely cleared it up and made me feel confident. I can’t wait for the rest of the course.”
